A Newly Hooded Road to Walk

Leaves fell on the mossy ground, leaving a trail throughout the floor of the evergreen forest. The canopy above shook as a blur of robes drifted rapidly through the branches, making the only disturbance the forest had seen in weeks. Fluttershy had missed the relaxing feeling of free running through the trees, for throughout her training it was where she learned to do so-and was at her best there.

The evergreen forest, ever since its original growth the bulk of it stood unwavering in the face of pony civilization. It has been shaven for room by urban and agricultural growth throughout the years, but its endlessness made it touch or surround most cities and towns in Equestria. As such, it's a home to most creatures in the country-the friendly and dangerous-as well as a harboring mother for much of the Equestria underground's movements and activities. Thus, the forest had gained a negative reputation over the years as a dark and dangerous place(though it definitely could at times), and such a reputation made the evergreens a very secluded and empty place at times. Even before she had joined the Brotherhood, it was the seclusion of the forest that had always attracted Fluttershy into the trees. In her younger years it was what sparked her love for animals and the like, but now its void-like presence helped her to escape the many stresses of her dangerous lifestyle.

However, no matter how good the fresh air felt through the seems of her robes, or how nostalgic the gentle clank of her equipment was with every stride, Fluttershy was still working...

...

Yesterday...

"As always Fluttershy, I can never understand your taste in decor," prodded Rarity as the two walked through town shopping. Rarity had been picking up new fabrics for her shop, and Fluttershy was looking for decorations to fill her oddly empty home.

"That's because you are not the rustic type Rarity. If I had everything pristine and shiny like your house nothing would match."

"Yes perhaps your right darling, it is true that you see your interior more than myself. But still... it all seems so elderly to me." Rarity said so as she peered into the small wagon that trailed behind Fluttershy. It was filled with various antique trinkets, woven throw-pillows, hand-made quilts, and other things that would belong in a cottage.

"I know you're not satisfied with the rustic-cottage scene, but trust me, anything flashy would look terribly off." As Fluttershy spoke Rarity couldn't help but look at her in a sort of awe. She was realizing just how different Fluttershy was the more she talked. Her nervous stuttering was all but gone, and she talked considerably louder (normal speech) and with confidence. Rarity couldn't help but be joyful, for one could say her oldest friend was over her inadvertent fear of life. Rarity decided to comment on it, for however good of a development this was, it made her curious.

"I am so happy. Do you know why Fluttershy?" asked Rarity with a proud gaze.

"Hm? Why's that?"

"I'm happy because you have grown up. Your not afraid of your shadow, and your not timid at the slightest hint of attention."

"R-really? You think so?" Asked Fluttershy inquisitively, confused by Rarity's sudden statement.

"Why yes darling. You seem much more mature, and you are actually confident in your opinion. I think you trip to Bostallion did very well to expose you to the world per-say."

"Well thanks Rarity that means a lot coming from you." Fluttershy smiled at her friend's compliments. Though she was in town mainly for work, she was extremely glad that she could still get along so well with her old friends. She only wished she could meet Applejack and Rainbow Dash again; However, Applejack was in some sort of witness protection program considering the recent business murders, and Rainbow Dash was far to busy with her Wonderbolt duties to make the time (that was something that bothered Fluttershy considerably).

The two mare's grew near Fluttershy's cottage, for Rarity had offered to help Fluttershy in putting up her new decor. Given Rarity's expertise in fashion, and unprecedented persistence into fashion related business, Fluttershy could hardly refuse her.

They reached the cottage unhindered, but as Fluttershy shuffled her handbag for the keys, she noticed an inconspicuous corner of paper sticking out from under the door. Luckily, Rarity had not noticed, she was busy rambling about her plans for the inside of Fluttershy's house. Fluttershy knew the note would be important, for not many ponies would take the effort to go out to her cottage simply to slip a note under her door. She'd have to conceal the note somehow while opening the door, or risk Rarity seeing it and having her press into what it was, worse yet, Rarity seeing a note that could quite possibly have the Brotherhood seal on it.

Fluttershy pulled the house keys from her bag, and as she turned to the door she purposefully knocked a hoof into her trinket-filled wagon. It wasn't enough to knock it over, just enough to some to the quilts on top to plop onto the ground and distract Rarity for a second.

Rarity let out a yelp of terror as the linens hit the dirt. "Aah! oh dear Fluttershy they'll get all dirty and ruined!" Rarity cried out as she frantically gathered it all up.

"Oh dear Rarity, I'm so clumsy!" Fluttershy expressed her fake concerns as she opened the door, "here let me get this open so we can bring them right inside." At that Fluttershy opened the door and pushed the note under the couch with a flap of her wing, then aided Rarity in bringing everything inside.

...

Present...

The note was indeed from the Brotherhood, an official wax seal and everything. It was Fluttershy's contact in Ponyville, and the pony who had sent the contracts to Achilles in the first place. For all that Fluttershy knew, this was her only true ally out there, and though she had her friends like Rarity and Twilight, they still couldn't be trusted fully. She hoped it was somepony with a reasonable attitude, for if a pony is sent on an assignment as long as her contact was, they can develop a certain, per-say, insanity to them. Fluttershy was especially concerned about this considering how far into the evergreen forest they requested to meet; Their meeting spot was at the base of a certain waterfall deep in the forest. Fluttershy knew the place well enough, but it was a solid multiple mile trek to it, and by foot it took quite a while.

As Fluttershy went on her way she suddenly heard a loud explosion up above her, causing her to stop in a hurry. She squatted on a branch wide-eyed, using her eagle vision trying to pinpoint the source of the loud boom, but the forest all around her was totally empty. What the hell was that? She thought, frantically searching her mind for an answer. No creature I know of can make an explosion like that, so it must have been a pony...

Fluttershy decided to peak above the canopy of the forest with the hope of spotting smoke, for whatever it was, it was very loud and definitely would have left a crater. She ran up ahead to a much taller tree and leapt up to the canopy, poking her hooded, shadowy head into the open air. Since she had left so early in the morning, and had been concealed by the evergreens the whole time, she had not noticed what a clear day it was-not a single cloud in the sky accept one small one just overhead. To Fluttershy's astonishment their was not a single sign of an explosion, no smoke or anything to see.

As Fluttershy looked out above the trees perplexed, another explosion shook her from her robes, but this time she could prominently tell where it was coming from. Fluttershy looked up from under hood to see ponies flying in rapid formations, and as she looked closer she could recognize the Wonderbolts' uniforms. So those weren't explosions, but instead were sonic booms... She thought as she watched the athletes fly about. Fluttershy immediately thought of Rainbow Dash, who, to her knowledge, was the only pegasus to ever pull off a sonic boom. She hoped that Rainbow Dash was up there fulfilling her dream, but wished she would take some time to visit her. The life of a celebrity I guess.

As Fluttershy watched the ponies buzz around up above, she caught something out of the corner of her eye. The top of a head was peering out over the small cloud just her, staring at her. Unfortunately, the glare from the sun kept Fluttershy from recognizing the pony, but her instincts told her that she definitely shouldn't stick around to find out...

...

Up above...

Rainbow Dash sat on her cloud watching her peers practice. They used to practice above Ponyville, but due to the increased air traffic and the racket of their sonic booms, they now practiced above the forest with no interruptions. She enjoyed watching the tree's rustle furiously from the sonic shockwaves, which made the canopy of the evergreens look like a green ocean. However, as she peered down to get a view as her teammates set another off, Rainbow Dash saw something poking out from the canopy of a taller evergreen. It was a little white hooded creature looking up at the other Wonderbolts, but as Rainbow began to study it more it noticed her and peering over her cloud and ducked back into the trees.

"Wait!" Called out Rainbow Dash, whose curiosity had driven her to follow whatever it was she saw.

"Wait up! I just wanna talk to you!" yelled Rainbow, as she too ducked under the canopy after the figure. She could see it up ahead running through the trees so she flew faster, weaving through the branches like a snake. As she gained she realized that it was in fact a hooded pony that she was chasing after, and so she called out again but to no response. Why is there some pony running around out here? And how the hell are they so fast!?

This caught Rainbow Dash off guard just as much as the pony being there. Though they were running, she was having a great deal of trouble keeping up: The hooded pony was just far too fast to be normal.

...

Up ahead...

Really? A Wonderbolt is chasing me!? Fluttershy was in top gear now, basically sprinting with her wings through the forest, and the Wonderbolt ducking through the branches just behind. Fluttershy was trying to escape at any cost, for the sake of her pursuer. If they were to catch up and catch her somehow, she'd have to take drastic measures, and she really did not feel like killing somepony today. However, it wasn't any normal pony behind her, this was a Wonderbolt: a professional athlete built for speed and maneuverability. If Fluttershy was going to lose them she'd have to do something.

As she was thinking of a plan Fluttershy heard a very familiar and scratchy voice behind her.

"Hold up! why are you running!? I just wanna say hi!" The voice yelled.

Oh fuck that's Rainbow isn't it! I'm glad to see you but this is literally the worst time! Screamed Fluttershy in her head. Fluttershy grew conflicted at the sight of her old friend. She wanted to stop and give her a hug, but every other part of her being told her not to, and she knew she definitely couldn't.

Fluttershy was growing tired from so much sprinting, so she knew she'd have to come up with something fast.

...

Behind...

The Pony ahead of Rainbow Dash was beginning to slow down, allowing her to catch up and get a better look. They were wearing white and green robes, with many leather tassels and armor looking pieces, but as she grew even closer she realized what she was chasing. This pony was armed, heavily. Rainbow Dash grew scared, and unconsciously began to back off; However, she remembered the posters plastered all over town, and got an idea of what this might be in front of her. One of those murderers? She thought, if that's the case then I can't let them get away. At that, Rainbow Dash had newfound courage to face to armed pony ahead of her.

Rainbow Dash looked ahead and saw the forest was a little thinner down further. It was a grove of younger growth, so the trees were a reasonable height, but were much, much thinner. They can't run on those trees, I can probably catch them up there, she thought confidently.

Rainbow Dash was now just yards away from the suspicious pony as they came upon the younger growth. I've got you now! She thought, about to tackle the pony as they jumped to the ground. However, the pony jumped and latched onto one of the thinner trees, and spun around it by her hands like a flagpole. The maneuver caught Rainbow Dash off guard, and her missed tackle put her off balance. As she was vulnerable, the hooded pony swung around the tree back to Rainbow Dash feet first, and kicked her square in the ribs, nocking the Wonderbolt to the forest floor. The pony landed on her feet just next Rainbow Dash, but she was winded from the kick and the fall, which left her incapacitated and wheezing in the wet grass.

Rainbow Dash was still awake as she watched the assailant run off into the dense foliage, but as she lost consciousness, she could have sworn she heard a faint voice from the pony. Did they say sorry? Thought the confused and disoriented Wonderbolt, whose vision slowly clouded, and blacked out.