Mad World

Adaptive here: "Same as last time for the tunes. And as usual, I hope everyone who reads this has a good day."

Mad World

It's Not A Farewell

   Her heartbeat was slowing. Her breathing was faint, like that of a foals. Her unconscious body being huddled by her friend. Her mane was fringed and covered in blood. The blood. It dripped from the open wound on her chest, falling to the ground with resentful force. These were her last moments.

   "She's dying. She's dying and it's all my fault. I caused this. I was the one who wanted to take this stupid trip! I was the one who made you come! I couldn't stand to go alone so I made you come! Why?! Why you?! Why not me?!"

   Her friend was crying. The tears flowed down her cheeks. Falling on her face, the tears rolled down. They had an effect. The dying pony opened her eyes. Her beautiful blue eyes looked up at the pony who held her in her last minute. A weak smile formed on the lips of the doomed pony.

   "Dash, it's not your fault. You couldn't have known." She was staring deep into her magenta eyes. "Please Dash, leave me. You need to go. Just leave." Her voice, her soft sweet voice, traveled up to Rainbow Dash's ears. She couldn't stand to see her friend in pain over her.

   "NO! I won't! It's all my fault! I can't! You can't die! You'll be o.k. We just need to get you back to Ponyville. Then you'll be fine. Come on, I can do it. You'll be all right. You'll..." Dash's mind wouldn't let her acknowledge her impending death.

   "No Dash." Her eyes told Dash there is no way that was going to happen. She embraced Dash with the last few bits of strength she had. She nuzzled her mouth to Dash's ear.

   "I love you. I've always loved you Rainbow, even before we were brought together by Twilight in Ponyville. I've loved you since when you and me where together in flight school. The way you were. The way you are! Dash, you stood up for me when nopony else would. You have always been so brave, protecting me from any harm, encouraging me to push onward, even taking the time to help me with my animals or anything else. I guess all I can say is... I love you."

   She craned her head around and kissed Rainbow Dash on the lips. Tilting her head back, once again looking into the eyes, those confused, beautiful eyes, of her love. With one final smile, she let her head fall back and relinquished her last breath. She was gone from this world, never to see her love, Rainbow Dash, again. She couldn't have died happier.

   "No. NO! NOT YET! HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME AFTER THAT! PLEASE! PLEASE COME BACK TO ME!" Dash buried her head into the chest of her love. She leaned in close to her. "I love you too." She sobbed over the lose of her love. "Why. Why, why you. Anypony but you."  She raised her head to the sky.

   "Flu-tt-er-shy-y-y-y!"

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Earlier that day.

   It was a bright sunny day out. The breeze, smooth and gentle, smelled of flowers. Her animals all tended to, Fluttershy had time to relax. She laid down in the empty spot of grass a short ways away from her home. The world was quiet for the time being. It was completely serine-

   "Hey! Fluttershy!" Guess not. "Wanna come to Cloudsdale with me for a show? The Aviators are supposed to perform and I got two tickets from a competition as a prize." Rainbow Dash came flying over to the resting pegasus. A face of excitement shown brightly and apparent on Rainbow's face. That was always cute of her.

   "Oh, I don't know Dash. Who is going to take care of my animals?" Fluttershy wanted it to look like she didn't want to go. She had lots of time to practice that since she became a Element Of Harmony and had to spend a lot of time helping Dash with all sorts of things. They had spent tons of time together since Twilight showed up. One day she would have to go and thank that unicorn.

   "Don't worry about it. The show ends way before dark and we'll have plenty of time to make it back to Ponyville. We should be back in time to care for your animals. But we need to get going quickly if we want to make it in time." Rainbow started tugging at her hoof.

   "O.k. I guess." Fluttershy gave in and started following Dash. Rainbow had to keep it slow so Fluttershy could keep up. It was nice of Rainbow to think of her like that. Dash could easily make it to Cloudsdale in less than ten minutes if she wanted to, but Dash waited for her. While they flew, Fluttershy admired how elegant Rainbow Dash was. The way she moved, it was beautiful. Dash's elegant flight in her empty skies.

   "Um... hey, Dash?"

   "Yeah, what's up?"

   "Who are the Aviators?" Fluttershy had never heard of them. Were they similar to the Wonderbolts?

   "They are this team of flyers like the Wonderbolts, but instead of choreographed stunts they try and break different records at each show. This time they’re going for the team speed record. If the three of them can exceed 63 wing power they'll do it." Rainbow Dash's eyes gleamed with joy at the thought of seeing them attempt that. Fluttershy didn't really care about who they were, she just enjoyed seeing Dash happy.

   "Oh, o.k. So, why didn't you mention them before?"

   "Well, it seemed no pony wanted to talk to me about the Wonderbolts so why would I bring up another team if no pony bothered to listen." Rainbow Dash seemed to be annoyed by that. She didn't like that no pony shared the same main interest as her. Shy couldn't stand that.

   "I'd listen." Dash's ears perked up a bit. She got this curious look about her as to say "Really, you?! You wanna talk about stunts and acrobats?!". She sped ahead of Shy a ways and turned around right in front of her. Dash pressed her head against Shy's, staring directly into her eyes with a questioning look.

   "Who are you and what happened to the real Fluttershy?" Dash was pulling one of those jokes, just a bit more seriously than others. It didn't matter. Fluttershy lost herself in Dash's eyes. They resonated beauty to Shy. She got so caught up in looking in her eyes the rest of her body shut down.

   Including her wings.

   Fluttershy began free falling, forgetting how to fly completely. She screamed out to the stunned pegasus for help. She was going to plummet to the ground below if she didn't get saved, saved by the only pony she trusts to do so.

   "Oh, snap!" Rainbow Dash shot down and in a flash of the color spectrum, scooped up the frightened Fluttershy. The scarred pony buried her face into Rainbow's chest, avoiding the latter's gaze. She didn't want Rainbow to know how embarrassed she was that she let herself get caught up in her stare.

   Dash carried her down to the ground with the gentlest of landings. She landed on a hilltop surrounded by trees. Setting Fluttershy down, Dash turned to where Cloudsdale was. They could see it. The magnificent floating city was less than a mile away. Only a minute or two flight for an average pegasus.

   "What happened Fluttershy? You just suddenly... lost it." Dash had turned back to the still shocked Fluttershy. She was looking away, avoiding the glare of her rainbow maned friend.

    "I... I don't... sorry." She feared ridicule from Dash. Rainbow walked over and took a seat next to Shy. She turned her head away from Dash. The latter did her best to coax the frightened pegasi back to normal.

   "I'm sorry Fluttershy. I know you're not the greatest flyer and I asked you to make such a long trip on such short notice. If you want we can go back. The show's not that..." Fluttershy turned and look Rainbow Dash in the eyes. Her face showed she didn't want Dash to finish that sentence.

   "No. I'm fine. Can we stay here for a while though? I want to enjoy the view, with you."

   "Sure, Shy. We can take a break here for a moment. I don't think the show starts for some time and we’re pretty close to Cloudsdale anyways." RD turned and stared at the home of Equestria's best fliers. Fluttershy scooted closer and rested her head on Dash's shoulder. This caught Rainbow Dash off guard to say the least.

   "Um... hey, Shy? What are you doin'?" The pale yellow pony instantly turned away, again fearing what Dash was going to say.

   "Sorry... I was just resting... we should get going." Still looking away, Fluttershy stood up and stretched out her wings.

   "You sure? I mean we can stay a bit longer. It's not gonna make us late to wait a few more minutes." Dash was looking back at her traveling companion. She didn't want for them to go just yet.

   "I guess..." Fluttershy's eyes turned to Cloudsdale. "Um, hey Dash? What's that about?" She pointed into the sky were a large mass of black had accumulated. It wasn't a cloud though, it was a group of ponies. No, not ponies. Griffons. They were quite a ways off of the city.

   "I don't really know. It looks like a gang of Griffons, but what would they be doing here at Cloudsdale? Maybe they came to watch the show. Oh, I know. I bet they’re the opening act. Dang it, we’re gonna miss it. Let's go." With a spring of motion, Rainbow Dash took off. Soon followed by Fluttershy.

   Fluttershy was pondering how much of an idiot she had been. How could she act like that? She had spent lots of time around Dash lately and yet she still couldn't prevent herself from acting that way. She had acted like a foal. And to top it all off, Rainbow Dash barely showed any emotion for her. Or at least in the manner she had. Dash only thought of her as a friend, not in the way she does for Dash.

   Why couldn't Rainbow Dash show if she felt the same? Did she? What if she didn't? These questions drove Fluttershy mad on a daily basis. Very few circumstances had Dash ever showed compassion to her. Even then she usually changed the subject quickly enough it didn't last.

   They soared the remaining distance to Cloudsdale fairly fast. The trip was nice. They had shared time together Fluttershy wouldn't trade for the world. Any time spent with Rainbow Dash was great to her.

   The pair entered the lovely floating city and headed for the sports arena. So many ponies had came to watch the show. There were many flying high above the crowd, guiding them down the correct lanes of traffic to make sure everypony made it to the arena in time.

   It had appeared that the entire city was going to attend the event. Nopony was on outlying paths. It was a ghost town outside of the main group. Not even the worker ponies that manned stations at the weather factory were exempt. They too were approaching the lavish stadium.

   Thanks to mandated organization rules, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash had to walk amongst the others instead of flying there. Even though Dash looked a bit annoyed by this, Fluttershy was o.k. She was forced into vice-like press between Rainbow and the crowd. The immense aura Dash emitted was something Fluttershy never wanted to go away.

   Slowly, they traversed the remaining distance to the stadium. Even with the density of the crowd dispersing, Fluttershy still hugged tightly to  Rainbow. She had no intent of getting any farther away than she had to be. Rainbow Dash was too focused on getting to their destination to even notice the yellow pony. Nevertheless, Shy still loved being this close to Dash. Even if it wasn't fully mutual.

   They came up to the entrance of the arena. Dash broke free of Fluttershy's love grip, even if Rainbow couldn't tell that was going on in the first place. She trotted up to the ticket checker and presented the two tickets. Her face had a happy glow about it as the mare running the check in office gave them the o.k. Fluttershy had only seen Rainbow so happy when ever she had met the Wonderbolts in person right after pulling off the Sonic Rainboom. This must be an even more special day than Shy had originally guessed. Fluttershy lavished in the thought of spending one of Dash's most memorable days with her.

   "Come on Shy! Let's go find our seats before the show starts!" The excitement was very apparent in her voice. Dash had been waiting a long time to see an event like this and Fluttershy had no intention of ruining it for her. She deserved it to much. Always looking out for her friends, keeping everyponies morale up by being so awesome, and needless to say, saving her on countless occasions. Yup, Rainbow Dash definitely deserved a day like today.

   The stadium was just as beautiful as last time they had been there. The cloud seats, the open arena with a gorgeous view of the ground below, and most importantly, Rainbow Dash. Just seeing her there, in her home, made Fluttershy smile. Dash was so happy, which in turn, made Fluttershy happy.

   The duo made there way over to their seats and got settled in. Cloudsdale's architectural marvel was almost completely filled with pegasi from around Equestria. They all waited anxiously for the show to begin.

   A lone pegasus flew out to a stand where announcements were usually made. He was one of the leaders of Aviators. The outfit he dawned was a flat black. No symbols or images. Just black. A simple style actually. Efficient, effective, and most importantly, protective. It had every inch of his body covered with the exception of his face and wings. The fabric looked like it was spandex like material. Probably for aerodynamics. A pair of flight goggles sat atop his head. They were also black with tinted glass. Apparently they like black.

   The style would either amaze or appall Rarity. Fluttershy didn't really know. She had been spending so much time around Dash as of late, she had been missing or just plain skipping her and Rarities spa sessions. The couth dress pony didn't really mind. According to her, whenever Shy couldn't make it she just got somepony else to go. Apparently not a big deal then.

   "Good evening mares and gentlecotls, and welcome to the show." His voiced was refined. Almost as if he had lived in Manehattan or Canterlot. "Today, we will be attempting to break the wingpower record which currently stands at 127 for three ponies. If successful that will be our sixth flight based record. The show will begin in about ten to fifteen minutes, so if anypony needs to get refreshments now would be the best time to do so. We thank everypony for coming out today and we hope you all enjoy the show."

   Dash got up and turned to her timid friend. "Hey I'm going to get some popcorn. You want some?" Fluttershy thought for a while. She thought of how she wanted to just go with her, never leave her side. She fought these urges though, concealing them to depths of her mind. She couldn't act like that. Not at least 'till Dash showed the same feelings.

   "No, it's o.k. I'm fine." Fluttershy sat there staring into Dash's eyes once again. Something she had done many times, yet never seemed to get over. But unlike other moments, this time Dash noticed.

   "Um..." Rainbow tried to look away, nervous of how her friend was acting. Fluttershy was too locked in her gaze to notice Dash's uncomfortableness.

   "Hey Shy..." Still the comment just fell on deaf ears.

   "What'cha doing?" Rainbow's words finally snapped her out of it. Fluttershy turned away, not wanting to embarrass herself further after today's events. After all the time she had spent with Dash she figured she could stop doing this. It's not appropriate.

   "Sorry, I just got... distracted. That's all." Dash once again gave her a puzzled look. She really didn't know how to take Shy's behavior.

   "You sure you don't want anything though?" Dash changed the subject, mainly for Fluttershy's sake.

   "No, no. I'm fine. You go ahead and get your popcorn. Just hurry back, you don't want to miss the show." Fluttershy watched as her friend trotted down the aisle, glad that whole ordeal was all over. She let out a sigh of relief, knowing Dash didn't view her as some sort of weird stalker pony.

   She was a little worried as to how Rainbow would act the rest of the night. Whether she would ignore the incident, push it further, or ridicule her for her odd behavior. These thoughts bothered her to say the least. She didn't want to drive away her closest and dearest friend with her love. That would be a bit ironic to say the least.

   Fluttershy sat there, waiting for Rainbow's return. Not focusing on anyone thing in particular. The vibrant sun beating down on her. The wonderful breeze cooling her as she watched the horizon of the sky. Blissfully unaware of her surroundings.

   Thinking back to the days events. Recalling on how Dash asked her, and specifically her, to go with her. Not Twilight, not AJ, not Rarity. Just her. It made her happy to think of how Rainbow cared for her. Even if it wasn't the same way she did. Nevertheless, it made her smile. The way Dash saved her. The time they spent on the hilltop, looking at the great city of Cloudsdale from afar. She thought back on the griffons they had saw.

   The group of griffons they had seen earlier had arrived and arranged themselves around the stadium. They all donned matching uniforms. A simple, yet pleasing design of golden colored vest and berets. Rarity might have had to had a word or two with them if she was here. She probably wouldn't be able to control her urge to give critiques on there outfits. Rarity definitely loved helping anypony, or griffon in this case, look their best.

   They were high above the crowd. In preparation for the opening act, or so Shy assumed. Though ponies around her in the crowd did seem confused as to what was going on. There was nothing in the opening introduction about a beginning act by a group of griffons.

   One of the griffons went over to the stand were the announcements were made, only to be confronted by one of the security team for the stadium. In one quick, brutal movement, the griffon pounced on the guard. Sending him falling to the distant ground below. He was far too out of it to recover and the crowd merely watched as the poor colt fell.

   Fluttershy and the rest of the ponies present all let out a almost simultaneous reaction to what they just witnessed. A unison gasp. Some ponies fainted. She herself almost did. All she could do was stare in horror as he plummeted to his imminent doom.

   One single stallion did try and help the poor colt. In a blur of motion, he shot out of the stands. Only to meet a similar fate by a similar assailant. He was slammed into by another of the bystanding griffons. The sound of the screams drowned out the bones crunching under the vicious hit. The valiant pegasi withered into the unforgiving abyss below. His limp body following the one he only wanted to help.

   No one moved, all too frightened by the unexpected events. A few ponies cried out for the two who fell. Only to be silenced by menacing looks from the exceedingly larger griffons. Everypony doused any thoughts of making a break for it. They were surrounded, forced to listen to any demands the griffons had to make.

   The initial griffon who began the entire incident continued her flight to the podium. She blatantly ignored the the scene she herself started. Upon reaching the podium, she gathered her composure and began her speech. A speech that would leave the residents of Cloudsdale in complete and utter shock.

   Fluttershy did notice something about the head griffon though, something familiar. She couldn't quite put her hoof on it. She had encountered a few different griffons in her days, but this one in particular she knew. The way the griffon moved, her actions, her pride. They were all too familiar to Fluttershy.

   "Welcome again..."

   It was Gilda.

   She wore a black vest with a matching black beret. Her vest was decorated gaudily with ornaments and medals. A lone patch with "Gilda" stitched into it told the world her name. Her beret had a symbol on it of a golden griffon, indicating her affiliation with the rest of the group. If it wasn't for the circumstance she was currently under, Fluttershy would have been inclined to compliment the griffon, despite their past.

   Fluttershy reconciled the last time they had met. The way she treated her, the way she treated her friends, the way she treated Dash. They were all terrible memories. Ones she'd soon forget then recall on.

   "...to a great day in Equestria history. To all of you dweebs we have here today. I say thank you. Thanks for being too stupid to realize what was going on before it was to late." Fluttershy looked around again, seeing more and more griffons than before. Their numbers were massive. Even though there were still less than the ponies present, they definitely had enough to wipe Cloudsdale and anypony with it out of the sky. Gilda still ranted as her fellow griffons closed in on the stadium.

   "Thanks for all of you rounding up in one spot for us. That makes things even easier. First off, my name is Gilda and my colleagues are simply known as 'The Birds of Prey'. Today we will be killing our prey. Understood? Good." She looked over to a fellow griffon, giving him a nod. He dawned golden gauntlets, indicating he was a superior in the group.

   "So let's begin. Why don't we boys?"

   In an instant, faster than Fluttershy could comprehend, all the griffons above them dove down in uniformity. Tearing into anypony unfortunate enough to be in the way of there descent. Gilda merely stood watch as her fellow murders took to killing everything. A smirk was apparent on her evil face.

   All the ponies in the crowd who weren't taken out at first had begun scrambling like rats. They didn't care for safety of others anymore. They simply wanted to get away in the confusion, hoping to escape to the mountains or earth below. Away from this treachery.

   Fluttershy had broken down into tears, her mind was shutting down. All around her ponies were being ripped to shreds by the griffons. She thought of how they were closing in on her. How she would never see Angel or any of her animals again. How she would never see her friends again. She thought of how she would never see Rainbow Dash again.

   "No."

   She wouldn't merely die off as her closest friend was in danger. She wouldn't, nay, couldn't stand by. She had to try and save her, prevent her from being one the unfortunate. Her best friend needed her and she needed Dash.

   The canary pegasus thought of where the concession stands where. They were placed just around the entrance of the stadium, just a hundred or so yards away. She had to make a break for it, she just had to.

   A streak of yellow came flying over to the exit. She was moving at speed that no doubt impress Rainbow. If it weren't for the circumstances, Fluttershy would be pretty proud of herself. But this was no time to think of how fast she could fly. She had to focus on getting to Dash. Focused on not getting caught as well.

   Fluttershy may have just jinxed herself.

   She was a mere five yards away from the exit when she was stopped, denying her escape. The griffon came out of nowhere, landing in front of quickly halting pegasus. Shivering, Fluttershy stared up at the griffon who towered over her. Her mind too frightened to let her move. The griffon grew a menacing smile while raising up one of his claws high above his head. Preparing to strike her down where she stood.

   Fluttershy tried to force herself to at least try and get away. But all she could do was step back slowly, her legs shaking horribly. She looked at the griffon with all the courage she had.

   "Pl... plea... please, d-don't do th-this..." Her voice shook, it's rattling far beyond her control at this point.

   "Sorry hun," His voice was menacing. He had no intention of sparing her now, not with others he must... attend to. "It's a little late for pleas. Don't’cha think?" His question was rhetorical, demented in his tone.

   His smile grew wider as his claw went higher till he stopped. A glare of pure evil and brutality shown in his golden eyes. This wasn't an act of peer pressure or orders, this was by his own twisted will. His need for power over others, a need for the right to harm, to destroy, to kill.

   She turned away, expecting to meet her end. Waiting for that final moment. The moment she died, the moment she lost everything she looked forward too, the moment she would never see Rainbow Dash again.

   That moment hadn't come here.

   In a loud thud, she turned back to see that her assailant had been driven away by a lone pegasus. He was black with a silver mane. His cutie mark was of a single lightning bolt. His golden orbs stared at her, full of desperation.

   It was Thunderlane.

   He was standing over the now knocked out griffon. He had hit the attacker by surprise. It was the only hit he could possibly land and he knew it. They both knew that he couldn't possibly handle the power or shear size of the full grown griffon that lay on the ground, groggy and beginning to wake up.

   "GO! NOW! GET OUT OF HERE WHILE HE'S DISTRACTED! GO FLUTTERSHY! GO NOW! I'LL BE RIGHT BEHIND, BUT YOU NEED TO GO!"

   His voice boomed through her eardrums as she tried to comprehend what just happened. He saved her, Fluttershy, for no reason. He owed her nothing, he didn't have a past with her, heck she barely knew him. Her thoughts were shattered by another cry by Thunderlane.

   "COME ON! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?! GO! I CAN'T FIGHT HIM WHEN HE GETS UP! COME ON WE HAVE TO GO! NOW!"

   That was enough wasting time to Thunderlane. He flew over in a flash and picked up the still stunned pegasus. With the strength he didn't know he had, Thunderlane barreled out the exit of the stadium at record speeds, heading into the unoccupied Cloudsdale that lay outside the desecrated stadium.

   The sounds of others still fighting for their lives trailed behind them. Echoing off the walls of the labyrinth they exited. The sounds of the enraged griffon followed, though too far back to catch their trail. They ducked into an alleyway just outside the stadium.

   They seen an enraged griffon fly past in a flash, not checking any alternate pathways. He was determined to head for the formal exit of Cloudsdale, where he assumed they had headed to. Thank Celestia there are so many different streets and such here.

   Thunderlane set the still shocked Fluttershy down, letting her rest against the clouds around them. Her mind began to process what just happened for the first time. The blood, the horror, the murder. They were all very prominent in her mind now.

   She had seen one griffon literally tear a pony’s leg off and proceeded to beat him with it. The poor colt was dead long before then though, yet the evil, murderous griffon continued regardless. Fluttershy had seen the true, merciless evil in the griffons black eyes. He had no intent to do anything but kill this day.

   Her mind was flooded with emotions. Sadness, shock, anger, but most obvious of all, angst. She wanted to know where Rainbow Dash was, what happened to her. Was she okay? Had she been injured? Then Fluttershy had a frightening thought.

   What if she left already, abandoning her?

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Adaptive here: "So if your wondering, this chapter will be done in parts. Most likely 2 or 3. If you have any questions feel free to ask me any time. I'll avoid any spoilers as best I can. And sorry for the lack of overall gore in this section. That is one thing I've been called on as lacking. Maybe I need to remove the gore tag until later chapters are released? Eh, buck it. It'll be fine. And I hope everyone who reads this has a nice day."