Nightmare Night

Tiara was quick to go dashing off towards Sweet Apple Acres, her mane flowing behind her like a streak of color in the sky over Rainbow Falls. Sweetie was the opposite taking each step with care and thought, her mind on other things such as her older sister.

Rarity had taken the death of Rainbow Dash pretty bad, falling off into a pit of depression that even now she was lost within. Dresses became uninspired slowly losing color, before long the boutique was drowning in a tide of monotone.

In fact since that night all of Ponyville had become more somber and less energetic, the innocence of this realm stolen by one mare with no explanation why. Rarity always spoke of how she visited Fluttershy, yet sharing that her eyes were no longer full of hope but instead hollow and dark.

So dark that no light could ever shine within them, the sparkle gone replaced with a silent anger.

“Excited for tonight's party?” Scootaloo spoke skidding to a sudden stop by the unicorn’s side, dust wafting across the air in a splash of gravel and dirt.

“You sure we should, maybe we ought to just hit the festival instead?” Sweetie broke free from her memories, tilting a head to the side in growing worry.

“That place is such a snooze fest and for kids, we my friend are mares now! Mares need to party and have fun, besides how many times is Tiara’s place free to crash!?” Scootaloo gave a wide grin, her eyes full of devious mischief.

“I guess so…”

“Just a guess!? Tell you what when the party begins, I’ll move Button Mash your way so you two can be alone.” The pegasus gave a wink before giggling, the unicorn blushing a bright pink.

“Whatever!”

“I see the way you stare at him, besides after that growth spurt last year he now has a nice ass.” The pegasus stuck out her tongue playfully, the unicorn just bursting into giggles from the lewdness that was Scootaloo.

“C’mon let’s go, before Tiara seduces Big Mac…” Sweetie gave a soft shake of the head, both young fillies heading off down the path laughter filling the air.

Big Mac slung a skeleton of a female pony over a large tree branch, her hooves dangling cutely towards the ground the chime of bones clicking across the farm. Tiara watching him work atop a wooden ladder, eyes glued onto his strong firm muscles while she had fun placing faux spiderwebs along some hay bales.

“Any plans for tomorrow Mac?” The mare brushed her bangs away from her eyes flirtingly, the stallion gazing down to her with a hearty chuckle.

“Other than planning a massacre here?” He gave a sly smirk,sliding down the ladder to ground level.

“Well your ‘Haunted Farm’ deal only lasts till seven, I was thinking afterwards you could…” The small filly did a sway of the tail before lifting it up high, her pouty full lips curling into a saucy smile.

“We honestly had a night planned in afterwards.” Sugar Belle spoke in a tender tone, prancing out of the nearby barn and over to her husband embracing him.

“Mmmm, been looking forward to it all week.” Mac gave a whisper, his lips meeting the lips of his wife before pulling into a passionate deep kiss.

Tiara scrunching up her small muzzle in disgust, never noticing Sugar Belle’s eyes casting a warning glare her way. Sweetie and her pegasus friend soon walking over from the distance, both watching in awe as the whole farm had been transformed into a scene from a horror story.

“Hello Belle, is Bloom free to hang out?” Sweetie spoke in a polite tone towards her elder, the rustling of hay before her bouncing to life.

“Just got done placing the spiders!” Bloom gave a soft squee as her head pushed out from the bale, a melodic giggle being hid behind a tiny yellow hoof.

“Heehee, Scoots want to um…” Sweetie bit her lower lip, tapping her chin with her hoof in deep thought.

“Discuss the ‘Cake Walk’ at the festival, you know which cake is sweet enough to eat…” Scootaloo playfully began to lean against the bale with a sing song voice.

“Mmhmm, and which cakes we should not even give a taste.” Tiara gave a flirty lick of the lips, her brows doing a playful dance in place.

“Oooo delicious.” Bloom shook the hay off her coat, pouncing out of the fray and towards Sweetie who was blushing brightly.

“Must be good cakes?” Mac spoke in confusion the teen mares exploding into a fit of giggles, walking off in a large group girlish squeals filling the air.

“You are too innocent dear.” Sugar hid a smirk, nuzzling her husband off in the opposite direction.

Fluttershy let her pale eyes watch the passing world for the last time in this life, tangled mane covering her face much like a picture frame. Slender body held in a torn dirty white hospital gown, the left side hanging off her shoulder lacklusterly.

The pure snow colored muzzle of ‘Nurse Redheart’ poking in suddenly from the doorway, the loud click of the lock flying over the pegasus seconds before. The tiny pony nurse walking within the dimly lit room in sorrow, her eyes upon this lost soul with compassion and pity.

“I’m Nurse Redheart dear, I’m ever so sorry I’m your new caretaker for this last night.” The clicking of hooves filling the room, her soft hoof tracing the mane of the yellow mare tenderly

“...” The pale hues continued to watch the bar covered window in silence, the sun outside soon falling behind the horizon in a glitter of sparkles.

“Nurse Stonehoof never gave you much care honey, look at that gown and mane!” The nurse softly nipping the gown’s string with her teeth, freeing the pegasus from the filthy garment.

“...”

“How about we get you a nice bath, afterwards I can brush those knots out of your lovely mane.” Redheart slowly spoke in a whisper, knowing this patient was on lockdown yet thought after two years of good behavior she must be pacified.

Fluttershy was easy to lift off the chair in silence, standing up on her hooves with a blank lost stare. The nurse sighing softly and guiding the mare out of the room, the hallway was blindingly bright their hooves simply traveling two doors down to the shower room.

“They have no excuse to have treated you this way, like some rabid animal dear.” The nurse gently nudging Fluttershy to the corner of the room, cantering over to the large open tub turning the warm water on swiftly.

“...”

“I’ll be bringing this up to the medical board next month, if you need a voice to speak for you at any hearings I’ll stand up for your good behavior.”

The water began to fill the large marble tub quickly, soft warm steam wafting into the air before Redheart reached into a hidden saddlebag on her backside. Removing a small bottle of rose essence, trickling the lovely scent of nature into the warm water.

“I brought some rose bath oils, I thought you might like it.” She spoke in a gentle giggle, turning around to come muzzle to muzzle with Fluttershy.

“DEAR CELESTIA!” Redheart almost pounced into the water behind her, the blank gaze of Fluttershy digging deep into her soul.

“...”

“Sorry honey, I didn’t hear you come over.” The nurse gave a nervous giggle, Fluttershy glancing down to the water sadly.

“...” Light crystalline blue tears tracing the edges of her eyes, gently trickling down her cheek in silence.

“Dear, are you crying?” Redheart spoke in a whisper, her tiny hoof lovingly wiping the tear off her face.

“...”

“Come you poor thing, let’s give you a bath.” The nurse spoke swallowing a large lump in her throat, the pegasus simply crawling into the tub politely sinking her sore body deep into the water.

“Heehee, I’ll have you looking beautiful in no time!” Redheart felt her breathing calm down, sitting on the edge of the tub before picking up a sponge to help bathe the sickly pegasus.

The scent of rose petals dancing across the room, filling the small claustrophobic space with a sense of hope.