"Thanks again for having me over, Fluttershy. The tea really was exactly what I needed to cool down my nerves,” Rainbow Dash waited in the doorframe, visibly relieved.
“Sure thing, Rainbow, and don’t you worry about that strange zebra’s 'curse' too much. I’m sure there’s nothing to it.”
“Yeah right,” Rainbow Dash gestured with a hoof. “Who would curse a pony over a broken old mirror and some candy apples anyway–I mean, I even paid for the candy apples! Such a dumb prank!" For a moment, she couldn’t help but chuckle at herself for having been scared at all. Then, the young zebra’s red burning eyes, the uncanny tone in her voice and the words she spoke before disappearing in the sudden haze replayed in her mind. ‘Those things I have lost, they come with a certain cost. For every harmony of two I see, one of my darker images shall be free. Once released they will be aware, looking for everything you care. As long as justice is in vain, one only shall remain!’ Even if she couldn’t make any meaning of these, did Rainbow Dash gulp at the thought. “However, it was just really … creepy.”
Fluttershy shook her head in defeat. “Nowadays some ponies don’t know where to stop and draw the line when preparing their costumes for Nightmare Night.” Taking into consideration whom she was talking to, Fluttershy smirked. “But I’m sure everything will be just fine.”
Rainbow Dash nodded and threw a quick glance at the setting sun. “I better get going, Scootaloo’s got a new costume this year and is probably already waiting.” She gave Fluttershy a short but warm hug and slowly hovered outside. “See you tomorrow for lunch?”
“Sure thing, I can’t wait–it’s been such a long time since we had lunch together.”
“Great, I’ll come around and pick you up,” Rainbow Dash once again turned around. “Good night, Fluttershy!” She waved and took off in the direction of Ponyville.
“Good night, Rainbow, have fun!” Fluttershy wasn’t sure if Rainbow Dash heard her as fast as she left. For a few moments, she watched her friend slowly disappearing in the distance before she closed the door again.
“Huh?”
The yellow pegasus turned around. Her eyes darting from left to right and back as she screened the room for an upset, or even worse, a hurt animal. “Hello? Any creature in need of help?” She walked from the living room to the kitchen and from there upstairs; however, despite all her efforts, she couldn’t find one of her little critters being injured or caught in a fight, which was strange. Fluttershy was sure that just after having closed the door, she had heard a faint screech.
*~*
The moonlight penetrating through the windows immersed the cottage in a faint gentle blue. Fluttershy hummed to herself as she checked on her critters for one last time before going to bed. Most of them were already deeply asleep, yet their caretaker always made sure they were having a comfortable and peaceful rest for the night. It took a while until she had once again checked on every mouse, squirrel, raccoon, skunk, bunny, and bird that slept in her living room, but it allowed her to go to bed with a clear conscience.
When she passed her golden-framed mirror hanging between the couch and the door to the kitchen, Fluttershy noted a thin scratch running across it from the bottom left to the upper right. Carefully stroking over the surface, she asked herself how that had happened and concluded that she needed to have another serious talk again with the younger animals which sometimes were playing too wild in the small cottage.
However, having made the decision to keep this conversation for the next day, she quietly sneaked upstairs into her bedroom. “I really do hope that Rainbow Dash won’t overdo it with her pranking,” Fluttershy thought aloud with a sigh as she slipped under the blanket. “It would be so bad if every pony is upset again like last time.” She threw a glance over to Angel who already was deep asleep as well. “Good night, Angel,” her gentle voice whispered nevertheless.
*~*
Fluttershy’s ears perked up and her eyes shot open in reflex as she once again perceived a faint screech. She quickly jumped on her hooves and rushed downstairs, already imagining the worst of things just happening to one of her beloved critters. With every step she made towards the living room, the screech turned louder and more alarming. “Hold on, I’m right here!” Fluttershy shouted as she reached the bottom of the staircase. The screech didn’t stop, became even more unsettling.
Jumping into the living room, Fluttershy turned on the light. The screech suddenly was gone. “Where are you?!” she inquired with an anxious tone. Some of her animals rubbed their eyes in response, a few gave her a bewildered look.
“Which creature is injured, where is it?” she asked around the variety of creatures in a mixture of nervousness, concern, and panic, but none of them seemed to know what she was even talking about. She rushed from room to room, twice, thrice but there still was no sign of any creature being in trouble.
After ten minutes, Fluttershy was again standing in the middle of the living room, panting. Was this just a dream, a terrible nightmare? Had her mind played a trick on her after waking up? Did all the talk with Rainbow Dash about curses and nightmare night result in her imagination going wild?
Fluttershy wasn’t sure what to believe any longer, it all felt so real. Observed by her sleepy critters, she took some deep breaths and slowly calmed down again. None of her little friends were hurt or in trouble. “There is nothing to worry about,” she told herself repeatedly. It was the middle of the night, and the best she could do was let her animals continue their rest and go back to bed herself.
“Good night, my little ones,” Fluttershy chanted. “I’m really, really sorry for having disturbed your sleep. Please have a nice rest and continue your sweet dreams.” She turned off the light, leaving the room in a faint blue once again.
Immediately, a terrifying screech echoed in her ears.
Fluttershy’s heart throbbed violently. A shudder ran down her spine.
Her hoof instantly hit the light switch.
No reaction.
Again. Again. Again. Again. Again.
Besides the faint moonlight, it remained dark.
A creaking sound echoed from across the room. Glass broke.
Another menacing screech followed.
Fluttershy’s glance darted to the opposite door towards the kitchen.
She heard her critters crying, screaming, shrieking in panic.
An uncanny shadow crossed her, her eyes wandered to the ceiling.
She perceived the dysfunctional light wigging forth and back.
Something grinded on the wall to her left.
She turned there, trying to recognize anything.
Rasping and ripping noises to her right.
Her reaction repeatedly too slow.
At once, the room again was filled with silence.
Fluttershy’s breath staggered.
She realized that all her critters were gone.
A heavy ball formed in her throat.
Then, the menacing screech once again echoed in her ears, louder, closer.
She could feel a hot breath stroking over her neck.
Fluttershy turned around. Her eyes grew wide in terror.
She gasped in shock, wanted to scream-
*~*
Another muffled cry filled the otherwise peaceful landscape surrounding Fluttershy’s cottage.
Rainbow Dash’s snout was buried deep in Twilight’s drenched chest. There was no unseeing what she discovered when she went to pick up their friend for lunch. The terrible sight of the cottage’s inside would hunt her for the rest of her life. Twilight held Rainbow Dash tight in a futile effort trying to suppress tears herself. What kind of pony or creature was capable of doing something like this, especially to Fluttershy? The question burned on her mind, repeating itself over and over again.
Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie hurried up the small hill towards them.
“I’m sorry sugar cube, we came as fast as we could.” Applejack panted and gently placed a hoof on Rainbow Dash’s back.
“Darling, please tell us-” Rarity’s words kept stuck in her throat as Twilight looked at her, slowly shaking her head.
“Where… where is…” Pinkie Pie stammered, her mane falling down as the weight of Twilight’s reaction slowly sank in.
“Can… can we go see her?” inquired Applejack carefully.
“No, please don’t.” Twilight’s reaction came unexpectedly fast. “You… please trust me, you don’t want to see this.” She heavily sighed, holding close her sobbing and jerking friend tightly in her hooves. Another scream, so pained that despite it was muffled by Twilight’s purple coat sent a cold shiver down every pony’s spine, followed.
Applejack bit her lower lip. “Is there anything we can do?”
Twilight considered for a second until she finally replied “There is,” she slowly dissolved the close embrace with Rainbow Dash who only very reluctantly let go. “Take Rainbow Dash back to the castle, I’ll stay here until-” Twilight cleared her throat. It wouldn’t have done any good mentioning Canterlot’s forensics specialists she called for support. “I need to investigate a little further, it is my duty as a princess,” she reformulated. “I’ll catch up with you soon.”
Her friends, missing for words, just nodded. “C’mon, Sugar cube, time to go home.” Applejack and Rarity gently backed Rainbow Dash from both sides, Pinkie Pie trotted alongside them.
Carrying a most burdened expression on her snout, Twilight watched her four friends slowly walking down the small hill again in the direction of the castle. Her head hanging low, she noticed a single shard of broken glass lying on the ground, directly in between her hooves. Twilight’s horn glowed in gentle purple as she picked it up and threw it over her shoulder to the others she had found and stacked before, next to a fence post so that no pony would accidentally step on them. A mild breeze wafted through her mane.
Twilight turned around.
Except for some leaves dancing in the wind, there was nothing, which was strange.
She was sure to have heard a faint screech.
