Infection

The tight chested pain didn’t stop and neither did the worried tears for her friends. The only light within the room was that of the midday sun that made its way through the riddled doors. Every noise she made echoed within the quiet room, only dulled by the occasional bird chirp outside.

Fluttershy took a deep shaking breath trying to calm herself down a little. Her hooves covering her eyes, staining them wet with blood and tears as she weeps. “T-they can’t be dead. P-please, oh Celestia.” She whispers through grit teeth before looking up from her hooves. “Please tell me they’re safe.”

But only silence answers her cries, as she looks up panting from her plea.

She looks down to the door and sniffles rubbing her non rotten cheek. Sighing she stands up and ruffles her mane. “You can’t just let your emotions control you Fluttershy.” She scolds herself before looking at the door with more determination. “Remember your training. And take a breath.”

After a deep sigh where she sets her mane back in place, she walks over to the door and peers through the many holes she had made. The bright sun hurts her eyes as she adjusts, looking around curiously on the outside. But all she saw was a couple of boxes and a small dried pool of blood. She was unable to help herself but frown, seeing how lonely she was. Rainy was dragged away, the smear of blood was proof enough, even if Fluttershy hadn’t seen an armoured pony drag her off earlier.

However, that was neither here nor there. Fluttershy needs to check on her friends, and she can’t do that while trapped here. Standing up with her forelegs pressed into the door frames, her hindlegs dig into the dirt as she pushes. The door bent and whined as it started to try and open, yet, the crate to block the door was stopping it. Not giving Fluttershy any easy opening as she continues to struggle against it.

Her wings start to limply flap, the bones within them cracking against each other. As she can’t help but let out a growl of protest against the barrier. But to her dismay, her hooves break through the door splintering the wood and warping the metal. She can’t help but just collapse in defeat, her forelegs digging themselves into the splintered wood as she partially hangs from them.

A few moments pass before she sighs and stands up, her wings flapping to keep herself stable as she rips her forelegs out of the wood causing her to fall on her butt. Looking at the wood embedded within her forelegs she can’t help but let out a sad sigh. “Thank Celestia, it doesn't hurt.” She sadly chuckles as she starts to slowly pull out each piece with her maw.

Rainy laid on the freshly dusted table Sweetie Belle had put her on, waiting for the impending medical check Apple Bloom will give her. Sweetie Belle sat next to her on the matching chair, drinking a cup of water as she magically sorts through some papers she keeps on her.

“New bounties?” Rainy boredly asks as Sweetie pauses, looking at her.

“No, old ones.” Sweetie Belle answers, staring at the scrolls.

“Still haven’t found her?” Rainy frowns, knowing how much this gets under Sweetie Belle’s coat.

“Ever since she got Zecora on her side, it’s been near impossible.” Sweetie sighs annoyed.

“You’ll find her, you're the best headhunter in all of Equestria after all.” Rainy smiles softly, trying her best to comfort Sweetie. Getting a gentle but exhausted smile in return, pulling her away from the scrolls.

“Thanks Rainy.” She smiles before asking. “What were you doing teleporting twice in one day for?” The question had been long on the list of things to ask, but Rainy’s health took priority.

“Well, I got surrounded by a hoard of Gallopers.” Rainy weakly chuckles, to an unsurprised glare from Sweetie Belle. “And then, I panicked… Oh shit!” Rainy lunches upright, to her immediate regret as she retches into her hooves.

“Don’t get up so fast!” Sweetie Belle scolds as she grabs a bin from under the kitchen counter with her magic, throwing it to Rainy. Who pants inside of the new container. “If it’s so important, you can let me handle it while Apple Bloom gives you the check up.”

“Ugh,” Rainy burps. “I… I need a letter sent to the Queen.” Rainy requests getting a shocked faced response from Sweetie.

“What happened for you to want to write a letter to Luna?” Sweetie Belle asks, concerned as Rainy steadies herself.

“I’ve found Fluttershy. And she’s a Trotter.”

Sweetie just sat in awe, thoughts and questions racing through her head. “T-That’s impossible.” Sweetie stutters as she looks at Rainy, with utter confusion. “It’s impossible for-“

However, before she can continue, the back door loudly opens. Scaring Sweetie who jumps and tries to grab at her weapon. Which she had left at New Hope.

“Had trouble with the mess ya’ brought in?” Apple Bloom asks Rainy as she trots into the kitchen and dining room.

“Just don’t be too rough?” Rainy pleads with a weak smile only to be met with a sinister smile back as Apple Bloom leans in close and pulls the bin off of her.

“No.” She simply replies before pushing Rainy down onto the table, pressing hard and purposely along the sore mare’s body.

Rainy can only groan and gasp in pain. As Apple Bloom investigates her body, pressing against her and sometimes even instructing her to do certain actions. Knowing full well that this will take an hour at best, if she was in good health.

“Where’s the foal that went to get you?” Sweetie asks Apple Bloom as she puts the scrolls away in a pocket within her armour.

“Treebark? Fella wanted to check somethin’ he saw by the barn.” Apple Bloom responds nonchalantly over Rainy’s pained protests.

“I’ll go check on him, there’s still some paper and empty letters on AJ’s desk right?” Sweetie asks, getting a brief smile from Rainy.

“Yeah there should be.” Apple Bloom responds, before removing that smile from Rainy with her rough presses and prods, asking a bit somberly to Sweetie without moving to face her. “Still no luck?”

“No. Not for either of them.” Sweetie answers sadly before leaving, getting a sad sigh from Apple Bloom as she continues.

There was an open unobstructed dirt path that led between the house and the barn. It’s ground trotted down, large enough for carts to roll across without any issue with only a few plants poking out.

Treebark, slowly trotted along the path getting closer step after step. He was curious, Apple Bloom wouldn’t normally leave any crates outside of the barn. But what peaked his curiosity the most, was these tiny holes he could have sworn he saw. And the closer he trotted. The clearer and larger they appeared.

He frowned at the sight as he reached the barn. They were the size of hooves, if not bigger, and from how the wood had splintered out towards him. He jumped up onto one of the crates to pear in a little and he could swear he heard something.

“Hello?” He called out, a little worried as the crates had a few scorch marks on them. It looked like what Apple Bloomed had shown to warn about teleporting.

He took a step closer as he asked again. “Is anyone in there?” He looked into one of the holes, but only darkness met him. He refused to get any closer to the holes to peer in. Yet he could swear he heard something through them.

“Hello?” He said loud and clear, as worry started to build if he was maybe just over thinking things, until.

“H-Hello.” A raspy voice echoed back, his fur stood on end. The voice was sweet and soft but at the same time scratched and groaned like a Trotter’s. But that was impossible, trotters can’t talk.

Too afraid to say anything, as his instincts were telling him to run. But his legs didn’t want to move, his mind battling, wondering if the voice behind the wall was a trotter. Should he get Apple Bloom to slay it? What if it wasn’t?

“H-Hello?” The voice asked, as he saw an eye meet his, from the hole. It was pale, and did little to comfort him. However, there was a gut feeling he couldn’t break, they were alive. The pupil of the eye focused on him as he worked up the courage.

“Uhh Hi, are you okay?” Treebark finally asked. Trying his best to calm the shaking in his legs. But the silent reply he got did little to help.

”Y-Yes..” The voice finally answered back, seeming unsure itself, just for it to continue quickly. “I’m sorry if I scared you.” The voice tried to comfort him, which seemed to help his nerves a little.

“Umm, it's okay.” He tried to chuckle it off, trying to ignore his instincts. “What are you doing in there?” He asked, trying to ignore the feelings by changing the topic.

However, before the voice can answer a more familiar distant voice called out to him. “Get off the boxes before you hurt yourself.” It scared him, causing him to jump and lose his balance for a few moments. It was Sweetie Belle, who didn’t seem too pleased from her annoyed look she gave him as she walked over.

“A-Ah! You scared me.” He responded needing to take a moment to steady his breathing. Before jumping down and looking up at her. “I was checking out the barn. And I heard something.” He gestures to the boxes as Sweetie Belle’s eyes train over the boxes and doors. Seeming to search for something he couldn’t get his hooves on.

“What was it?” She calmly asks, her eyes narrowing a little at the barn door, getting a concerned frown from Treebark in response.

“It… Uh…” He trails off, quickly thinking about the pony inside the barn. Worried, they could be hurt, maybe they’re hiding from Sweetie Belle, or maybe they’re getting supplies for the next exercise? So many questions, Treebark shakes his head and looks up at Sweetie. “It was nothing.”

“Sure.” She coldly answers back, before curling her leg around him, ushering him forward towards the home. “Now come on, Bloom wanted you.” Her eyes not leaving the barn almost glaring at it, warning it.

Treebark couldn’t help but frown, a sinking pit in his stomach grew. Wondering if he did a poor job of hiding that pony. If he even did the right choice trying to hide her. However, before he could continue deeper, Sweetie Belle’s voice interrupted him.

Some time had passed as the pit in his stomach sunk deeper. Feeling heavier and more worried.

“What do you know of the elements of Friendship?” It caught Treebark by surprise, causing him to stop in the forest of wild apple trees.

“I. They were Equestria’s protectors before the outbreak, right?” He asks unsure where the sudden question came from. And not too sure if he got the answer right, worried about what a scolding from Sweetie Belle would be like.

She nodded her head a little, stopping a few steps ahead of him and turning to face him. “They were a little more than just that. What else do you know?” She calmly asked, there was a hint of sorrow in her words that seemed greater than Apple Bloom’s.

Treebark frowned, her tone was noticeable but there was a sense that he would better understand what’s eating at her if he was older. So he simply answered, “I know they played a big part in the rescue of Ponies during the first outbreak. But only Rainbow Dash and Rarity made it out alive. Um. Twilight was lost in her castle, locking it off after a dragon got infected in there with her. And…” he trailed off, trying to think of what he remembered. Tapping his hoof to his chin as he looked down in thought. “Rainbow Dash got hurt when Rarity went cra-“

“That’s enough.” She interrupted harshly, it was cold and commanding. Treebark couldn’t help but stand at attention as he looked up and saw her piercing gaze. Panic fills him like a tidal wave as he mentally kicks himself for forgetting that they were sisters. He braced himself for the worst to come, looking away and closing his eyes. Ripping his sight away from her cold and angered emerald eyes.

But he heard a disappointed sigh come out of her still causing a flinch from Treebark from how tensed he was. There was a small pause as he opened his eyes to see her, looking through the trees. Lost in her own mind before she looks over at him. “She never hurt Rainbow Dash.” She corrected, opening her mouth to continue but stopping herself, and shaking her head.

“Sweet Celestia.” She briefly cursed under her breath, before continuing to walk through the forest. “Come on, Rainy should be finished by now.” She encouraged, as Treebark quickly followed behind.