Diary of the Dead

While Fluttershy was being tortured, her friends were consistently trying to find her. They looked everywhere in Canterlot City, but every lead came up dry. Someone said they thought they saw a girl matching Fluttershy’s description staying at a hotel. But when the girls checked it out, they found nothing but a yellow bed sheet and some pink curtains. Applejack remarked on how the hotel had nothing but one star reviews online, and it wasn’t hard to figure out why. Yet another lead saw them head below the surface, into a sewer pipe. Well, okay, most of them did. Rarity, even for sweet friendship, would not set foot inside. So, she acted as a lookout while the other girls combed through the system. Unfortunately, all they found was a lot of off putting water.

“There’s gotta be somewhere we haven’t tried yet!” Sunset remarked one day as the girls gathered in her apartment to try and sort things out, “I mean, Canterlot City is huge! We certainly can’t have found every nook, cranny, or other hiding spot!”

“But where would someone evil take our dear Fluttershy?” Rarity asked.

“I don’t know,” Sunset replied, “but we can’t blow the cover on our operation. We have to keep up the front that we’re simply looking for a lost friend.”

“Sunset’s right,” Twilight said supportively, “if we tell everyone we interrogate exactly how much trouble she’s in, it could spiral out of control.”

“Or…” Applejack said thoughtfully.

“Or what?” Rainbow asked.

“Or we just might save her life,” Applejack said, “admit it, guys. We’re just high school girls. There ain’t no way we can crack a mystery as big as this one. I mean, it’s more convoluted than the plot to Avengers: Endgame!”

“You really didn’t like that movie, did you?” Rainbow asked dryly.

“No, I didn’t, but it was the first thing that popped in my head,” Applejack retorted, “now, pay attention! Fluttershy’s in a hell of a lotta hot water right now. We know she isn’t gone, ‘cause them magic journal entries keep a-comin’ in. If we act immediately and notify the proper authorities, we could save her and have a hootenanny of a reunion party!”

“OO! Reunion parties are some of my favorites!” Pinkie exclaimed.

“Yeah!” Applejack said, “and more’n that, we’d have our friend back! So…what do y’all think?”

“I mean…it certainly does make sense,” Rarity said.

“Yeah,” Rainbow chimed in, “I just want Fluttershy back and, with the journal, we can prove that she’s being hurt.”

“We can’t prove a damn thing,” Sunset suddenly said.

The other girls stopped short. They were so sure that they’d figured a way out of their problem. More importantly, they were ecstatic at the possibility of receiving Fluttershy into their midst once more. But Sunset didn’t seem to agree. The fiery haired girl sat on her bright red couch, toying with the diary in front of her. Something about her was very determined, and this frightened her friends. They looked around at each other for some kind of transitory phrase, but could find none. Nothing could sap the awkwardness that permeated the room.

That is, until Twilight made a move. She crept to the couch and sat next to her best friend, resting a hand on her shoulder. Sunset looked up and seemed to connect with the purple girl’s violet eyes. She smiled and gingerly took Twilight’s small gesture, grasping the hand with a touch that was at once soft and loving, yet firm and absolute. Her mind was playing games with her again, and she felt Fluttershy’s cool, soothing voice speak to her.

Please, the voice said, don’t quit on me.

But I don’t know where to turn! Sunset yelled internally, I have no idea what to do next. There has to be something I’m doing wrong, some little element of this that I’m not seeing.

Listen to me, the voice said, when the time is right, you will know what to do. Look to the magic of our friendship to save us.

As if on cue, the diary suddenly came to life. An entry wrote itself as the girls gathered around. They’d all bore witness to Equestrian magic before, but it still baffled them. The words shimmered as they came into the book. It was like Fluttershy herself were sitting there writing them. They flowed with beautiful penmanship, speaking life into each page, breathing a gorgeous sense of love into every last stroke. It was so amazing that it drew tears from a couple of the viewers.

Dear Diary,

I remain…trapped in these walls of stone and other materials too numerous to name. My captors have been merciless in their punishment. My clothes are torn and ragged. My skin is so scratched and bruised, it’s barely recognizable. I have wanted to give up hope. But…I won’t. I refuse to give up because I know my friends have found this diary. I know they did, and I know that the magic of friendship will help them find me. I know they’re reading this as I write it. So, I’m going to switch from writing to you, Dear Diary, to writing to them.

Dear Friends,

You must know how much I adore each one of you. Rainbow Dash, for your loyalty and courage. Rarity, for your beautiful, generous heart and stunning creativity. Pinkie, for your laughter, humor, and parties. Applejack, for your integrity and hard work. Twilight, for your mind, your love, and your magic. Sunset, for your blazing attitude and unwillingness to let a friend go. As I sit in my cell, I think of you all very often, and how much I love you and miss you. Whatever lies have been told about me, you must continue to try and find me. For I feel in my heart that you’ve found this journal. As for how I’m able to write in it without being present, I shall explain that when this is over. For now, we have more pressing matters to attend to. This is your magical connection to me. Don’t give up on me…please. I’m waiting for you and I cannot wait to see you and hold you all again.

Fluttershy

Sunset looked up from the page with tears streaming down her cheeks. For the umpteenth time, she held the diary close to her chest. She felt renewed strength course through her body. A love unlike any she’d known before caused all doubt to cease. It was amplified by the presence of those around her. It was the same friendship she and Fluttershy knew before, but multiplied a thousand times over. Warmth flooded her being, and she rose from her seat. She turned around and placed the tome back on the table, wiping her eyes and looking at her friends.

“We’re not going anywhere,” she said, “Fluttershy needs us…and we’re going to rescue her.”