Travelling around Ponyville’s outskirts was a longer way to Fluttershy’s cottage than she would have liked. Pinkie Pie had often spotted several ponies out for picnics and scenic walks, and had always had to go create a distraction as Fluttershy snuck around the lot of them. Other times they had to stop so that Pinkie could readjust Fluttershy’s cast, which tended to slide off her after several minutes and cause her wound irritation. She hadn’t realised until it was long too late that they left the buckle that attached it to a pony’s torso had been left in her room at the hospital.

Fluttershy paused again under a small tree as the pair neared what appeared to be the last hill separating them from Fluttershy’s property. The sun was descending lower and the pair had become desperate to reach the forest before it had lowered to a point that its light would no longer provide them with much needed sight in the forest.

“Pinkie, this cast is more trouble than it’s worth...” Fluttershy said as she tugged it back up on her leg, wincing in pain as it rubbed on her scar.

“Yeah, but you need it Fluttershy, otherwise you won’t be able to walk properly,” Pinkie reminded her.

“I know, I know... I just wish it would stay on... The doctor must have given me a wrong size or something...” Fluttershy contemplated as she struggled slightly to get up again.

Pinkie Pie realised she hadn’t mentioned forgetting the body buckle, but she knew also that the pair weren’t far from their destination, and she figured Fluttershy might have a rope that she could use as an improvised belt when they arrived there. She walked over to Fluttershy and helped lift her to her hooves, and received a thankyou before the pair began to trek up the small hill. As they neared the top, and Pinkie realised that the cottage was just over it, she jittered to a halt causing Fluttershy to nervously stop too.

Pinkie let one of her ears drop and raised the other, craning her head to the side and listening carefully to the top of the hill in the direction of Fluttershy’s home. She maintained this position for several moments as Fluttershy became increasingly confused.

“What are you doing?” She asked, observing the odd pink pony’s actions, curious of what she was trying to achieve.

“There’s somepony in your cottage!” Pinkie said, shifting slightly as she started to drag herself ever so stealthily up to the summit of the hill.

Fluttershy’s eyes started to go wide as she wondered anxiously what Pinkie was hearing.

“Is your Pinkie sense telling you that?” She asked, trying to block out the thought that the Slendermane was there waiting for them, shaking her head and hoping Pinkie Pie might have just been hearing things.

“No, I heard them go in.” Pinkie said, as she peeked over the top of the hill.

‘Them?’ Fluttershy thought as she tip toed up next to Pinkie, dropping slowly and carefully to her stomach next to her.

“Who do you see Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked, keeping her head down out of sight. Pinkie didn’t reply as she hadn’t seen anyone go in, and continued to observe the cottage. It baffled Fluttershy that Pinkie could have heard anyone from their distance away, but she knew better than most to trust Pinkie’s heightened senses and abilities. Suddenly both of Pinkie’s perked up ears dropped down and she ducked her head down out of sight next to Fluttershy’s.

“Uh oh...” She started as she did so, “We may have a slight problem...” She said as she looked at Fluttershy, whose expression began to descend into worry.

***

“Ah simply can’t believe they’d just run off like that!” Applejack said annoyed to Rarity as the pair exited the hospital. “Fluttershy should know better than te leave the hospital in her condition!”

“Yes, while I admit the poor dear was clearly quite disheartened, it was no excuse to leave. She’d be putting herself in great danger if she entered the forest without surgery on her leg.” Rarity agreed, sharing her disappointment in Fluttershy’s choice.

“And the nerve of Pinkie te let her go! With her or not she has a lot te answer for! She ain’t no surgeon or survivalist, and if they get lost in there, neither of them are going to know what to do!” Applejack said, more sternly as she became clearly aggravated.

Rarity noticed Applejack’s tone change, and stopped her putting a hoof on her shoulder.

“Calm down dear, we are talking about Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy here, they’re insecure without their friends, and we weren’t very supportive of Fluttershy’s aspirations. Granted we had reason not to be, but if you were in her spot and you wanted to find Twilight, would you let the rest of us stop you? I know I wouldn’t...” Rarity admitted.

“Neither would Ah...” Applejack admitted as well, sighing.

“We all care about each other, and we know the lengths we’d go to if it meant saving our friends. If some hooligan is holding Twilight as a... well, a prisoner in the Everfree forest, it only makes sense that we’d all want to help.”

Ah’m just disappointed that she didn’t think about what Twilight would have wanted, and don’t try and tell me she wouldn’t have wanted her to stay at the hospital...” Applejack said as the pair began walking again.

“I know... let’s just get to Fluttershy’s home... if they stopped there, we will most certainly catch them there.” Rarity pointed out. “And Applejack?” Rarity asked receiving a widened eyed stare from the orange mare, “Don’t scold the poor girl. She’s probably in a very traumatic state right now...” Rarity added, as the pair passed by Town Hall.

The sunlight was growing dimmer, and the pair could see Fluttershy’s cottage in the distance.

“You don’t suppose Rainbow Dash is with them do you?” Rarity asked, still concerned that they hadn’t seen a single hint of the pegasus in the town or the sky above them.

“Ah wouldn’t rule out the possibility, but Ah’m sure Rainbow would have turned them around if she is with them. She was just supposed to be going to and back from the forest anyways.” Applejack pointed out.

Still no sign of their three missing friends, the pair neared Fluttershy’s cottage and were growing increasingly concerned.

“We’ll be there any moment now, and we still haven’t seen any sign of them. You don’t think they’ve gone straight into the forest do you?” Rarity asked.

“Ah very much doubt it. Ah’d be surprised if they got that far te be honest, especially at the pace they’d be going in Fluttershy’s condition.” Applejack said thinking about where they could be. “Ah think they more than likely just went te her cottage first. In fact, I think they’d still be there if they went there.” Applejack said encouragingly as the pair walked to the bridge over the small pond in front of Fluttershy’s cottage.

Rarity had her doubts that their friends would be at the cottage, but she tried to remain optimistic; a little hope could go a long way in her opinion.

“I certainly hope that if we find them they don’t try and sneak away from us again... Fluttershy’s in no condition to be in the forest... especially at this time of day. It’ll be dark in less than a few hours.” Rarity estimated surveying the light tint of orange in the distant sky. “We need to get her back to the hospital, and then get a message to princess Celestia about Twilight’s whereabouts. If Twilight is in the forest, the princess will surely find her.” Rarity said, receiving a nod of agreement from Applejack.

As the pair approached the door Rarity stopped Applejack once more.

“Remember Applejack, don’t snap at the poor dear alright?” Rarity reminded her, making sure her previous aggravated temper would not show.

“Ah won’t... that’s assuming she’s even in there though...” Applejack said, before turning and walking into the doorway. “Fluttershy?” She called out, as she entered the cottage.

“Pinkie?” Rarity called out, following her in.

The pair were about to call for their friends again, until they caught the sight of Fluttershy’s cottage. As they took in everything around them, from the destroyed possessions to the bloodstains of the little fillies and colts that had taken a short refuge in the house before hospitalization, a disheartening feeling washed over them and they looked at each other, both able to see the depression in the other’s eyes.

“Ah never got a good look at the place before... Ah was so fast te get my sister outta here that Ah didn’t get a good look at the place... It... it...” Applejack lost her sentence there, struggling to take in everything around them.

“She went through all this for those little ponies... I can’t imagine what extents she’d push herself to for Twilight...” Rarity said, realising the true strength that Fluttershy possessed when she was determined to help her friends. She walked over to Applejack, who was looking over at a broken cupboard with bloodstains around it, and tapped her on the back. “Let’s go look upstairs?” Rarity suggested, receiving a nod of agreement from Applejack.

As they walked towards the stairs, Applejack turned around and surveyed the room one more time, and shook her head with a sigh. She still didn’t believe that the mysterious creature existed, but that didn’t negate the fact that the damage done was truly supernatural. Everything to her was so peaceful in Ponyville. To see all the violent sights she was viewing in just the one room was a very upsetting occurrence.

“Fluttershy?” She called again as she walked up the stairs with Rarity.

***

“What is it Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked, becoming highly concerned.

“It was Applejack... she called your name from the inside... and I think she’s with someone else... either Rarity or Rainbow Dash...” Pinkie Pie answered.

“Oh no... If they catch me here they’ll take me to the hospital and I’ll never be able to save Twilight.” Fluttershy concluded quickly, stammering slightly as she became increasingly worried. “How’d they beat us here?” Fluttershy asked, burying her head in her hooves.

“They would have gone straight through town... we need to turn around and find another way...” Pinkie suggested.

“No! No we can’t! I only know the path from the forest entrance past my house, and I need to follow it exactly if we’re going to find Twilight! We have to go this way Pinkie!” Fluttershy said, making sure Pinkie Pie understood how important it was they stuck to the path Fluttershy was familiar with.

Pinkie Pie scratched the back of her neck anxiously.

“I... I don’t think we’re going to be able to pass your cottage without getting caught Fluttershy, not to mention we won’t make it very far if we don’t stop at your cottage...” Pinkie Pie said.

“Why Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked confused.

“I... I left the cast buckle at the hospital... I didn’t realise at first until it kept falling off you and I noticed the part you attach it to and...and... I’m so sorry Fluttershy... I didn’t mean it.” Pinkie Pie said trying not to get upset and break down, worrying that she might have messed up and upset her friend.

“Pinkie it’s okay,” Fluttershy comforted her with a small cuddle, “What does that have to do with my cottage though?”

“I was going to see if you had a rope, I was going to make a buckle...” Pinkie explained.

“That was thoughtful of you Pinkie, but you don’t need to worry about that.” Fluttershy said.

“But... but what if you get slowed down by the cast?” Pinkie asked, wanting to make sure there was no chance of the pair wasting more time. Fluttershy thought for a second, when suddenly an idea struck in her mind.

“I think I have some spare rope hanging on the edge of the chicken coop. If we can get to it without being spotted, we can hurry down to the forest and tie the cast to me.” Fluttershy suggested.

“That could work! Quickly then, start making your way to the forest! They won’t see you if you hurry, they’re upstairs and the windows are closed.” Pinkie said in a hurry.

“How do you know that?” Fluttershy asked confused.

“I just do, now hurry, I’ll meet you down by the tree line!” Pinkie said, as she zipped over the hill, and quick as a flash, began to run over to the side of the cottage. Fluttershy shook her head and started to step to the top of the hill, but realised that even the smallest bits of pressure on her leg would sting and slow her down.

Looking down at Pinkie, Fluttershy saw that she was hiding on the corner of the house, and watched carefully as she began to slink out of view around the side.

‘Why is she going behind the cottage? The chicken coop is out the front...’ Fluttershy thought to herself. Trying to get back to the task at hand, Fluttershy looked at where she needed to be in front of the trees, and the distance it was away. She gulped and took a step forward, looking carefully at her upstairs bedroom window. Fluttershy’s nerves started to get the better of her as she began to focus on the window, understanding that if she wasn’t fast enough, and that window opened, she’d be spotted.

She froze on the spot fearful and worried she wouldn’t be able to make it in time. She wondered if it might be safer to wait for Rarity and Applejack to leave, but then she realised that they might travel down to the forest next to look for them, and they’d never be able to look for Twilight at a fast pace if they got stuck behind the pair searching for them.

She darted her eyes around quickly, hoping that she’d find a solution, but she couldn’t find anything. Fluttershy knew that she wouldn’t have enough time to run there now, and she was starting to breathe fast as her heart rate increased.

‘I have to be brave! For Twilight!’ She thought to herself, running that through her head and allowing herself a short moment to calm down. She thought as hard as she could as fast as she could, tip-trotting on the spot very quickly on her 3 good legs, before she suddenly realised the answer. She turned around and looked at her wings, and then at the area she had to reach.

‘I can glide down to the forest! I only have to flap my wings twice or so to make a distance like that!’ Fluttershy realised.

Wasting not a second more, Fluttershy took a step back on her good leg, and with as much strength as she could muster without causing herself too much pain, Fluttershy kicked off with the leg and spread her wings, flapping them once to gain some air. The spreading of her wings stretched the skin from her scar slightly, but the pain had become bearable, and Fluttershy was able to maintain her composure, as she soared through the air, directly towards the Everfree forest.

She turned her head to the side, noticing Pinkie Pie on the other side of her house, who watched her travelling down towards the forest, impressed with Fluttershy for her quick thinking on a way to get where she needed to be.

Fluttershy finally felt some degree of hope returning; the others hadn’t spotted her and Pinkie, they weren’t likely going to, and there was still enough time for them to get to the middle of the forest, find Twilight, and get back before sun down, on the one condition that there was nothing to stop them along the way. That didn’t shroud any of Fluttershy’s fears though; the one in particular being the likely obstacle that would stop them if it found them.

Fluttershy’s trail of thought was cut short though, as her attention was distracted by a stinging sensation in her leg that was different to that of having her wings spread. She looked around at her leg, and her eyes went wide with worry as she found her cast was beginning to slide from its position on her leg. She kicked her leg up slightly, trying to ensure that it wouldn’t fall further, but the pain she caused herself as she did so started to alter her glide path, and she began to descend far too early. Fluttershy stiffened her leg and let it remain as still as possible, flapping her wings softly a few times again, trying to dampen the pain that was now increasing due to her cast sliding over her scar while it stretched with her wings.

Pinkie Pie’s eyes started to go wide with concern as she noticed Fluttershy visibly struggling reach her destination. She ran forwards towards her, but stopped as she reached the front of Fluttershy’s house, realising she couldn’t help her even if she did reach her. Fluttershy had to reach the forest on her own through gliding; they didn’t have enough seconds left to run the rest of the way. Pinkie flicked her ears up towards the upstairs outer window, but couldn’t hear anything other than faint hoof-steps on wood, growing louder and louder.

‘Oh no! They’re coming! Oh hurry Fluttershy hurry!’ Pinkie cried in her head, before taking a deep breath, and charging from the side of the house over to the chicken coop.

Fluttershy was on track again, but the stinging pain in her leg was growing to a painful level as the cast became loose again. Fluttershy felt a few small tears welling up in her eyes, but she clenched her teeth and held her form, hoping it’d make a difference. Unfortunately for Fluttershy though, her cast having loosened too much began to slip quickly from her leg, before falling off completely. Fluttershy let out a gasp of pain, and Pinkie Pie’s eyes went wide with worry as the both watched the cast fall to the ground. Fluttershy had no choice but to continue flying, believing she’d have less than a few seconds to reach a point she’d be out of view. Within a few moments, she touched the ground next to a few small trees, and raised her wings to slow herself up, but still found landing difficult without moving her leg drastically. She let her forelegs land first, and then her back left leg, using all three to quickly trot to a stop, before letting her back right leg touch ground as gently as possible.

She looked back at the window and let out a sigh of relief; she’d made it without being spotted. She looked over at Pinkie Pie, who nodded to her as if trying to tell her good job, but after Fluttershy looked at her line of sight after she took her eyes off her, she noticed that Pinkie was looking at her cast. Fluttershy had no intention whatsoever to try and reach it now, but pinkie however was about to make a dash to grab the cast and get back to the wall, but stopped dead frozen in her tracks as she heard the window creak open at the top of the cottage.

***

As Applejack and Rarity approached Fluttershy’s room, the pair let out a sigh as they found that not Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, or even Rainbow Dash was in the house.

“What now?” Applejack asked Rarity, hoping she had a backup plan.

“I don’t know... Maybe we should have a quick look around the front of the forest?” Rarity said, happy to search a small bit around for them, but not wanting to travel too deep into the forest.

“That might be a good idea... Ah just don’t see how they could get that far though... they wouldn’t have left long before we got back te the room... unless!” Applejack stopped, turning and looking at Rarity. “What if they haven’t gotten here yet?” she asked.

Rarity realised Applejack could be right, and her eyes went wide as an idea struck her.

“How about one of us checks the forest a little ways in, and the other wait here? That way, we can either stop her and bring her back, or stop her before she has a chance to leave.” Rarity suggested.

“Sounds like a plan te me! Ah’ll check the forest though, Ah can cover a bit more than just the front of the forest very quickly.” Applejack offered.

“Alright, but when we find them, I think we should go together and find Twilight... Fluttershy is going to be dreadfully upset if we stop her, and I think the least we could do is attempt a search. Besides, Twilight is our best friend, and no matter what Fluttershy said she might have seen, Twilight has been taken by somepony, and if she’s still there, she isn’t safe...” Rarity said.

Applejack too was concerned for Twilight, but she had been leaning more towards the option of getting Princess Celestia involved in the search, solely due to the fact that she believed Fluttershy. The others couldn’t read ponies like she could, and Fluttershy had displayed every sign that she was being completely honest.

“Rarity Ah know we both care about Twilight and want her te be safe... but it’s not a pony... whatever Fluttershy told us about it, she wasn’t lying. There’s something out there, and it’s got Twilight. She’s a strong pony with some of the best magic Ah’ve ever seen, but unless she’s hiding or escaped te somewhere safe, it’s got her, and maybe it knows how important she is, or it’s expecting somepony te come for her. We need help, because if Twilight can go down fighting it, we can too.” Applejack reasoned, knowing it’d mean doom for the lot of them if it found them before they found Twilight.

Rarity frowned a little and thought momentarily, wanting to figure out a way in which they could possibly avoid the creature and find Twilight, but nothing came to mind; Applejack was right.

“Yes I agree, we need to get Princess Celestia... Where would Spike be though?” Rarity asked realising that they still hadn’t found him either. “You don’t think he’s out there too?” Rarity asked becoming even more panicked and afraid.

“Ah don’t think so Rarity, Twilight probably sent him te Canterlot before all this trouble started.” Applejack guessed, unsure but against giving themselves more friends to worry about losing. She was certain Spike would be fine. Applejack sighed and walked over to the window, pressing it open lightly, causing it to creak as she did so.

“Ah wish there was a way to know what to expect out there Rarity, Ah’m so confused by it all. Fluttershy has shown some of the most admirable dedication to helping Twilight, but she’s so afraid of everything... How can she still have the courage to even step within a hundred yards of the forest if that thing out there is so dangerous?” She asked, before opening the window all the way and leaning on the windowsill. Applejack was about to say something to Rarity again, but something caught her eye outside that made her jump in shock.

“What is it darling?” Rarity asked, concerned by Applejack’s sudden jumpiness and change in composure.

“Look out there! On the grass!” Applejack said pointing out the window. Rarity came over and followed Applejack’s direction and her eyes went wide with shock after noticing a little leg shaped object lying outside.

“That’s Fluttershy’s cast!” Rarity shouted.

“C’mon! We gotta go now! If that’s here then she must’ve already been here!” Applejack concluded in a hurry.

“But why would she have gone into the forest without her cast?” Rarity asked panicked as the pair backed away from the door.

“I don’t know, but whatever happened can’t be good! We need to hurry, if they’re in the forest they’re in danger, let’s go!” Applejack said as they both turned around, galloping for the door.

***

Fluttershy had noticed the pair standing in the window of her cottage, and heard them panic as they noticed her cast. She began to hyperventilate, having realised that the pair were now alert and knew they were nearby.

‘They’re going to find me! They’re going to take me back to the hospital!’ She thought as she put her face into her hooves, beginning to cry. Fluttershy didn’t want to give up, but she had no chance of outrunning Applejack and Rarity. Her hope was fading away, before she felt something tapping on her shoulder distracted her. Fluttershy raised her head to find Pinkie was standing in front of her with her cast and the rope from her chicken coop tied to it on both sides. Even for Pinkie the speed at which she must have completed it at was quite impressive.

“Hurry Fluttershy! We have to go now!” Pinkie exclaimed, before helping her to her hooves and gently lifting her back right leg backwards, slipping the cast on as carefully, but quickly as possible.

“But they’ll be here any second! They’ll catch us!” Fluttershy cried, clenching her teeth in pain a little as Pinkie slipped her cast over her scar.

“We have to try Fluttershy! For Twilight!” Pinkie said before pulling the rope under her left hind leg and pulling it tight to her torso. Fluttershy took in a deep breath as she summoned her courage again, but before she could move another step, a voice called out that drowned it all away in seconds.

Author's Note

This chapter has been delayed for a very long time, as I've had a bad case of writers block. I'm continuing to write it with a fresh new story in mind, and there will be no more delays. THe story will be updated as often as possible. I apologise for the time this took, but hopefully what will soon come of the stories continuation will make up for it.