Equestria Copes

Tick... Tick... Tick...

The silence in the small room had an inordinate amount of tension behind it. The only thing that could break the uncomfortable silence was the subtle ticking of the clock on the wall over the door. Nopony made a sound, neither the scrawling scratch of a pen against paper, nor the click-clack of keys against a keyboard, or even the tapping of a hoof on the surface of the desk. No sighing, no humming, not even so much as loud breathing. It was just silent.

Tick... Tick... Tick... Tock...

"That's it!" growled Rainbow, shoving her chair backward. "I'm going to go find out what's taking so long."

"Oh, no ya don't!" shouted Applejack, grabbing Rainbow's tail before she could leap all the way over the table. "That young... stallion?... asked us to wait here, and that's what we need ta do. Not cause more trouble and wind up stuck in a different waitin' room. Slow yer roll and simmer down."

"It has been three and a half hours," pouted Rarity. "After two days of waiting in that line, you'd think they'd be at least a little bit ready for us already..."

Twilight placed a hoof on Rarity's shoulder. "Good things come to those who wait," she said, rubbing her back. "I'm sure they're just a little bit backed up. Given a little time, I'm sure they'll be back soon. We just have to be patient."

"Patience would be a lot easier if we had something to do," groaned Pinkie. "I'm so bored! At least with the waiting in line, it was exciting, because even though we weren't doing anything, we were moving! I could pretend that I was about to see a concert, or a play, or a bearded filly! Sitting here... feels more like awaiting test results on whether that mole is malignant or benign!"

Twilight's eyes shot open. "You have a mole?! We need to show that to a doctor, right away!"

"Uh, Twilight?" snorted Applejack, "Ah don't think that'll be necessary..."

Twilight stopped for a moment. "Oh. Right. Well, given the chance, I'd still like to be certain."

"I'll find an oncologist and schedule an exam right away," saluted Spike. "Just as soon as we find out why we're here."

Fluttershy curled up a little tighter.

"You've been awfully quiet, dear," noted Rarity, placing a hoof on hers. "Is everything alright?"

Fluttershy didn't look up. She just shook her head.

Rarity stood up and walked over to her, hugging her from behind. "It'll all be okay, Fluttershy. We're all a little bit nervous."

"I'm not!" snorted Rainbow.

"Oh, please, Rainbow," shot Rarity back. "You're so scared that Applejack needs to hold your tail for comfort."

"That ain't why Ah'm holdin' 'er tail..."

"That's why she pushed it closer to you before she took off, darling. She knew you'd grab her; she's just too proud to admit when she wants to be held."

Rainbow growled, but did not refute the claim.

"I know why we're here," muttered Fluttershy.

Everypony turned to look at her.

"We're here because we're not going to make it in."

Silence once more pervaded the room, the only sound once again being the clock. Tick...Tick... Tick...

"What do you mean?" asked Spike, finally.

"Think about it," insisted Fluttershy. "Everypony else in that line was sent right through when they provided their credentials. Their identy was verified, and they walked right through the gate. We were asked to step aside and wait, and when we were all gathered together, we were brought here by armed guards, and told not to leave. Either this is our punishment, to wait for all of eternity, or they're devising a special punishment, just for us. If they were going to let us through, they would have done so."

Rainbow settled back into her chair. "That's... a really good point. What do you think we did that was bad enough to deserve to be sent to Tartauros?"

"I know what I did," answered Fluttershy. "I didn't set up a sitter for Angel Bunny."

"That doesn't sound so bad," notes Twilight. "If that's the reason you deserve to be punished, I don't think you're going to be suffering for very long."

Fluttershy shook her head. "Angel is at the cottage right now, having not eaten in two days. Nopony's going to feed him because I didn't set it up, and he's going to starve to death, and it's all my fault!"

As she broke down in tears, the others looked at each other. They couldn't really blame Fluttershy for feeling this way, as she was kind of right. If nopony fed Angel, he would starve. That, or he'd escape the house and find another place to live, as he was very smart and strong-willed. Part of that strong will was having Fluttershy to look after him, though. Knowing that she was there to keep him sheltered and fed likely gave him the strength to lead, without having to worry about the consequences.

Tank was in a similar scenario. Applejack's family was still around, and Winona technically belonged to Big Macintosh as far as the paperwork was concerned, so she was fine. Owlowiscious and Peewee were pets only in the loosest sense of the word, and were mostly just wild animals that provided companionship, so they were fine. Gummy was still in Sugarcube Corner with the Cakes and Sweetie Belle could take care of Opalescence in a pinch. Tank was supposed to come out of hibernation in the next month or so, but he'd still need somepony to come collect him from his terrarium when it was time.

"I think... maybe we should all be punished," said Pinkie, placing her hooves on the table.

Twilight furrowed her brow. "Why?"

"To stand in solidarity with Fluttershy," answered Rainbow. "Duh."

"Y'all are bein' ridiculous," spat Applejack. "Does any pony really think Fluttershy deserves to be sent ta Tartauros just fer fergettin' ta feed a bunny known for bein' able ta take care a' itself? Fluttershy, of all ponies?"

"I suppose I should have to agree with Applejack, ladies," admitted Rarity. "If Fluttershy, of anypony here, doesn't deserve to be let in, then which of us actually does deserve to be allowed entrance?"

"Not me!" shouted Pinkie. "What kind of sick, twisted version of paradise has no Fluttershy? Not any paradise I'd want to be a part of!"

"Then it's settled," nodded Twilight. "We're all going to Tartauros to answer for Fluttershy's negligence. The seven of us are going to stay together."

"Six."

Everypony turned to Spike, staring at him.

"I'm not going with you," he sighed. "I'm going to stay right here, and I'm going to make a case, and I'm going to find a way to bring you all to the paradise you deserve." He sniffled as tears welled in his eyes. "Even if it means giving up my place, it'd be worth it to know that you all..."

He shook his head, unable to finish.