Kindness’s Demise

“Now everyone,” Mayor Mare began as she cleared her throat. “I’ve gathered you all here for a very important announcement I need to make. This news may be very alarming or even confusing, but rest assured we will inform you all. I do not want you to panic when you recieve this information, however.” The crowd of ponies gathered at the front of Town Hall mumbled as they discussed what this ‘alarming’ news could be.

“Maybe it’s another villain threatening to destroy Equestria?” One pony asked.

“Or maybe there is a swarm of Parasprites headed for Ponyville!” Another said, worried. “I’d have to go board up my shops!”

“There are no villains or parasprites coming for us,” Mayor Mare intervened. Several relieved sighs were released in the audience, a calmer atmosphere circulated throughout the crowd, though short lived. “Though it is much worse. Ponyville is currently experiencing a rabies outbreak.” The Mayor announced, followed by confused murmurs and many questions.

Up until now, Equestria has never been known for wide outbreaks of animal borne illnesses. Not fatal ones at the least. The most a common ailment would go as far as symptoms would be quite tame; Maybe a few spots here and there, a nasty sneeze, raised temperature, et cetera. But this was a serious case. Rabies could be contracted from animals, which were very abundant in Equestria, let alone Ponyville.

The mayor decided beforehand to teach the civilians what that meant for the town, its livelihood, and the animals, so she invited Dr. Fauna to come give the ponies a lecture about rabies.

“You’ve heard that there is an outbreak of rabies in town from our wonderful Mayor Mare. But show of hooves; do you know what rabies actually is?” Dr. Fauna asked as only a few hooves were raised throughout the crowd. “I see you some of you have heard of it. But how many of you actually know the symptoms?” A single purple hoof shot up.

“Rabies is an animal borne illness that causes hysteria, nausea, and foaming at the mouth!” Twilight Sparkle proudly said.

Dr. Fauna nodded her head, “That’s right Twilight. Rabies is an illness that can be contracted from animals. It is fatal to both creatures and ponies.”

Worried whispers echoed the area. Many ponies started to prepare for the worst. Little fillies and colts huddled up to their parents. Fluttershy was reasonably concerned, she lived with many animals, after all.

“This is a very serious predicament. We advise you to stay away from any animal that is unusually docile or unexplainably aggressive. If you do see an animal with these symptoms, please alert authorities immediately.” Mayor Mare reported to the crowd. “Try to stay away from animals, if possible. If you are bitten by a rabid animal, wash the bite and go to the hospital immediately. Rabies can act fast.”

Nopony could believe what they were hearing. Even the Princesses had no control of this disease. Their magic could not control nature as much as raising the sun or moon. Twilight decided the best thing to do was research more about this disease. By educating herself, she could locate a possible cure.

Twilight searched and searched for the book about creature diseases.“Okay let’s see…. here it is! Dr. Hooflittle’s Guide to Sick Animals.” She blew dust off the book and opened to the table of contents. “Hm…. Ah ha! Psychological Diseases: Page 47 section 4a.” As Twilight flipped to the page, Fluttershy timidly entered the castle library, looking for the Princess.

“Um, can I talk to you for a second?” Fluttershy asked. “It’s about the current rabies outbreak. May I borrow a book on it so I can understand how to spot symptoms if my animals ever contract it?”

“Of course Fluttershy! I was just going to read it, but you need it more than I do.” Twilight said with a smile as she handed the book to the pegasus. “The section on rabies is on page 47 in section 4a. Stay safe, will you?”

Fluttershy thanked her graciously. “Thanks Twilight. You’re always here when I need you.” As Fluttershy left the castle doors, Twilight couldn’t help but feel anxious; Fluttershy lived with many animals prone to contracting rabies. But Twilight tried not to worry, since spiraling usually got her nowhere.

Back at Fluttershy’s cottage, the Pegasus was preparing the sanctuary for quarantine. She made sure all of the animals were safe and healthy, and made sure they haven’t been bitten anywhere. “I know this is a scary situation, but trust your old friend Fluttershy! Everything will work out.” Fluttershy reassured the frightened animals as she tucked them in the sanctuary. With the help of Applejack, she was able to install a fence so no outside animals could get in.

“Now, to read up on rabies.” Fluttershy said, book in hoof. “Rabies is a condition that affects animals in many ways. Symptoms include unexplained agression, becoming more docile, restlessness, and drooling foamy saliva. They also may have trouble swallowing. Animals with rabies might not express symptoms at first, so it is important to keep tabs on the history of symptoms.”

Fluttershy let out a sigh. This was all so scary and unfamiliar to her, even for the animal expert. She decided to head over to Zecora’s hut to see if she could mix up a cure. On the hike there, she spotted a deer. Even though she wanted to pet it, she had to stay away. It was for her and her animal’s safety.

“Hi Zecora. I’m here for an emergency. Could you try and make a cure for this rabies outbreak? If it isn’t too much to ask….” Fluttershy desperately pleaded.

“Oh Fluttershy, I hear your pleads. But I am already trying to cure this disease.” Zecora informed the buttery Pegasus. A disappointed scowl appeared on her face. “I’m sorry dear friend but I cannot lie, this is a big fish to fry.” Zecora replied.

“I understand. Thank you for trying anyway, stay safe.” Fluttershy sulked as she walked out of her hut.

“What are all of those poor animals going to do? I’m so scared….” Fluttershy sobbed, salty rivers streaming down her lemon colored cheeks. She picked up the pace, sprinting home to comfort with her animals in her cottage. She couldn’t wait to see Angel and Hummingway. She couldn’t wait to just collapse on the couch and relax after all of this. When she opened the door, she was greeted by her bear friend, Harry.

“Hi Harry! Boy am I glad to see you!” Fluttershy exclaimed excitedly. But Harry just stood there, looking blankly. “My day was so exhausting. I need to relax with some water.” As she went into the kitchen, she decided to get some water for Harry as well. “Here you go boy! Isn’t relaxing with nice refreshing water the best?” She said with a gleam in her eyes. However, Harry thought otherwise. He splashed away the water dish and started to growl. “What’s wrong boy? Not thirsty?” Fluttershy asked naively, never to expect what would come of next.

Harry suddenly started to foam at the mouth, followed by his razor-sharp claws protracting. As soon as she saw the foam at Harry’s mouth, she knew what was going down. “Harry please no….. it doesn’t have to be this way…” Fluttershy shakily said as she backed away. “Please, don’t do this!” Unfortunately, Harry didn’t listen. Instead, he slashed his razor sharp claws right at her throat. In an instant, Fluttershy’s coat was soaked in crimson. The pegasus let out a bloodcurdling scream as the rabid bear clawed at her guts. Harry rapidly struck at her abdomen, gutting her intestines and damaging her internal organs. As the scarlet red blood rolled out of her neck and stomach, she uttered her last words. “Everyone…… you were my bestest friends…. I love you all…..” Fluttershy sputtered as she choked on her own blood. Within moments after being gored by her formerly loyal pet bear, she went unconscious and died.

Today was Tuesday, which meant Discord and Fluttershy had a tea party. Discord thought it would be any other day, just relaxing with his best friend. As he teleported to the cottage and knocked on the door, a strange feeling entered his gut. He knew something was amiss, since Fluttershy usually answered the door immediately. “Maybe she was taking a nap?” Discord thought as he knocked a second time.

“Fluttershy darling, it’s time for our Tuesday tea time! Are you home?” Discord frantically called out. Nopony answered. Discord started to get worried, so he barged into the cottage without warning. What he was greeted with was a horrible scene: his best friend splayed out on the ground, bathed in a pool of dried blood with visible lacerations on her throat and abdomen. Her intestines were spilling out, appearing to be clawed at. Her eyes were frozen in fear, as if she had seen a ghost.

“FLUTTERSHY!” Discord screamed as he rushed to her side. He tried to check for a pulse or any other sign of life, but he was too late. The poor mare had already been dead 3 hours before Discord discovered her body. “Fluttershy no…. My dear friend… what happened?” He cried out as he sobbed relentlessly over her corpse. “How do I tell Twilight and the others….” He didn’t want to break the news to his friends, but he had to. But before he left, he noticed a growling noise in the kitchen.

There, he witnessed a bear hunched over something. Closer inspection revealed it had dried blood all over its face, chewing on what seemed to be flesh of his late friend. “What in Equestria….. it must have been the rabies outbreak…” Discord said, still shaken up from seeing the body as he approached Harry. With a snap of his fingers, he banished the bear to an infinite void far away from Equestria. “Now to tell the others what happened…” The traumatized draconnequus sniffled.

Discord made a clone of him so he could tell the others what had happened and stay with Fluttershy’s corpse at the same time. When he teleported to the castle, he was greeted with friendly hellos from Twilight and Starlight. He cringed, knowing that their cheerful moods would soon disappear.

“I have some… very bad news to share with you guys. Can you gather the rest of the Mane 6 please?” Discord sorrowfully asked as he kicked at the ground, masking his unbridled rage and sadness.

Starlight jokingly quipped at Discord’s remark, “Oh, let me guess. You ran outta tea for your Tuesday tea-“

“JUST GATHER THEM NOW!” Discord barked as he let out his true emotions. Following his harsh words, Twilight teleported everyone else in the Mane 6. Everyone except Fluttershy.

“Hey, I thought I also teleported Fluttershy as well?” Twilight said, confused. “Well everypony minus Fluttershy is here so say what you-“

“Fluttershy is dead.” Discord somberly interrupted. Everyone gasped.

“What?” Rarity mumbled.

“Fluttershy was killed by a rabid bear.” Discord continued.

“Stop joking around Discord, that isn’t funny!” Rainbow shouted.

“It’s no joke! I saw it with my own two eyes!” Discord growled as he slammed his fists on the table.

“Guys… I hate to say but he may be telling the truth. He isn’t using any gags, he’s serious.” Twilight sighed. “Take me to her cottage.

“Are you sure? It’s a pretty gruesome scene….” Discord said as he bit his lip, remembering her petrified face.

“You’re just saying that cuz you’re lying!” Rainbow shouted. As soon as those words left her mouth, Discord teleported them to the crime scene. Upon seeing the body, Rarity fainted momentarily, Applejack and Rainbow Dash threw up, and Pinkie’s mane deflated. Twilight was frozen in place. Her suspicions were right. She knew something would go wrong. Not doing anything lead to one of her best friends collapsed dead, body cold and empty.

“Fluttershy no!!” Pinkie screamed. Her mane was limp and straight, desaturated of all color.

“Oh my sweet Celestia! How could this happen? Why her!” Rarity shrieked while she was helped up by Applejack.

“This can’t be true. This just can’t be…” AJ sobbed as she hugged Rainbow Dash who was crying her eyes out while vomiting. She knew Fluttershy since flight school, so she took it very hard. Everyone was a crying fit, tears flooding the floor. Nopony knew what to do. All they wanted to do was cry.

“We are gathered here to mourn the loss of the courageous and kind Fluttershy.” Celestia said as she guided the funeral. It had been 3 weeks since Fluttershy died. Everyone’s moods were the lowest they’ve ever been; nopony has ever experienced a loss of a friend before, after all.

A week ago, everybody was absolutely devastated. Rarity and Rainbow dash locked themselves in their houses. AJ hadn’t come out of bed since seeing the body. She was heavily traumatized and wouldn’t do anything if it meant interacting with animals. Twilight felt guilty for her death. She thought that if she could have helped her home or had her stay over she could have prevented this.

Pinkie was completely desaturated to the point where she wasn’t even pink anymore. Her iconic poofy hair went limp and straight. Discord had it the worst though. His first friend who trusted him over anything was no more. Nobody has seen him since her death. The mood at the funeral, however, was a lot lighter than before.

Celestia allowed anyone who wanted to speak say a few words about her. Rarity commented on her generosity towards animals, Rainbow Dash spoke about her bravery, and Discord lectured about how she was the only pony who ever trusted him and his intentions. Everyone sat together in silence as they honored their beloved friend.

After the ceremony, they lowered her corpse into the earth, surrounded by her best friends. She was buried in a secluded forest, just the way she would have liked it. The princesses released butterflies and had them soar above her grave in different patterns. After decorating her gravestone with various flowers, everyone sat in the long, pillowy grass next to it.

“Y’know, we shouldn’t be sad.” Pinkie Pie said.

“What do you mean? Our friend just died!” Rainbow shouted at Pinkie, agitated with her insensitive comment.

“I know. We can grieve all we want but we can’t stay sad. Fluttershy would want us to be happy!” Pinkie continued, teary eyed. “We should remember all the happy times we had with her.

“She’s right. We can’t live feeling like this forever.” Twilight sniffled. “Remember when she got over her fear of dragons to save Equestria from a blanket of smoke?”

“Yeah. Remember when we first met her and she barely said a word until she saw me?” Spike giggled.

Rarity chuckled. “Remember when Photo Finish bombarded her with attention she didn’t even want?”

Everyone sighed. They didn’t know what the Fluttershy-less future held for them, but they knew one thing. That they still had each other. Fluttershy would want them to be happy and to continue being friends.

After reminiscing about the past and all of the fun times they’ve had, It was time to leave. As everyone else was walking away, Discord stayed behind.

“You comin’, Discord?” Spike asked.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be there in a second.” Discord sighed.

“Goodbye, Fluttershy. I love you.”