Paranoia Ingredient

{----- [[[[[-Undesired, and Unexpected, Reoccurrence-]]]]] -----}

...I don’t understand. What happened to all the moonlight?

Accursed thoughts that didn’t need to come back to me did so instantaneously; I thought about the story again... The Mare in the Moon...

“Snap out of it, Fluttershy, you need to be brave and figure out-“

But I couldn’t think straight. My mind was preoccupied thinking that I would need to suddenly defend myself.  I was too terrified by the darkness. One thing I couldn’t stand, even the least bit, was my pitch black vision gazing into that of which unseen.

I didn’t want to submit to my fear now; I wanted to conquer it with no hesitation at all!

Besides, the most impotent ingredient to aid my mind during this occurrence would be yet another one of my friends’ advice: my fears can’t hurt me; they just play with my head, frightening me into submission, to crawl back into hiding

...I came about the ultimate resolve.

...Time to throw off the fleece...

Amazing...almost three years and I still haven’t utilized any of her words in that regard.

When I came out of hiding, however, every possible trace of darkness was gone! What in the world? Am I dreaming?

Deep down, I wished it wasn’t a dream. I wanted to show my greatest fear...

I wanted to show it my resolve, that it can’t hurt me, and I would stand up to it with no fear at all.

But then again, I didn’t quite truly kill off my fear; it just disappeared at the last second, at least, assuming it was an actual event.

“Fluttershy, why’d you have to go and mess me up, huh?”

All of a sudden earshot, I came across the voice of Rainbow Dash, a friend from ‘long ago’. I remembered her voice especially.

Was she here?!

As much as I had hoped she was, sure enough she wasn’t.

I was ecstatic for about a second, but that emotion soon dissipated when I processed those words. I didn’t know whether I should respond or not, what I should have said.

“W...what do you mean?” I guess my fear chose for me, but I started to sound serious. “And who are you anyway, just a voice in my head?”

I honestly wasn’t expecting any kind of bravery like this coming from me, let alone a response from the audited question.

“I knew you wouldn’t remember me, Fluttershy!”

My back legs began to tremble due to my friends’ rising vocalized hostility. But then the violence in her voice died down a little.

“You were always the scapegoat for the team, you know...”

This had to be a dream, I was certain. Rainbow Dash would never say anything like this.

Everlasting silence soon made the situation even more tense.

She’s the most loyal pony anypony could ever know! True, when she gets caught up in all of the excitement of competition, she would do anything and everything she could to succeed, but not if it meant bringing her friends down, like she was doing to me now. (What brought up the competition aspect, I don’t know for sure. Could’ve been the truth.)

I know her too well to even truly think that what was happening was real!

It took me time, but I finally stood up for myself when I would usually back down and submit into fear.

“You’re not Rainbow Dash...”

“Hmph! Afraid to give a real response back? Or is it that you’re still crying over the fact that your wings-“

“Shut up, you damn nightmare. I’m awake, AND I KNOW YOU’RE JUST HERE TO MESS WITH MY HEAD!!”

Plenty of insulation lay in between the first and second story of the cottage, so I needed not worry about the girls.

“SO DO ME A BIG FAVOR...AND GET THE FUCK OUT OF IT, NOW!!”

Anypony could tell I was truly pissed the fuck off; I wanted to become fearless so badly, just like the real Rainbow Dash.

And I seemed to be one step closer to that goal when I heard a silent dissipating sound, kind of like a hundred balloons popping, but without the rough sound. Instead, it was replaced with the sound of a sudden gust of wind that just passed by.

Hold on...

A sudden gust of wind... And after I laid the girls to rest, the windows were open, when beforehand, I closed them...

I managed to escape from my thoughts; my instincts were overruling them.

“Fluttershy!” I told myself assertively. “Get to the girls.”

Nothing was holding me back; I loved those girls with all of my life. I just hoped nothing happened to them while that ghost-menace (I don’t know what the hell it was), was here.

I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if they were hurt in any way or form.

I immediately headed to the stairway, guided by the artificial light. I reached the apex of the stairway as I quickly turned to the left, only to see a completely lit hallway; the very same path the girls and I took.

But it wasn’t always this bright.

Actually, it was never this bright at all.

I don’t know what happened up here: the possibilities with those three… It’s funny; the possibilities are literally endless. They could have flushed themselves down a toilet if they very well needed to get away from danger (assuming this was a cartoon, and if they even knew I was cursing at the imitated voice of Dashy.)

But I seriously wasn’t in the mood for joking around.

“Girls?” They would always respond to me if they heard me request their attention, or even their presence. This may sound a bit mean, but I proved to them that I’m the one in charge here about two years ago when a few chickens escaped their coop:

Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Their nights were all spent here, at my house. My friend from that same time, Rarity, was going to watch them, however reluctantly.

But a new agenda popped up: She was tasked with designing a few dresses (and I do not mean a few) with various gems of her own. Knowing her, she didn’t refuse. She was big on becoming popular with the big wigs of fashion.

So the task eventually fell to me, though I thought I didn’t mind. When the chickens snuck out, the three girls went on a ‘crusade’ to retrieve them. Little did I know that the dreaded Cockatrice was among the escaped fugitives.

Long story short, we were successful, and the girls learned the importance going to bed when assigned...more or less.

But to confirm if they were present or not, I needed to walk into their room. For whatever reason, I tensed up my body, anticipating some sort of surprise like before.

“This is all a dream, Fluttershy... Or...they could still be sleeping soundly in their bed, so just forget everything now, you’re dreaming.”

“Please tell me you’re still in here…” I whispered silently and prayed for their lives. Their room was the only one with even a little bit of contrasting black; my entire home was ignited with a super bright light.

“Apple Bloom?” I couldn’t see too well due to the extreme contrast of light and dark; it made me feel a little dizzy. So, for a time, I could only initiate audible requests.

I didn’t think just a little difference between light and darkness could create such a sensation in one’s consciousness. It could just be me, though; tired as I could ever be. I was so tired...

“Sweetie Belle?” I didn’t hear Apple Bloom’s snoring...

This was extremely bad.

“Sweetie Belle?”

But then.

“SCOOTALOO!!” Vision granted again, I saw that Sweetie Belle was underneath the medium-sized bed, while Apple Bloom was busy looking out the sealed window as she was demanding for her sister’s presence quite franticly, in fact.

“Where IS she?!” Sweetie Belle inquired in the same manner as Apple Bloom.

I guess they didn’t notice me.

“What?! Scootaloo’s missing?!”  The first pony to reply was Apple Bloom, as she unglued her eyes from the window’s distant dioramic view. While she did that, however, Apple Bloom’s eyes dilated to a far extent when she looked into my slightly bloodshot eyes: I knew what that meant...

“Girls, where’s Scootaloo?!”

“Scootaloo’s out there!!” Apple Bloom frantically repeated over and over. Poor girl; all she and the other two could ever do anymore is assume the worst-case scenario for...pretty much everything.

But this is real! I knew Apple Bloom and the others too well now! Scootaloo would try and venture off on her own, given the chance!

Sweetie Belle quickly came out of hiding (or searching) and rushed to the window, almost knocking Apple Boom out of visual range from the window.

The heavy rain came back again...

Fan-fucking-tastic...

I also rushed over to view the window’s outer contents along with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle. Since I was obviously taller the girls, I could see over their heads, even with the difficulty of trying to see through the dense drops of water.

“You see her? A trace, maybe?”

But how could Scootaloo have made her way outside? The window in their room was sealed shut. (I had no way of removing it anyway. I mean, I trust them enough not to leave unattended.)

But oh, was I still wrong.

“Fluttershy...” Sweetie Belle tried her hardest to refrain from crying, but couldn’t. “Scootaloo said...s-she knew what her super special talent was...all along.”

The Everfree Forest was right there, in the back of the yard. “Please don’t tell me its herding chickens again.”

Apple Bloom soon responded afterward. “We tried to stop her, Fluttershy... She said she would do anything to impress Rainbow Dash so that she would accept her as her assistant.”

I understood. It was always Scootaloo’s dream to work alongside Rainbow Dash.

“We just need to know where she is. We’ll find her.”

My brief feelings about Rainbow Dash quickly grew to a height of acceptance; hearing her name again made me realize even more that she wasn’t here before, saying all those negative things.

I knew it was a dream!

Apple Bloom continued her needed ranting. “She said she was goin’ to the top some mountin’ or somethin’.”

“WHAT?”

“Oh please, Celestia. Don’t tell me...”

But I already knew it was the truth. The only...

That...mountain.

Once, there slept a gargantuan dragon in the center of the base of the apex. As it enjoyed its slumber, all of Ponyville suffered under a cloud of black smoke, which was being produced from the dragon itself.

It’s really a long story, and clearly, and fortunately, I had no time to recall the full trek.

It took me a few seconds to conclude my thoughts, how I should take action.

“...Stay here. I’m gonna find her and bring her back.” I already knew what they were going to do.

“No way!” complained Sweetie Belle. “That’s our sis out there!” She was at the point of squealing now.

Their sister...

The unbreakable bond...

“Fluttershy... Just this once...please.” Apple Bloom just had to follow up. They knew how to crack me open, to submit to their cute charms.

But who says that was the only factor in my agreement?  The fillies were no longer fillies. They were now on the verge of their adolescent years.

I let out a sigh of relief and decided. “...Girls” I paused.

“Let’s go find Scootaloo!”

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle instantaneously burst into joy.

“Let’s go slay the dragon!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle, raising her right hoof in the air.

“And save Scootaloo!” followed up Apple Bloom.

I refused to hold anything back. The ultimate resolve did not cease its influence.

To be fearless.

I smashed the sealed window with my right hind leg, something I would otherwise never do. The exposed portion of the floor became drenched with rainwater, while the all of the glass fell straight out the window.  ”Come on, girls! A little rain never hurt anypony!”

Despite the fact that my dream was (partially) coming true... My mind was not at ease, not at all.

I guess I was considered in a state of paranoia. There was something else that wasn’t right about my home, at least, at a final glance.

The reason I actually knew this was because heavy gusts of wind must have downed the house a bit.

I think…

Always...As soon as I even give the worst of my thoughts attention, they become nothing more than reality.

“WATCH OUT!!!” I immediately backed the girls into the corner portion of the room, where the broken windowsill was placed. I then ordered them to jump out of the window. (They love the aspect of action and adventure.)

...I think...

Their home is falling apart...again...

Before any of us could ever expect it, a huge portion of the room came crashing down.  Rain fell in and quickly flooded the layered floor.

“Good girls... Get out and stay out of danger.”

Thunder was apparent these past few hours, but lightning decided to strike (what better time than) now.

It crashed down from the sky as I was left without a chance to react. The flooded room carried me left and right, up and down.

Death would follow soon after the impact from the lightning.

I was taken under. There was no room for breathing...for a time. I just wanted this horror to end.

Muffled screams were heard, as they could not be properly processed through the water. The girls needed not worry about me.

I wasn’t dying...

Not yet...

“AAAAHHH!!” I was forced outside by means of water pressure. I was thrown out the small window cavity as a result of the room flooding.

Sadly, my wings couldn’t help me in this situation, when I was thrown airborne.

Head first, I fell onto one of the posts that were, and note, were supporting the standing fence outside in the area I saw before.

I can tell you, it knocked me out cold.

“F-Fluttershy, not you too...”

Nevermind, I was only out of touch for about a minute or two. I was still feeling the bitter temperature of the wind pressing against the water all over my body.

The first thing that had come to mind...was already happening.

But here’s some of the only positive feedback: Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were perfectly fine, only their manes and tails were drenched in rainwater.

“You’re...alright...” I wasn’t going to die here, not now. I wanted to give them both a meaningful embrace, but the awkward impact I suffered left my two back legs injured.

Thankfully, it wasn’t anything too serious, but since the very truth of it was that I had suffered a very critical injury, I still felt an extreme rush of pain as I attempted to rise to my feet, since it was still new and all.

Sweetie Belle must have been thinking her head off when I looked at her. She had her head down and her eyes were closed.

The heavy rain wasn’t helping either. I couldn’t tell if she was crying or not

And would you believe it! Just then, both the rain and the wind stopped almost instantly after it brought my home down.

A quick reminder of that, I turned my head sideways, only to see...nothing.

No rubble, no remains. Nothing of the sort lay to waste. It was as if the cottage just...vanished.

Some of the other small structures stood however. Such as the little chicken coop. But, if I knew all of those little guys (and I did), they all ran off into the Everfree forest, including the...Cockatrice.

What luck, am I right?

Sweetie Belle looked as if she lost her concentration, but she reacted in a similar fashion as to how she must have been thinking. “Apple Bloom.” Her face, Sweetie Belle’s.

I had never really seen this side of her before. Let’s get Fluttershy up here, go!” She had taken a bit of my own personality and added it to hers.

Rarity never really cared for her younger sister, so Sweetie Belle lived her life ignored, neglected by the one true role model in her life. She lived her young life as an outcast; she claimed that she was invisible to everypony. As she lived her early years in solitude, she became extremely bitter, and her body had grown weaker and weaker.

But...when I came to her rescue, and showed hospitality and generosity, her eyes perked right up, and I still remember her reaction to this day.

“Please...”

Apple Bloom jumped to the scene, but I saved them the trouble and completed the action myself. I expected the pain to push me back down to the ground, but I took it all with my newfound bravery.

“Please, Scootaloo’s the one in trouble, remember?” I stated.

Both of the girls were ecstatic when I showed them I was still capable of moving.

The three of us wasted enough time: My home, and theirs, was gone forever. Scootaloo’s still out there...

Somewhere.

The Cockatrice I could care less about right now; Zecora, a zebra who me and my friends thought to be an ‘Evil Enchantress’, has a similar talent that I do: she fares well with animals just as I do. I know her, and she’s my friend.

I plan on meeting up with her anyway, if, and only if I happen to cross paths with her. She may have found Scootaloo already, and might be in the process of guiding her back or something.

But...Sweetie Belle said that Scootaloo headed to the dreaded Mt. Skyward... I really didn’t know how to react this time...

Inside my heart, I knew we would find little Scooters, for without her, the two remaining girls would be completely heartbroken.

I smiled, showing my fangs, and left Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle a kind look. They had the look same in their eyes as I did; they wanted...an expedition.

And I would do my best to give them such an opportunity.

“Shall we get started?”