To Kill a Pegasus

It started out as a normal week for Twilight. The same goes for Applejack, Fluttershy, and the Crusaders, but we'll get to them later. However, that's all about to change...

"Rainbow Dash has been having some strange, spontanious pains lately, and I'm starting to worry."

"Why are you worried, Applejack?" Twilight asked.

"Well, Twi, have you seen her when she has them?"

"Um...no?"

"I thought so. Now, every time she has one of these, she falls to the ground and starts shouting a number!"

"Right. That is a little strange."

"What should we do?"

"No idea. Maybe Fluttershy knows something," Twilight suggested. "After all, she's a pegasus too. Maybe it's something wing related."

"Good idea, Twilight! Let's go."

"Augh!"

Scootaloo screamed in pain and collapsed to the ground.

"Five! Five! Number Five is dead!"

"Scootaloo, just what are you doing?"

Of course. Number Five had to drop down dead when I'm with my friends.

"Yeah. And who's 'Number Five?'"

That was Sweetie Belle, this time.

What am I gonna do? Scootaloo thought. I can't tell 'em! They'll get killed, all because of what I am.

"Look guys, I'd love to tell you, but I can't."

"Oh, come on Scootaloo!"

Apple Bloom sounded exasperated.

"There's gotta be something you can tell us!"

"Please?" Sweetie Belle pleaded.

"Aw, now Sweetie Belle!" Scootaloo scoffed. "You know what Rarity would say if she heard you right now?"

"Now, Sweetie Belle, don't beg, darling! It's not proper!" the Crusaders chourused, mimicing Sweetie Belle's older sister perfectly.

They collapsed, laughing hysterically.

"But seriously, Scoots," Apple Bloom continued after catching her breath. "What's going on?"

Scootaloo started to sweat. She couldn't tell them! It would lead them to their deaths!

"Scoots? You okay? Scoots?"

Sweetie Belle sounded distant.

"I-I-I really c-can't tell you, guys. I-I-I-I've gotta go!"

Scootaloo turned and ran. She had to get away from her friends and keep them from getting into more danger than they were already in.

Fluttershy clamped her jaw shut. She knew Number Five, whatever poor pegasus that was, had just been killed by the pain she felt. She couldn't scream, no matter how badly she wanted to, because she didn't want to frighten the animals. Fluttershy inhaled deeply, the "death pains" as she called them beginning to fade. She shuddered as she realized her time was getting closer and closer.

"I just don't understand," Fluttershy murmured. "We've lived in peace for so long. Why do we all have to die?"

She wished she knew. There had to be some way to keep the other numbers from dying. she laid down to think. Suddenly, Fluttershy sat straight up.

"Rainbow Dash is Number Six. Five just died. Dash is next!"

Fluttershy started to panic. She had to warn Rainbow Dash as soon as possible. She was about to leave when there was a knock at her door.

"Fluttershy! You home?"

"Comming!" Fluttershy called.

She opened the door to see Applejack and Twilight standing side-by-side with worried looks on their faces.

"Hi guys! What can I do for you?"

"It's Dash," Twilight said. "Something's wrong."

"It's urgent!" Applejack cried.

"Well, I was just about to head over there," Fluttershy said. "But if it's urgent we must leave right away!"

They left, Applejack and Twilight running at top speed, Fluttershy flying but falling behind and wailing for the others to slow down. Twilight and Applejack slowed to a steady trot so Fluttershy could catch up.

"So exactly what is up with Rainbow Dash?" Fluttershy inquired.

"She's having strange, spontanious pains. Are those bad?"

"Yes, Applejack. Bad. Very bad indeed! I..."

She was going to finish 'have them, too!', but stopped short. If she said that, Fluttershy knew they would ask what they were. She couldn't lie, not to her friends! And even if she did tell them they would most likely die.

"We're almost at Dash's house!" Applejack called.

Twilight started to run. Applejack followed suit. Fluttershy landed and sprinted to catch up. The trio skidded to a stop in front of Rainbow Dash's house.

"Rainbow Dash!" Fluttershy shouted. "Dash, let us in!"

An earsplitting scream broke the silence around Dash's house. Twilight let out an eerie wail. Fluttershy looked over at her and saw her nose spattered with blood, her ears laid back and eyes filled with tears. Looking past Twilight at Applejack, Fluttershy observed the orange mare spattered with blood and staring at the sky in shock. A pain sharp as a thousand needles pierced Fluttershy's body. She collapsed to the ground, a single, ominous thought flooding her brain.

Dash is dead!