7. Friend to Enemy
It was midday and it was warm from the summer air, however the slight breeze felt good. The forest also provided shade for the young accused mare called Fluttershy. She was working on her shelter for the day, for only when it was late she could go out and find evidence. She grabbed sticks and weaved the branches together and weaved leaves onto it for proper sheltering so the rain might not break through. The shelter was small and just big enough for her to fit in and of course sleep. Her stomach rumbled when she was done, she was hungry once again.
She walked over to where she had stashed away some of her food, retrieving the few berries she had left. She was running low, there were maybe ten berries, but that wasn't enough to fill her hungry stomach. She ate the ten berries and then decided to go into the forest to find more food. She brought her saddle bag that she was willing to fill with any berries she could find. she walked slow, knowing that there wouldn't be much on the bush that she had found before. There were many rocks and soon she was being tripped by the ones on the ground.
She noticed a mountain side and realized there must have been a rock slide while she was gone. She decided to go up and see what was up there, she needed to know the dangers that maybe waiting for her slumber. Her wings flapped and she slowly made progress up to the mountain top. She looked around, there was nothing here, but there were a few berries, something had been here. She hesitated and listened to the noises that surrounded, all she could hear was the chirping sound of birds.
The bushes had light leaves and she recognized the berries, Raspberries and Saskatoon berries, both kinds tasted good. She smiled, happy yo have found them, however still hesitant, moved forward. She began to collect when she heard voices that were familiar and she slowly went closer. She was hesitant to move too close, she only wanted to get into a distant where she could see who it was and what it was saying. She crouched behind bushes near a clearing.
"I can't believe Fluttershy would do something like that!" One of the ponies exclaimed and Fluttershy looked to see it was Rainbow Dash.
To her surprise it was her friends, but why were they here? Were they trying to find her to bring her to prison? It somewhat hurt that they would think this was true, that she was a bloodthirsty murderer. It shredded at her insides, making a real pain that made her want to cry, but she held back the tears and continued to listen.
"Rainbow, I don't think she did it." Twilight retorted.
Fluttershy looked to see all of her friends, except Rarity of course. They were all there and she was tempted to come out and say it wasn't her, but she knew she was in too dangerous with Wish wanting to kill ponies and frame her.
"Lets face it, Fluttershy wouldn't do something like that. She is shy." Applejack added to Twilight's comment.
"How do we know it isn't just all a cover?" Rainbow retorted back at Applejack and Twilight.
"All I really know is that she it is most likely, sadly. The evidence does point to her." Pinkie Pie said, not in her usual outgoing mood, more so somewhat sad.
"Maybe so, but why? Why would Fluttershy do such a thing?" Twilight questioned.
"She must have snapped." Rainbow mumbled.
It hurt too much for Fluttershy to listen anymore and she soon walked away. She gathered more berries with her ears pricked. She waited until her saddle bag was filled and then she flew down to her base camp. It wasn't quite sunset, and although she was hungry, she felt too sad to really eat anything. Fluttershy looked around and realized she didn't know much about this place and decided to explore to sooth her conscience. She walked timidly still thinking of what her friends have said and how they actually thought she did it.
I can't believe it, I can't go to my friends for help, I truly am alone. I can't live out here forever, but it might come to that. Wish is smart and probably pretending to be someone who wouldn't be accused of a crime. Two have died, and I should have stopped him, I have to stop him. Fluttershy thought, wishing she didn't have to.
A yawned escaped her and she realized she hadn't slept yet. She turned back and went though the trees, happy there was still daylight and she could get some rest. Besides, she wanted to leave the world of her thoughts and relax herself. She yawned again as the appearance of her base camp came into view, her tiny little shelter in between two large trees. She went under the roof and curled up, crying herself to sleep from the thoughts that Rarity was murdered. As she slept she began to dream.
There was blood splatter on the floor and a mare, her eyes grudged and it was Rarity. There were cuts and stab wounds covering her dead form. A pool of blood formed around yellow hooves as Fluttershy stood over her, hyperventilating, and hot tears running from her eyes. The metallic smell of blood made her stomach ache and made her gag.
"There she is! Get her!" She heard one of her friends cry, but she didn't want to know.
She urged herself forward running through a forest made of shadows. The branches of trees seemed to be reaching out, trying to grab her so she would be brought to jail. Her heart pounded with pure fear as she tried to go faster, but she could only maintain a slow gallop. The whole time she ran she could hear Rarity's voice in her head, also accusing her of the murder.
"You did this? Fluttershy how could you?" It said and made Fluttershy stop in her tracks.
"But I didn't." Fluttershy cried and she kept doing it until she awakened from her slumber.
She huffed loudly, as though she had just been running a marathon. The fear still in her heart and she could hear the thudding noises still beat in her ears. She soothed soon, but still felt slight fear, she looked up at the sky. It was dark and black, the moon was up and she knew, it was time to get to work.