"To those whom I have harmed, my only excuse is my life has not been charmed."
The sun barely glimpses over the horizon, as Zecora sighs deeply, pushing the last of her hastily packed trunks into her old, well-weathered cart, pulled from the small shed behind her home, where it would not distract from, what she perceived at-least, the beauty of her tree home...
Reagents, a stockpile of her daily medicine, and seeds she collected make up the bulk of her chosen necessities, carefully stacking her masks on top, some of the few things she is bringing out of emotion rather then necessity.
She did not pack any food, as it would only take up room, and she did not truly need to eat...
Zecora approaches the front of the wagon, and fastens the ropes to her via a gnarled, intricately carved yoke around her neck, and turns back to her home for many, many moons, her eyes full of remorse as they follow the tree from tip to trunk, eyes lingering on the Letter tacked to the door.
"For my explanation, you will have to do, as I leave this nation, I hope they read your words true..." she speaks, softly, as she turns, and begins to pull the cart down a foliage-covered path that has not seen travel since her arrival, so long ago.
~~~~~
The sun peeked over the mountains lining the horizon, but little light made it through the heavy rainclouds and canopy to guide the crusader's retreat...
A retreat slowed immensely by the passed out, bleeding pegasus being pulled along on her scooter, vines tied to the handle to ease pulling it along, and a ripped open, white saddle-bag tied tightly, though crudely, over her flank to try and keep her Scoota-fluids from all leaking out.
Apple Bloom still can't believe Sweetie-Belle tried to make that joke at a time like this.
"A-Apple Bloom?" Sweetie asks, her vine tied around her waist, as she pulls her friend at a stable pace, "H-how close are we to Ponyville? Scootaloo's looking pale..."
Apple Bloom bit her lip, and looked back at the softly breathing pegasus crusader, limp on her scooter, which has been re-purposed as a emergency gurney, though one was to small, as her back hooves and tail are being dragged along behind it, as her still face gazes into the sky, eyes closed.
"Ah dun' think it's very far, we should be out of the forest right quick." Apple Bloom finally replies, looking at the cotton candy maned unicorn to her side, "Well, I think we should just take Scootaloo to Fluttershy, she's closer and has all that first aide suff, and she can help get everyone to-", Sweetie is cut off by Apple Bloom, her eyes angry.
"Fer the last time Sweetie, that thing was NOT Zecora... Or.. Or Zecora is just sick and needs help! There is no way she could do anything like this t-to Scootaloo!" She nearly shouted, causing her friends ears to flatten again her head as she looked away, her face in a frown.
Apple Blooms own face softened into a frown, "B-but Fluttershy is closer then the Hospital, s-so... Good idea Sweetie..." She said forcing a meek smile at her friend, who glances back at her sadly, before looking back at Scootaloo.
"I just hope she'll be alright..."
~~~~~
Fluttershy released a contented sigh, as she sits at her Kitchen table, the younger of her animal friends waiting patiently as she pulls a bowl of apple to herself, a small baby chipmunk hops onto the table, and smells at the apples hungrily, only to be gently pushed back with a giggle. "Not yet sweetie, its far to hard for you.", she explains, in a motherly tone.
The cute furry critter now at a safe distance, she picks up one of the apples, and brings it to her lips.
Which part, as long, ivory fangs pierce the tart red skin of the fruit, sucking the juice from the fruit, which is then placed in a nearby wooden bowl, as she begins to shyly do the same to about seven of the bowls apples, before pushing i away, and pulling the bowl of drained apples, and begins mushing the soft, brown, seedless flesh of them into a soft, nutrient-rich paste, which she places on the floor, releasing a giggle when all the tiny baby animals swarm it.
Fluttershy herself gets up, eying her little charges with affection, as she walks onto to a large pail by her trash bit, spitting out a good number of seeds, adding them to the rest she will be bringing to Applejack at the end of the Week.
Fluttershy suddenly finds herself yelping, as there is a large slam in her living room, followed by panicked fillies screaming for her help.
Poking her head from around the corner to her kitchen, she gasps at what she sees.
Scootaloo is laying on her scooter, pale, with a very crude, non-functional tourniquet upon her flank, being pulled in by her two friends, Sweetie running up to Fluttershy suddenly to plead for help.
Before she even had a chance to speak, Fluttershy ducks into the kitchen, muttering "Hold on." nervously, and flying to acquire the First Aid kit on top of the Fridge, flying Swiftly over to the injured Pegasus.
~~~~~
Fluttershy sat on her couch, stroking the injured pegasus' mane, as she continues to lie unconscious, despite her stabilized condition, as the remaining crusaders continue to explain the situation.
The story is a little confusing to Fluttershy, details being remembered differently between the two perspectives... and they keep arguing over one detail in particular.
"That thing was not Zecora! Might of BEEN her at one point b-but now it's a monster!" Growled Sweetie, forehead pushing against Applebloom's, who returned the argumentative gesture with equal effort, "Zecora's Just sick, we need to get her Help!" Retorted the Farm filly.
"Did you not see what it did to Scootaloo!? Do you really think if there was anything of Zecora left in that Monster, it would of pounced at you two like that!?" Argued the tiny unicorn, pushing the other filly to the edge of the couch they sat upon, with sheer forehead power, only to be pushed back, "And why are you so ready to just give up on her!?" Argues Applebloom, meeting a equilibrium in the Reverse tug-of-war Push-of-War between them.
Fluttershy glances from them to the deeply slumbering pegasus... Her hind leg would twitch, likely from pangs of pain from the wound, Scootaloo's head resting on one of her couch pillows, as she looks back at the two fillies, licking her tongue across one of her fangs within her mouth, a habit she developed recently as a sort of... Courage boosting exorcise.
Yes, she realizes that makes no sense, but it still helps.
"N-now girls, just settle down." She says in a soft, but clear tone, as she slides off the couch, onto her hooves, as the fillie look up at the adult, hoping she can solve the problem with her magical pegasus powers that don't exist.
Fluttershy walked over to one of her birdies, one sitting on a writing desk, and picked up a old quill, and writes a rather hasty note to someone, before placing the quill down, and rolling it up, the bird snapping it up and flying out a open window.
"I Just sent for Twilight, and asked her to gather everypony, they should be here within the hour." she says turning back to the two fillies... One now right behind her.
"Fluttershy you can't! My sister won't understand, she'll hurt Zecora!" Cried the panicked filly.
"I am sure it will be alright, Applebloom, she's a smart pony, she'll Understand."
Applebloom looked away from Fluttershy, unsure, walking over to Scootaloo, and placing a hoof on her side.
"Ah Hope your right..."
~~~The End~~~