//------------------------------// // Does Only a Death from Strife, awaits those with no life? // Story: A Homeland's Curse. A Zebra's Remorse. // by Taco Belle //------------------------------// "Does only a Death from Strife, awaits those with no life?" ~~~~~ To say the mood was sour in the room was a understatement. The ponies sat around Fluttershy's couch, well, most of them at least. Rainbow Dash was leaning onto it, nuzzling into the unconscious fillies mane, tears leaking down her face, at the thought of nearly losing her adopted sister. Four have already departed, Two pairs of Sisters, eager to return to the safety of their homes, leaving the Sadness and the unease for the remaining Four, not counting the fifth, who remains unmoving. Twilight sat on the floor across from the couch, her ears drooping as she goes over the story the fillies game them, while Fluttershy sits by the window. She was staring out into the forest, through the partially closed shutters. "Now, I am not buying the whole... Story they told us, but-" she pauses, looking to Fluttershy, who now gives the princess her attention,"- Zecora deals with some dangerous Chemicals, and reagents, it's entirely possible she's sick, maybe burned..." she pauses circling her hoof in the air, absent mindedly." Or she transmuted herself, We should head there and make sure she's alright, find out what Really happened." she says, putting her hoof down, looking again to the still sniffling Rainbow Dash, a frown crossing her own face. Fluttershy stands and walks over to the door, her hooves clopping against her hardwood floor with each step as if trying to clear out the sound of Dash's sobbing, or maybe Scootaloo's rattling breaths. "I Think..." she finally speaks up, her voice nearly trembling "We should go Twilight, I did what i could for Scootaloo, And if Zecora's hurt too, o-or Celestia forbid really turned into a monster she really needs out help, don't you th-" "I'll tell you what she needs." Dash interrupts, prying herself from the couch and the pale orange filly, and turns to the door, her gaze solid her muzzle frozen in a expression halfway between a sneer, and a scowl. Fluttershy stutters as dash reaches for the door knob, Twilight stands noticing the intent in Dashes voice. "Rainbow, What are you planning on doing?" She said trying to sound authoritative, but failing miserably as dash swings the door open and looks back at her silently, a flame in her eyes. "Rainbow, wai-" Twilight's words fail, as Rainbow breaks into an immediate gallop out the door, Once several feet out of Fluttershy's cottage she takes to the skies, quickly accelerating to her top speed and leaving her rainbow contrail in her wake, disappearing over the edge of the Everfree. Twilight leaps to her hooves and gives chase, albeit pausing to shout to her remaining friends, seeing Fluttershy run past her and take to the air in her slightly cumbersome fashion. "Pinkie!" She shouts as she turns her head back into the cabin, the Pink Pony emerging when she hears her name shouted, from behind Fluttershy's couch where she was previously for some... Pinkie PIe reason."Watch Scootaloo, we need to keep Dash from doing something she's going to regret!" shouts the princess, before running out the door and and taking flight. Pinkie stares onward out the open door, walking from behind the couch and the blueprints for a new 'Hope you Get better soon and that our friend isn't a monster party' unattended, making her way for the door. "Well, this seems to be escalating quickly!" she speaks with a chipper grin, being sad won't help Scootaloo heal, nor would it get the Pegamedics get here faster! She shuts the door quietly. "Well, I guess its time to check your bandages again, Fluttershy said once ev-" Pinkie speaks as she turns, only for her words to stop at a incoherent gurgles and slight muscle twitches, as a flash of orange and purple leaves her throat in the Jaws of a Predator...