Racing home through the empty streets of Ponyville in the late afternoon Fluttershy gallops. Wind streaking through her hair and tears streaming across her face as ponies watch out there windows wondering, what could have happened to their beloved hero?
"What happened Fluttershy?" asks a familiar mint green unicorn looking out his front door.
Fluttershy sprints by him, her words choking in her mouth from the continuing thoughts that plague her mind. She would have stopped to apologize and explain but all she can think about now is getting home.
"What if that was Angel I saw!"
Up and over the bridge she goes crossing the stream between her home and Ponyville. After a few bends in the road she arrives at her home, through the window Angel sits angrily watching her approach.
"Angel your Ok!" her sadness subsides and she slows down wiping the watery tracks off her face. She quickly opens the door and scoops Angel up in a big hug. She hovers in the air squeezing him tight.
"Oh Angel I'm so glad to see you! I thought you were dead!" Fluttershy continues to nuzzle him in her arms.
Angel looks at Fluttershy confused and begins squirming around in frustration.
"What's wrong?" she sets him down. Angel glares at Fluttershy, confused as to what he's mad about. He opens his mouth and points in it.
"Oh... Oh! I've been gone all day."
Angel nods his head bitterly and points into the house behind him. In each of her bird houses sad hungry eyes look back at Fluttershy. Along the ground other rabbits look up to her beside mice, ferrets, squirrels and other animals. All of them have the same helpless, starving expressions.
"I'm sorry, time must have slipped away from me! I... I'll get of you your food don't worry." she quickly glides over her animals friends to her pantry pulling out several bags of feed and bird seed and throws them into a pile on the floor. She floats up to the bird houses and begins filling the bowls, but stops when a paw smacks her hoof. She looks down and sees Angel still mad pointing in his mouth, more sternly this time.
"Oh... sorry Angel, I'll get right on it."
Fluttershy floats over to the fireplace, gracefully landing in front of her big recipe book. It's Monday so she flips to the page containing Angel's favorite today, carrot soufflé. She gathers her items: a pot, a tablespoon, salt, carrots...
She hears the sound of grain spilling out on the floor behind her. She turns around to see her bags ripped open by all of her animals.
She gasps "No! wait... Oh who cares, at least you get fed." The recipe book quickly slides in front of her with Angel impatiently tapping at the section for his dish.
"Sorry, let's see vanilla, eggs... Oh the chickens! I never fed them this morning!" Fluttershy puts a hoof to her mouth thinking of the poor starving chickens. She shutters thinking of what would happen if Razor owned her chickens.
Angel slaps the back of her head getting her attention "Oh, hmm... I guess they can wait."
*****
Nearly forty-five closely watched minutes later, Fluttershy tastes the souffle to see if it's done. She looks back into her now empty house, happy to see her other animal friends settled their ravenous hunger on there own. The bags now lay empty around the floor with fragments of their contents littered about.
She pours the soufflé into a bowl and lays it on the ground for Angel. "There ya go!" He examines it thoroughly... he gives it a taste. Angel looks at Fluttershy, disapointed.
"But... It's exactly how I always make it?"
Fluttershy reaches down to take it away but is halted by Angel's dismissing paw. He gives her a look stating it's tolerable, and picks up the bowl hopping off with it. On his way out the door, Fluttershy hears the cluck of the chickens. "Don't worry! I'm coming!" and runs out the door, into the night.
Outside she grabs the grain bags and feeds all the hungry chickens that shortly after doze off afterwards.
"Well you must have been tired! Goodnight my little chickens." Fluttershy smiles and turns out their light. As soon as it clicks off she is thrown into the dark of night. She looks around, her eyes still not adjusted to the dark. Luckily the lights of her cottage stand out so she makes her way towards them.
She stumbles finding her way to the fence gate "Ouch!" A sharp pain spreads at the top of her leg. She rubs the spot "Ooooh... Ow!.. what did I walk into?" she feels in front of her with her hoof.
"Oh... the fence. Must have been a lose nail, I guess?"
She feels around some more as her eyes adjust and finds the gate. She opens it and makes her way around to the entrance. Once inside she hesitantly looks at her wound, "Phew, I thought it was a lot worse." She continues to her closet and grabs a broom and dustpan to clean up the mess her friends left her.
*****
An hour later after Fluttershy had cleaned up the mess and made herself a snack. She says "Goodnight" to all her bird friends and makes her way upstairs to a long awaited rest. She reaches the top of the stairs and hops under the sheets into her soft, comfy bed. Laying with her fluffy pillow behind her Fluttershy pulls the covers up to her chin and snuggles in, relieved her busy day is over.
Fluttershy stares at the ceiling, thoughts rolling through her head of what happened today. She remembers arriving at Razor's house and being scared, along with what she saw in her fridge. "That evil... animal hurting pony!"
She also remembers the door opening and cold wind gusting out. "That pony lived inside that dark, cold house eating animals... like..." Fluttershy cringes "...bunnies."
She remembers being invited inside and smelling her candles. "She did have a nice collection of candles though."
She remembers being given cookies and milk. "She was a good baker too... I could tell they were homemade." Fluttershy rolls onto her side and feels a slight pain in her leg.
She then remembers Razor's life story. "And I thought I used to get picked on? Everypony hated her and her family. And her mom... Oh no."
She finally remembers her hugging Razor and how they were about to play a game. "Oh no... What have I done? I was her only friend and I ran away from her... screaming, thinking she was a monster. I'm sorry Razor... I can't believe I got so scared at something I already knew you did..."
Fluttershy continues thinking of how nice Razor was. "She was polite and kept her house very clean... at least from what I could see. Why did she keep her house so dark?"
Fluttershy lays staring at the wall, a detail she had blocked out bumps it's way back into her mind "Razor cuts herself... why would she do that? She said it made her sadness go away, but..."
Fluttershy feels the wound on her leg and winces slightly at the pain. "... I think it would just make me even more sad. Tomorrow I'll ask her... if she'll let me."
"I hope she doesn't hate me..."
*****
The moonlight shines in through her bedroom window, glistening off the pool of blood that has accumulated under her legs in the middle of Razor's floor. She bites down hard on the knife in pain as it slices through her leg, leaving another gushing streak. She shutters at the sight and quickly covers it with her other dripping hoof.
Her breaths come out wavering in pain "Too deep... just as you should be."
She presses down harder with her soaked hoof trying to stop the blood. Seeing how this cut is seriously worse than the many others on both her legs, she drops her knife and reaches for the surgical tape she kept nearby for just such an occasion. She pulls it over and wraps it around her leg pressing down and adhering it. The tape submerges on both sides with her blood as Razor trembles from the searing pain coursing through her legs.
She struggles to talk through her torment "I'm sorry Fluttershy... sorry I'm... such, a terrible pony." Razor longingly looks up through her bedroom window. She takes in a few deep breaths and relaxes herself looking at the stars above. Her scorching pain fades into a dull agony as she asks "I wonder what Fluttershy is doing now? Probably planning to tell everypony in town..."
She hears a noise from the hallway outside her room and quickly spins her head around. "Who's there?!? Fluttershy?"
"Why would Fluttershy be here?" the darkness calls back.
Razor recognizes the voice and answers back. "I don't know... Maybe she changed her mind? Wait, why are you here?"
"Because I wanted to say hello..."
"Hi." Razor turns back to looking out the window. Her anger builds and masks the pain in her legs.
"I see things aren't going well with Fluttershy?"
"Shut up... Your not real."
The voice is offended by Razor's response and waits for an apology, but one never comes. "Why don't you tell me about it all?"
"Shut up... Your not real."
She lets out a frustrated exhale and steps closer to Razor. "Razor I care about you, and I don't like to see this sad. So could you tell me what's wrong?"
"Shut up... Your not real."
"I was when mom died..."
Razor looks back into the darkness. "Don't bring mom into this."
"Well then don't ignore me Razor!"
Razor looks down at the bloody mess she made and sighs. "Alright we can talk..."
The voice's attitude instantly changes to a happy, pleased one. "Good! So... what's up?"
Razor looks closer at her scars, thinking of how much she deserves them. She dismally replies "I think, Fluttershy hates me."
"Well... She did run out screaming."
Razor lays her head down into her bloody legs and closes her eyes. "Yeah..."
"Eww! Get your face out of that! It's going to harden up soon..."
She mumbles from in between her legs "I don't care. I just want to move again... before everpony in this town hates me too."
The voice in the darkness lays down and scoots up towards her. "I don't think Fluttershy is going to tell everypony."
"Why not?"
"Because she's nice and... I think she likes you."
Razor lifts her head up and looks into the darkness with blood smeared all over her sad face. "You think she likes me?"
The voice in the darkness vomits in her mouth a little, but swallows it. "Oh Celestia... Uh!"
"Wow! Your not used to this by now?"
Razor giggles as the voice continues to gag "Well, it's... all over your cheeks!"
"Oh it is? Let me get that." Razor sticks her tongue out and licks the blood.
"Oh Pony Feathers! It's comin'!" The voice proceeds to make multiple vomiting noises while Razor laughs. Soon the voice stops and joins in laughing along with her, they both ease down into a smile Razor had missed.
Razor lunges out into the darkness and latches onto the voice. She groans in pain from her legs, but she doesn't care. "I've missed you so much Little Sis! Where have you been?"
"Razor get off me! Your a mess!"
Razor just holds tighter "I don't care, where have you been?"
"I've been right here, don't you remember the talk we had?"
"Yes... I didn't like it."
The voice pushes Razor off and looks at her. "Me neither, but... That doesn't mean I wouldn't stick around to make sure you were safe."
Razor sniffs "I'm glad you did."
"Me, too..."
Razor limps through the darkness, across the pitch black hall into her bathroom. In there, without turning on any lights, she fills her sink with water and starts washing the blood off.
The voice waits in the hallway watching her "Good, good... make sure you get your chin too!"
"Um, yeah!" Razor finishes washing her face and limps out of the bathroom. In the hallway the voice blocks her path. "Aren't you going to wash your legs to?"
"Well, no. They're going to be bleeding throughout the night anyway."
"Yuck..." Razor walks around her and goes back into her bedroom. The only place visible inside is the square of light illuminating the bloody mess in the middle of the floor. Razor continues over to her bed under the window and lays down.
"Well, Goodnight Razor!"
"Wait... Little Sis?" Razor looks across her dark bedroom into the hallway.
"Yes?"
"Do you, maybe... want to... sleep... wi-"
"How old are you! I can't believe your still scared of the dark."
"I'm not! But... I haven't seen you in a while..." Razor pulls out her most convincing pouty face.
"I'll only come over if you close the window."
"Ok!" Razor quickly jumps up and closes her shutters hurting her legs in the process. She then quickly dives under the covers and pulls them up over her chin. She looks over at the voice and Squees!
The voice rolls her eyes and walks over to her bed.
"Well? I can't get in if the covers are up."
"Oh sorry." Razor pulls back the covers and the voice climbs in. She picks the covers back up over her and scoots in close to Razor. Razor instantly wraps her hooves around her and starts to snuggle.
"I've missed you so much Little Sis."
"Well..." The voice checks around to make sure no one else is looking and says back to her "...I've missed you too." And she returns her embrace.
Razor lays there with her eyes closed smiling "Hey Sis?"
"Ya?"
"So, you think Fluttershy likes me?"
"I do, I think she was just a little startled from your fridge."
"A little? That's an understatement."
"Still... I don't think she would go around and tell everypony about you. I think she wants to help you."
Razor opens her eyes and looks at the darkness in front of her. "Really? Or do you think she just pities me?"
"Hmmm... she probably just pities you."
Razor frowns and snuggles up closer to the voice closing her eyes.
"Razor, I was just kidding. She probably does like you... you two have a lot in common."
"Like what?"
"Well, you both have wonderful voices."
"I know she does but, so do I?"
"Yeah! Don't you remember how you and dad used to sing out on the swamp? You sounded great!"
"Yeah! That was fun. Remember that awesome spell he learned to turn two sticks and a rock into a propeller? We were flying through the marsh!"
They both smile thinking of the memory "Yeah that looked like fun."
"I'm sorry you couldn't come Little Sis."
"It's ok... I had fun watching."
Razor and her lay there, reminiscing about the past for a long time until eventually falling asleep. Razor was so happy when she fell asleep, but she knew Sis wouldn't be there in the morning to wake up beside her. She never stayed around in the morning.
*****
As if like clockwork, the pleasant song of the birds wake up Fluttershy to witness the new day. She sits up sorely, yawning and rubbing her eyes from the inadequate slumber she had last night. She squints out through her window at the morning sun hurting her eyes. Fluttershy groans and closes them falling back into bed. There she nestles under the covers again and goes to sleep.
A few dream minutes later she hears the sound of a crowd of animals gathered around her cottage. They all wait outside impatiently for their provider, who is already an hour late. Fluttershy yawns "I guess I should get up now..." She leans up and slowly slides out of bed, forcing herself not to fall asleep mid-slide.
When her hooves hit the floor she stands still staring out the window trying to wake up. She yawns again "I hope..." A loud roar bellows from the front door. "What? Oh... Mr. Bear." Fluttershy softly calls to him "I'm coming!" and heads towards her bedroom door.
A few hours later after she has made both her and her friends breakfast, Fluttershy heads out the door. She trots away from her home into Ponyville in the late morning determined to see Razor, if she will let her.
Fluttershy crosses the bridge into Ponyville and looks in towards the town's center. A few shops are open as usual but only a few ponies seem to be paying any attention to them. The streets are much more deserted today and everypony seems to have some place to go.
"Fluttershy! Good morning to you!"
Fluttershy looks behind her to see Rarity approaching, she stops and let's her catch up.
"Good morning!"
Rarity walks up beside her and they continue their stroll. "So, where are you off to on this glorious day?"
"I'm on my way to Razor Sharp's house."
Rarity gives her a worried look. "Razor Sharp? Is she, or he, the pony your teaching friendship to?"
"Yes... she is."
"Hmm... that's an, interesting name for a pony. How is she?"
"Um..." Fluttershy thinks to herself "I probably shouldn't talk about Razor's, habits. It would be rude to talk bad about her behind her back."
"She hasn't been mean to you, has she?"
"Oh no. She has been really nice, she gave me cookies when we talked inside her house."
Rarity looks back down the road and thinks about this new pony.
Fluttershy changes the subject "How is the castle coming along."
"Hmm? Oh yes, the castle! You should see it now Fluttershy I've added marvelous tapestries all throughout the palace. I also fabricated a few seat cushions for our crystal thrones."
"That sounds wonderful!"
Fluttershy and Rarity make their way around Sugar Cube Corner and the road towards Cloudsdale comes into view.
"Yes it does look much better, and those thrones are so much more gentle on the flank. I've also hired a professional sculptor to add some elegance to the place. I would do it myself but... I'm better at finding crystals, not really sculpting them."
"The whole castle? That sounds expensive... are you sure you can pay for it all?"
"It is going to be a rather supreme payment... but, for a palace like ours it seems essential. By the way, Twilight said to come to the palace for a meeting tomorrow. One to discuss how you all are doing on your assignments."
"Ok, I'll be there."
They both approach the road towards Cloudsdale and stop. Rarity looks around at all the different houses and asks. "Which one is Razor's?" Fluttershy points to the vine covered neglected house furthest down the road.
"That is her home!? I thought that house was condemned?" Rarity's face becomes worried thinking of the type of pony that would live in such a dreary place. She turns to Fluttershy and asks her "Are you sure she is a nice pony?"
"She is... I know she doesn't live in a nice place... but that doesn't make her not nice."
"Hmm... I guess your right." Rarity turns to face Fluttershy. "If you say she's nice, then she probably is. Are you still coming to the spa on Friday? I had to change some plans and it will have to be in the afternoon instead of the morning."
"Of course, I wouldn't miss it for anything!"
Rarity smiles at Fluttershy and gives her a hug goodbye. "Oh goodie! Have a fun time at Razor's darling, I'll see you later."
Rarity lets go of Fluttershy and they both begin to go their separate ways. Rarity calls back to her "Buh-Bye, Fluttershy!"
"Bye-Bye!" Fluttershy makes her way down the street towards Razor's house. Along the way she can feel the other ponies watching her, shocked she is going back to that house after her incident yesterday. Fluttershy hates the feel of them staring and quickly picks up her pace. Soon she arrives at Razor's and knocks on the door...
Knock knock knock...