Fluttershy was walking through the town in the directions the letter lead. Rainbow was following closely behind her, once again dressed in a robe to hide her form. Fluttershy wanted Rainbow to stay back at the cottage while she took care of this, but Rainbow insisted to stay with her. Rainbow even avoided her when Fluttershy tried to place a leash back on her collar that would keep her put.
With a defeated sigh, Fluttershy had allowed her to come. Fluttershy looked over the contents of the letter again, wondering what this was about.
”I don’t know who the pony was that gave it to me. They just told me it was something important about your job.”
Scootaloo’s voice repeated in her head. It was usual for her to receive letters about her animal caretaking duties, but in this way, not so much. The letter mentioned about them wanting to talk personally, and the location of where.
But as she was walking, she noticed the different nature of the weather today once again. The winds were bothering her more than usual. Rays from the sun kept getting blocked off by clouds. Without Rainbow Dash to tend to the clouds, she couldn’t quite admire Ponyville’s weather like she used to. She made a mental note to remember when she had the chance to see if Rainbow remembered how to handle the weather. Fluttershy hoped so, because she knew next to nothing about weather duties or cloud manipulation.
Some sort of ruckus disturbed Fluttershy’s thoughts. She looked to the direction where she was hearing it. It was getting louder, then softer. Then there was a pause. The sounds came from the building she was looking for. Oddly enough, the door was already open.
*BANG!*
Fluttershy flinched and stumbled back from the booming pound of what sounded like a hammer clanging on metal, making the ground shake. She nearly fell over, but Rainbow rushed to her side, catching Fluttershy’s balance when she nearly fell over to the side. They looked at the building as Fluttershy regained her balance. It was still causing a violent ruckus.
Fluttershy looked over her letter one more time to make sure she got the directions correct. To her dismay, it was correct. While trying to cover her ears, she went inside with Rainbow following suit. Inside was a single pony working from one place to another and doing things along the lines of setting up crates, hammering a sign, and tying ropes. She pondered if she should even be here right now. But then the door behind her and Rainbow closed on its own, alerting the pony to their presence.
“Oh forgive me. I did not know you were here,” the pony said after halting work. It was a light green muscular earth pony stallion with short and darker green mane and tail. His Cutie Mark looked to be a chain. “Give me a moment.” He kicked his tool kit behind him, causing it to get launched to a closet room. A loud shattered shook the room and bursted Fluttershy’s ear drums while the door to the closet forced itself closed. “Now, what can I help you with?”
When her ears were no longer hurting, Fluttershy opened her eyes and responded. “Um… I think I came to help you?” She held out the letter towards him, but he didn’t seem to be looking at her. He seemed to be looking at Rainbow Dash before his expression suddenly changed to realization.
“Oh, so you’re the mare I was told about. Just in time. We can get down to business.”
Fluttershy raised an eyebrow while Rainbow moved to her side. “Told about?” Before she could ask more, the stallion raised his forehooves high in the air and slammed them down with a mighty force. The ground shook, causing the lights and blinds to come crashing down. It made Fluttershy yelped and press herself against Rainbow’s robe. She shivered violently as the room became pitch black in darkness.
She slowly opened her eyes, unable to see practically anything. To her right, she could see Rainbow’s eyes looking concernedly at her, ears twitching and staying alert.
“What’s going on?” she asked. A light suddenly flashed on like a stage light. It was barely bright enough to illuminate themselves. The green stallion they saw early appeared in the darkness, slowly walking towards them with a stern expression.
“Hello,” the stallion started. “My name is Almond Clang. Just call me Clang. And you must be Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy hesitantly stepped forward, but not too far from Rainbow Dash. In this darkness, she could barely see what she was stepping on. “W-Who told you about me? And what is this about?”
Clang seemed to look towards Rainbow Dash, who looked away and hid her form further behind her robe. Fluttershy looked to Clang and Rainbow, noticing this exchange. That was when Clang turned away and started walking.
“I was told that your connection with animals is beyond impressive. You not only understand their problems, but find those in distress, or lost” He stopped walking and looked to Fluttershy. “Therefore, I need to file a missing animal report with you.”
Fluttershy tilted her head down and back. “You need me to help you find a lost pet?”
Clang shook his head. “That will not be necessary.” He eyed Fluttershy directly. “As it turns out, that creature is with you.” He took a step forward, causing Fluttershy to swallow.
“W-What are you talking about?” she asked as her ears fell. She had a feeling she already knew, but Clang seemed to turn his head away, trailing off.
“A few weeks ago, a special type of flower was discovered in the Everfree Forest. What was this type of flower?" His expression turned mean. "I don’t know, and I don’t care...” He darted his expression to Fluttershy and raised his voice. “What I DO care is what this flower attracted. A very dangerous creature appeared soon after this flower was discovered,-” Fluttershy nervously turned her eyes toward Rainbow Dash, with Rainbow looking cautiously back. “-a creature that could swallow a pony whole.”
Fluttershy turned to Clang, her heart beating fast as she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Rainbow’s wings grew restless. A great desire filled her heart, seeing the increasing fear from Fluttershy.
Clang stomped his hoof. “I think you know exactly what I’m talking about!” He pointed a hoof towards Rainbow Dash, who glared at Clang seriously. “After all, you’ve been taking care of that creature ever since it came to you.”
Fluttershy moved in front of Rainbow Dash. “She is no animal. She is just my best friend, Rainbow Dash.”
Clang chuckled. “If she’s your best friend, why do you keep her covered in a robe like a helpless animal? And don't think I didn't notice that collar.” A gasp full of fear escaped Fluttershy’s mouth.
Something clicked in Rainbow’s mind upon that exchange. After bending down, she thrusted her body upwards and flared her wings. The robe was sent flying away, flicking her long tail as her form was revealed. She turned a serious glare towards Clang and moved to Fluttershy’s side. Fluttershy’s breath only got more heavy.
“There. The tatzlpony has revealed herself to feast on her prey.” Clang announced.
“What do you want with her?” Fluttershy asked, painfully raising her voice.
“I told you. I’m here to file a missing animal report with you The creature I’m looking for is a very dangerous specimen that must be returned!”
Fluttershy searched her surroundings desperately. She wanted to leave now, but couldn’t see anything in this pitch darkness. Turning back to Clang, she responded. “You have the wrong animal. She’s not a dangerous creature. She’s a good tatzlpony. She’s not dangerous!”
“A tatzlpony that would swallow another pony whole is not dangerous?” Clang suddenly shined a very wide smirk, bending into a stance. “Last time I checked, a good animal would never devour their owners.” Rainbow’s expression faltered and her eyes grew. Fluttershy noticed Rainbow’s muscles easing up, growing concerned.
And then, a terrible realization came to Fluttershy’s mind. “You-... You can't be… Rainbow’s a tatzlpony because…” As she whispered to herself, Clang flung his hooves up.
“And any predator like that needs to be caged up!”
Clang slammed his hooves on the ground, setting something off. A loud snap sounded. Rainbow’s wings ignited upon instinct, moving away from her spot. Before Fluttershy knew what happened, something flung towards her as soon as Rainbow Dash vanished from sight. A collection of ropes came, causing her to yelp as they came in contact with her body. Her yelp was short lived as the ropes wrapped around her, binding her limbs, wings, and sealing her mouth into a silence. With no way to move, her body fell to the floor.
Rainbow gasped when she saw Fluttershy getting ensnared. If she hadn't moved from where she was, she would've gotten ensnared instead of Fluttershy. She flew back down to Fluttershy’s side to check if she was okay. Fluttershy opened her eyes, looking fearfully in Rainbow’s eyes and barely able to move. She didn't seem harmed, just trapped. Nevertheless, Rainbow turned to Clang, rage filling her eyes.
“Huh… You’re more slippery than I thought. Guess we’ll have to do this the hard way.” Clang shook his hindquarters, readying himself to charge. Rainbow Dash moved herself closer to Fluttershy, covering her as much as she could. “If I were you, I would move away from that mare so she doesn’t get hurt. After all. I’m not here for her.” Clang closed his eyes for a few seconds, then opened them up.
“I’m here for you!”