I was laying next to fluttershy as she slept, there was a pool of our collected tears on the floor. The sun had set and all the animals slept, except the nocturnal ones. Listening to her reminded me of the time i was bullied back in primary school. I didn't know it back then, but i was being taken advantage of by the people who i thought were my friends. And seeing fluttershy made those horrible memories seem like a bad dream. Once i was able to pull myself together, i got up and left her house. Of course i didn't want to leave but Justin was still waiting at our house, no doubt waiting for dinner.
On my way home i could swear i saw something watching me. Like a pair of scarlet eyes, constantly in contact with my body. I was cautious, after what happened at the castle i shuddered to think of the same thing happening to me. Something was wrong, and i could sense it. I got to the house and Justin was literally slumped in front of the door, pretending to have died of hunger. He jumped up once he heard me coming, and immediately went inside, before i could even say hi. When i got inside he didn't even question where i was, all that came from his mouth was
“Im hungry”
“Fine, ill cook something up, luckily ONE of us bothered to go get cooking supplies.” I shot him a look before grabbing some ingredients from the cupboard.
“Fine, but you could have come home sooner, its already night!” He was complaining now, i was trying my best not to slap him.
“How many times do i have to explain this Jay, The sun and the moon periodically move according to the princess sisters. its only 6 pm.” I pointed to a clock mounted to a wall, indicating it was in fact 6 pm.
It was only met with a groan as i continued to prepare. I decided on a carrot and apple stew, using hay for the broth. Once it was done i dished up two bowls, i was about to pour a third, but remembered that fluttershy wasn't here anymore. I placed the third bowl back, and sat down to eat. As i bent down to sip, i noticed Justin with a huge grin.
“So, you find ya’self a girlfriend eh?” He said in a mocking tone.
“As a matter of fact, yes. better then you’ve ever done” I smirked, turning his mockery around was one of my favourite things. He shut up and turned a nice shade of red.
I finished my stew and placed the bowl in the sink, as i bent down to turn the taps, i heard the sounds of a window breaking, and something pass just over my neck. I quickly turned around to see Justin with his mouth gaping wide open, and a small dart with a glass casing lodged in the table. A purple liquid was seeping out of the end of the needle. I quickly tackled Justin and dragged him upstairs, as several more identical needles pierced the windows, aiming for us.
We got upstairs and closed our bedroom windows, trying to keep us out of any line of fire.
Neither of us knew what was going on, but i had a hunch it was something to do with those scarlet eyes i saw earlier. I poked my head slightly above the windowsill, looking for those scarlet eyes i saw earlier in the night. I found them, just under a tree, Our eyes met, and as soon as they did, the scarlet eyes opened wider before running away.
“I think were safe for now.” I whispered quietly to Justin
“Woah im feelin’ kinda woozy” He fell to the floor, i inspected him and found one of the darts had been lodged in his neck. Shitscared, i check his pulse, it was regular, and so was his breathing. He had just fallen asleep. I sigh and drag him to his bed, placing the covers over him before returning to my own bed. Hoping that we would be safe.
And i was right. I woke up in the morning, earlier then usual. The windows had been repaired (courtesy of the mailmare who ordered replacements while delivering the morning mail), The house wasn't even locked. and nothing was moved or touched. Even the dishes were done(I still haven't figured out who by). Everything was peaceful and calm.
Justin literally rolled down the stairs, still under the effect of the serum that was in the needle. He opened his mouth to talk but all that came out was “oapjoeejwfagnakmfkmmmm” as he slobbered over the floor. I grabbed his tail and dragged him to the clinic to find some form of antidote. I don't think he appreciated being dragged along the stone and dirt, as he was screaming half the time. Once we got to the clinic, i dumped him infront of the counter and told the deskpony what was wrong, she said she’d call a toxin specialist. When he arrived, he pulled a needle and a jar out of his bag, and injected Justin with the antidote. After a few minutes of stumbling about, he was finally able to stand on all fours again.
“Ugh. finally, now Rem, WHY THE FUCK DID YOU DO THAT!?” she shouted
“Hush!” the deskpony shushed, “There are foals in the room!”
“sorry.” He jabbed my side and told me to come outside. I obliged. Once we got outside he continued. “Seriously, that was completely unnecessary, i was scared shitless”
“whatever do you mean?” I replied innocently
“Don’t be a smart ass. You dragged me along the ground by my tail. through ROCKS and dirt!”
“youll live.”
“UGH!” he threw up his hooves in frustration and ran back to the house.
I eventually caught up, but infront of our house. He had stopped and i thought it was to wait for me, but instead i saw why he was so silent.
The house was trashed. The window panes broken, the drawers pulled out, the fridge raided, the only thing that remained was my backpack, which still had everything inside. I didn't bother to question why they left it alone, because i knew Justin didn't know. The only thing that remained was a large knife in the table that was piercing a note.
I picked up the note and read it aloud
“We have kidnapped your girlfriend, if you ever wish to see her again, bring princess Celestia ALONE to the castle of the old pony sisters at midnight.” I was shaking like an earthquake. They had fluttershy, what could i do? I cant just BRING the princess somewhere, and that would be getting her assassinated, which would be worse then... i didn't want to think about it.
The first thing i thought of was going to Twilight, who else could know what to do in a situation like this? she does read a lot of books.
I sped to Twilight’s as fast as i could, ignoring whatever Justin was yelling behind me. When i got there, i didn't bother to knock, i bucked open the door and ran inside. Twilight, still halfway through the earth encyclopedia(it was a big book.), yelped and threw a book at me with her magic in surprise. I didn't bother to waste time with talking, i just ran up and threw the kidnappers note onto the pedestal she was reading off. She read the note and her eyes widened
“We have to contact princess celestia right away! SPIKE!” she shouted.
“what is it twilight?” a familiar baby dragon walked out of his room
“Prepare to send a message to the princess, i need this to be sent as soon as possible!” She started speaking aloud the contents of the letter as spike wrote them down.
“Dear princess celestia, It has come to my attention that a group of ponies, most likely your assailants, have kidnapped one of my dearest friends Fluttershy, who is also the bearer of the Element of Kindness, I have enclosed the letter received by Remy, which seems to request your alone presence at the castle of the two pony sisters. It is no doubt a trap. Please be careful and reply as soon as possible. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle”
Spike tied the note and letter with the royal seal and with a breath of fire, it disappeared.
Moments later, there was a puff of smoke, and a message fell through the air, Twilight quickly unravelled it and read aloud
“Dear Twilight sparkle, this is bad news indeed. If what the message reads is correct, then i am afraid there is little i can do, seeing as i am the main target, and barely being safe in my own castle, it would be unwise to venture into the everfree. However, i can offer you some assistance. I shall send four guards to assist you, Please bring the other elements of harmony to the castle of the pony sisters, If they really do have fluttershy, then the elements of harmony would be your best choice of defence. I am sincerely sorry for not being able to assist you personally, but due to my own safety and the safety of the kingdom i cannot. Your mentor, Princess Celestia”
I sighed “Great, now what”
“Well, we need to check to see if they actually have fluttershy, there would be no sense in endangering ourselves if there wasn't a reason for it.” She closes the encyclopedia(with a bookmark in it), and we go to Fluttershy’s house. Upon arrival, the scene seems normal, nothing out of place, broken, or anything. But when we open the door, it was almost as bad as my house. There were scratches everywhere from fluttershy trying to hold onto the floor and other objects when being dragged, there were those strange darts in various places, her fridge was also raided.
A rage built up inside me, i could not control my anger. I was so angry with how they treated her, a lady, just mercilessly dragged around and drugged. I screamed ferociously in anger and kicked a chair nearby as hard as i could, it went flying through the air and smashed through a window. I turned to see the window that i smashed, only to see a red pony with crimson eyes staring at me through the window. Our eyes locked, and i sprinted through the door, chasing this red pony.
Twilight saw what was happening and also helped, trying to trip the pony up with her magic, it helped, but only a bit. Eventually the red pony tripped on a large stone and skidded across the ground, possibly taking off a bit of skin in the process. I leaped on top of her and pinned her to the ground, knowing where all the joints are in a pony, it wasn't that hard.
“Please!” she pleaded “Let me go... I was just curious, is all..”
“Then why did you try to put me and my friend to sleep last night?” I was furious..
“I.. didn't have a choice.. they made me do it..” I normally wouldn't have believed her, but since she did leave us alone after i saw her, it did make her story more believable.
I eased up on her arms, but still didn't let her go. I needed to find out what happened to fluttershy and why they were trying to ‘off’ Celestia. I stared at her longer, and noticed her cutie mark. It was a black hood with a knife in the background. But she wasn't a unicorn, and she didn't seem like the kind of pony to kill anyone. I rubbed the cutie mark with my elbow, and it came off. It must have been some sort of cult symbol.
“Why are you doing this?” I questioned, seeing the fear in the mares eyes.
“The assassins.. they... They have my family..."