//------------------------------//
// Chapter 12. Carer 
// Story: As the Moon Rises 
// by MorbidTheBrony 
//------------------------------//

July 12th, Fluttershy's House, Thursday Evening
07:03PM

Fluttershy sat at a desk in her bedroom, resting her head on it. Directly in front of her was a glass cage filled with sand, sticks and leaves. Inhabiting the cage was the small, leopard print lizard Ray.

Ever since Fluttershy was given the responsibility to take care of Sunset's pet while she was doing... whatever she was doing, Ray barely showed his chill smile to Fluttershy. Instead, he only showed her this sad and worried look.

Around Fluttershy's neck was her pink and yellow geode, which gave her the ability to talk to all animals. 

"Where's Mama?" Ray asked.

Fluttershy sighed sadly. "I don't know, Ray. No one has seen Sunset for days," she explained to the lizard. "Sunset just seems to be... gone."

"No one seen Mama?" Worry was clearly heard in Ray's voice. "Does Butterfly think Mama okay?"

Fluttershy tried to force a smile to lighten Ray's mood. "Ray, Sunset's a strong girl. It isn't like her to disappear like this, but wherever she is and whatever she's doing, I'm sure she's okay," she said reassuringly, but not even she was sure if Sunset was okay. She didn't want Ray to know, but Fluttershy was extremely worried for Sunset.

"Does Butterfly promise?"

Fluttershy's attention was brought right back to the lizard. She opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't answer him. If she promised him, she would be lying, and the last thing she wanted to do right now was to lie to her friend's pet who's owner was missing. 

But what if Ray begins to get suspicious if Fluttershy continued to not answer his question? A simple yes or no question? Would he realise himself what Fluttershy's answer would be?

Ray continued to look at his carer with worry in his big, innocent eyes. This only made Fluttershy feel more and more guilty.

Realising she was holding her breath, Fluttershy stood up and turned away from Ray. She unclipped her geode and clenched it in her hand. She looked back at the lizard. He was desperate for an answer. He must know that something is wrong.

With a sigh, Fluttershy put on another smile and picked up a plastic tub of crickets. She picked the rest of the crickets out and placed them in a small bowl inside the cage. Ray munched away as Fluttershy picked up her jacket and put it on, slipping her geode in one of the pockets.

She walked to the door and placed her hand on the handle. "I'm just going out to the store, Ray, I'll be back soon," she told him before walking out the door.



Streets of Canterlot, Thursday Evening
07:42PM

Fluttershy walked down the pavement leading to the store. She spent most of the time, so far, thinking about Sunset. Why did she have to give her pet, who she loved dear to her heart, away to Fluttershy? Why was she not answering to anyone's texts or calls? Why has no one seen her for days?

Questions continued to multiply in the poor girl's head. She could feel a headache coming as more questions with no answer sprouted in her head. Fluttershy had been trying to keep her mind away from worrying about Sunset, but she could never be able to.

Another thing that made Fluttershy worry was why wouldn't Sunset give an explanation. Didn't she trust her friends? They had all been through terrifying and magical battles together. Why would Sunset think she has to deal with something on her own?

Fluttershy was so caught up in what's currently bad that she found that she had almost walked right passed the store she was looking for. It was a pretty large and very filled store. Anything anybody needed, this store possibly had it. 

She travelled through the store, looking for the pet isle to buy Ray more crickets. During her search, she saw a familiar face down an isle filled with shampoos and body washes. A violet skinned girl with large white pigtails.

Fluttershy walked down the isle and smiled when she recognised the girl. "Hi, Sugarcoat!" she greeted.

Sugarcoat turned around at the sound of her name and smiled when she saw Fluttershy. "Oh, hey, Fluttershy. I haven't seen you in a while," she said. "How long has it been? Since the music video contest?"

"Yeah, it was," Fluttershy answered. "How's your summer been so far?"

Sugarcoat shrugged. "Meh, it's been alright. Although, the girl's and I haven't been with eachother as long everyday since that werewolf showed up."

"Who do you think the werewolf is?" Fluttershy asked.

Sugarcoat crossed her arms. "I don't really care who it is, I just want that Woodland Musket guy to make it go away whether he kills it or not. Anyway, how's your summer?" she asked, still pretty calm.

Fluttershy's expression saddened as she looked downwards. "Not so great lately," she said quietly.

Sugarcoat's eyes widened slightly. "Oh? How come?"

"Well, you see, almost a week ago, Sunset gave me her pet lizard to look after but she never told me why." She looked back up at Sugarcoat. "Now, she's not answering any of our texts or calls and we haven't seen her at all."

Sugarcoat slowly raised a hand over her mouth. "Has anyone went over to her house to check on her?"

"Twilight, Applejack and Rarity all have over the last few days," Fluttershy answered, nodding. "Applejack even said she stood there for over an hour calling and waiting, but nothing. Sunset's just... gone."

"Maybe she just went back to that pony world... whatever it's called," Sugarcoat suggested.

"Maybe, but she always lets us know whenever she was going to Equestria. The girl's and I suspect this is something more."

"What makes you suspect that?"

Now Fluttershy shrugged. "We don't know exactly, but we do know that Sunset hasn't been acting like herself before she went missing. 

"Only the day before, we all went to the mall for a day out. We went to the arcade where, at a strength game, Sunset showed to be almost as strong as Applejack using her super strength. Then at the end of her day, Sunset had snuck off and we found her at the steakhouse bathroom vomiting up meat she ate," she explained. "And if you know Sunset, she's a vegetarian."

Sugarcoat gripped her chin curiously. "Hmm... that certainly isn't like her. Well, I wouldn't know what's going on, but if you want my advice, I'd suggest you go back to Sunset's, and if she doesn't answer, call someone," she told Fluttershy. "The last time I saw Sunset, she was running away somewhere, I don't know where, but she told me she just came from arguing with Twilight. Maybe ask her about that." 

Sugarcoat turned to the shelves, took a bottle of shampoo and placed it in a basket she had. "Anyway, I have to go now. It was good talking to you, Fluttershy." She began walking down the other side of the isle. 

Fluttershy waved at her. "Bye, Sugarcoat, and thank you for the advice." She turned and walked back the way she came.

She purchased a new tub of crickets and finally left the store. On her way home, Fluttershy thought over Sugarcoat's advice. She stopped where she was and looked back at the street she came from.

"Sunset's house isn't actually too far from here," she told herself. "I should probably go check to see if she's there." And so, she began to walk in the opposite way, in the direction to Sunset's house.

During the journey to Sunset’s house, Fluttershy's phone buzzed. She took her phone out of her pocket and opened it. Twilight had sent a message on the chat room her friends all shared.

Guys! Musket just told me that he found where the werewolf comes out at night! We're finally putting an end to this!
20:33

WHAT?!?!?!??!?!?!?!!
20:33

make sure u be careful twi. okay?
20:34

be careful out there darling, but also make sure that beast doesn't return!
20:34


please stay safe twilight. Please?
20:35


dont worry fluttershy. we'll be fine I promise
20:36

Fluttershy saw that Sunset still hadn't replied. She waited where she was to see if something would happen with Sunset's profile. It took a few minutes of waiting, but, very quickly, she eventually saw that the red dot next to Sunset's profile picture turn green, signifying that Sunset was online. But as fast as it went green, it turned back to red. Sunset was still here. She might still be at her house.

Fluttershy turned off her phone and began running the rest of the way to Sunset's house. She finally arrived at her door and raised her hand to knock. But she hesitated and reeled her hand back. What will happen if she knocked? What if Sunset wasn't even home?

Fluttershy shook her head, took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

"Sunset? Are you there?"