M̸y̶ ̸L̴i̶t̸t̶l̴e̶ C̵o̸r̷r̴u̶p̶t̶e̷d̸-P̵o̴n̴y̷

by ScorchingFlamesInc


Chapter 7: Hush Now, Quiet Now

̷“̸M̶y̶ ̸l̷i̴t̴t̷l̶e̵ ̵p̷r̵e̷t̶t̷i̵e̴s̴…̶”̵

Neither Spike or Pinkie knew what to do. Someone was on the roof. Not just anyone... they immediately knew, from the sound of her voice, that this was none other than Fluttershy.

But even though it was her voice that they heard, the broken scratchiness in it wasn't all that was different. Not a single ounce of innocence was there, like it wasn't even trying to pretend. Just malice and spine-tingling evil was heard, like she was the predator, and they were the prey.

Spike and Pinkie knew to not look at the window. They slowly backed away, trying to keep quiet. Maybe if they avoided the slightest noise, they would get away before she could catch them.

As it turned out, however, they thought about that too soon. A head suddenly popped out into view from the window, dripping black matter, blank eyes glowing pure white.

They got look at her face, slightly visible in the darkness. It looked even more twisted and warped than when Spike last saw her, as if being corrupted for a period of time distorts her more and more.

Her upside-down head twisted back right-side up, the cracking bones and twisting flesh both making sickening sounds, with her neck slightly coiling up as a result of twisting. Taking no time, Fluttershy began to crawl into the Treehouse through the window.

Spike and Pinkie quickly ran down the stairs in hopes of getting out quick. But when they got to the door, they were met with multiple corrupted woodland critters of different shapes and sizes. One massive, corrupted wolf howled, before all critters scattered to the door.

Pinkie dashed at the door and quickly shut it, and then ran up to Spike as she heard the animals slamming on the door.

“Quick! Back upstairs!” Spike screamed.

The door was already nearly destroyed by the time Spike and Pinkie took off. They were woodland critters alright, but the corruption for sure did something that made it easier for them… likely the wolf… to break through doors.

Pinkie and Spike scrambled to get upstairs and to one of the balconies, but it was already flooded with the corruption, and guarded by birds and squirrels. Knowing this was a risk, they made their way up to the next floor, and halfway up they finally heard the door break from downstairs, and the sounds of multiple different animals charging after them. To make matters worse, Fluttershy was already waiting for them on the third floor, sitting there, unmoving.

Without thinking, Pinkie leapt through one of the windows above a balcony roof, and Spike had no choice but to follow, Fluttershy going for the kill the moment he turned. Leaping out the window, he followed Pinkie as she hopped from the balcony top to the base of a branch. Immediately Fluttershy approached the window and started to make her way out, getting on the balcony top and already advancing to the branch.

“We didn’t think this through, did we?…” Spike asked, halfway through the branch.

“Nope!” Pinkie squeaked.

“Let’s face it… without Chrysalis we can’t do anything! We’re done for!”

Corrupted critters were already advancing to the tree branch as Fluttershy got closer and closer to the yet-to-be victims, the two of them nearing the end of the branch.

At this moment, it seemed like it was the end of the road for Spike and Pinkie. They thought they had a chance of making it for a longer period of time, but after all this time, it didn’t seem like the case anymore. Animals were surrounding them, and Fluttershy would be able to corrupt them easily with a simple reach and touch. Pinkie was hanging on for dear life at the end, reaching for some of the still-standing stone debris.

*TWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!*

A sudden sound brought everyone's attention... Pinkie, Spike, the critters, and even Fluttershy herself. Off in the distance was another group of critters, but with a closer look, they were completely normal and uncorrupted, and looked ready for a challenge. In the middle of this group was a large bear, and perched on this bear's head was a familiar white bunny, blowing into the whistle as much as he could.

The woodland critters panicked all of them scattering around, making their respective yet distorted noises. Fluttershy was the only one not reacting, instead looking at the animals as if attempting to command them to return, and failing.

Most of them fled. But the others proceeded to go after the uncorrupted animals, all of them immediately scattering back into the woods... but not before the bunny gave them a salute.

"Ooh, wait! Loud noise must be their weakness!" Pinkie beamed.

"No... Fluttershy didn't react once... the animals were just easy to alarm with it!"

Fluttershy stared back at Spike and Pinkie once more. They started to hear it, a noise sounding like distorted laughter. But it wasn't like the small giggles Fluttershy has done in the past. It was maniacal, getting increasingly deranged as the sickening laughter carried on and Fluttershy's image began to change, her limbs twisting and expanding, slowly undergoing change.

One foreleg became fuzzy and beefier, while a paw with claws grew out of the hoof.

The other foreleg became scaly, and three curved clawed toes grew out.

Both of her back legs proceeded to fuse together, and it elongated until it resembled the end of a snake’s body.

And to complete the transformation, bat features grew in, marking their return… her wings replaced themselves with bat wings, long bat fangs grew in her seemingly empty mouth, and her ears grew into bat ears.

With her increased strength, Fluttershy swung in front of her, breaking the side of the branch the enemies were on. Spike and Pinkie both screamed as they fell with the branch and crashed into the ground.

Spike’s already sore arm stung even more than it did before, the fall clearly having twisted, maybe even broke the wrist.

He got up and found Pinkie in even worse condition, a massive cut on the right of her side.

“Pinkie!” Spike shook her. “Pinkie!

Pinkie groaned, grabbing her side and leaning up.. “I-I’m okay!”

Fluttershy leapt off the tree and slithered to them, a low hiss gurgling in her throat. She stopped in front of them.

“Fluttershy please!” Spike pleaded as Pinkie got up. “We don’t want to hurt you!”

Fluttershy didn’t listen. She immediately swung her massive paw at them.

Spike and Pinkie both rolled out of the way as dirt sprayed everywhere. The corrupted amalgamation leapt in the air and dove into the ground, leaving a massive hole.

The duo attempted to get away into the forest, but Fluttershy turned out to be faster than their foes from before… she sprung out of the ground right in front of them, and once again attempted to strike. Spike and Pinke ran back to the Treehouse and this time took different directions, and when Fluttershy slashed and missed, she took out a massive chunk of the treehouse.

Pinkie and Spike joined together at the other side of the treehouse, their fear having reached a new, higher level.

“Grab onto me, and don’t let go!” Pinkie alerted, already grabbing her party bazooka.

Spike did so, and Pinkie jumped, landed on her tail to bounce even higher, and fired the bazooka directly at the ground, the force of the bazooka launching the two into the tree right as Fluttershy’s head popped out of the ground and she snapped her jaws, the dark matter continuing to drool out her mouth..

Pinkie grabbed onto a branch and Spike let go of her so he could fly a bit higher.

“What are we going to do?! I don’t want to hurt her! She’s one of our closest and kindest friends!” Spike exclaimed.

Fluttershy leapt up and slashed her claws and Pinkie quickly curled up into the branch, just barely missing her.

“We never tried uncorrupting anyone before!” Pinkie suggested as that happened. She uncurled, and then swung forward, letting go to launch herself to a higher branch. Right then Fluttershy leapt up even higher, breaking off the entire branch.

“How are we even going to do that?!” Spike shrieked. “With a song or reminding her of the past? That strategy’s used so much!”

Fluttershy then slithered over to the tree, looked at her claws, and started to climb.

“It’s the only strategy we can use!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Think about it! Likely overused method to saving someone, or inevitable corruption?!”

Fluttershy was already near. Her head spun 180 degrees, and a corrupted python sprung out of her mouth to bite. Spike didn’t have any time to react this time, but in a lucky turn of events he slipped off the branch before he got caught. Pinkie hopped off her own branch and landed on her hind hooves, quickly getting out of the way when Fluttershy dove after her.

Spike continued flying around, making sure Fluttershy’s either at bay or close, and also keeping Pinkie’s safety in check. “Alright, alright, we’ll give it a try! Okay, what’s a song that could be used? Come on! Think! Think!

Pinkie ran around the Treehouse again, and this time, Fluttershy appeared in front of it around her, immediately slamming her paw right through it, causing far more damage to the Treehouse and spraying much more debris over Pinkie, disorienting her enough to where didn’t notice a large piece of the fallen branch up ahead, slipped on it with her splint, and fell.

“PINKIE!”

Fluttershy finally caught up to Pinkie, quickly circling around her continuously as if to taunt her, daring her to try and get past.

Spike had to think. If he had to sing a song on the fly to save not one, but two of his friends, then so be it.

It just had to be something that he hoped would work.

Your mind may be gone,
There’s no hope for your dawn,

But I know past the control,
Is the true you, your soul

Not a fiend or a beast,
Let yourself be released,

Remember your friends,
And save them from their ends,

Oh kind friend Fluttershy, please don’t go,
You’re still in there, you and I know

Underneath your shyness, is a mare so strong,
No matter what, nobody’s ever really gone,

When together again,
The chaos will end,

We can’t do this alone
Keep this beast from the throne,

Never give up, never lose hope,
Get back up after you cope,

Come back to us and fight,
And when it gets tough, join us on the flight

Oh kind friend Fluttershy, please don’t go,
You’re still in there, you and I know

Underneath your shyness, is a mare so strong,
No matter what, nobody’s ever really gone,

Fluttershy stared at Pinkie. Her facial expression, her facial expression remained unchanged, still deranged and grinning.

“Did… did it work?” Spike wondered.

Fluttershy’s head tilted and she raised her paw.

Itdidn’twork!!!” Pinkie shrieked.

Fluttershy’s paw suddenly stopped when it swung. It shook wildly, vibrating and spazzing, before it shrunk down. The rest of Fluttershy’s body twitched and convulsed, with the only thing remaining untouched was her now-normal hoof, reaching for Pinkie. The corruption began to envelop her entire body, and her tail retreated into, what went from a Fluttershy-animal amalgamation, into a pure blob entirely made of the darkness.

Pinkie had a feeling. A good feeling. She grabbed Fluttershy’s normal hoof, the only part of her friend that was still exposed.

Spike! Help me!

Spike did as he was told. He joined with Pinkie and grabbed Fluttershy’s hoof, helping Pinkie pull. The corruption felt like it was pulling back, the force being massive.

“I’m sorry, but I have to do this!” Spike shouted. He took a massive inhale, and showered the corruption with powerful green fire. The corruption shrieked and twitches, and it’s grip on Fluttershy felt loose.

Spike and Pinkie pulled one last time, exerting all strength to do so. And with that one motion, Fluttershy slid out of the blob of corruption, and the three of them toppled to the ground.
Quickly, Spike got up, and again showered the glitch with fire before it could grow or take any of them. Again, it shrieked, and it fled.

They were alone. Spike exhaled in relief. He then took a hopeful glance at Fluttershy.

Pinkie held her close. Fluttershy was unconscious and pale. But she was breathing, alive, and not only that, but she was no longer corrupted.

“We can save them…” Spike realized. “It takes a lot of work but… we can save them!”

“Quick! We gotta take her inside!” exclaimed Pinkie.

Spike turned around and looked. Although the Treehouse still stood, there were now two massive holes in it.

It was saddening to see the Treehouse in this condition, branches broken and the slight destruction being caused. Spike knew that if Twilight saw it, it would be upsetting. He himself felt a bit upset over it, and he had a feeling Pinkie did too, and just hid it.

But it still stood.

They could work with this. They would need to be even more alert and prepared. It would be easier for anything to get in. But maybe it would be manageable.

But then again, the damage caused wasn’t the only issue. If they were found now, chances are, they’d be found again.

“Spike?”

“Yeah, we’ll take her inside,” Spike began with a nod. “But when the others get back, we’re going to have to talk about some things. Important things. I don’t know how much longer we can stay here.”