//------------------------------// // A Fallen Angel // Story: Angel and Devil // by Shaq-of-All-Trades //------------------------------// So, it's finally come to this... Angel stared hard at the bunny he once called sister. You do know her safety is the only thing keeping me at bay, right? I also know that she's the only reason you stay here, Devil kept the needle pressed against Fluttershy's shivering head. So, if I get rid of her now, you'll have nowhere left to go but with me. Back to the tribe where you belong. I'm never going back to the tribe! Angel remembered his dream. If I go back, then the village will be doomed. I'm sorry that you're unhappy Black Briar, but I can't- SHUT. UP. The needle plunged in a bit deeper, and Fluttershy yelped. Devil tugged at her mane, making her to silently whimper. Never call me that name again. I left behind everything until the day when I brought you home. You have no right to call me that, not now, not in front of her. Angel had to play it careful. His sister always had a record of going beyond the necessary boundaries to get what she wanted. It was on of the reasons he had looked out for her when they were younger; if a bunny messed with her, they spelled out their own doom. Now, this psychopath was holding Fluttershy hostage, and he had nothing he could do to stop her. It would take an incredible amount of luck for something to give him the advantage... Knock Knock Knock Angel sent out a small thanks. Somepony was at the door. Since Fluttershy rarely went anywhere, they were hardly likely to leave, and would probably check in on her when she didn't answer. He smiled, then quickly wiped it off of his face when he saw that Devil had come to the same conclusion. She pushed Fluttershy off the bed, then resumed her grip on her hair. She started dragging her to the main room. She motioned for Angel to follow. Answer the door, she said. He raised an eyebrow and folded his arms. What if I don't? Then I shove this needle through her eye and switch to the cleaver. Angel calmly assessed the situation, then hopped to the door as if his life depended on it. Interestingly enough, Fluttershy's life was the one most on the line at the moment. He opened the door and was met face to face with the cyan pegasi, Rainbow Dash. "Hey, Angel, what's up? I need to talk to Fluttershy. Is she in?" Angel wanted with all his heart to nod. He wanted Rainbow Dash to rush in and help him save Fluttershy. But there was no way he could get the message through to her. Instead, he shook his head. Rainbow Dash wasn't convinced though. "Is she trying to chicken out again?" she asked. "We need as many pegasi as we can get to help us clear away these clouds! They're all tapped out on snow, so it'll be easy, even for her!" Angel shook his head again, then began to close the door when a hoof blocked his path. He glared. "Listen, Angel, I think I'll just take a look for myself..." Rainbow Dash tried to force her way in, but Angel grabbed her head and pulled her down. He looked her dead in the eye, and conveyed the message through as best as he could. GO. AWAY. NOW. At last, she seemed to get it. Rainbow Dash backed away slowly, and turned and flew off. A rainbow streak followed her. Angel sighed and wiped at his brow. That had been much too close for his liking. Good job getting rid of her, Devil commented from where she had been watching. Now, it's time to decide, once and for all, how you want to leave here. Are we doing this this the easy way, or the painful way? Angel turned to face her, and saw that she was no longer holding on to Fluttershy. No, she was halfway between him and Fluttershy, most likely to stop him in case he had tried to rat her out. But she didn't seem to realize she had given up her only hold over him. He pretended to think, then looked at Fluttershy. The yellow pegasus looked at him with wide eyes, and he nodded slightly. She caught it, and nodded as well. He let out a huff, then opened his arms wide. Looks like I'll be going back then, sis, he said with as much positivity as he could muster. Though his emotions were fake, his sister's were certainly real. Tears fell from her eyes, as she hopped to him with her own arms outstretched. He hopped to her with considerably less enthusiasm. The two met, a sharp contrast of colors. Devil cried into her brother's shoulder, and he patted her back lightly. It is because she cried so deeply, that she didn't notice her brother slip the needle from her hand. Neither did she notice him raise it up. Angel looked at Fluttershy one last time. Fluttershy averted her gaze. With his heart in his throat, Angel brought down the rounded end of the needle into his sister's head, a small crack resounding. Her eyes glazed over, and she fell to the ground. Angel quickly put his paw to the black bunny's throat, but he couldn't feel a pulse. Why wasn't there a pulse? Oh no, what had he done?! He hadn't struck her that hard, had he? A small pool of blood began to collect. Suddenly, Angel flashed back to the clearing with his father. Once again, he was losing a member of his family. But this time, it had been by his own paw. He had struck down his sister, not some mysterious threat. Tears flowed from him, and a darkness threatened to consume him. A whimper pulled him back ever so slightly from the darkness. It was Fluttershy. He hopped over to her and untied her. Once she was freed, she hugged him tightly. "Oh, Angel, I'm so, so, so sorry!" she cried. "I never ever would have thought that something so awful would happen. I'll go and give Devil a proper ceremony, even though she was so nasty. You just sit here and rest. I'm sorry." Fluttershy set Angel down, and went to pick up Devil. She carried her outside, and went towards the Everfree Forest. Angel simply sat where he had been placed, trying to fight at the darkness clawing its way through his heart. 'I killed my sister,' the only thing going through his mind.