"It's alright, little guy. Don't be afraid," Fluttershy crooned, peering down into the dark hole. The only response she got was a loud whine. She stuck her head inside the pit and tried to smile reassuringly at the injured manticore sitting at the bottom. He refused to move, but who could blame the poor thing, with his wing all busted up like that? "The princesses ought to do something about this," she said to her companion. "These ruins are far too hazardous. The roofs of these underground chambers seem to be caving in a lot lately."
Angel nodded in agreement.
There was only one thing that would bring the shy pegasus to the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters in the Everfree Forest with only her bunny to help: an animal in distress. Angel, her valiant protector, jumped up on her back and pointed down into the hole. Fluttershy nodded. Taking the basket of first aid supplies in her mouth, she flew down to the bottom of the pit where her patient was waiting.
The manticore bared his teeth as she approached.
She smiled at him gently.
The animal cocked its head and looked at her for a while, before lying down with a groan and allowing her to inspect his injuries.
She hissed in sympathy as she noticed that he had managed to hurt his rear leg as well in the fall. "Poor baby," she crooned, getting to work on disinfecting and wrapping the leg. The wing had to be splinted, so she used some long, straight tree roots to hold it in place as it healed. Patting the beast reassuringly, she helped him get to his feet. He gave her a lick, and she giggled. "Come on," she told him. "We need to find another way out of here."
She had forgotten how creepy the ruins were. Even though daylight still filtered in through a few holes in the ceiling, it was very dark. Now that the adrenaline surge from her rush to help the manticore had worn off, Fluttershy was shivering, squeaking at every shadow. Only the stoic presence of the rabbit on her back and the trusting stare of the injured manticore kept her from launching into a full blown panic attack. Even so, when Angel prodded her in the back, she shot into the air, banging her head against the ceiling.
"Ohh," she moaned.
The manticore nuzzled her and whined.
"I'm okay," she said, patting his nose. She looked over at the scowling bunny who was brushing the dirt out of his coat and glaring at her. Clearly he hadn't enjoyed his launch off her back and into the tunnel wall. "I'm sorry, Angel, you just surprised me. Is something wrong?"
The rabbit crossed his arms and stuck his nose in the air.
"Please tell me," Fluttershy pleaded.
Angel shook his head.
"I really am sorry. I promise, I'll make you your favorite dinner to make up for it."
The rabbit nodded and pointed down a side tunnel they had just passed.
Fluttershy peered down the tunnel and gasped. "Oh my!" she said, staring in awe at the large structure at the end of the short passageway. She approached it carefully, gazing at the figures carved into its surface. The artifact was a huge stone disk with intricately carved animals chasing each other's tails, forming a wide circle. There was a little mouse, a cow, a big stripy lioness, a bunny, a skinny dragon, a snake, a pony, a fluffy sheep, a weird creature with long arms and a tail, a rooster, a dog, and a pig with tusks. Each was carved with a striking degree of anatomical accuracy. Their eyes were made from a variety of gemstones and glittered in the dim light.
As she got closer, Fluttershy noticed a smaller figure in the center of the circle. Squinting, she noticed it was a little cat. Unlike the other majestic looking figures, this one was more roughly wrought, with a hunched position and its eyes shut. "Poor thing, it looks so sad and lonely." Fluttershy gently brushed her hoof across it.
The cat's eyes sprang open.
The eyes of all of the animal figures began to glow, growing brighter by the second. Fluttershy screamed and backed away, tripping over her hooves in her haste.
..........
Angel ran towards the main tunnel, instincts screaming in fear. The manticore was waiting for him—the beast had been too big and fat to fit in the smaller side tunnel. The lion-like beast looked down at him with a confused expression. Apparently the dumb brute hadn't noticed the cause of the commotion yet. Angel froze as he noticed that his mistress was not beside him. He whirled around, ready to rush to her aid. Just then, the light in the tunnel flared unbearably bright, forcing the rabbit to cover his eyes.
The light vanished. Angel rubbed his eyes, trying to clear the spots form his vision. When he finally looked in the tunnel, his heart fell all the way to his tail. It was empty. His mistress was gone. Ignoring the blinded manticore that was stumbling about in a daze, bumping into the tunnel walls, Angel sunk to his knees, gaze fixed on the spot the pegasus had occupied a mere moment before. As he watched, a single yellow feather floated to the ground.
It was soon followed by the tears of a heartbroken bunny.
Her wings hurt.
That was the first thing that came to mind as Fluttershy tried to return to reality from her state of unconsciousness. Pegasi were not designed to sleep on their backs. Having her wings pinned under her was very uncomfortable. From the feel of it, she was lying on her back, wrapped in a sheet. Still half-asleep, she rolled over, only to gasp as a sharp pain ran through her chest. The yellow pony gritted her teeth and whimpered.
"Angel, would you make me some willow tea, please?" she called quietly.
There was no response.
"Angel?" she called again, just a tiny bit louder.
Still nothing. The mare squirmed. Despite his temperamental attitude, Angel was always by her side when Fluttershy was feeling sick. The pegasus opened her eyes and looked around. Seconds later she was cowering under the covers, shaking uncontrollably.
She wasn't in her cottage.
This room was far too big and airy, with a huge bed. Fluttershy froze as she heard voices nearby.
"What's the big idea!" somepony yelled loudly from just outside the room. The stallion sounded very angry.
"Keep it down," responded a softer voice flatly. This one was also male; his tone was cold.
"Please, Kyo. You're going to wake it up." This last voice was gentle; a young mare from the sound of it.
"We don't even know what it is. We should have called animal control or something, not put it in your bed!" The first speaker had lowered his voice considerably, but was still far too loud and aggressive for Fluttershy's taste.
She heard the door open.
"I think its awake," the unseen mare said.
Hoofsteps approached.
Something swung into view, peering at her under the covers. The... whatever it was had a flat, pale face and a brown mane. It bared its teeth at her. "Hi there!" it said.
With a shriek, Fluttershy launched out of bed, flailing against the sheet she was now tangled in. She made a blind dash for the door, blanket obscuring her vision. She collided with somepony, who grunted in surprise. There was a popping noise and a cloud of smoke. Fluttershy looked down at a pair of startled animals—a grey mouse and an orange cat.