//------------------------------// // Prelude // Story: Friendship Ends With You // by PaxtheDreamer //------------------------------// Streets were full of ponies, walking this way and that. They were talking between each other, each one seeming to blend into the herd of movement while simultaneously standing out. From the plain Earth Ponies wearing naught but their coats and Cutie Marks, Unicorns trying to be the fanciest of the bunch, and… a single Griffon, trying to push her way through. To her, it seemed like everything was just closing in on her, suffocating her… “Outta my face, dweebs!” The Griffon shoved against the Ponies. “You’re blocking my view.” They gave her a few dirty looks as they parted. Groaning, the Griffon moved forward through the city, walking on all fours. The talking picked up in volume and rate, large packs of School Fillies chattering between each other, talking about the city, fashions, and the funny looking Griffon walking by. “Ew, what is that?” “Looks like a Griffon.” “What’s a Griffon doing in Canterlot?” “Dunno. You think we should talk to her?” “How do you know it’s even a her?” “Shut up!” Said Griffon snapped, turning her head to the Fillies. “Stop talking!” The Fillies looked a bit taken aback by this, backing up in fear. The Griffon turned to find even more dirty looks thrown her way. She turned to see pretty much everypony in the area was glaring at her. She clenched her talons and growled. “Just go away, lame brains!” she roared, taking off into the sky. She kept flying until Canterlot became a small dot in the distance. That place was lame, anyway. She focused her thoughts on flying, letting all her thoughts and cares fly through her mind. For a second, she could see the mental image of a rainbow-colored pony flying by her side, challenging her to a race and- She shook her head, knocking that image out of her mind. Friends… who needs friends? I’m the only friend I need. She turned her head back to the dot with a glare. I’ve got my values… so you can keep yours, alright? She returned her gaze forward, losing herself in the clouds. I don’t get any of those losers. Never have. Never will. Twilight adjusted a new picture set above her mantle place. It was a cute little family photo that Twilight even remembered helping to take: Derpy and Dinkie Hooves sitting together under a tree, each one with a smile wide enough to rival the other's. It made Twilight tear up just looking at the picture, so she moved her head slightly to the left. This didn't help matters either, as her eyes fell upon a picture of Trixie. She remembered having that picture taken, too. In fact, it was only a month ago, shortly before she became an Alicorn. The two of them were starting to get along so well, in fact. Sure Trixie could be a bit self centered and annoying, but there was still a good Pony under all of that. But now, she... all of them, they're... Twilight choked back a silent sob, turning her head away from the pictures. “Twilight?” She blinked the tears from her eyes, finding herself looking at Spike. He was standing in the doorway, looking at Twilight in concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, cautiously approaching her. “I... yeah,” Twilight nodded as she dabbed at her eyes with a hoof. “I’m really sorry Spike, I know you hate to see me like this... I just...” Twilight shut her eyes tight, a part of her hoping that if she closed her eyes hard enough she could stop up the tears before they could flow out. This was, of course, in vain. “...this is about Derpy and Dinky, isn’t it?” Spike asked, stepping up to Twilght’s side. He placed a gentle hand on her side, the feathers of her wings brushing gently against his palm. “And Trixie, and... and everypony else,” Twilight shook her head. “I... I feel like there was something I could do, anything.” “Don’t think like that,” Spike said softly, looking up at her face. “Trixie’s wagon crashed, it was a complete accident. And Dinky, she was already getting sick with all of Ponyville’s best doctors looking at her.” “I could have been there more!” Twilight’s voice broke slightly. “I could have... Derpy needed more support, and Trixie... I didn’t try as hard to be with her as I did my other friends, I just-” She was cut off when Spike squeezed closer to her in a hug. “Please stop saying things like that.” The wavering in his voice let Twilight know he was fighting back tears as well. “This has been hard on everyone. It’s NOT your fault they’re dead, Twilight. It never was.” He looked up, meeting her gaze. Tears were welling in his big, childlike eyes. “We need you, Twilight,” he said. “I need you. We’re all trying to be brave for each other... can’t you be brave, too?” Twilight couldn’t help but smile slightly. “Spike...” She closed her eyes and nuzzled her head against his body, giving him the closest thing to a hug she could. “Do me a favor?” “Anything.” “...don’t ever stop being you.” Spike beamed. “I can do that.” They stood in silence, holding each other close. That is, until the silence was broken by a shattering BOOM!!! The tree shook, books flew off the shelves, and the two of them were thrown off their feet and onto the ground. “What was THAT?!” Spike lifted his head and gave it a shake. “Is Rainbow Dash doing another Sonic Rainboom?” “That felt a lot more violent than a Sonic Rainboom,” Twilight replied, hurrying to the door. “Stay here Spike, I need to make sure nopony else was hurt!” Twilight slammed the door shut behind her, leaving Spike alone in the mess of a Library. Ponyville seemed to be in a minor state of chaos as Twilight made her way through town. She tried to get the attention of a few nearby Ponies, but they were mostly trying to make sure everything was okay. The few words she did manage to get out of them were about the Everfree Forest. The Everfree... Zecora! Horrible mental images flashed into her mind, the best of which was simply seeing Zecora’s picture added next to Trixie’s and the Hooves family’s. She put on an extra burst of speed, planning on shooting straight into the forest and to her hut. “HEY! TWILIGHT!” A rainbow streak shot down from the sky, and Rainbow Dash was suddenly in front of Twilight. Roughly five seconds later, the two of them were tangled up and sprawled out on the ground. “Ow...” groaned Twilight. “You have wings and you didn’t use them to break?” Rainbow Dash asked as she pulled herself up, offering a hoof to Twilight. “I forget, okay?” Twilight took Rainbow Dash’s hoof in her own and pulled herself upright. “Look, we don’t have time! That explosion that came from the Everfree forest-” “I know, that’s what I’m here to tell you!” Rainbow Dash interrupted. “Zecora and Fluttershy were found, we took them to the Hospital!” “Oh no...” Twilight felt a rock drop in her gut. Rainbow Dash noticed how pale her friend’s face became. “Look, they’re not hurt TOO bad!” Rainbow Dash clarified. “Just come with me!” “Right!” Twilight nodded. Rainbow Dash took off into the sky, Twilight following on the ground behind her. “...uh, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash called down to her. “Wings! Use them!” “Oh!” Twilight spread her wings and shakily took off, following behind Rainbow Dash. In but a few minutes, the two Mares burst into the hospital lobby. Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie were all gathered in the Lobby, Zecora sitting nearby. She had gauze wrapped around her body and front legs as a Nurse tended to her wounds. “Oh thank Celestia!” cried Twilight as she pounced on Zecora, hugging her close. “I was afraid you were... I mean, what with all the deaths that have been happening recently...” “I appreciate your love, as right as rain,” Zecora wheezed. “But your hug is granting a lot of pain!” “Oh!” Twilight pulled away, taking a few steps back. “I am SO sorry!” “It’s alright, your reason was just,” Zecora shook her head. “But I’m afraid that I must, remind you all, and please don’t cry, but our worry should be for Fluttershy.” “What even HAPPENED, anyway?” Twilight asked, looking between all her friends in the room. “I don’t know!” Pinkie Pie jumped up. “I was hopping along to Zecora’s hut because I wanted to talk about my party cannon because it’s been jamming up recently and I thought she would have something to help make it stop jamming up because she’s good with dusts and oils and stuff and I figured some kind of oil might help but the only oils I have at the Bakery are for baking stuff and the last time I tried that the pudding was stuck in the drywall for DAYS and-” Rarity clapped her hoof over Pinkie Pie’s mouth. She was still talking under it, but it was muffled. “Long story short,” Rarity continued for her, “Pinkie saw our friend’s hut blow up, and both Fluttershy and Zecora were laying injured in the crater. She carried them both as far out as she could before Applejack and I met up with her.” “We’re not answerin’ the important question, here,” Applejack noted, turning to Zecora as Rarity pulled her hoof off Pinkie Pie’s mouth. “What CAUSED that explosion?” “Fluttershy came to me,” Zecora explained, “to help with a new recipe. A potion, that, in theory could calm the Monsters in the Wood. Fluttershy, with her stare, could get ingredients from anywhere. She could get fur from a beast as easy as Pinkie could finish a Feast.” “Hey!” huffed Pinkie Pie. “I may eat a lot of pastries, but I’m not a PIG!” “But,” Zecora continued, “I made a bad mistake; Rather than stir, I gave it a shake. I tried to use my magic to protect us both, but... I feel blue.” Zecora buried her face in her hoofs. “Fluttershy got most of the hit,” she said gloomily. “I only saved myself... I feel like a twit.” “It was a mistake, dear,” Rarity said softly, putting a hoof on Zecora’s shoulder. “We don’t blame you for this.” They stayed gathered in the lobby for the next hour or so. Rarity had gotten Spike and brought him to the Lobby, so he was waiting there with the others by the time a doctor stepped in to speak to them. “Is she going to be okay?” Applejack asked. “She’ll be fine,” the doctor assured them. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. “However...” They tensed once again. “The explosion blasted out her eardrums.” “You mean she’s deaf?!” Pinkie Pie gasped. “NOOOOOOOO! She can’t hear music if she’s deaf! Music is essential to a good party! HOW CAN I THROW A PROPER GET WELL SOON PARTY IF SHE CAN’T HEAR THE GET WELL SOON MUSIC?!” “Pinkie, put the doctor down!” Rarity said with the stomp of her hoof. Pinkie Pie blinked, realizing that she had picked up the doctor and was shaking him. “Oh...” she sat him back down, backing off. “Sorry! Continue~” “Right...” the doctor shook his head and cleared his throat. “We did our best with our magic, but there was apparently some magical element to that explosion, some kind of ‘curse’ that’s getting in the way of things. She’ll heal, but it’ll take roughly five days to do so.” “I see,” Twilight nodded as Zecora looked away, shame painted on her face. “Can we see her?” “She’s clear for release right now, actually,” the doctor nodded. “Her physical wounds aren’t that bad, just make sure she gets plenty of rest.” Ten minutes later, the eight of them were walking out of the hospital. “I-I’m really sorry...” Fluttershy muttered. Her voice still had a quiet tone to it, but she was still subconsciously raising the volume of her voice since she was deaf. “If I had only... If I hadn’t messed everything up, I wouldn’t have destroyed your hut...” "It is fine, do not be sad," Zecora replied. "It is I who should feel bad. If I had not muddled up the Potion, you would-" "Uh, she can't hear you," Rainbow Dash reminded Zecora. As if to prove this, Fluttershy was still staring mostly at the ground, completely oblivious to what everyone else was saying. "Ooh! Ooh!" Pinkie Pie jumped around enthusiastically, waving her hoof in the air like a Fillie trying to get her teacher's attention. "Yes Pinkie?" Twilight asked. "I have an idea!" Pinkie Pie said cheerfully before turning around and rummaging behind her, as if looking through a bag of items, even though nothing was there. A few seconds later, she turned back around, holding a small chalkboard out for them to see. She turned it back to herself and scribbled a message on the board with a piece of chalk that the others could have sworn she wasn't holding a second ago. Pinkie Pie tapped Fluttershy on the shoulder and, once she looked up, held out the board for her to read. "...Zebra sans donut world?" Fluttershy blinked, tilting her head in confusion. "You REALLY must work on your penminship, dear," Rarity noted at the scrawled mess on the board. "Well ex-CUSE me!" Pinkie Pie stuck her tongue out. "Fine, Spike you write it!" "Wait, wha-" the Dragon's query was cut short as Pinkie Pie tossed the board at him... which smacked him right in the gut, knocking him onto his back. "Doncha think you're bein' a mite TOO enthusiastic?" Applejack asked. "I can't help it!" Pinkie Pie retorted. "I'm just SOOOOO glad that Fluttershy's okay and I want to make sure she's nice and safe and happy and healthy and and and... DON'T SCARE US LIKE THAT AGAIN BWAAAAAAAAAAH!" It was as if a switch inside of Pinkie Pie's brain switched from perky to sad as she attached herself to Fluttershy in a tight hug, gushers of tears ejecting from her eyes. Fluttershy blinked at this in confusion. "Did I do something wrong?" she asked, looking at her other friends. Spike quickly wrote on the board and showed Fluttershy the message: "No, she's just happy that you're safe." “Oh...” she blinked and slowly started patting Pinkie Pie on the back. “There there Pinkie. There’s no reason to cry or anything.” “I’m just so... I was WORRIED!” Pinkie Pie said after gulping down another sob. Spike was writing down everything being said, working quickly so Fluttershy wouldn’t be left behind. “So many bad things have been happening, and only a month before the Festival of Friendship! I’m starting to think this year’s festival is... is...” She jumped away, standing on her hind hooves as her face suddenly darkened. “CUUUUUUURSED!!!” “Was that seven or eight Us in Cursed?” Spike asked, tapping the chalk against his chin. “Iono,” Pinkie Pie shrugged, falling back on all fours. “Whatever floats your boat!” “Oh you’re just being superstitious,” Rainbow Dash shrugged off as Spike decided on the proper number of Us to write down. “There’s no way this thing’s been cursed!” She turned her gaze to Zecora. “...right? I mean, not that I’m worried or anything, but just to double check.” “I don’t know, it’s hard to say,” Zecora shook her head. “Though a dark wind does seem to be blowing our way. Either Lady Luck’s glaring at us with a frown... or we’d better prepare to bunker down.” The others simultaneously gulped. Fluttershy’s gulp came about a second later when she read Spike’s message. “Come on girls,” Twilight said comfortingly. Spike cleared his throat. “And Spike,” she added, to the Dragon’s satisfaction. “It can’t be all bad. I mean, Princess Celestia entrusted us to help set up the Festival.” “A whole month of settin’ up for one giant party,” Applejack nodded. This sentence caused Pinkie Pie to emit a loud squee. “We know Twilight, before all these tragedies started it was all anypony could talk about.” “But Twi’s right, guys!” Rainbow Dash assured her friends. “Celestia HERSELF is looking after things here! When has she ever let us down?” “You do have a point,” Rarity agreed. “I could understand a spell or an artifact being cursed, but an event? We’re just being silly.” “Right,” Twilight nodded. “What’s been happening recently are just accidents. Horrible, tragic accidents, but they’re not related to the Festival of Friendship in the slightest.” “I know that,” Pinkie Pie sighed. “Still... it makes me feel better if I can pin the blame on SOMETHING. You know?” “...yeah,” Twilight nodded, wrapping a hoof around Pinkie Pie’s shoulders. “I completely understand, Pinkie. Come on, why don’t we head back to my place and have some tea? I think we could all use a cup after what just happened.” “...oh! Oh no, I couldn’t,” Fluttershy said a few seconds later after she read Twilight’s suggestion. Spike took this moment to shake his wrist and blow on his aching hand. “I mean, I’d really like to, but... well, we’re leaving for Canterlot tomorrow, right? I was planning to wrap up my preparations for the animals, make sure they’re all safe and happy. A month IS an awful long time, after all...” “Look, you just got caught in the middle of a nasty explosion,” Rainbow Dash said. “You really need to rest more than anything. We can always take care of your animals. Just tell us what we need to do and-” “NO!” squeaked Fluttershy as she read “we can take care of your animals” on the board. “I mean... d-don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the thought, but... well, my animal friends need a firm-but gentle!-hoof.” “And you don’t think we have those kinds of hooves?” huffed Pinkie Pie. Everyone turned to just stare at her. “...okay, you have a point,” she admitted. “But still! At least let us help you!” “I don’t know...” Fluttershy tapped her hooves together. “I don’t want to bother you or anything...” “It’s the least I could do, after what I did to you,” Zecora said, patting Fluttershy on the shoulder. “And we’re your friends!” Rainbow Dash assured her. “We WANT to be bothered!” “Well...” Fluttershy gulped. “I guess... if I can’t change your mind...” === Gilda finally touched down on a grassy field. This looks secluded enough... no losers around to bug me. She jumped in the air, spinning slightly, and landed with a flop on her back. She intertwined her talons and leaned her head back on them, blinking up at the blue sky. Great day out... Heh, Dash couldn’t make a better day if she tried. She blinked, then growled at herself. C’mon Gilda, you’re going soft. That whole “Festival of Friendship” malarky must be getting to you. Still, despite the effort the Griffon put in pushing her out of her mind, she couldn’t help but see the ghostly figures of her childhood memories flying by in the sky. ”C’mon Dash!” the Fledgling Gilda laughed, turning around and leaning back in the sky, taking it easy. “Should I just change your name to Rainbow Slug? ‘Cause I’m not seeing very much dashing here!” “Oh,” the Filly Rainbow Dash’s eyes narrowed. “It. Is. ON!” She leaned forward, her wings turning to a V behind her, and a rainbow streak exploded from behind her as she blasted ahead, so quickly that she made Gilda spin in the air. “Now THAT’S more like it!” Gilda grinned, flying after her friend. Gilda slapped her claw over her eyes, trying to force the memory back into the back of her mind. Dash... Gilda blinked hard, finding tears welling up in her eyes. Why didn’t you ever give me a call? I couldn’t be that hard to find... have you just forgotten about me? She bit her talon, shutting her eyes tight to force the tears back into her heart. Suck it up, Gilda, she snapped at herself. It’s her loss, anyway. She can keep those losers, I’m fine without any lame brains dragging me down with them. She lay still, clearing her mind of all thoughts. Her body eventually relaxed, and she fell asleep on the grass, dreaming of more childhood memories with Rainbow Dash. === “So let me get this straight,” Applejack clarified, trying her hardest not to laugh. “Ya have mystical, God-like powers... and ya can’t even wrassle down a couple of antsy beavers?” “If I... didn’t know any better, I’d... assume these things were... still under Discord’s control!” Twilight grunted as she flew in the air, trying to shake off the angry beavers that were clinging to her torso. “Get off! I was just trying to-OW! THAT’S MY EYE!” Applejack shook her head and pulled out her lasso, helping to pull the angry beavers off her. Thankfully, Fluttershy was walking by, and she managed to defuse the situation within five minutes. “Thank you, and I’m so very sorry!” Fluttershy called after the beavers as they left. “She’s quite new at this, please forgive her!” A beaver at the back smiled at Fluttershy, but then turned to Twilight and blew a raspberry at her, running off as she scoffed in anger. “Now calm down Twi,” Applejack said, patting Twilight on the back. “Thanks a bunch, Fluttershy. Don’t know what we woulda done without... ya...” Fluttershy walked right past them, not recognizing she was saying anything. She hurried along to her cottage, reaching out a hoof to open the door. She noticed as she reached, however, that the door was already propped open slightly. “That’s strange...” she muttered to herself, pushing the door further open. “Angel? Did you leave the door open again?” She was caught off guard as she felt herself tackled from behind. She cried out in surprise, instinctively curling into a ball. It took a minute of nudging and poking for her to finally peek an eye out, seeing Pinkie Pie frantically trying to tell her something. “Pinkie?” Fluttershy blinked, standing up. “What’s wrong?” Pinkie Pie pressed her hooves to her mouth, seeming panicked as she thought hard. She finally clapped her hooves together and began hopping around. “What are you... doing?” Fluttershy blinked. “You’re hopping around like a bunny.” Pinkie Pie nodded, pointing at Fluttershy. “You’re talking about a bunny?” Fluttershy asked. Pinkie Pie nodded again, then moved her hooves around her head, causing a golden halo to appear over her head. She flapped her arms to her side and actually lifted off from the ground. “Angel!” Fluttershy nodded. “Oh my... did something happen to Angel?” Pinkie Pie nodded nervously. She dropped to the ground, losing the halo, and hopped like a bunny out of the cottage and toward the distance. “Angel left?!” gasped Fluttershy, covering her mouth. Pinkie Pie nodded and pointed in a specific direction. “Tell the others, I’ll be right back!” Fluttershy said as she took off into the sky. Normally she didn’t fly very fast, but when the right occasion came along, Fluttershy could rival even Rainbow Dash in speed. She crossed the countryside like it was nothing, eventually coming to a large, grassy field. She recognized it as that large section of “nothing” that they passed on the train. A quick circle over let her spot the train tracks, and standing on them was Angel. “There you are!” she flew down onto the tracks, next to Angel. The rabbit seemed to be in some sort of... daze, not even registering that Fluttershy was there. “What’s wrong?” Fluttershy grabbed Angel from under her arms and tugged up, but Angel’s foot was caught in the track. “What are you tangled up in...” Fluttershy muttered as she leaned closer. It wasn’t just the track, it seemed to be tangled in long tufts of grass, tangled and knotted and trapped. “Here, I’ll get you out of that...” A loud train whistle woke Gilda up from her nap. She leaned her head up to see the train approach from the distance. Huh... just my luck, I took a nap near some tracks. Gilda blinked sleepily, looking over the tracks. Her eagle eyes zeroed in on a yellow colored speck on the tracks. “What the...” Gilda sat up, focusing on the speck. It took focus and became... Isn’t that the marshmallow who hangs out with Dash? Gilda tilted her head in confusion. She shrugged and turned to fly off, but the sound of the train whistle caught her attention again. Gilda turned her head back, seeing the Pony still sitting on the tracks. “Does she have a death wish or something...?” she stepped toward her. “HEY! LOSER! A TRAIN’S HEADING YOUR WAY!” Fluttershy didn’t even so much as flinch. Gilda looked between the Pony sitting on the tracks and the approaching train, which was blaring it’s whistle constantly. The conductor apparently was aware of the pony, seeming to just be waiting to get hit. “...she can’t even hear it,” Gilda said in disbelief. Her heart started beating faster as the concept of watching someone get hit by a train. “Oooooh geeze. Okay. Um. Um.” Her eyes darted around. Nobody was around to help her. Nobody, that was, except... “Me.” Gilda gulped, spreading her wings. “Alright. Sweep in, grab her, sweep away. Quick and easy, nobody gets hurt.” She ran forward and spread her wings, jumping into the air. A painful sprain in her back made her cry out and land on her face, rolling along. “No!” Gilda looked at her sore wing. “Not NOW! I knew I should have stretched before I took off for hours!” Gilda scrambled to her feet and made her way on the ground toward Fluttershy, running as fast as she could. It wasn’t nearly as fast as she could have gone by flying, but she was still a pretty fast runner. The train, seeming to realize Fluttershy wasn’t moving, threw on the brakes. Gilda quickly looked over the approaching train, doing a few calculations in her mind, similar to the lighting fast accounting she did every time she flew. There’s no way that thing’s going to stop in time, she’s going to get hit! She took on an extra burst of speed, hoping beyond hope that she’d be able to make it to the pony in time. The train was approaching, Gilda was sprinting, and Fluttershy... “Got you!” Fluttershy managed to pull Angel free, holding the rabbit in her arms. “What’s bothering you, Angel? Did you have a bad carrot?” The train was approaching quickly, ready to make contact with something. Everything in the world seemed to step into slow motion for Gilda as she jumped toward Fluttershy and shoved her out of the way. Fluttershy cried in surprise as the Griffon tackled her, landing in a heap on the grass. Gilda fell to the tracks, turning her head in time to see the train approach closer, closer- Bang. Pain. Excruciating, sharp pain, all over her body. Then... nothing. Darkness.