I Run from the Monster

by Ruby Revenge

Friendship is...?

Celestia's eyes snapped open as she let out a gasp.

She'd been awoken by a large magical surge almost instantly, and knew exactly what it was just about as quickly.

"No, no, no, no!" she mumbled to herself as she raced from her chambers to find her sister. She was sure she'd felt it, but she hoped she was wrong. "It can't be..."

She passed by guard after guard, both her own and Luna's, not caring to act calm and collected as she usually did in a time of crisis. She had to find Luna, and fast.

"Luna! Luna!" she called when she reached the top of the castle, at one of the various balconies. When she did not receive an answer as soon as she liked, she took flight. "Luna! Where are you?"

She soon spotted the dark blue alicorn laying atop a grassy hill on the side of the mountain, looking up at the night sky. She made a swift dive and landed beside her.

"Luna! Thank the stars I found you; did you feel it as well?" she asked her sister in a partially flustered tone. Her sister responded by looking at her with a tear stained face, with new tear after tear streaming from her sorrowful eyes. "Oh, Luna..." Celestia huddled closer to her, and she buried her face into her coat. The elder rested her wing upon the younger, and sat in a comforting silence as the other wept.

"Sh-she's back..." she sobbed, "why, Tia? Why?"

"I... I do not know, Luna," she replied truthfully, "I can only be thankful that she has not taken you this time."

"But that's even worse!" she cried in response, "She's taken another pony... I could have dealt with her this time around! She's my problem!"

"I know that you feel... responsible for her, little sister, but please remember that she is not. She took you when you were emotionally distraught, when you were not yourself. It was not your fault."

"..I still could have done something..." she said quietly as Celestia wiped away her tears, "but I suppose we must not worry about that now... we must worry about the present,"

"That's my little mare," she said in a comforting tone, putting on a smile for her sister. Luna couldn't help but give a smile back, and even a small giggle escaped her. "And you are right. We must worry about what is happening here, and now. This cannot wait- we must find her at once."

"But where could she be?"

"In truth? I have no idea. We must first try to trace the magic flare to wherever it took place, even if she has moved since now. We should notify Shinning Armor, and get the Guard and the Military on full alert. Investigations should be sent out immediately,"

"..Shouldn't we keep this, how you say, on the down low?" she asked, "I understand the urgency, but do we not want to alarm our subjects?"

"Normally, we would. But I fear that the gravity of the matter is far too great this time. It would not be fair to keep it from them, when they might become directly influenced by her actions. We will make an announcement in the morning."

"A-alright," she relented softly, looking down to her hooves.

"Hey," she lifted up her chin with her hoof, "it's going to be ok. We've subdued her before, remember? And as long as we have Twilight and her friends wield the Elements, she doesn't stand a chance!"

"I guess you're right..." she agreed, a smile growing on her face, "I think I may be feeling better now already!"

Celestia chuckled, and they both smiled at each other before returning to the castle, each feeling better about their standings than before.

Celestia is right... as long as we have Twilight and the Elements... everything will be just fine...

Fluttershy was sitting in her kitchen wide awake, drinking a cup of her favorite tea. She was, in fact, very tired, as she had been working the entire day, just getting to sit down and relax right then. Even though it had been an entire week since the switched cutiemarks incident, she was still sorting out problems at her cottage.

Rainbow had helped her clean up--she had made the mess, whether directly or indirectly, after all--the first few days, and she'd taken the chance to reorganize her home and schedule. She'd finally finished that today, and was glad that something good had come out of the mishap.

She was also embarrassed to find some of the things that her pegasus friend had left behind, mostly being pictures of Soarin and Male Athlete Supermodel Magazines. Fluttershy wasn't a jugmental pony, but she still thought the possessions a bit wierd.

She'd drop them off at Rainbow's house in the morning. Or afternoon. Or... someday. She was too tired to plan, and her tea was making her sleepier by the minute.

No, she'd return them right now, before she forgot! What if they were special to Rainbow dash? What if she thought she lost them? If she didn't return them immediately, she wouldn't be a very good friend then, right? Satisfied with her decision, she grabbed a coat, checked on the sleeping animals, and locked up the cottage. She'd have to be fast; she didn't want to leave them alone in the middle of the night for long.

Plus, she didn't exactly like being out alone at this time of night.

She trotted in Rainbow's house's direction, it being too cold for her to feel comfortable flying. It was also easier to see as she walked, with the few lit light posts that lined the road.

Soon, she was under the house of clouds. She was happy to see that the lights were on, meaning that her friend was probably awake.

"Rainbow!" she called in a harsh whisper, "Rainbow dash!"

There was no answer.

With a sigh, Fluttershy realized that she probably couldn't hear her quiet call, and resolved to fly up to the door. Shivering all the way up, she slowly made it to the porch. She reached out and gave a soft knock to the door.

No answer.

She knocked harder.

No answer.

She knocked as loud as she dared, fairly sure that Rainbow would have to have heard her this time.

Yet there was still no answer.

She tried the door. It was unlocked.

"Maybe.. maybe I'll just leave them on the table.." she mumbled to herself, and proceeded to let herself in. They were close friends after all; surely she wouldn't mind? If she wasn't home, she'd understand something like this. She was probably out at a bar or something having fun.

"I wish I could be that out-going.." she sighed softly.

As soon as she entered the house, she knew something was wrong.

It seemed as if a massive tornado had gone through the rooms; chunks of cloud were every where, furniture was broken, and various items were strewn about. There was a half-eaten meal left on a table, long since cooled off.

"...but not this out going!" she gasped, "Rainbow dash, what happened to you?"

Forgetting about the magazines and photos, Fluttershy dropped her friend's possessions and rocketed off the porch towards Rarity's boutique, who was the closest to the floating house at the moment, to tell her what she'd seen. This was most definitely an emergency, and the fashionista would understand being woken up at such an hour.

By the time she arrived, she'd already gone through hundreds of possibilities of Rainbow's well-being through her head, worrying herself sick. She knocked quite loudly, even for a normal pony, making sure to get Rarity's attention right away.

"Rarity! Rarity!" she called as the knocked.

No answer.

Terror ate away at her chest as she feared the worst.

She tried the door.

It was unlocked.

She grimaced as she went in.

There were burn marks everywhere.

It looked like a unicorn, probably Rarity, had been firing magic at something, and had missed many times. The marks were on the wall, the floor, the ceiling...

"..oh dear... even on her fabrics.." she whispered in shock. For various supplies had also been damaged, with holes and burns littering her creations.

There were too many, she realized, for it to have only been her friend. There had been a fight.

And Rarity had lost.

She raced off to Sugar Cube Corner, fear tugging at her heart. Please be ok, please be ok! she pleaded, hoping that Pinkie would be found where she should be.

In a matter of seconds, she had flown up to her friend's window.

She tapped on the glass, sure that it would wake up the pink mare.

No response.

She peered in the window, making out the room the best she could. All the blankets and pillows from the bed were on the floor, and there was a partially eaten cupcake on the desk.

A partially eaten cupcake.

"No, no, no!" she whimpered. "Not you too!"

Three of her friends had mysteriously disappeared. What could she do? Check on her remaining friends.

Twilight being the closest, she flew to the Library as fast as she possibly could.

She knocked on the door frantically. Please answer, please answer, please answer...

Her heart jumped when the lights turned on, and hoofsteps were heard.

"Twilight?" she asked through the door.

The door was opened by a small purple dragon, yawning and rubbing his eyes.

"Oh, hey Fluttershy..." he said sleepily, "What are you doing up so late?"

"I-is Twilight here?" she asked, hesitant.

"Yeah, hold on a sec. Or actually, come in; it's kinda cold outside," he answered, letting her in.

She waited downstairs as Spike went to go get Twilight. Oh thank goodness Twilight is he-

"Fluttershy!" a yell came from upstairs, soon followed by a small dragon tumbling down the stairs, "Sh-she's gone!"

Her heart sunk at the news.

"B-but don't you sleep in the same room with her? How could she be gone?"

"Well, I was kinda camping out down here in this awesome book fort I made..." he gestured over to a slightly impressive structure composed of books, blankets, and pillows, "And I always go to be before her anyway... I... Fluttershy..? Where is she?" He looked up to her with round, scared eyes.

"..I.. well.. I.. I don't know..." she admitted, struggling to seem calm for the young dragon's sake, "I, um.. why don't you come with me?"

He gave a small nod, now afraid to be left home alone. Fluttershy grabbed a blanket from off the back of a couch, and motioned for Spike to climb up onto her back. Once he was safely on, she draped the blanket over him. She felt his small arms hugging her neck, and realized that she was probably very lucky that Spike had still been there. She thanked fate that he'd made a book fort that day.

"We're going to head over to Apple Jack's, ok?" she said softly as they left the Library, walking now that she carried Spike.

"Why Apple Jack? I mean, aren't Rarity or Pinkie Pie closer?" he asked.

"They.. they aren't really home right now, Spike,"

"Oh, are they on vacation?"

Fluttershy didn't know how to answer.

"Fluttershy... are they missing too..?"

She paused before giving a slight nod.

"Wh-what about Rainbow dash?" he asked, voice shaky.

She answered with a shake of her head.

"...oh.."

They continued onward in silence.

In a few minutes, in what seemed like forever, they made it to Sweet Apple Acres.

"..Do you think Apple Jack is..?" the baby dragon didn't finish his sentence.

"I, well I hope not.." she answered softly, silently hoping that at least she'd be alright.

She knocked on the door. A few seconds later, Big Mac opened the door with a questioning look.

"Oh, um, hello," Fluttershy began, shrinking back and looking away from the large stallion, "I, uh, is Apple J- er, what I mean to say is, um.."

"Hey, is Apple Jack home?" Spike asked for her.

"Well, she should be," he said slowly, as if trying to sort out why such a question would be asked of him at such a late hour.

"Can you go get her?"

"Eeyup," leaving the door open, he walked away.

Fluttershy and Spike waited, neither saying a word to one another, both hoping for the best.

The stallion soon returned, a confused and slightly worried look on his face.

"I don't know what you're pulling, but she ain't there," he said carefully, "where is she?"

"I- I don't know.." Fluttershy whispered, and Spike looked at the ground.

"Fluttershy. Where is my sister?" his eyes held more worry by the second. The pegasus responded with a squeak, and looked at her hooves. Spike looked up, his face showing fear.

"I think she's missing, like everypony else," he said, lip quivering.

"Like everypony else? Who else is missing?" he asked, "Where are they?"

"All the girls... Twilight... Rarity... all of them..." Spike answered through sniffles before burying his face in Fluttershy's mane.

"Where are they? Where is my sister?" he repeated, but Spike was already crying. Fluttershy looked up again, her eyes watery.

"Mr. Macintosh, sir, we don't know.. I.. I'm going to go to the Princesses... it can't be a coincidence.. I think they were foalnapped.."

He just stared blankly at her for a moment as the realization sunk in.

"So.. you're telling me, that Twilight, who is now an alicorn princess, and all your friends got foalnapped? But y'all are all..."

"I went to all their houses. There were signs of struggle in each one.. except for the Library.."

"Whoever did this.. is gonna pay.." he seethed, nostrils flaring. His eyes were closed, as if trying so very hard to think up a solution, one that would tell him where his sister was.

They stood in silence for a bit, Spike still weeping as he clutched her neck.

"..I.. Spike and I, we're going to Canterlot to tell the Princesses.. right now..."

"..but the train don't leave 'till morning,"

"I know,"

"You.. you're not gonna fly, now are you?"

"Yes, yes I am," traces of stubbornness were found in her voice, "this can't wait. They're missing! Not only are they important to us, but also Equestria! This is serious..!"

Big Mac looked at the pegasus in surprise. Fluttershy was looking up at him with big, scared eyes. Scared for her friends. Scared for her home.

"Any 'normal' pony couldn't have foalnapped them.. it was somepony powerful, a threat. I have to tell the Princesses immediately," her tone told the stallion that there was no room for interjection.

"Well, I wish I could come with ya," he sighed, defeated, "but I gotta stay with my family, especially with a foalnapper running about. Also, I can't exactly fly," he ended with a slight chuckle and a small smile.

Fluttershy smiled back, welcoming the small relief he was giving her.

"Bye, Big Mac, um, sir. Please keep a look out... for anything, ok?"

"Of course. You be careful now, you hear me?"

"I- I'll try.."

"Ok, Spike- hold on tight, ok?" she said in a motherly tone, both reassuring and caring, "I'm going to fly, and I don't want you falling. But if you do fall, I'll catch you. I promise,"

"O-ok.." he nodded, wrapping his arms around her, interlocking his fingers.

And with that, she was off.

"Be careful, Fluttershy.. I have a real bad feeling about this..."