Color of Insanity

by Surprise The Pegasus

Chapter 1: The Day Yesterday and the Day Before

"Hello, this is 911. What's your emergency?"

"My best friend's trying to kill me! Please, help me!"

"What's your address?"

"1124 Southeast Featherfree avenue, Ponyville! Please, come as fast as you ca- Rainbow, please! Just put the knife dow- AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!"

"AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!" Fluttershy screamed as she felt the sharp kitchen knife slide across her side. A wave of warm, sticky blood coated her fur and dripped onto the floor, causing her to slip and fall on her injured side. She bit down hard on her front hoof, trying desperately to stifle the deafening scream that boiled in her throat.

Fluttershy expected another assault, but nothing happened. The Pegasus's teal eyes worked their way up the slim body of the mare standing before her, settling on her face. The face of Fractured Loyalty, Rainbow Dash. Fluttershy couldn't comprehend her situation. Dash was just standing there, watching her squirm.

"You deserve this." was all Rainbow said, bringing the knife high above her head. All Fluttershy could do was react. The yellow Pegasus swept her hind leg in the way of Rainbow's own, causing her to loose her grip on the knife and fall backwards.

Fluttershy had about 10 seconds before Dash could strike the killing blow. Her eyes quickly scanned her home, and lit up when she saw her bedroom door. It was at the end of the hall, however. It would take her longer than 10, now 6, seconds.

Getting to her hooves, Fluttershy began to limp towards the door that offered her salvation. Dash was up and on her hooves seconds afterwards. The rainbow-maned mare lunged forward, grabbing a lock of Fluttershy's long tail. With a low growl, Dash yanked on it as hard as she could, easily pulling the injured mare back.

Fluttershy screamed in pain when Dash pulled her tail. Her hooves came out from under her, and despite a fresh wave of pain and blood on her flank, she managed to get up quickly. Pulling forward herself, there was a loud tearing sound, and the feeling of blood trickling down her hind legs. With one final burst of energy, she ran towards the door. It was so close now, she just needed to jump in and close the doo-

Rainbow was faster. Dash launched herself forward, pinning Fluttershy to a wall. Once again, she brought the knife back, aiming it right at Fluttershy's heart. Which was when Fluttershy brought her hind legs back and kicked Dash directly in the stomach, causing her to stagger backwards. This was it. The final sprint. Jumping, Fluttershy landed on her hooves, spun around, and slammed the door shut. Her blood-soaked hooves fumbled with the lock, but it soon clicked into place. The last ounce of her energy was expended, and she collapsed in a bloody heap on the floor.

Fluttershy could feel herself losing consciousness. The world around her was slowly spinning, and beginning to grow darker. With each repetitive bang on the door, another object was lost in the inky black. Bang. Bang. BANG. BANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANGBANG.

BANG.

BANG.

BANG.

Fluttershy looked up at her door, her heart beating so fast she couldn't feel it in her chest anymore. A short crack formed in the wood. BANG. The crack grew. BANG. A bit of the wood started to implode. BANG. The wood gave way, giving Rainbow enough room to unlock the door from the inside. The doorknob turned, and the door swung open, creaking on its hinges. Rainbow Dash stood in the doorway, bloody kitchen knife held between her teeth. Fluttershy struggled to keep her eyelids open, but her attempts were in vain. The world walked away.

Fluttershy opened her eyes, but closed them again as harsh chemical light assaulted them. Reopening her eyes, she took in her surroundings. She was on a bed, her wounds were bandaged, and the pain was far less than it had been. It only took her a second to realize she was in an Ambulance, though her vision was still very blurred. She tried to catch a glimpse of Rainbow Dash, but the other Pegasus was nowhere to be seen. Fluttershy was alone. Her head started to race with questions. Where was Rainbow Dash? What had they done with her? Was she alright? Would Fluttershy ever see her again? All these questions blew in and out of her mind, but one prominent question remained.

She felt the Ambulance come to a slow stop, and saw two ponies open the doors. The world started to fade into darkness once more.

Beep!...............beep!................beep!.........beep!...............beep! Fluttershy awoke to the sound of a beeping heart monitor. A mask was now strapped to her muzzle, and sharp needles were stuck in her forelegs. Once again, her eyes scanned the room for Rainbow Dash. And once again, there was no sign of her. Not too long after Fluttershy woke up, Nurse Redheart came into the room.

"Nurse Redheart?" At the sound of Fluttershy calling her name, the Nurse smiled and looked down at her patient.

"It's nice to see you're awake, Fluttershy. What do you need?"

"Where's Rainbow Dash...?" Fluttershy wheezed. Nurse Redheart grew tense, and adverted her gaze. "Nurse Redheart, where is she?" Fluttershy's voice was more demanding, and she attempted sitting up.

"Rainbow Dash is in guard custody." Nurse Redheart replied, her voice almost mechanical.

"C-custody!? No! She doesn't deserve to be held captive! She's my friend!" Fluttershy tore the needles out of her forelegs, then removed the air mask and set her back hooves on the tiled floor. Bracing herself to the best of her abilities, Fluttershy planted her front hooves on the floor and limped towards the door.

"Fluttershy!" Nurse Readheart yelped, rushing forward. Fluttershy could already feel her legs threatening to give way. Her tunnel vision began to return. Nurse Redheart managed to catch the young Pegasus as she tripped over her hooves.

"R-Rainbow..." Fluttershy's eyelids began to grow heavy, and her hooves felt like lead blocks. Nurse Redheart helped her back into bed, strapped on the mask, and stuck the needles back into her forelegs.

"Fluttershy, you cannot pull a stunt like that again in your condition. You were nearly bled out when we got to your home! Just rest, alright?" The Nurse tucked a few strands of her light pink mane back into her bun, and blew out a loud puff of air. "I know it's hard, but I can't do anything for Rainbow Dash, and I don't think you should see her. It's all up to the Princesses and Guard." Nurse Redheart forced a smile, then turned around to leave.

"Nurse Redheart-"

"Yes, Fluttershy?"

"Do Twilight and the girls know about this?"

"No, not yet."

"Would you please tell them? I would really appreciate it..."

"Of course." With that, the Nurse left, slowly closing the door behind her.

The door of the Ponyville hospital flung open, four ponies rushing inside afterwards. An Alicorn, a Unicorn, and two Earth Ponies. The Alicorn walked up to the front desk, her face stricken with concern.

"Greetings, Princess Sparkle. How may I help you?" The secretary pony bowed his head at the Princess. Twilight quickly dipped her head in return and fluffed her wings, clearly in a state of distress.

"Greetings to you as well. I need to know which room Fluttershy is in. Yellow Pegasus, about yay high. Loves animals, got here last night." Twilight stated, positioning a hoof in the air that came up to the middle of the Princess's eyes. The secretary pony nodded.

"Yes of course. Right this way." The secretary pony turned and led the quartet through a series of hallways, passing through a door that had the words "Intensive Care Unit" on a small sign next to it. They stopped at room 406, and the secretary pony opened the door. Twilight's jaw, along with everypony else's, took a trip to the floor. Fluttershy was asleep on a large hospital bed, hooked up to an oxygen tank, blood bags, and a heart monitor. The girls gathered around the bed, Rarity and Pinkie holding their breath.

"Fluttershy? Hello? It's me, Twilight." Twilight said quietly, hesitant to reach out and shake her slumbering friend. Teal eyes widened at seeing Twilight's face soon after.

"Twilight? Applejack? Pinkie? Rarity? What're you doing here?" Fluttershy asked. Rarity and Pinkie exhaled loudly. Twilight was confused at first, but it came to her that the anesthetics must have jumbled her memory a bit.

"Y'all gave us all a good scare, Shy." said Applejack, stepping forward. Then, it all came flooding back like a tidal wave. One that she wasn't prepared for. The knife. Her wounds. This hospital. The girls. Nurse Redheart. Murder. Blood. 911. Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy's chest started to rapidly rise and fall, and her quickening heartbeat was displayed on the monitor. The girls exchanged worried looks. Rarity took Fluttershy's hoof in her own, and gently stroked her pink mane.

"Fluttershy dear, calm down. It's alright. We're here for you." Rarity cooed gently, smiling her warm, loving smile. Fluttershy's breathing began to slow, and her heart rate lowered a fraction. Pinkie tried to join in the calming, blowing into a kazoo she had brought with her. Rarity shot the party pony a glare, and Pinkie put the kazoo away with a sheepish smile. After a few moments, Fluttershy had regained her calmness.

"Now, would you care to tell us what happened to you? All Nurse Redheart told us was that you called last night, and then they brought you here from your house, and that you were hurt badly." asked Twilight, her amethyst eyes filled with concern. The Alicorn fluffed her wings again, a few stray feathers drifting lazily to the laminate floor.

It was still too much to take in. Fluttershy adverted her gaze, and shook her head slowly, shifting a bit. Twilight knew that Fluttershy may still be in shock, but on the other hoof, knowing what had happened could benefit everypony. So, Twilight pressed on.

"Fluttershy...please, please just tell us. We won't think of you any less than we do now, I Pinkie Promise. We're trying to help. Everything could be so much better if you told-"

"Twilight Sparkle, that's enough!" Rarity snapped. "Can't you see Fluttershy doesn't want to talk!? She's obviously distressed! Fluttershy, you don't have to tell us if you don't want to." Fluttershy looked at Rarity, then at Twilight, then back at Rarity.

"N-no, Rarity, it's ok. Twilight's right. It would be good for all of you if you knew. B-but before I t-tell you girls..." Fluttershy's somber, almost pained gaze made its way to Applejack, who took a step forward.

"Yes, Fluttershy?" asked Applejack.

"Applejack..." Fluttershy shook her head, tears welling in her eyes.

"What?"

"I'm sorry...I'm so, so sorry."

"W-what makes 'ya say that?"

Fluttershy took a deep breath in, bracing herself for whatever was to come next.

"…It was Rainbow. Rainbow-" Fluttershy gulped, beads of sweat streaking down her face. "Rainbow t-tried to k-k-kill m-me." The girls' mouths hung open in disbelief. Applejack clutched her hat, eyes squeezed tightly shut.

"That...that ain't possible." Applejack growled through gritted teeth. The three remaining ponies stepped back towards the walls, preparing for Applejack's rage to be unleashed.

"I know you d-don't want to hear it, but it's the...the truth." Fluttershy persisted. Applejack glared daggers at her.

"Ah' said it ain't possible! Nurse Redheart said you were hurt pretty bad, so maybe you were just seein' thangs! She wouldn't, she couldn't! Especially if it was you!" Applejack shouted, tears threatening to leave her eyes.

"Applejack darling-"

"SHUT UP, RARITY!" the farm mare picked up the bedside lamp and threw it at the Unicorn, full force. Rarity ducked before it shattered against the wall behind her, and put a hoof over her open mouth as she stared at Applejack. She began to cry as she galloped away, slamming the door behind her. Pinkie ran after Rarity almost as soon as she left, leaving just Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy.

"Applejack..." Twilight seethed, her head lowered. More purple feathers fell onto the floor.

"What, Twi!?"

"Get out." Applejack's anger faded as soon as it had bubbled up.

"What? Twilight, why would ya' tell me ta' get ou-"

"Get out before I kick your teeth in."

"But Twi-"

"GET. OUT." Twilight commanded, her head still aimed at the floor. Applejack took a shocked step back, and put her hat on before leaving. Finally, Twilight looked up, and pulled a chair up to the bed.

"Fluttershy, why would you EVER accuse Rainbow of doing something like that!?" Twilight hissed.

"Because she did it."

Twilight's right ear twitched a bit, and her mane started to become frazzled. "Fluttershy, you don't need to hide anything from me. Just tell me who did this."

"It was Rainbow Dash, I'm telling you the truth!"

"Stop lying!" Twilight shouted, voice filled with desperation. Twilight looked into Fluttershy's eyes, trying to find something- anything- that said it wasn't true. All she found was grief, sadness, and the slightest hint of fear. The Alicorn quickly backed off, mumbling to herself.

"Twilight, a-are you ok?"

"No, no, no, no, no, NO! I AM MOST CERTAINLY NOT OK!" Twilight screeched at the top of her lungs, undoubtedly riling up the staff members. Twilight looked around the room, picked up the chair, and threw it against the wall. She started to take in deep, ragged breaths, and her eyes grew small. She ran towards the door.

The door slammed shut behind her, leaving the room cold and empty with lavender feathers, shards of glass, and bits of plaster strewn about on the floor. Two distinctive damp spots now dotted the hospital blanket.