The King's Shadow

by Plot Hole


In good hooves

She’d only done it once before.

Twilight and her friends gathered close around Fluttershy. The yellow mare seemed to struggle breathing and sweat soaked her fur. Twilight spread her wings and concentrated with everything she had. Purple energy circled around them. A few times, Twilight felt the magic trying to slip away, but the stakes were too high and she didn’t allow it. Her horn blazed white as she teleported herself and all of her friends to the one pony she knew could help Fluttershy.

She almost collapsed as she teleported them all to Zecora’s hut. Apple Jack held Twilight up as the sobbing Rainbow Dash held on to Fluttershy. Spike and Rarity ran in through the smashed-open door frame. “Zecora!” Spike yelled.

They found the zebra hog-tied with vines. Spike sliced the vines off with his claws and Rarity helped Zecora up as the rest of the ponies carried Fluttershy in.

“What happened to you?” Rarity asked.

The ponies laid Fluttershy up on the table and Zecora ran up to her. “It seems we’re all pieces in the same wicked game. I too was attacked, Steel was his name.”

“Did he hurt you?” asked Twilight.

“None of my bones were broken, but the Alicorn Amulet was stolen,” said Zecora. She moved a hoof across Fluttershy’s forehead. “This pony has a massive fever. Whatever was done to her?”

“A poison needle,” said Twilight.

Tears soaked Rainbow Dash’s face. “Can you help her?” she asked.

“An unknown poison leaves much to fear, but we probably have the answer here,” said Zecora. She brushed through Fluttershy’s fur around her neck. “Most poisons don’t strike the metabolism. A fever would suggest a harvested animal venom.”

“Animal venom on the needle?” Twilight asked.

Zecora nodded. “Many bites have I seen in my travels, near and far.” She brushed through the spot on Fluttershy’s neck where the attackers poked her, finding a rash, mostly obscured by fur. But Zecora could see a distinctly straight edge. “But only one leaves a rash in the shape of a star.”

“Star-spiders!” said Rarity. “Fluttershy told me all about them.”

“What’s the remedy?” Apple Jack asked.

“There is no certain potion which I can brew,” said Zecora. “But if we manage her fever, I believe she will pull through.”

“She might not?” Twilight’s voice sounded as if it were about to crack.

“It is likely she will recover from this, but I cannot make a promise,” said Zecora. “Rarity, I have medicines and herbs for stew. The rest of us have things to do. While Fluttershy fights her battle, we must fight ours, for the thief with the Alicorn Amulet is still at large.”

“Chase after him?” Twilight asked. Her face was wet at this point as well, although Rainbow had calmed down.

“I’m not leaving Fluttershy,” said Dash.

“The strongest fighters will I need, for our enemy is mighty. Fluttershy is in fine hooves with Spike, Pinkie Pie and Rarity.”

Spike almost argued the point. He was a dragon warrior, for Celestia’s sake. But he really didn’t want to leave Fluttershy.

Rainbow Dash leaned down and nuzzled Fluttershy. “If I’d had any idea how dangerous that pony was, I never would have let you near her. I’m sorry, Fluttershy,” she said.

Zecora filled a bowl with water and Twilight used her magic to freeze it. Apple Jack dumped the ice out and broke it into bits for Rarity to collect into an ice bag.

“Don’t worry, dears,” said Rarity. “Fluttershy’s young and she’s no stranger to animal bites. She’ll be right as rain before you know it.”

“And she’ll be mad if you don’t get justice for the star-spider that those baddies stole the venom from,” said Pinkie.

Rainbow Dash led the others out, wiping the sting out of her moist eyes. If Steel really was with the same group that hurt Fluttershy, she was going to make him tell her where Nightshade was, and she was going to make that pegasus wish she’d never been born.