> A Bitter Almond Cake
>  by Sparlight_Twikle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1. One cup of help
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday evening

“Pickles?” asked Pinkie, surprised by her friend's request. “I don't think I have any and all shops are closed. But you know what? I'm gonna go downstairs and ask Mrs Cake if she has any!”
Pinkie rushed towards door, but suddenly stopped, turned around and returned. She was grinning, as if she came up with a crazy idea.

“Say,” she started, “are you perhaps–”, the last word she whispered directly to the ear, so nopony else could hear it.


Monday morning

Twilight woke up with a mild hangover. It was still few minutes before she had to open the library. She went down to the kitchen, where Spike prepared her tomato juice. The book said tomato juice is a good hangover cure, so Twilight sent Spike to grocery store on Friday to get some fresh tomatoes, and he squeezed them for her the last evening, just before Twilight left for Pinkie's party. In ten seconds flat, Twilight throat was no longer desert-dry and she could start her Monday work. Not that she expected anypony. Ponyville ponies weren't the most eager readers in Equestria.

Spike has already left to buy some fresh pastries for brunch, so Twilight could just lie down in the library and read some books to keep her mind away from the mild headache she was still experiencing.

She barely opened a book, when she heard two knocks on the door. She reluctantly got up and opened the door. It was Big Macintosh.

“Hello, Big Mac.” said Twilight “You're very early.”

“Howdy, Twi. Ah always git up just after dawn.”

“I suppose you do, you were brought up on a farm and everything. Please come in. Have you had fun yesterday?” asked Twilight, closing the door behind her guest.

“Eeyup.” replied Big Mac. Twilight was expecting that it's all he's going to say and she even opened her mouth to continue the conversation, when Big Macintosh suddenly added “When a pony drinks a li'l, he starts to wander about lots o' different stuff.”

Twilight was shocked by both unexpected profoundness of Big Mac's words and that he said anything more than his trademarked “eeyup”. Meanwhile, the stallion continued:

“Did ya notice somethin' about me yesterday?”

“Well, nothing unusual,” replied Twilight “you were just enjoying yourself, like everypony else. And if it was after 10 o'clock, then I probably don't even remember, I had drunken too much wine by then.”

“Hah, Ah could've guessed ya didn't. Well, ya know, Ah suddenly started to feel somethin' Ah ain't felt for ages.”

Twilight's brain started to panic ‘Please do not end like in all those clichéd romance novels please do not end like that please PLEASE PLEA–’

“Ah couldn't talk about it with Rainbow or Pinkie,” he continued “because those mares are never serious, nor with Rarity, because Ah don't think she could understand me. For obvious reasons Ah couldn't talk with mah sis. So ya were the only left.”

Twilight sighed with relief ‘Well, it looks it's not about THAT. Thank Celestia!’

“It's about Fluttershy.” Big Mac finished.

They stood in awkward silence for a while.

“Oh, so you're interested in her. I'm sorry, Big Mac, but I'm not sure how could I help. I–” Twilight bit her tongue “–haven't had coltfriend for a long time and I don't feel qualified to help in somepony's love life.”

“Ah understand ya. Mah last marefriend – how many years passed? Ah don't even remember. Maybe ya know her, her name's Lyra.”

“Oh, Lyra Heartstrings. I know her. She frequently borrowed books on mythology and cryptozoology. I never understood her hobbies.”

“Eeyup, neither did Ah. We weren't suited for each other. It was a fun relationship, but we couldn't go on any further. And Ah'm single since then.”

“But I think you and Fluttershy–”

“Hold ya horses, Twi. Today Ah'm sober. Ah ain't sure about mah feelin's, so Ah'm gonna think about it for a li'l before Ah act.”

Twilight was puzzled. “So I know even less about what kind of help do you expect from me.”

“A book.”

Twilight sighed. The sad fate of a librarian. Rarely asked about personal advice, almost always asked for a book from the library shelves. Sure, don't mind poor unicorn, she's only here to fetch books, not that she has any personal opinion that matters. Was Spike here, she would just ordered him to serve the customer. Sadly, Spike was still out shopping.

“Okay, Big Mac.” she said with a slightly angry tone “What book do you want? Art Of Seducing For Dummies? Newbie's Guide For Quick Sex? Or–”

“About animal care.” interrupted Big Macintosh. “Ah figured out that when Ah decide to go for Fluttershy, Ah could start by helpin' her in her work.”

‘Oh colt, you're so simple’ thought Twilight and trotted towards the shelf with books on agriculture, biology and animal breeding. She picked few volumes and gave them to Big Mac. He politely thanked her and left.

When the door closed, Twilight couldn't focus enough to continue reading. Fluttershy? She remembered her leaving before midnight. It was rather abrupt and unexpected. She also remembered Rarity saying something... about almonds? Twilight was not sure. She didn't bother about it too long, because soon after that her thoughts were interrupted by Spike, announcing his return.


Tuesday morning

Twilight was again out of ink.

“Spike! Spiiiike!” she yelled, hoping her assistant will be around to help her.

“Yes, Twilight?” the dragon poked his head from the bathroom. “Just a moment, I'm washing my claws.”

“When you're done, come here. You'll go shopping.”

“Shopping? I've already bought food for today and tomorrow. What do you else need?”

“Ink. I need ink so I can send a letter to Princess Celestia today.”

“Didn't she tell you you don't have to send them each Tuesday?”

“I don't have to, but I want.” Twilight insisted. She wasn't exactly honest with Spike, because it wasn't a letter she wanted to write, but she couldn't reveal her erotica-writing hobby just like that. “And while you're on it, I figured you can buy some more things.”

Twilight levitated an enormously long shopping list, with the last drop of ink she wrote “ink” and “blueberry cupcakes” at the bottom, and gave it to Spike.

“You were supposed to buy those tomorrow, but I think you can do it today.” she said. “Don't worry, I won't need ink till afternoon.”

“Geez, Twilight, am I supposed to do it myself?” snapped Spike “It will take me whole day. And what exactly will you be doing this whole time?”

“Mind your own business, Spike. I... I've got some important stuff to read.” bluffed Twilight. “The stuff about which I'm going to write the report to the Princess.”

“Fine, Twilight, but you owe me one turn of washing-up.”

“Deal.” said Twilight. Spike grabbed the purse and left. When here opened the door, he saw Fluttershy, with her hoof raised as if she was about to knock.

“Oh, hello Spike. Are you leaving? Is Twilight home?” asked the yellow pegasus.

“Affirmative to both, Fluttershy. See you later.” Spike left the library and walked towards the town square.

“Hello, Fluttershy.” Twilight greeted her.

“Hello, Twilight. I'm so happy I can talk to you, and I mean specifically you, in private. Uhm, because I wanted to ask you if...” Fluttershy suddenly stopped and broke eye contact with Twilight.  After quickly glancing around the room, she stopped her gaze on the bookshelves. “Twilight, you have so many books here!”

Twilight answered absentmindedly “Yeah, it's why we call it a library”, but her thoughts were wandering elsewhere. ‘In private? Did she mean... oh dear Celestia...’ Deep in the heart, Twilight was excited by mere suspicion that her friend might, as herself, fancy other mares. Twilight was never open about that, she wasn't sure if her friends would accept her. But now, seeing blushing Fluttershy avoiding looking into her eyes made her feel the same emotions she tried to hide for all that time. ‘No no no, Twilight, you silly filly, she just has some problem she doesn't want to reveal to anypony else.’ Twilight tried to stop her thoughts, which obviously to her were results of years of loneliness.

Fluttershy broke the awkward silence. “Twilight, wouldn't you mind if I... I browsed some books before we talk? I suddenly need to check something up now.”

Books. As always. Twilight on one hoof bashed herself in her mind for even thinking about romantic involvement with Fluttershy and on the other hoof she felt again not as a real pony, but as an accessory to the library. But Fluttershy was her friend. It's not like she would treat her as a tool, an item, wouldn't she?

“Sure, Fluttershy. What do you need?”

Some tiny voice inside Twilight's head whispered ‘Please not the books on apple farming not apple farming please please please...’

‘What the hay is going on with me?’ asked Twilight's main inner voice, trying to suppress other voices, which were currently exploring various possible future scenarios, some of them quite improper.

“I think something about folk medicine, herbs, this kind of stuff.”

“Herbal medicine?” asked Twilight, more surprised that relieved. “Shouldn't you ask Zecora about that?”

“Oh no no, Twilight, I can't. I mean, I couldn't... Uhm...” Fluttershy suddenly became even redder than before.

Twilight had no idea what could've happened to her friend, so she decided simply to look for the books for her. She managed to find about ten of them and stacked them all in front of Fluttershy.

“Here.” Twilight noticed Fluttershy had no saddlebags or anything else to carry the books. “Do you want to borrow a saddlebag?”

“Oh no, Twilight. I think I'll check the tables of contents. I'm looking for something specific...”

Twilight asked: “Can I help you looking?”, but Fluttershy squeaked and backed away few steps. Her face was still red and her eyes were wide in fear.

“Okay Fluttershy, I didn't want to push on you.” Twilight giggled. “Here, sit down on these cushions, I'll prepare tea for you. Take your time.”

The pegasus sighed with relief. Twilight went to the kitchen. When she returned with a teapot and cups, she saw Fluttershy skimming through a heavy volume. She put the cups on the table and filled them with tea.

“So, Fluttershy,” asked Twilight, while sitting down opposite her friend, “how did you enjoy the latest Pinkie's party. I remember you left early. What happened?”

“Oh, I suddenly felt a little ill.” answered Fluttershy, her gaze still locked on the pages of the book. “Oh, but it wasn't the almond cake. The cake was fine.”

Twilight tried to recollect her memories from Sunday. “Yeah, I remember. You took the first bite of the cake, told us you don't feel well and left. Then Rarity started to panic. She told us it's the cyanide in the almonds, snatched all the cake and threw it to trash. Then she tried to run to get you, but you were nowhere in sight. She panicked and lost consciousness. Silly Rarity, she probably read too much books about Hercoltles Poitrot. And furthermore it's not normal almonds that contain cyanide, but only bitter almonds. Applejack explained it to us when we brought Rarity to lie on Pinkie's couch. Don't worry, she woke up few minutes later.” Twilight took a breath. “But you're okay now, aren't you?”

“Yeah, Twilight.” said Fluttershy, turning few pages with her left hoof. “Damn, it's not here.” she muttered and when she realized what she said, she quickly added: “Oops, sorry. I'm kinda stressed, you know. It slipped. Sorry.”

Fluttershy reached for the last book in the stack. She gave a quick glance to the cover, read the title, sighed and put it back.

“I found nothing.” she said and looked Twilight directly into eyes.

Twilight felt her heart throbbing faster. Are her juicy stories starring Daylight and Shutterfly going to come true?

“So it looks I have no other choice. There's no use hiding it any more.” added the pegasus.

She whispered something. Three silent syllables.

Twilight gulped and asked: “C–could you repeat?”

Fluttershy went red again. “I–” the last two syllables were again to silent to hear.

‘Come on, Twilight, calm down.’

Fluttershy, seeing that she wasn't heard this time either, took a deep breath and shouted:

“I'm pregnant!”

Twilight felt as if somepony hit her in the stomach. Her hopes were crushed. She always dreamed for some mare to confess her love to her. Sure, it wasn't the first time experiencing such a disappointment. Actually, it was the third time this month. It took half a minute before she recovered and said:

“C–ongratulations! May I ask, who's the lucky guy?”

“Oh, you don't know him, he's from Cloudsdale.” replied Fluttershy.

“You should bring him here to Ponyville. All your friends would love to meet your coltfrie–”

“He's not my coltfriend!” shouted Fluttershy and suddenly covered her mouth with hooves. “Oh, I'm sorry, Twilight. He's not my coltfriend. You see, I went to a party in Cloudsdale with some of my old friends and I drank a little tiny bit too much.”

“But you don't drink. You didn't drink a single drop this Sunday.”

“Because when I drink, I start doing things I later regret. I have very low alcohol tolerance. So you can guess what happened.”

Twilight put two and two together. “Yeah, I suppose I can. But don't worry, Fluttershy. He'll surely take the responsibility–”

“Him?! Responsibility!” the yellow pegasus yelled again and yet again hid her face. “I mean, I'm not the first nor the last. He already has many foals, everypony knows that, and he simply doesn't give a...” 

Fluttershy sighed and lowered her head.

“Don't worry, Fluttershy.” Twilight tried to reassure her. “Being a single mother is not the easiest thing thing in world,” ‘Damn Twilight, reassuring my flank’ “but I'm sure you'll do just fine.”

“Twilight, I– I came to you... I mean, I had to come to you...”

The pegasus went silent for few seconds.

“I don't want to have this foal.”

The library stood silent for a minute. For both ponies, it was one of the longest minutes in their lives. Fluttershy's eyes were avoiding her friend. Twilight couldn't say a word. She found herself in the most awkward and bizarre situation since she thought Applejack was hitting on her. When she finally managed to utter a word, she simply said:

“What?”

“I don't want to have this foal.” repeated Fluttershy.

“Well, I understood you the first time. But... but why did you come here? I mean, if you really want, I mean, don't want, you could get an abortion in the hospital, but what do I have to do with it? You want my advice?”

“Oh no, Twilight. I mean, your advice is fine and appreciated, but I can't go to the hospital. I'm already after the legal time, so they would refuse me.”

Twilight noticed for the first time that her friend's belly is a little more round than usual. “I still don't know how could I– wait, why did you wait with the decision until now?”

“I didn't wait!” Fluttershy shouted. “I mean, I've only discovered it yesterday. Do you remember pickles at the party?”

“Pickles? They were yours? I thought Big Mac brought them to the party by mistake.”

“Oh no, they were Mrs Cake's. I suddenly got cravings for pickles and Pinkie Pie jokingly asked me if I'm pregnant. I suddenly remembered what I did in Cloudsdale and next morning I bought pregnancy tests. The results were positive.”

“Didn't you notice any symptoms earlier?”

“I don't know, in retrospect I should've noticed it earlier. But it never occurred to me – even a single thought – that I could be anywhere near pregnant...”

“Fluttershy, you're an adult mare...”

“I know I behaved like a silly little filly, but there's no use crying over spilled milk. I need your help.”

“My help?” Twilight laughed. “What kind of help? Am I supposed to magically terminate your pregnancy or something?”

“Exactly.” confirmed Fluttershy.

“WHAT?” yelled Twilight. “Fluttershy, you're talking nonsense! You found out you're pregnant and the first thing you thought about is getting an abortion at the library?!”

“It doesn't have to be at the libra–”

“It doesn't matter!” the unicorn interrupted her. “Actually why the hay don't you want a baby? Just forget about that jerk and rise the foal as... I mean, you're kind, you care about ponies and animals, you are patient... I wouldn't ever imagine you would like to...” Twilight sighed.

“Well Twilight, I try to appear kind and nice, because I'm weak! I feel helpless about everything. I can't stand other ponies. Actually I envy you. You can shut up here and pretend nothing exists outside the library.” Fluttershy's eyes filled with tears. “I'm not suited to be a mother. It would be too much of burden for me.”

Twilight was shocked by her friend's sudden confession. “I'm sorry, I– I've never seen you like that...”

“Oh, it's okay, Twi. It simply means that my camouflage is working.” said the pegasus. “I prefer animals to ponies. They're less demanding, it's easier to take care of them, it's less responsibility if some of them die due to my incompetence...”

“Incompetence?”

“Living in a secluded place has many benefits. At least nopony tries to poke their noses in what's happening. But if a foal died in an accident at my home, it wouldn't go unnoticed.”

Twilight tried to wrap her mind around what she just heard. “Accident?”

“Well,” explained Fluttershy, “for example last week I was carrying some baby bunnies from one burrow to another and when I flew above the pond, I dropped some of them. This stuff happens. But they're just bunnies. I was sad for a while, but I'm okay now.”

“Okay? You're not okay, you've just tried to make me perform an illegal abortion!”

“Well, it's best to commit crimes with ponies you can trust.” the pegasus smiled. “And I can trust you, because I know how well you keep secrets.”

“You trust me, but a minute ago you said you hate ponies?”

“Oh did I? But understand me, Twilight, you're not a normal pony.”

‘Was that a compliment?’ thought the unicorn.

“You see, Twilight, I started to understand you, because you're a social recluse, like me. But let's get back to business.” Fluttershy stood up. “Please find some abortion spell, right now.”

Twilight looked at her friend. The pegasus had tears running down her cheeks. 

“Fluttershy, please stop.”

Fluttershy kept staring into Twilight's eyes. Nopony had ever resisted that.

“Fine, I'm gonna look for it.” the unicorn resigned. “But promise me you'll think about it a little more.”

Twilight looked at Fluttershy, hoping she would decide to leave, but the pegasus kept standing still, her eyes fixed on her purple friend.

“Fine, I'm going to search now. Give me a minute.”

Twilight got up and trotted towards the darkest corner of the library. She took volumes one by one, browsed some of them and finally exclaimed:

“I found it.”

“Really?” Fluttershy's eyes sparkled with joy.

“Yes, look.” Twilight showed the book to her friend. “Now your part of the deal. You go home and think about it once more.”

“Okay Twilight. But will you do it if I say yes?”

“Well, Fluttershy...”

“I'll take this as yes. Thank you, Twilight, for your help. Bye.”

The yellow pegasus galloped out of the library, leaving her tea untouched.

Twilight looked down at two cups full of tea, trying to wrap her mind around what happened. The steam had stopped rising from the already lukewarm liquid. ‘She'll be back’ thought Twilight. ‘I tried to get rid of her and now she knows that I have that book. Should I decline? Oh Celestia, I could use some assertiveness training...’ Twilight took a sip from her cup. “Hmm. It's still good.”


Thursday morning

“Coming!” shouted Spike, when he heard knocking at the library's door. He opened it, revealing a red earth stallion. “Oh, good morning, Big Macintosh. Early as always.”

“Eeyup. Is Twilight up?” the stallion asked.

“Sure. Are you here to for–ahem–private matters?” Spike smiled. “I can conveniently leave if you wish.”

“Nnope, it's not that.”

“Okay, if you say so. Please wait for a little, I still have to wake Twi up.”

The dragon turned around and went to Twilight's bedroom. Few moments later the 
purple unicorn left her bedroom, her mane still in complete mess.

“Hi, Twilight.” Big Mac greeted her.

“Hello, Big Mac. It looks like I overslept a little. Could you wait a little, so I can brush my hair?” she asked.

“Eeyup.” he agreed.

Twilight went back to her bedroom, closed the door, looked into mirror and levitated her brush. “I wonder what's Big Mac doing here.” she mumbled to herself “Is he here to return books?”

The brush, released from the grip of magic, fell down on the floor.

“Animal care books. Fluttershy. Abortion.” the barely audible words left Twilight's mouth, when she managed to recollect her fuzzy memories. “I must keep him away from her, for the good of both of them.”

She quickly picked the brush back up, combed few hairs in her mane and returned to the library.

“So, Big Mac, did you like the books?” she asked as soon as she descended downstairs.

“Eeyup. Ah already finished 'em, so Ah came to return 'em.”

“Thank you.” Twilight turned her head towards kitchen, where she could hear sounds of Spike gobbling muffins. “Spike! Come here and put these books back on shelves!”

Spike appeared out of kitchen, with crumbs on his claws.

“Spike! What did I tell you about eating muffins between meals?”

“'Tis a lie!” exclaimed Spike “Thy muffins are whole and ungobbled!” Twilight gave him a stern look, so he grabbed the books and carried them to the shelves.

“So, do you want to borrow anything else, Big Mac?” the librarian turned back to her guest, hoping to discern whether he had some plans concerning a certain pregnant pegasus.

“Nnope.” the stallion replied. “Ah think it's enough readin' for now. Ah think Ah'll visit Fluttershy tomorrow afternoon.” 

“Oh, about that. You see, Big Mac, I think it isn't a good time.”

“Nnope?”

“Yeah, you see, Fluttershy has some personal problems...” Twilight hesitated for a while “and she isn't in the mood for romance, to put it mildly.”

“Maybe Ah could help...” offered Big Macintosh.

“No, I doubt you could. She has some kind of depression and the last thing she needs is a stallion trying to pick her up.”

“Poor Fluttershy... What bad thing could've happened to her? Did her coltfriend dumped her when he heard she's pregnant?”

Twilight panicked. “No, why would you say that? It's impossible, it's Fluttershy we're talking about. She has so romantic soul, it's not like she would have a foal with some random jerk who doesn't love her, hahah!”

Big Mac laughed “Oh Ah'm sorry, Twi, Ah'm such a pessimist, Ah always imagine the worst case scenario. Yer right, it's impossible.”

Twilight nervously smiled. “Yeah. I mean, it's ridiculous.” She cleared her throat and continued. “So then. Where was I? Oh I know. I, Twilight Sparkle, promise you that when Fluttershy's better, I'll tell you.”

“Thanks. Ah'll be goin' then. Bye.”

“Bye, Big Macintosh.”

The stallion left the library. Spike once again appeared out of kitchen and asked:

“So, Fluttershy's pregnant?”

“What? No!” Twilight denied immediately. “Spike, why would you think that?”

“Because I heard you lie to Big Mac. You're a bad liar, Twilight, almost as bad as Applejack.”

“Spike, use your brain for a moment. I know I'm bad liar. So would I lie knowing that my lie would be so easily exposed?”

The dragon put his claw on his chin, evaluating what he just heard.

“I suppose you're right, Twi.” he finally said. “Wait! Or is it double bluff?”

“Spike, we've already agreed I'm a bad liar. I couldn't pull out a single bluff, yet alone a double one.”

“Yeah, you're right.” said Spike. “Actually, when I think about it, Fluttershy getting knocked up by some random stallion... It doesn't make sense.”

“You see, Spike.” said Twilight with relief. “I was saying this all along.”


Saturday morning

“Twilight!”

“Just five more minutes, Spike...”

“Twilight!”

The purple unicorn opened her left eye a little. She saw something yellow. Weird, Spike was not yellow, as far as she knew.

“Wake up, Twilight, but don't make any noise!”

Twilight opened both her eyes. The bedroom window was open and on the windowsill there was sitting a yellow pegasus.

“Fluttershy? What are you doing here?” asked Twilight, without even raising her head from the pillow.

“I've made my mind. We're doing it.”

Twilight suddenly felt awake. “Wait, now?”

Fluttershy nodded. Her mane was in total mess, she had bags under her eyes, her forelegs were shaking. “Yes. Take the book and quietly leave the library. Make sure Spike doesn't notice you. If he does, make up some excuse.”

Twilight slowly got up off her bed, opened the bedroom door and peeked outside. Spike could be heard singing in the shower. The unicorn left the bedroom and quietly closed the door behind her. Her hoofsteps drowned in the sound of water. She took the book she discussed with Fluttershy on Tuesday, put it into her saddlebag and left the library. Fluttershy was already waiting for her. The two of them went straight in the direction of Fluttershy's hut.

When they arrived, Twilight smelled a stench. Fluttershy's hut always smelled of animals, but this time the odor was much stronger and more disgusting. It smelled like a rotting corpse. 

“Oh, I'm sorry, Twilight.” said Fluttershy, noticing that her friend shuddered in disgust. “I was a little nervous for last few days, I couldn't either work nor sleep. I'm gonna clean it up later, I promise.”

Fluttershy led Twilight behind her hut where stood a small shed. All the windows were covered by wooden planks, nailed on the inside of the building. The mares entered the shed. On the middle there was a barrel and a kerosene lamp stood on it. There was a heap of hay on the one side, and a wheelbarrow and various tools on the other side.

“I prepared this shed so nopony would disturb us.” explained Fluttershy. Twilight suddenly remembered her latest erotic horror story about cupcakes. She felt uneasy.

Fluttershy closed the shed's door. “Shall we start, Twi?”

Twilight took the books out of her bag, opened it on the page with the spell and asked: “Fluttershy, are you really sure we should be doing this?”

“Oh yes, I'm positive. I've been thinking about for days. Now, how do we start?”

“Let's see... First, you should lie down on your back.”

Fluttershy lay down on the hay, her hind legs stretching up in the air. Wild indecent thoughts started to race in Twilight's brain. She shook her head and peeked back into the book.

“Okay, now it says I should cast the spell, but...”

“Twilight, you promised!” shouted the pegasus.

The purple unicorn sighed. She had no strength to argue any further. Only one spell and Fluttershy would give her a break. Twilight moved the book near her friend, focused her eyes on the text, pointed her horn a little below Fluttershy's belly button and initiated the spell.

Her horn started to glow red. The glow spread, surrounding Fluttershy's body. The pegasus released a short scream. The stomach inflated a little, and then suddenly became flat. The spell was finished. Twilight collapsed on her knees from exhaustion.

“Are you okay, Fluttershy?” asked the unicorn.

“Well, it itches a tiny little bit... oh, it stopped.” Fluttershy stood up. “I think I'm okay. I can get back to work. I need to train a new Angel.”

“A new what?” Twilight could not comprehend what her friend was talking about.

“You see, Twilight, under the rug in the living room I have a trapdoor to my basement. I keep there a drove of white bunnies, so I can have a replacement in case current Angel dies. And the fourth Angel died two days–”

“You know, Fluttershy,” Twilight interrupted her, while packing the book back to the bag. “I've got enough of all this bizarre nonsense. I'm going home.”

“Sure, Twilight. I don't mind. See you later.” said Fluttershy, but the unicorn had already galloped away.

> 2. Two teaspoons of regret
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday morning

“Twilight!”

The purple unicorn's head ached. She rolled in her bed and mumbled: “Just five more minutes, Spike” she yawned “Is the juice ready?”

“Spike brought you the juice, now wake up!”

The blanket was pulled from Twilight's bed, exposing her to lower temperature of bedroom's air. She opened her eyes and saw a baby dragon with a glass of tomato juice... and a blue pegasus.

“Rainbow Dash? What are–”

“Drink it and get going! Fluttershy is sick! I found her collapsed in front of her hut and brought her to the hospital!”

“But... but she was fine yesterday, at Pinkie's party...”

“I have no time to explain it! I gotta go and wake up Rarity!” Dash shouted and flew out through the window.

Twilight got up from her bed and drank the juice.

“Hurry up, Twilight!” said Spike.

Twilight quickly examined her reflection in the mirror. Her mane was in a complete mess. She looked like a hobo. ‘Oh well, there's no time for it.’ she realized ‘Fluttershy got sick for some reason and we should visit here as soon–’

Her hungover brain suddenly realized what could be the reason.

“Oh no, it can't be...” she whispered to herself and immediately ran towards the hospital.

She entered the building and tried to catch her breath. Pinkie Pie and three Apples were already there, waiting in the corridor. Apple Bloom was crying in her sister's arms and Applejack tried to comfort her. Pinkie Pie sat silent. Big Mac looked frantically at any medical staff passing by in hope they could say something about Fluttershy's condition.

“Guys, what happened?” asked Twilight.

“Nopony knows yet.” answered Pinkie. “All we know is that Dash found Fluttershy unconscious, brought here here and I think she's in surgery now.”

“Did they say anything else.”

“No.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes when Rainbow Dash appeared. 

“Rarity's coming.” she said “It'll take her a little more time. She has to–ugh!–‘prepare’ herself, or something.”

It took whole thirty minutes for Rarity to show up. She arrived together with her little sister. After few more minutes somepony noticed that it's time for kids to go to school. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle left the hospital and walked slowly towards the school hill. Six ponies waited for hours, until finally at noon a unicorn stallion wearing a white coat approached them.

“Are you friends or family of Fluttershy?” he asked.

Applejack answered: “Yes. How is she, doc?”

“She had intrauterine haemorrhage, probably caused by injury, miscarriage or some uncommon allergic reaction to pregnancy. She lost a huge amount of blood. We managed to seal the wounds and her condition is stable now. You can visit her, but she won't be awake for at least hour.”

Everypony got up from their seats.

“Quick! Tell us where she is!” demanded Rainbow Dash.

“She's in room 402.”

Six friends galloped in the direction the physician pointed. They arrived into a small, well lit room, with four beds. Only one of them was occupied. Fluttershy, with closed eyes, lay in the bed. A blood bag hung on a pole next to the bed, connected to a vein in her left foreleg. The ponies formed a half-circle around her and stood in silence.

Twilight tried to stand behind other ponies. She did not want anypony to see her, both out of shame and because she was afraid somepony notices something weird about her. She felt enormous guilt about what happened. She hung her head down and closed her eyes. A single tear fell down from her cheek onto the floor.

She heard some sheets rustling and gasp of other ponies. She opened her eyes, raised her head and saw that Fluttershy was waking up.

“Hello everypony...” almost inaudibly said Fluttershy “Where am I?”

“Omigosh you're okay!” shouted Rainbow Dash with excitement and launched herself forward, only to be stopped by Big Mac's hoof. “We were so totally worried about you!”

“Ya woke up earlier than the doc said, sugarcube!” added Applejack. “We thought ya'll be sleepin' for an hour more!”

“I'm... still kind of drowsy...” said Fluttershy “What happened?”

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash started reporting her all the events of this morning. Rainbow Dash used this opportunity to portray herself as a valiant hero, and Pinkie focused on things she observed while waiting in the hospital corridors.

They chatted for a while, Fluttershy yawned several times, and finally the doctor came and announced the end of visiting hours. Everypony started to leave, only Twilight lagged behind. Finally, she was left alone with Fluttershy.

“I'm sorry.” she said. “It's my fault you're here. I should've been more assertive back then and refuse. I wouldn't be surprised if you hated me now.”

“Oh no, Twilight, it's okay...” replied the pegasus. “It's all my fault. You didn't do nothing wrong. I don't hate you,” she yawned “but please, could you go now? The doctor will be angry and I need to sleep.”

“Sure, bye, Fluttershy.” said Twilight, smiling awkwardly, and left to catch her friends.

When she caught up to them, Applejack remarked:

“Here's the last apple in the bushel. What were y'all doin' there?”

Pinkie laughed. “Oh silly Twilight! Waiting to the end to get an opportunity to talk! If you wanted to say something, you could've just asked!”

“Yeah, silly me!” Twilight forced herself to chuckle.

“Y'all know what?” suddenly started Big Macintosh, who was silent the whole time since the morning. “Ah think me and mah sis will go check on Fluttershy's animals. See y'all later.”

The stallion left, followed by his surprised sister. 

“Tomorrow at five!” Pinkie Pie yelled after them.

“So, I think I've got to be going.” said Twilight, turning to the direction of library. “See you tomorrow.”

Pinkie shouted something back to her, but she was not listening any more. All her inner voices were now screaming ‘You hurt Fluttershy!’ ‘You bastard!’ She entered the library, went to her bedroom, lay down in bed in fetal position and started to stroke her tail. She didn't even remember when she fell asleep.

Twilight woke up to the smell of dinner. Spike was preparing something – not that it mattered what it was, she didn't have any appetite for anything. She felt unsurmountable guilt for what happened, but this time the feeling of guilt became overshadowed by even darked emotion.

Fear.

It wasn't fear of Fluttershy dying. It was fear of the crime being revealed.

Twilight knew that what she had done was illegal, but until this morning she thought no evidence would ever surface. Nopony else, except for her and Fluttershy, knew about the pregnancy. Nopony else knew what happened in the shed. And now, the doctors stumbled upon an unexplainable, in natural terms, internal bleeding. They would ask Fluttershy what she did. She was weak. She said it herself. It was only a matter of time until she confessed and ratted out Twilight. Then there would no more happy days in Ponyville. Twilight would be gone. Imprisoned. Banished. Executed. “Aaargh!”

“Twilight? You're done napping?” asked Spike from the kitchen. “Dinner's almost ready, you can come here.”

Twilight got up and smiled. If these were her last days as a free pony, she should at least enjoy them to the fullest. Spike's cooking is surely better than anything they serve in prison.


Tuesday afternoon

Twilight closed the library's door and turned over the sign, which now said ‘Closed.’ She yawned. The last night was very stressful, she barely slept. All night and all morning, her mind was occupied with thoughts about Fluttershy. She trotted to the hospital, meeting Pinkie Pie and Rarity on her way.

Pinkie and Rarity were chatting about some silly stuff. Twilight didn't even bother paying attention. She had an objective today: to find out how much Fluttershy revealed. It was important to know whether she should flee from country now, or wait a little and pack.

Just before the hospital they met Applejack and Big Macintosh. It was obvious that they were returning from Fluttershy's hut, because they smelled of rodents.

Rainbow Dash had already arrived and was talking with Fluttershy when the remaining five ponies entered the room 402.

“Guys, you're late! We were supposed to meet Fluttershy at five, and it's now two past five!” complained the blue pegasus.

“Oh come on, Dashie,” sadi Pinkie, hopping towards the pegasi. “It's not like Fluttershy was waiting here alone for those two minutes, because she was with her bestest friend and they could chat and laugh and everything together!”

“Yeah, whatever Pinkie.” riposted Rainbow Dash and paused. She started sniffing the air. “I smell rats. Or mice.”

“Ah think it's us.” explained Applejack, pointing her hoof at herself and Big Mac. “We were at Fluttershy's to check on her animals.”

“Oh, it's so kind of you.” happily said the yellow pegasus lying in her bed. “I hope it isn't a burden for you. Are the animals okay?”

“Eeyup.” answered Big Mac, raising proudly his head.

Twilight, who stood at the back of the group, was carefully listening and analyzing every word of the conversation. ‘Apples said animals were okay. That means that either they're pretending they didn't see animal corpses rotting everywhere, or Fluttershy managed to clean them before Sunday. But what about the more important stuff, you know, like me?! I cannot ask about it myself, it would be too suspicious. Come on, somepony do it!’

Luckily for Twilight, Rarity changed the topic:

“Yes, poor animals, but what about you, darling? We have been terribly worried about you and we'd love to hear what the doctors say.”

“Don't worry, Rarity,” Fluttershy tried to reassure her friend. “The doctors were examining me this morning and they said I'll be able to leave the hospital in a week. They still don't know how it happened, though.”

While speaking the last sentence, Fluttershy kept her gaze fixed on Twilight. The purple unicorn immediately understood what she meant and instinctively released a sigh of relief. Somehow, Pinkie Pie managed to hear it and began to hop in excitement while yapping at Twilight:

“Isn't it relieving? Are you relieved? 'Cause I'm relieved! I've never been so relieved, well, except for the time when–”

“Pinkie!” yelled Applejack. “Ya stepped on my tail! Watch out where yer jumpin'!”

“Oopsie!”

Twilight knew the answer to Pinkie's question, even though she didn't say it. Yes, she was relieved and she could bet she was more relieved than Pinkie had ever been. Well, unless Pinkie committed some kind of worse crime, like murder, that somehow went unnoticed. Twilight sank in her thoughts. The fear had been diminished, but the guilt was coming  back. Her thoughts were interrupted by Rainbow Dash.

“Twilight? Hey, are you listening? We gotta go.”

Twilight jumped back a little, startled by her friend. How long did she stand there staring at the floor? She fiercely shook her head to clean her mind, said goodbye to Fluttershy and followed the others.

When Twilight returned to the library, she suddenly realized something. ‘Angels! Big Mac or Applejack don't know about them! The least thing I could to to make up to Fluttershy for this whole mess is to help her preserve the lineage of white annoying bunnies!’ She peeked outside, to see if any of her friends was around, and quickly left.

She didn't meet anypony on her way to Fluttershy's hut. Luckily, the door was not locked. She entered and levitated the wool rug. As she expected, there was a trapdoor beneath. She opened it and a strong stench hit her nostrils. It was dark downstairs. Twilight looked around, located a lamp, lit it and saw an enormous cage full of white fluffy bunnies.

“Hello, Angels, mommy's here.”

She took a closer look at the rabbits. At least one of them was dead, bitten to death by his peers. Some of them had scars on their ears. Some had infected wounds. Some of them were lame. Only a half of them looked like there were healthy enough to fool anypony to believe they're Angel, but all of them would need a bath before that.

Twilight found a bag of rabbit food and a jug of water and she filled empty bowls in the cage. “Sorry, critters, I don't know what else I can do. I hope that's enough for now and you'll survive until Fluttershy comes back. I think I need to read a book, one of those that Big Mac borrowed a week ago.”

The rabbits were listening to her, surprised to hear anypony else than their owner. Twilight gave them the last look and returned upstairs. She closed the trapdoor, put the lamp away and covered the floor with the rug. She tried to make the rug fit the hole in the dust layer on the floor to conceal her visit. The effect was mediocre. ‘Well, who'd care!’ she thought and went back home.


***

This and several following nights Twilight could finally sleep. Each afternoon she went to visit Fluttershy with her friends. Few times they were accompanied by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, and the kids even brought to the hospital one of their friends, that annoying pegasus who couldn't fly. Twilight still didn't talk much with Flutteshy and preferred to stay back and observe her friends engaging in conversation. After every visit, Twilight sneaked up to the hut and checked on the bunnies. Meanwhile, Fluttershy's condition was becoming better and better, and finally she could be released from the hospital.


Tuesday afternoon

“You know what it calls for? A party!”

“We know, Pinkie...”

Pinkie Pie was jumping in excitement around Twilight and Rarity. They were only halfway to the hospital and yet due to Pinkie they managed to get attention of almost all Ponyville. The reason why she was so excited and couldn't stop talking was Fluttershy. Doctors had decided that the yellow pegasus had recovered, so today she was being released home.

When the trio entered the hospital, a passing nurse cleared her throat to suggest Pinkie be quiet. Pinkie smiled to her, jumped in the air and launched herself forward towards Fluttershy's room. Twilight and Rarity followed her, albeit not as fast.

When they arrived in the room, they saw Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash happily talking to Fluttershy. Fluttershy was sitting in a wheelchair, holding a box wrapped with a striped ribbon, presumably a present from Dash. In contrast to them, the yellow pegasus looked saddened.

Rainbow Dash noticed the unicorns. “I see everypony's here. Let's get going then!”

Pinkie quickly situated herself behind the wheelchair and began to push it, continuously prating cheerfully. The ponies left the room and went towards to the hospital door. At the exit the nurse collected the wheelchair and five friends, now all on their own hooves, strolled slowly towards Fluttershy's hut. They were talking about various stuff: Rarity suggested Fluttershy go to the spa to improve her looks after the stay in hospital, Rainbow Dash was bragging about her new aerial tricks, Twilight commented a little on daily happenings in the library, and Pinkie talked for the sake of talking. Fluttershy was mostly quiet, even more that usually. When they reached Ponyville outskirts, the pink pony stopped, give the quiet pegasus a look, then looked at the blue pegasus hovering above them. Rainbow Dash nodded in agreement.

“Hey, Fluttershy,” she began. “You're totally silent today. Did something happen? Anything we can do to help?”

Fluttershy sighed audibly. “Not really, Rainbow Dash. Don't worry about me, besides I don't want to bother–”

“Silly pony,” interrupted Pinkie. “You're not bothering us. Besides today we're going to spend a lot of time together, because we prepared a super-duper awesome party to celebrate your recovery, but I can't tell you that because it's a surprise!” She managed to pronounce the last two sentences in one breath.

Fluttershy stopped her breath in shock and then averted her eyes to avoid everypony's gaze. Her friends immediately noticed that she was trying to not cry.

Twilight stepped forward, her heart started racing, and she asked: “Fluttershy, what's wrong?”

“Nothing, really, but... but I'm really not in the mood for parties.”

Other mares stood silent, not knowing what to say in this situation. It was obvious to them that Fluttershy was hiding something from them, and they felt than pushing her wouldn't end well. Suddenly Pinkie broke the silence.

“Okie dokie lokie. No parties then. We'll only accompany you to your home and we'll leave you alone with cake and decorations Applejack and Big Mac put in your house. What do you say?”

“Uhm, thank you?” answered Fluttershy, not the first time in her life confused by Pinkie Pie's straightforwardness.

“So it's settled! Avanti!” yelled the pink pony and galloped forward, leaving her friends behind.

“What got into her?” asked Rainbow Dash, not expecting to receive any reasonable answer.

When Fluttershy, Twilight, Rarity and Rainbow Dash finally arrived at their destination, they were greeted by three earth ponies with party hats, setting the table and cutting cake.

“Pinkie, dear, Fluttershy said she doesn't want a party” remarked Rarity.

“I know, but when I arrived, A.J. and Big Mac were already wearing hats, so I put on one too, and then I forgot, and I even thought of jumping out and yelling ‘Surprise!’ at you ponies, but I forgot that too, and now we're ready to a big tea party, but Fluttershy doesn't want it and I don't know what to do! Sorry!” Pinkie Pie released words from her mouth with a speed of machine gun, a fictional weapon mentioned in that mythology that Lyra Heartstrings loved to research.

Everypony looked at Fluttershy. The pegasus sighed and whispered: “Okay, one little tea party can't hurt.”


Wednesday afternoon

Twilight was quite content that after the tea party Big Macintosh said Fluttershy needed some peace and quiet.

That meant that today she wouldn't meet anypony at Fluttershy's.

Twilight closed the library door behind her and trotted towards the hut, continuously looking around for her friends. Luckily, she didn't meet any, so she arrived to Fluttershy's hut without any problems. She knocked few times. She heard some noise and interpreted it as Fluttershy inviting her to come in, so she opened the door.

The yellow pegasus was sitting on the floor, feeding slowly a rabbit with one leaf of parsley after another. Her moves were slow, lacking energy, almost mechanical. Her gaze was fixed in some nonexistent distant point of space.

“Hello, Fluttershy.”

When the mare heard her name, she quickly stood up, dropping a bucket with parsley and turning her head towards the visitor. 

“Hello, Twilight. Why did you come here?” said she, with a voice void of any emotion.

“I was just thinking you looked like you have some problem, so I thought I could help you.”

“You can't help me. Nopony can help me.” Fluttershy's voice was becoming quieter.

“Is it still about the stuff we did? Don't worry, Fluttershy, it's over now. Everything's back to normal.”

“Maybe for you!” suddenly yelled the pegasus. “Not for me! I– doctors said– the morning, yesterday...”

She took a huge breath.

“I won't be able to have foals anymore!”

Twilight froze from the shock.

“But you said you didn't want to have that foal...”

“I said! But now I don't know anymore! Every other mare can fulfill her dreams about having a foal, but me?”

Fluttershy burst into tears. Twilight didn't now what to say. I was her fault. She could have prevented that.

“Twilight,” the pegasus continued, “could you please leave? I– I don't feel comfortable around you. I don't hate you, don't worry, and I don't think it's your fault, but I think...”

Fluttershy closed her eyes and took a breath.

“We can't be friends anymore.”

Twilight stared at the pegasus in disbelief.

“Please leave.” continued Fluttershy.

The unicorn turned around and left the hut with her head down. After few steps she started running, with tears going down her cheeks.


Thursday morning

Twilight couldn't sleep all night. Every time she closed her eyes, she had nightmares about losing her friends from putting their lives on risk by their own will. She got up early, but she was still tired and couldn't focus on anything.

After breakfast, her inner voices woke up and whispered inside her brain.

‘Hey, maybe Fluttershy got better? Maybe if I come today, she'll apologize to me, I'll forgive her, we'll hug each other and cry?’ started the first one.

‘Yeah, as if it happened.’ smirked the second voice. ‘She'll just kick me out, and she's probably recovered enough of her strength to do it literally.’

‘Not necessarily,’ concurred the optimistic voice, ‘she had already almost unfriended other ponies. Remember that story with Pinkie and Rarity? Fluttershy will get better this time, too!’

‘Yeah, but those other ponies didn't cripple her for life,’ triumphantly announced the pessimistic one.

‘Yeah, but... uhm... good point. Can I at least peek through the window to satisfy my curiosity?’ asked the optimistic Twilight.

‘For what reason?’

‘Erm... FOR SCIENCE!’ exclaimed the optimistic voice.

‘Okay, only one peek. For science.’ the pessimistic Twilight resigned.

With her stomach full, the unicorn left the library in the capable claws of Spike and trotted once again to the hut.

When Twilight reached her destination point, she ducked under the window and began to slowly rise to take a quick look at the interior of the hut. Initially, she saw the ceiling, then the opposite wall, then the couch and the yellow pegasus lying on it with her eyes closed.

But something felt wrong.

She looked again, to discern what it was. She rose a little more. She saw a jar on the floor. An open jar. With pills.

That didn't look good. Twilight's heart started racing. She decided to take a closer look. She opened the door and quietly walked to the sleeping pegasus. She noticed foam forming in a corner of Fluttershy's mouth. The pegasus was breathing shallowly.

‘Quick, Twilight, do something!’ her inner voices started to panic.

Her horn started glowing, and in a flash of light she teleported in front of hospital. Her mind couldn't focus enough to precisely land on the ground, instead she appeared in the air and fell down from half story height.

When she managed to get up from the ground, she immediately ran towards hospitals door, swung them open and yelled:

“Quick! Help! Fluttershy's dying!”

The nurses exchanged quick looks, and one of them ran down the corridor to call the paramedics. A minute later Twilight could see through the window three pegasi flying away in the direction of Fluttershy's hut. Twilight collapsed to her knees and closed her eyes in fear, trembling.

Suddenly some tiny voice in her head announced happily: ‘The only witness to our crime might die soon. Aren't we happy? Actually, why did we bother with paramedics, we could've left her to die–’

‘No, that's wrong!’ other voice interrupted ‘Fluttershy is our friend! We can't abandon her!’

‘A friend? She denied it just yesterday. You hardly even hang out with her. Besides, it's not that she didn't want to die. We should've let her do what she wanted. And if she survives, she'll be even weaker than ever and she'll rat you out faster than–’

‘No, shut up, you're evil and you're making too much sense! I'm not listening to you!’ “Aargh!”

Some nurse approached Twilight. “Are you okay? The paramedics have just brought your friend to the hospital, she's unconscious, they put her in the toxicology ward.”

“Yes, I'm okay” the unicorn smiled nervously. “I– I need some rest, so excuse me.”

She slowly left the hospital and went home, pondering about her mistakes in the course of last few weeks. Sure, Fluttershy might be a lonely weirdo and the only pony that could witness about their crime, but on the other hoof Twilight cherished memories of those few moments they spent together. Twilight let her memories flow. Fluttershy frantically trying to hide a stolen bird from authorities. Fluttershy becoming a fashion model for a moment. Fluttershy catching her mid-air when she was falling from a cliff. The touch of Fluttershy's hooves holding her in the air, the warmth of her breath so– ‘Twilight! Stop! It's not the time for your sexual fantasies to come back!’

Yes, despite two of them being as antisocial as they could be, Twilight still liked Fluttershy. And now the pegasus almost died – all of it would end. This single thought was enough for a tear to show up in the corner of the unicorn's eye.

When Twilight arrived home, her cheeks were soaked wet. Spike noticed it immediately: “What happened, Twi?”

“Spike, take a letter, or actually four. Write to my friends that–” a small sob escaped Twilight's mouth “Fluttershy wanted to kill herself.”

“What?!” yelled Spike. “What actually happened?”

“Sorry, Spike, I'll tell you later. I'd prefer to be left alone for now.” 

After saying these words, the unicorn went upstairs to her bedroom and locked the door. The only thing she could hear was a sound of a quill writing on parchment.

Thursday afternoon

Somepony knocked to the door. Spike opened it to reveal Applejack, Big Macintosh, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie. He could also see Rarity on the horizon, galloping towards the library.

“What the hay happened, Spike?” asked the farmer pony as soon as the door was open.

“And where's Fluttershy? When I flew to her hut, she wasn't there.” added the blue pegasus.

“I have no idea.” honestly answered Spike. “Twilight locked herself upstairs and refuses to say anything. Maybe if you ask her, she'll answer.”

“Ah bet she will.” angrily muttered Applejack. “Twah–laht! Come over here or Ah'll buck that door of yours open!”

They heard a click, the bedroom door opened and they saw a saddest unicorn face in their lives.

“Hi girls. Oh, and hi Rarity. Sorry for my looks, but I'm not feeling good right now.”

“What in a tarnation, Twilight!” shouted Applejack. “Spike wrote us somethin' happened to Fluttershy!”

Twilight sighed.

“Fluttershy tried to overdose sleeping pills. She's in the hospital now.”

“Come on, we gotta check on her!” said Rainbow Dash and immediately flew out. Other ponies followed her.

Twilight descended from the second floor and slowly followed her friends.

She arrived last. Rainbow Dash had already managed to get some information from the medical staff.

“It looks like she's on ICU, and she's unconscious. They won't let us see her. Only family,” she explained.

“Unconscious?” asked terrified Rarity.

“Yeah, they used some other word earlier, so I asked them what that meant. Something like comi–... camo–...”

“Comatose.” prompted Twilight.

Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack gasped in horror. Big Mac hung his head. Only Rainbow Dash didn't understand the gravity of situation.

“Yeah, that's the word. Is it bad?”

Rarity and Twilight looked at the pegasus, bewildered by her ignorance.


Friday afternoon

Twilight moved the rug in the Fluttershy's living room and revealed the trapdoor again. She opened it and peeked down. As the only pony that knew about secret Angels, she had the responsibility to take care of them. She lit a lamp and descended. It was suspiciously quiet. Only after a while she noticed that the all bunnies in the cage were dead and that there were two empty cyanide bottles lying on the floor. It looked like Fluttershy wished to spare them suffering and wanted them to join her in the afterlife. Twilight turned around, went back up and closed the trapdoor for the last time in her life.


Saturday afternoon

For the last 48 hours, only thoughts that appeared in Twilight's head were feelings of guilt. Guilt that she started this unfortunate chain of events that led to Fluttershy's coma. She had no hope that her friend wakes up any time soon. She was just putting some books back to their shelves, when a loud knock came.

Twilight opened the door and saw Rainbow Dash.

“Hi Twilight, I just heard they moved Fluttershy from the ICU. And guess what! Again to room 402! And we can visit her now. And by ‘now’, I really mean ‘now’.”

After these words, the pegasus flew away in the direction of the hospital.

Twilight stood motionlessly for a moment, trying to understand what had just happened, and followed Rainbow Dash at her own pace.

On her way she met Rarity. They didn't talk much. When they arrived to the hospital room 402, they saw Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash standing next to Fluttershy's bed. The yellow pegasus was pale and motionless, her chest barely moved when she was breathing. To her left foreleg she had an IV tube attached. She looked more miserable than ever.

Pinkie Pie was the first to notice the unicorns.  Her mane was now more wavy than curly. She looked as if all her energy left her. She slowly turned her head to the newcomers and greeted them.

“Hi, Twilight, Rarity. You're late.”

Twilight was already ready to answer, but the sight of comatose Fluttershy left her speechless. She yet again felt tears coming out from her eyes and running down her cheeks. She started sobbing uncontrollably. Rarity hugged her and tried to console her.

Twilight's mood influenced everypony present. Soon the room 402 was full of crying ponies. Rarity still hung on Twilight's shoulders. Applejack and Pinkie Pie sat down and leaned at each other. Rainbow Dash sat in the corner, turned her back at everypony else and hid her face in her hooves, feeling ashamed of display of her own emotions.

When a doctor came to announce the end of visiting hours, he saw 5 crying ponies sitting on the floor. He cleared his throat and politely asked them to leave.

When the ponies left the building, they finally managed to calm down. Applejack spoke first:

“Ah think Ah'm gonna leave now, Ah've got lot to do today.”

“Are you going to Fluttershy's hut to check upon her animals?” asked Rarity.

“Nah, Ah've got no time for that. Ah asked Bon-Bon to do this. Ah have all the applebuckin' to do.” answered Applejack and yawned.

“And what about Big Mac?” inquired Rainbow Dash. “Is he busy too?”

Applejack turned her head way and went silent. Pinkie squinted her eyes, as if she noticed something suspicious.

After few minutes of uncomfortable silence and some forced farewells, each pony went home. Alone.

> 3. One glass of liquor
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday morning

Twilight kept visiting Fluttershy every day. So did Rainbow Dash. Rarity and Pinkie were present almost each time, Applejack came only once since Friday, and Big Macintosh never showed up.

The librarian was still feeling guilty about everything. She did her work absentmindedly, because if she allowed a single thought appear in her head, it was immediately followed by dozens of thoughts concerning Fluttershy, the abortion, and the suicide attempt. She knew that if she started thinking too much, she would again fell into the state of despair.

This day Twilight was reshelving the books about animal care, the very same books Big Mac borrowed 24 days earlier. Suddenly, she felt the urge to see Fluttershy's hut. Was it pure curiosity, was it the feeling of responsibility, she simply dropped the books on the floor and leapt outside, leaving confused Spike in the library.

When she approached the hut, she saw Bon-Bon tending the garden. The white earth pony noticed her.

“Good morning, Twilight. Did you come here to see if I'm doing my job properly?”

“Good morning. Well, frankly speaking I don't know why I came here. But may I ask how's it going with those animals?”

“Oh, it's going perfectly.” Bon-Bon smiled. “I think those cutsie-wootsie critters trust and love me.” she added, mimicking Fluttershy's voice. After a second, she reflected “Oh sorry, I shouldn't do that. I know how close you are with Fluttershy. That wasn't very nice of me.”

“No hard feelings.” assured Twilight. “I hope we can somehow repay you later for all your hard work.”

“We'll talk about it later, after all of it ends.” said the earth pony. “I was already discussing this with Applejack.”

“Oh right, how's Applejack? I haven't seen her in a while.”

“She's busy, awfully busy. She looks as if she didn't sleep at all. But no wonder, since her brother started drinking.”

“What?”

“Listen to this: I went few days ago to the Sweet Apple Acres to talk about Fluttershy. I saw Applejack applebucking. She barely had any strength left to hit a tree, yet alone make any apple fall. I said hello to her, she didn't respond and then I saw some movement inside the house. I took a peek inside and then suddenly the door swung open and Big Macintosh came out. He couldn't stand straight, he wobbled and had bloodshot eyes. Before I could say a word, he turned towards me and said ‘Ohh, howdy Bombom, Ah'm sorry but Ah can't talk to ya now, Ah'm lit– li'l busyyy. 'Xcuse me.’ Then he turned around and went back home. I was so shocked that I forgot why I came to their farm in the first place, so I returned home.”

Twilight didn't know if she should be more shocked by the fact that Big Mac became a drunkard, or by Bon-Bon's perfect imitation of Big Mac's drunken voice. After a pause, she responded:

“Well, usually I'd say it's bad to spread rumors, but in this case I'm grateful. Applejack would never tell anypony about this, and I don't think she can manage through it on her own. Thanks, Bon-Bon, bye.”

“Bye, Twilight.”

Twilight turned around and went on her way home. Bon-Bon went back to work.

None of them saw a pink shape hiding behind bushes.


Friday afternoon

Twilight Sparkle had just finished her lunch and decided it was time to stop Big Macintosh's drinking spree. Without even bothering to notify Spike, she trotted out of the library towards the Apples' farm.

When she arrived, she saw Applejack walking around in the orchard, pushing slowly buckets full of apples. Twilight didn't try to get the earth mare's attention, so instead she knocked on the door. A moment later the door opened, revealing Apple Bloom. The filly wasn't wearing her favorite ribbon today, her mane was unkempt and she looked paler and skinnier than usual.

“Uhm, hello, Apple Bloom. Is Big Mac home?”

Apple Bloom instinctively cowered and trembled. From inside the house Twilight heard some incomprehensible male voice asking some question. The only words she could understand were swearwords.

The unicorn walked past the scared filly and followed the voice. The source happened to be Big Macintosh, lying on a couch in the living room. Many bottles were scattered on the floor, presumably emptied by the stallion.

“Twahlaht? Wha'd'ya wan'?”

“Big Mac, I think you have a problem.”

“Eet ain't no yer feckin' business.”

“Is it about Fluttershy?”

“Leame mah beloved Fuffershah 'lone!”

“Big Mac, you know I would never hurt her.” Twilight was surprised how smoothly this lie went through her throat. “And I'm sure she wouldn't want you to become this way.”

“Shurrup. Go 'way.”

“And what about your family? They–” Twilight paused for a moment to find a good word, but the drunken stallion continued:

“Ah don' care. Dey can go feck demsevves.”

“You really care about Fluttershy, don't you?” the librarian began to understand.

“Ya wou'n't un'stand.”

“You see, recently I finally understood how much Fluttershy means to me, as a friend.”

“She's more dan a frien'. She–” Big Macintosh sobbed “Ah re'lized she's bee' meant fer me. Me an' her, lahk two halves an apple.”

“Poor Mac. Don't worry, she'll be fine...” Twilight tried to reassure him, but he was already crying out loud. She decided it would be better to leave him be for a moment. She couldn't stand watching stallions cry. Seeing the always reliable Big Macintosh in this state was even more painful.

The unicorn turned around and was already prepared to leave, when she almost bumped into a certain orange mare.

“Look who's pokin' her nose in somepony else's business! Who let ya in here, Twilight?”

“Apple Bloom. Sorta. Gotta go.” Twilight tried to avoid the topic and run away, but Applejack blocked her way.

“We don't like anypony meddlin' with Apple family's private matters. Understood?”

“Understood. Perfectly. Now can I go?”

Twilight smiled, but her uneasiness and lack of confidence were clearly showing. She shifted her gaze few times to avoid looking directly into Applejack's eyes.

“Sure. Ah ain't no time for you. Leave. Now.”

Applejack moved aside and Twilight galloped out of the house towards the farm's gate. When she crossed it, she slowed down and tried to catch her breath.

It looked like the whole Fluttershy affair was going out of hoof. Her abortion spell has indirectly claimed another victim. Was all of it Twilight's fault? She didn't know, but the feeling of guilt started yet again gnawing her from inside. Entrenched deep in her thoughts, she returned to the library.

She did not notice the pink shape that followed her all this day.

Saturday morning

Twilight didn't like waking up early in the morning on Saturdays, so she was slightly annoyed when Spike nudged her to wake her up.

“Twilight, Applejack came. She's in hurry but she needs to talk with you now.”

Twilight rolled out of her bed, stood up and followed Spike downstairs, while moaning about how unfair it is to wake a white-collar worker on her free days. Spike led Twilight downstairs, where Applejack and Apple Bloom were waiting.

The earth ponies looked exactly as bad as day before. The only difference was that Apple Bloom was wearing her ribbon now, although it was crooked and poorly tied. When Twilight approached them, Applejack said:

“Twilight, Ah'm gonna ask ya for a favor. Let's say it's for yesterday's.”

“Sure, what is it?” asked Twilight, fearing the worst.

“This li'l filly is just a nuance at the farm, and today there's even no school, so Ah thought ya can take care of her for few days.”

“Few days?” the librarian asked.

“Let's say till Monday mornin'. No excuses.”

The earth mare gave Twilight an angry look. The unicorn immediately realized that this was no laughing matter.

“Erm, sure, she can stay.” nervously confirmed Twilight. “This won't be any burden for us, right, Spike?”

Spike, surprised by sudden address, only managed to say “What?”

Before anypony could say anything more, a loud knock could be heard.

“It's open.” shouted Twilight.

The door opened and a pink mare entered the library. Her mane was no longer curly at all.

“Hi Applejack, I knew I could find you here. Oh, and hi, Twilight.”

Spike crossed his arms, annoyed by not being noticed.

“What do you want from me, Pinkie?” asked Applejack.

“I was worrying a lot about you and I think you should just have a serious talk with your brother.”

“Pinkie–” Twilight tried to stop this conversation before it became dangerous, but Applejack suddenly jumped forward in her direction, knocked her over and pinned to the ground.

“Ah told ya nopony meddles with our private matters.”

The unicorn tried to explain: “Applejack, I didn't–” 

“Horseapples! Ya told everythin' to Pinkie, didn't ya?”

“No! I haven't seen Pinkie for days, I swear!”

“You all are ridiculous.” suddenly said Pinkie. “First the drunkard, now the thug–”

A violent kick abruptly interrupted the pink mare's words. Hit in her chest, Pinkie flew through the room and hit the shelves. She fell down onto the floor and dozens of books fell on her. Apple Bloom started crying.

“Shut up yer foul mouth!” shouted Applejack, then approached Pinkie lying under the heap of volumes. She turned around and delivered another kick, directly into Pinkie's head.

“Ah hope that'll teach ya.” Applejack raised her head with pride. “Ah have no time for y'all, Ah've got work to do.”

Without single word of farewell, the orange pony left the library.

“Are you okay?” Twilight turned to the mare buried under the books, as soon as she lost the sight of the attacker.

“Yeah, I'm feeling pretty well.” said Pinkie, wearing a fake smile. “She isn't in her best shape, that second kick was not that bad.”

The pink mare crawled from under the books and stood up. Twilight could easily notice that she was in pain.

“Should I get a doctor?” asked the worried unicorn.

“Nah, I'll be fine. I think I'll be going then. See ya.”

Pinkie slowly walked towards the door, grimacing in pain, turned around once again to smile and look into Twilight's eyes, and left.

Apple Bloom was still sobbing in the corner with her face covered by her hooves.


Monday morning

After Twilight, Spike and Apple Bloom ate breakfast, the young filly went to school, so the unicorn could finally have some time for herself. Spike was relieved that it was the last day of Apple Bloom's stay in the library, because cooking for one pony more (and very picky, too) was getting on his nerves. Twilight was also relieved, because Apple Bloom was reminding her about all problems she had indirectly caused.

An hour didn't pass after Apple Bloom's departure, when something rainbowy flew inside, bursting the door open.

“Twilight! Good news!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash. “Fluttershy woke up!”

After saying these words, the pegasus flew out.

Twilight froze in shock. The unexpected news made her feel both relief and fear. After she regained her composure, she ordered Spike to keep an eye on the library. The dragon refused though and followed his boss to the hospital.

The hospital room 402 was full of ponies. Pinkie Pie, again with her curly mane, was already hugging Fluttershy, the pegasus could barely breathe. Rarity was standing aside, without her usual make-up, tears of joy running down her cheeks. Rainbow Dash was circling around under ceiling in excitement. Applejack looked tired, but she was smiling like the other ponies. Twilight and Spike took their places between the white and orange mares, directly in front of the bed.

Pinkie finally let go of Fluttershy, which allowed the pegasus to speak.

“I'm so glad you're happy. I'm sorry I did what I did. Come to think about it, it wasn't something that important. I'm such a hothead.” Sudden realization hit her. “Wait, so the bunnies–”

“Don't worry, Angel is safe and well.” said an unfamiliar voice.

Everypony turned around and saw Bon-Bon standing in the door.

“Hey, Bon-Bon,” Lyra's voice could be heard from the corridor. “Come here and lend me a hand–I mean, hoof! I can't do it myself!”

Bon-Bon trotted back to her roommate, and soon they both entered the room, supporting Big Macintosh on their shoulders. The mares put him on his own feet. The stallion barely could catch balance and everypony noticed that it was due to his today's drink or five. Big Mac shook his head and looked straight at the bed surrounded by five mares and one dragon. His crush was awake. The shock was too much for his intoxicated brain. With his mouth agape, he collapsed to the floor, pushing Lyra to the wall.

“Is he okay?” asked Rainbow Dash, hovering over the drunken stallion.

“He'll be okay, sugarcube, don' worry.” said Applejack, trying to end the topic.

“If you say so...”

“Anyhow,” Rarity decided to change the subject. “we should primarily be happy that Fluttershy is well. What do you think, darling?”

Before Fluttershy could respond, Pinkie Pie interrupted her.

“Do you now what it calls for! A party! As soon as you leave the hospital, we're gonna make a biggest party ever! Are you excited, because I'm excit–”

“No!”

Everypony stood silent by the silent pegasus's sudden outburst. The shout attracted attention of a passing doctor.

“What the hay is going on here? Who let you all– Hey! That stallion is drunk! Security!”

The doctor run away and the mares smiled to each other. Suddenly, Pinkie asked Fluttershy:

“Why don't you want to have a party? It will be the biggest and most epic party ever!”

“Well, it's because... all that led to this... began at a party... a party few months ago, in Cloudsdale, but that's a long story...”

‘A party few months ago, in Cloudsdale.’ This words resonated in Twilight's mind like a fire alarm. She stopped hearing anything around her. She saw the doctor come back with two security guards, his mouth moving, but she could not hear what he was saying. Librarian's mind was occupied with something more important: ‘The secret's beginning to leak... Fluttershy is going to spill the beans... I'm doomed... I'm doomed!’

Twilight saw Big Macintosh being dragged by the security to the toxicology ward, and Applejack arguing with the doctor. The unicorn followed other four mares. When they exited the building, she saw Rainbow Dash saying something to her, but the blue mare's mouth appeared silent. The pegasus shook her head and flew upwards, but Twilight paid no heed to where her friend was leaving. Pinkie Pie and Rarity looked up and then shifted their gazes to Twilight. The librarian supposed the pink mare was trying to speak to her, but she wasn't sure, she couldn't hear her and barely saw her with blurry vision. Twilight didn't even notice when she was left alone with Spike. She slowly directed herself to the library, seeing only rocks on the road moving past her. The tiny dragon kept trying to get her attention with no success.

Finally, Twilight arrived to her house. She opened the door with her forehead, and mindlessly followed the path to her bedroom. She stopped next to her bed, stood still for a moment, and fell straight down onto her bed. Apparently, it made a loud thud, because a minute later Spike came upstairs and tried to ask her something. Annoyed by Twilight's lack of reaction, he went back downstairs.

But it would be lying to say that Twilight didn't hear anything. The only thing she kept hearing all the time since Fluttershy mentioned Cloudsdale... was Fluttershy's latest words, intertwined with Twilight's own inner voices making dreadful predictions about near future. She lay down for hours, despairing over the inevitable moment when the secret will be revealed. This was the end.

If only there was a way to make Fluttershy stay silent...


The same Monday, evening

Wait! There is one!

Twilight suddenly rose to her hooves. The adrenaline pumping in her veins, her senses sharpened, she knew exactly what she needed to do, but still not how. She trotted downstairs, checking if Spike is around. Fortunately, she couldn't see him anywhere. She stopped in the middle of library, took few quick glances around, and instinctively decided to go to the kitchen. Still not sure what she should do, she noticed an open drawer.

In the drawer there was a large knife.

Twilight heard some sound coming from outside, so she immediately grabbed the knife with her magic, and teleported away.

Fluttershy gasped in shock, when she saw a flash of purple light in her room. She was so used to silence of this almost empty location, so she was surprised to see anypony else at this time of day.

“Oh, hello, Twilight, you've startled me...”

The unicorn didn't respond. Instead she slowly walked towards the bed.

“What... what have you brought there?” asked Fluttershy, staring uncomfortably at the object hovering near Twilight's horn. Her pupils were dilated in fear, her whole body was shaking.

The unicorn again didn't respond, displaying instead the widest grin she could. She raised the knife, preparing to deal a lethal strike.

Fluttershy's scream could be heard in the whole hospital.
> 4. Ninety minutes in the oven
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tuesday morning

Twilight was woken up by shaking.

“Twilight, Rainbow Dash is here, she has some bad news.”

Twilight slowly opened her eyes. Her body was aching, as if she was heavily exercising the whole preceding day. She slowly rose from the bed and saw Spike, accompanied with her rainbow-colored friend.

“What happened?” asked Twilight, still half asleep.

“Twilight, please sit down and do not freak out.” Rainbow Dash cleared her throat “It's about Fluttershy.”

Twilight mind started to wake up. Some vague memories of the latest evening began to reappear.

“Fluttershy...” Rainbow's voice started to crack up, and tears came to her eyes “she has been murdered.”

“What...” a single quiet word escaped Twilight's mouth.

“She has been murdered!” yelled Rainbow Dash, releasing her emotions. “Somepony has snuck into the hospital and stabbed her with a knife!”

The pegasus wiped her tears with her hoof.

“Sorry, I gotta go. I need to tell Applejack. Bye.”

Immediately after Rainbow Dash finished talking, a loud filly yell could be heard from outside. The pegasus flew out to see what's happening. She saw Apple Bloom, running from the Sweet Apple Acres towards Ponyville.

When she got closer to the screaming foal, she heard what happened. Apparently, Applejack had an accident and her younger sister was frantically looking for help. Rainbow Dash grabbed the filly and flew with her to the hospital.

The hospital staff listened to Apple Bloom's story and immediately dispatched paramedics in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. Rainbow Dash immediately flew back to the library, leaving the young filly behind.

“Twilight! More bad news!” yelled the panicked blue pegasus. “Applejack had an accident, the paramedics just flew for her! She'll be in hospital soon! Gotta go to tell Rarity and Pinkie!”

Without single word of farewell, Rainbow Dash flew away. Twilight got up from her bed and trotted slowly down. She looked around in the kitchen, trying to find some kind of quick snack to eat before leaving.

A strong sense of déjà vu hit her. She has been in this kitchen, searching for something–for what exactly?–just a day or two ago.

She shook her head vigorously. It was not the time for this kinds of thoughts. The breakfast goes first. She opened the cupboard with her right hoof and grabbed tomato juice box with her left. She took some potato chips and ate them. The salty taste of chips instantly refreshed her mind, and her inner voices woke up.

‘Fluttershy's murdered, hmmm, I wonder who might have done it?’ sarcastically asked the pessimistic one. ‘Now you're in a much bigger trouble than you were earlier, miss.’

The usual optimistic voice in Twilight's head didn't respond. The intracranial silence struck Twilight with fear. She trembled and clenched her teeth.

“Twilight? Are you cold? Is there a draft in the kitchen?” asked Spike.

“What? No, it's perfectly warm here,” assured Twilight. “But it's still a little colder than in bed, you see...”

Spike shrugged his arms and walked away.

Twilight sighed, examined the juice again, poured it into a mug and quaffed it all at once. Then she left the library and directed herself to the hospital, the place she knew too well already.

In front of hospital, Twilight saw several guards and detectives, bossed around by some orange stallion wearing sunglasses. Twilight walked past them to the lobby and asked a nurse:

“Excuse me, is a mare named Applejack here? I heard she had an accident and the paramedics were sent for her.”

“Oh, I'm very sorry, miss.” said the nurse. “It was too late. She had already passed away when paramedics found her. My condolences.”

‘Already passed away’. These words resonated in Twilight's head while she stood motionlessly in the middle of lobby. She felt like if something extremely important had been ripped out of her very soul.

“Twilight!”

Rarity's voice woke Twilight from her trance. She turned around to see three ponies gallopping towards the hospital's entrance. All three of them looked out of breath. Pinkie Pie was crying, her cheeks and chin were soaked with tears.

“Twilight, darling, what happened? Did somepony really kill Fluttershy?” said the white unicorn, breathing heavily. “And what about Applejack? Is she okay?”

Twilight was never good with choosing appropriate words for situation, so she steered away from using any euphemisms: “Applejack... is dead.”

After receiving this information, Rarity fainted in shock. She immediately caught attention of a passing doctor, who quickly managed to put her on a stretcher and take her away. Rainbow Dash started to cry.

“What do you mean she's dead? After I helped Apple Bloom to get help? Why?”

“I... I don't know... I simply came and asked about Applejack, and they told me–”

“Oh come on, Twilight, you never can get any stuff done!” the pegasus interrupted and pointed her hoof at another passing nurse. “You there!”

“Me?” she asked, surprised, when suddenly she was grabbed by Rainbow Dash.

“Yes, you! What happened to Applejack?!”

“I don't know! Leave me alone!”

The blue mare pushed the nurse away and ran to find the paramedics. After few minutes she returned with her head hung down. 

“Rainbow–” started Twilight, but the pegasus interrupted her.

“It was a branch. It snapped, and fell down on her neck. They couldn't do anything.”

Pinkie Pie started weeping even louder. Twilight approached her end embraced her in a hug. Pinkie stopped crying and looked Twilight directly into eyes.

“Twilight,” she started “please don't die. I can't stand it anymore. Please tell me this is some kind of nightmare and I'll wake up in the morning and everything will be all right.”

Instead of responding, the unicorn hugged her friend even tighter and started to cry.


Wednesday afternoon

The library was closed since Rainbow Dash announced Fluttershy's death, so Twilight was very surprised to hear a knock to the door at this hour. She had barely any social interaction after she returned from the hospital, mainly she lay down on her bed and stared at the ceiling, deep in thoughts. She heard Spike opening the door, then some unknown male voice, then sound of tiny dragon feet on the stairs. The bedroom door opened and Spike said:

“Twilight, it's the police. They want to ask you few questions.”

Twilight's eyes became wide open. ‘They came for me!’ a panicked thought run through her head. ‘Nononono, Twilight, their just going through all victim's friends, it's a routine interrogation, calm down, calm down, calm–’

“Twilight, you should hurry, they wouldn't like if they had to wait.”

Twilight slowly rose from her bed and went downstairs. She saw the middle-aged orange earth stallion with sunglasses, the same one whom she saw day earlier, accompanied by a younger teal unicorn stallion.

“Good afternoon, madam,” said the orange stallion. “I'm inspector Cuttingimage and I have few questions for you.”

“Sure,” said Twilight, still unsure what would happen.

“I presume you are Twilight Sparkle, friend of late Fluttershy.”

“Yes.”

The teal unicorn pulled out a notepad and a pencil from his saddlebag. Cuttingimage continued.

“How long have you known her?”

“For few years, I think.” Every Twilight's word was written down by the inspector's assistant.

“Were you good friends?”

Twilight noticed that the inspector took off his glasses, which now were hanging from a chain on his neck, and started to circle her around.

“I guess so.”

“Okay, and what were you doing this Monday evening.”

Twilight froze in fear. One mistake and she's done. A single drop of sweat formed on her forehead and started to slowly drip. Fortunately, it couldn't be seen under the cover of her coat.

“I was in the library, the whole time.”

“Alone?”

Twilight felt the second drop forming. ‘Can't he just stop walking around, it's annoying!’ she thought, and answered:

“There was Spike.”

“Spike? Who's that?” asked Cuttingimage.

“That would be me.” Spike raised his claw.

“Oh,” said the inspector. “You were here the whole time. Hmmm... Listen, kiddo, go somewhere– go upstairs and don't come back until we call for you. Understood?”

“Yes, sir!” Spike saluted and went upstairs to the bedroom. Cuttingimage continued:

“So what where you doing here all the time?”

‘Quick, Twilight, make some stuff up!’ “Many thing. I was reading, eating dinner, cleaning, and later some stargazing. Nothing important.”

“Hmmm... okay. And did you visit your friend earlier, in the morning, when she woke up from a coma?”

“Yes, I did, with all others.” Twilight was happy to answer this easy question honestly.

“How did you feel?”

“Frankly? Relieved, shocked, flabbergasted... There was a lot of stuff happening about her, the situation kept changing every day.”

“It looks like...” the stallion put his glasses on, “it won't change anymore. That's all, miss Sparkle, please go upstairs and send that dragon down here.”

Twilight followed Cuttingimage's instructions. When she opened the door, she saw that Spike was walking impatiently in circles. He immediately stopped when he noticed that the uncorn had arrived.

“My turn now? Okay, I'm going!”

Spike ran downstairs to the policeponies. Twilight closed the door and again laid down on the bed. The memories of Fluttershy began to reappear. Fluttershy smiling. Fluttershy singing. Fluttershy cowering. Fluttershy flying. Fluttershy feeding animals. Fluttershy squeeing. Fluttershy screaming in terror when the knife rose above her...

‘Why did I do that?’ Twilight asked herself. ‘That day, she said I was the only pony she could trust. And I betrayed her. Oh Fluttershy...’ Tear started to fill her eyes. She grabbed and squished the pillow. ‘Fluttershy, I'm sorry!’

She had been lying down for a while, when Spike came back. Twilight quickly released the pillow from her grip, not wanting Spike to see her like that.

“They're gone.” said the dragon. “They are very nice guys, Twilight, it's a shame we couldn't talk more.”

“What were you talking about?” asked Twilight, lying on her back and looking at the ceiling to hide her swollen eyes from Spike's view.

“They told me that the forensics have already determined the cause of death. It was a large kitchen knife and it looks like the culprit had a lot of strength. The most probable criminal profile, they said, is an earth stallion. Twilight, do you think they might suspect Big Macintosh?”

“I don't think so.”

“Do you think it was him?” asked the dragon.

“Don't be silly, Spike,” Twilight forced herself to chuckle. “he was mad in love with Fluttershy and he could barely stand when we last saw him.”

“But maybe he sobered up and did it? Ponies can do anything when in love. Are you sure it wasn't him?”

“Spike, I'm sure it wasn't.”

“How sure?”

“Pure 100% sure that Big Mac didn't kill her.” said the unicorn, moving her hooves in the air like if she was making a Pinkie swear.

“How do you know?”

Twilight was hit by a sudden realization that she involuntarily hinted that she was the culprit. A wave of heat passed through her whole body.

“Uhm, mare intuition. Spike, stop being paranoid. Big Mac was under observation in the hospital, they would notice him if he was sneaking around. And where the hay could he get a kitchen knife?”

The following few seconds of waiting for the dragon's answer felt for Twilight like hours.

“You know, I think you're right.” Spike said. “I'm gonna go prepare dinner, will you help?”

“Not today.”

“You keep saying this for two weeks already.”

“Maybe. But I don't feel like working.”

Spike shrugged his arms and went downstairs, leaving his boss lying down on the bed. Twilight's head was again filled with thoughts. Tears returned and she hugged the pillow once again.


Thursday morning

“Hello, Twilight. This... is today, so I brought you something.”

Rarity put down a bag she had levitated whole way from the Carousel Boutique to the library and pulled out a black coat.

“I've put something together quickly, I'm sorry it's not by best work, but...” the fashionista sighed, “I couldn't focus at all.”

She looked directly into Twilight's eyes, who didn't say a word since she opened the door for her friend.

“I still can't believe in it. It was so sudden. I simply went to sleep, and when I woke up, I mean, when Rainbow Dash woke me up...” Rarity suddenly sobbed. “I'm sorry... They were still young. Whole life was before them. And suddenly, they're both gone.” 

Rarity couldn't stop crying. Her display of emotions didn't look at all like her earlier overly dramatic performances. This time, she was sincere and honest, the grief was taking her over. Twilight stood silent, not knowing how to respond. She shifted her look a few times, approached Rarity and embraced her in her forelegs.

“Thank you, Twilight. I'm sorry. I'll go home now. Remember, at noon.”

Rarity freed herself from Twilight's hug, turned around and slowly walked back home.

At noon. That meant there were two hours left. Two hours till the final farewell to Fluttershy and Applejack. Twilight suddenly realized that lately she was more thinking about the death of the pegasus, but almost forgot about the earth mare. Until this moment, Applejack's death was just a background incident that coincided with Fluttershy's death and Twilight's fear about her freedom, but now she realized that it's not one friend whom she lost, but two.

“Applejack... is dead...”

Spike overheard Twilight's whisper while passing by.

“What happened, Twilight?”

“All this stuff with police, the interrogation, the rumors, and I only kept thinking about Fluttershy. I totally forgot about Applejack.”

Spike stopped, looked at Twilight and shifted his gaze, not knowing what to respond.

The unicorn began to recall all memories of Applejack. Sure, the farmer pony was sometimes impulsive and greedy, but more than that she was a honest, hard-working, proud, reliable friend. During her whole stay in Ponyville, Twilight grew so attached to Applejack that she couldn't imagine her not being around any more. Applejack was for her a dearest soul mate, almost like family. Maybe that was why she pushed the thoughts about Applejack's death from her head: those thought were so against her perceived notion of reality that her brain simply rejected them as soon as it could.

But the reality was harsh. Fluttershy was gone. Applejack was gone. Twilight started feeling alone, as in the saddest times of her foalhood.

She sighed and took a better look at Rarity's creation. The coat was nicely cut, but she could easily spot proofs of hasty hoofwork. She put the coat on, stretched few times to see if it is comfortable, and went to see herself in the mirror. What she saw shocked her. She saw a unicorn who in the last 48 hours didn't brush her mane and hardly slept. Twilight decided that she can't show up like that, so she ran upstairs, grabbed a brush and furiously tried to make her mess of a mane look at least slightly better.

After a long time, spent on improving her looks, Twilight heard Spike calling from downstairs:

“Twilight, are you ready? We should get going, so we arrive early.”

Twilight tossed the brush on the floor and trotted downstairs. Spike was standing in the middle library, wearing a black suit and a black bow tie. Not speaking anything, the unicorn opened the door and led the dragon towards the cemetery.

The cemetery was already full of ponies, standing in two large groups separated by two coffins situated in the middle. Next to the coffins stood black-and-white pictures of two mares. On the left picture, there was smiling Fluttershy, looking as shy and modest as she was. On the right, there was Applejack, proudly raising her head.

The right side was somewhat crowded, due to many members of Apple family present, so Twilight and Spike walked towards the front and joined Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash on the left side. All of them were wearing black dresses, presumably made by Rarity. Rainbow Dash stood with her head down, trying to hide her tears. Pinkie Pie was sitting on the ground, her eyes were already out of tears. Rarity could barely stand, visibly shaken by all recent events. Next to them there stood two pegasi, probably Fluttershy's parents. The mare was sobbing uncontrollably, and the stallion was trying to comfort her, while crying himself.

On other side, Twilight could spot the residents of Sweet Apple Acres. Apple Bloom was wearing a black ribbon. She looked as if she couldn't fully comprehend what was happening around her. Big Mac was crying and looking nervously at the coffin every now and then. Granny Smith looked weaker than usual. Twilight thought that the death was too cruel with taking the granddaughter before the grandmother.

On the very edge of cemetery, Twilight saw inspector Cuttingimage with his assistant, who were observing the funeral from afar. She suddenly remembered that the criminals frequently show up on their victim's funeral ceremonies. Did she increase or decrease their suspicion by showing up today?

Rarity whispered to the purple unicorn's ear:

“Have you prepared a speech to say goodbye to our friends?”

“Speech?” Twilight asked, surprised. “No, I didn't. I think I'll improvise.”

The ceremony started. During it, many ponies walked up to the front and presented their eulogies. After several members of the Apple family spoke, after Fluttershy's father ended his speech with words “goodbye, sunshine”, Rarity stepped up and began:

“Fluttershy and Applejack were my dearest friends. I still remember how we used to spend time together. They were both kind and sincere. You could always depend on them. I couldn't dream that I would have to say goodbye to them so quickly.”

A tear flowed down on Rarity's cheek. Her voice started shaking.

“If I could relive past week, I swear to Celestia, that I would do everything I could to help them and save their lives. But I didn't. Maybe...” Unicorn's voice started cracking up, turning into sobs. “Maybe I wouldn't be able... I'm... I'm sorry!”

Rarity run back to her friends and grabbed Pinkie to cry on her shoulder.

Twilight's mind was empty. She couldn't even think about what she should say. Only thing that she could think of was saying ‘I'm sorry I killed Fluttershy’, which she certainly didn't want to say. She looked again at her friends. Rainbow Dash raised her head and wiped tears with her hoof. The pegasus took a look at a piece of paper she hid in her sleeve, put it in again, walked forward to the platform, turned around and said:

“I... I was a friend of both Fluttershy and Applejack. We always supported each other, shared our laughs and sorrows. And.. uhm... if it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't enjoy my life here in Ponyville as I did. But for the last few weeks, it looked like some malicious force tried to make them suffer in front of my eyes.”

Twilight's heart suddenly skipped a beat. She felt as if these words were about her. She hung her head, thinking about her recent deeds. The pegasus continued.

“Fluttershy was always kind and polite. She always tried to bring smile onto other ponies' faces. She cared for everypony and always resented any violence. She always protected her friends. Maybe she wasn't the bravest pegasus, but she was the nicest.” Rainbow took a breath. “Applejack was always honest and hardworking. She always wanted to help everypony. She never wanted anything in return. She was always fair, and even very generous. She was a very dependable friend and I'm glad I could meet somepony like her. I'll miss them.”

The pegasus sighed and wiped a single tear that had formed in the corner of her right eye. She returned to her friends, looking which of them will speak next, but neither Pinkie Pie nor Twilight looked like they were able to muster enough willpower to step forward and speak.

After that, there were only few more speeches. The coffins with the earthly remains of two mares were moved toward their final destination and lowered into the ground. After few moments later, the crowd began to quietly disperse. Twilight, instead of joining her friends at a memorial meal in a nearby restaurant, returned home, leaving Spike behind. She didn't even care if anypony was looking at her. Feeling pangs of conscience even more than ever, she sneaked into her bedroom and hid under a blanket, trying to decide what she should do now.


The same Thursday, evening

The Sweet Apple Acres stood unusually silent. Big Macintosh looked over his shoulder to check if nopony is around. Luckily for him, both Granny Smith and Apple Bloom were in the living room, sitting idly and reminiscing their memories about Applejack. He trotted into his room with a pencil and a piece of paper in his mouth, put them on the table, locked the door and started writing.

Dear Grandma and Apple Bloom,

I am very sorry, but after everything that happened, I cannot bear it any longer. I know you all are gonna miss me, but I have already made my mind. I know it is very hard for you all, but so it is for me.

Big Macintosh sighed. It was a hard decision to leave his family alone, but he had already known for several days that he had to do it.

I hope you all will be fine, even without me. I have already prepared. When you will read this words, I will be far away from Ponyville. I cannot continue living here, I must start a new life, far away from the painful memories. I don't know where my hooves will take me, but all I want is to forget.

I love you very much.

Your Big Macintosh

Big Mac spit out the pencil and read the letter. He never was good with words, so he decided that there's no way he could improve it. He sighed again, sat on his bed, and waited for his family to fall asleep.


Friday morning

Although Rainbow Dash was supposed to clean the clouds this morning, all she could do was to disperse few smaller ones. She landed on a larger cloud and curled into a ball, trying to hide her presence from everypony on the ground and as many ponies in the air as possible.

Memories of Applejack and Fluttershy kept racing through her head. After the funeral, they became more vivid, as if the ceremony destroyed the final barrier in her mind. She didn't only feel sorrow, it filled her entire soul. The brash pegasus tried to hide it from others, because she still tried to keep up her tough image, but she felt that she couldn't keep up with it any longer.

Suddenly, a yell woke up the grieving pegasus from her thoughts. She took a peek down from her cloud and saw Apple Bloom running chaotically through Ponyville and looking around as if she was searching for something. Fearing the worst, the pegasus flew down to the panicked filly. Apple Bloom jumped in shock when Rainbow's hooves loudly hit the ground in front of her.

“Apple Bloom, what happened?”

The filly took a breath and said:

“Big Macintosh ran away!”

“What do you mean?”

Apple Bloom took another deep breath:

“Ah woke up and Ah saw Granny walking around and Ah asked ‘Granny, what happened?’ and she said ‘Apple Bloom, have ya seen Big Macintosh?’, so Ah ran into his room and found a letter from him and it said he ran away and won't come back!’

Rainbow Dash felt a surge of adrenaline. This time, she won't fail the Apple family.

“Listen, kid! I'll help you look for him!”

The pegasus launched into air, leaving the surprised filly on the ground. She flew in circles, trying to locate the red stallion, but she couldn't see him anywhere.

That was bad. She couldn't afford to fail Apple Bloom again, but on the other hoof she couldn't find her brother. Rainbow Dash stopped, looked back down and noticed that Apple Bloom was running and yelling again. Feeling a little guilt, Rainbow Dash flew back to her cloud.

“Sorry kiddo, maybe later” she muttered to herself.


Sunday afternoon

The feeling of guilt couldn't escape Twilight's head. They become unbearable, since they intensified after the funeral. The unicorn ditched all her responsibilities and spent most of that time alone in her bedroom, while all chores were on Spike's head.

She had recently heard that Big Mac went missing and Rainbow Dash was spending at least hour a day to look for him. She also heard that Pinkie had some problems at her job, caused by both diminished demand for sweets and Pinkie's lack of energy. Finally, Rarity closed her boutique and rarely came out.

‘It's all because of me,’ she thought. ‘If I said “no” that day, we'd never end up like this. Fluttershy would be alive. Applejack would be alive. Big Macintosh wouldn't start drinking and wouldn't leave Ponyville. Maybe...’ Twilight smiled, ‘Fluttershy would have a wedding now instead of the funeral. She'd give birth to that foal. Or rather adopt one. Pinkie would love it. She adores children.’ The unicorn sighed. ‘But it took one stupid Twilight Sparkle to mess everything up.’

She turned over onto her other side. Her neck hurt from lying down all day, but the feelings were more painful for her. She tried to cry, but she had already used up all her tears. The guilt was crushing her chest like a giant dragon claw. The images of Fluttershy and Applejack appeared again in her mind.

‘I'm sorry, my friends. All I brought you was suffering.’

The both imaginary mares smiled and disappeared without a trace.

‘Oh, what would I give to see you again...’


Sunday evening

Nopony ever wandered around this part of Ponyville at this hour. The bridge was dark and far enough from any buildings. The river in this part was deep. On the middle of the bridge there was a giant rock. Some ponies would recognize it as the rock that Rarity named “Tom”. An old Applejack's lasso, which she left once in the library, was tied around Tom, and the other end formed a loop around a purple unicorn's neck.

Twilight Sparkle made a decision. She caused enough suffering for other ponies and it was time to take a responsibility. She climbed the bridge barrier and started to levitate the rock. Her eyes slowly followed the rock as it moved through the air towards the edge of the bridge. It probably won't be a painless death, but she did deserve some pain for all the pain she caused. The unicorn closed her eyes...

“Twilight!”

Twilight immediately opened her eyes and saw Rarity and Pinkie Pie running towards her. She lost her focus and the rock rolled back onto the bridge.

“Hi girls. Don't bother, it all ends tonight.” she said dryly.

“Twilight, please don't do it!”

Twilight was surprised to hear a familiar soft voice behind her. She slowly turned around to see a pony she wouldn't expect to see in a million years.

Fluttershy smiled to the shocked librarian.

“But... but... you're dead! What are you... Aargh!” yelled Twilight, trying to back off from the yellow pegasus.

“It's a long story,” said Spike, appearing behind Fluttershy, “but I think it ends now. This prank was seriously getting out of claw.”

“What prank?” asked Twilight, turning her head back to Pinkie and Rarity. To her surprise, Applejack and Big Macintosh had already joined them.

“What's going on?” muttered the unicorn.

“It's Princess Celestia.” Rainbow Dash's happy voice could be heard from the above. “She got Spike, Fluttershy, Applejack and Big Macintosh to check how would you react to, well, everything that happened. Even Pinkie and I fell for this!”

Both the blue pegasus and the pink mare started laughing. Applejack coughed to interrupt them.

“Ah don' think it was that great of a prank. Now Ah got a lot of explainin' to Grandma and Apple Bloom. And the rest o' the family.”

“And if not for Big Macintosh, who hit you in the head to stun you, I'd be dead for real.” added Fluttershy.

Twilight focused for a moment. Indeed, she couldn't remember the very moment of murder.

“But wait! What about the abortion spell? I did cast it, didn't I”

Fluttershy smiled and looked at Spike. The dragon explained:

“Well, the Princess told me to swap few books on your shelves. The spell you actually cast was harmless.”

“But I saw it work!” yelled Twilight in disbelief.

Fluttershy laughed. She took a huge breath in and pointed at her belly with her hoof. It was visibly rounder. She released the air and the belly was flat again. Twilight blinked few times, as if disbelieving she fell for the cheapest trick in the book.

“How could I fall for that?” she whispered.

The unicorn nodded in admiration of Princess's thoroughness. Celestia had had to plan this prank for months, she managed to get support of many ponies, including the medical staff of Ponyville hospital, and she was prepared for any situation that could happen. If not for this reveal, Twilight would never notice that something was fishy.

“So... all of this was only a prank to test me?”

“Eeyup!” affirmed Big Macintosh.

Twilight let out a sincere laugh. She was relieved that everything she was worrying about had never happened in the first place. Her friends joined her in laughter.

When she looked again at her friends, she noticed that it became darker. It was a late hour after all. She suddenly felt very tired, her vision became blurry. Her field of vision was becoming narrower, with a bright point of light appearing in the middle. Everything else slowly dissolved into static, and a moment later everything went black.


> 5. Your cake is ready
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Monday morning

Twilight Sparkle opened her eyes and saw that she was in a brightly lit room. She blinked twice to see better and she noticed she happened to be in a hospital room. There was nopony else with her. She turned her head around slowly and noticed thick metal bars behind the window.

She had been lying down thoughtlessly for several hours, when the door opened and a nurse entered. She noticed that Twilight was awake, but she didn't react to it in any special way. She left as fast as she came, and returned several minuted later with a tray with dinner.

Twilight consumed slowly the food, chewing thoroughly every bit, but not because she was enjoying her meal–in fact her mind didn't even register the taste. The mare couldn't even understand what situation she had got into.

She ate her dinner, some time later the nurse came back to collect the tray, and Twilight was left again alone without anything to do. In that case, the only thing left for her was staring at the opposite wall.

When the sun was setting down, the door opened again and revealed three mares with angry-looking faces.

“Hello, Twilight” said Rainbow Dash. “I see you're awake.”

The other two ponies entered the room without saying a word.

“Hi girls. What happened? What am I doing here?”

“You tried to kill herself.” said the pegasus dryly. “I've pulled you out of the river. Now I kinda regret it.”

Memories started to return to Twilight.

“I think I remember now... I'm sorry I made you worry, I fell for Celestia's prank like some silly filly...”

The guests exchanged few confused looks with each other. Rainbow Dash looked again at Twilight, pegasus's face displaying anger.

“What the hay are you talking about?”

“Didn't... we all met at the bridge? So what happened?”

Rainbow Dash launched herself forward with rage in her eyes.

“Wanna know what happened? You killed Fluttershy, you murderer!”

Twilight instinctively closed her eyes and  covered her face with forelegs to protect herself against pegasus's assault. When after a while nothing happened, she peeked out to see what's going on. Rainbow Dash was in the air, frantically flapping her wings to move forward, but she was held in place by her tail, which was in Pinkie Pie's bite. Rarity stared at the whole scene with disappointment.

“Dammit, Pinkie, let me go!” yelled Rainbow Dash. “I'm gonna give her what she deserves!”

“Calm down, you hothead.” said Rarity. “You know that violence against anypony, even murder convicts, is an offense.”

Twilight gasped in shock.

“Wait, you said... I mean... now everypony knows, doesn't it?”

“Yes, Twilight” confirmed Rarity. “Every one of your friends–or I'd rather say, former friends–knows now who teleported a week ago from the library to the hospital, carrying a kitchen knife, and killed poor Fluttershy. How could you?” Rarity's voice was becoming stronger and more angry. “How could you ever commit such a hideous crime? We trusted you! Fluttershy trusted you!”

“I'm sorry...”

Upon hearing these words, Pinkie released Rainbow's tail from her mouth. The pegasus sped forward, hit a wall above Twilight's head, fell down onto her, shook her head and stood up on the bed with her left hind leg on Twilight's stomach.

“You're sorry!?” asked the angry pegasus. “You've killed Fluttershy and now you're just sorry!?”

“Dash, you're standing on my stomach...”

“So what! You should thank Celestia it's a hoof, not a knife!”

Twilight desperately looked around, trying to see past Rainbow's body if the other two mares would come to her help, but they were just standing motionlessly, with contempt displayed on their faces.

Twilight felt like if something tore apart in her abdomen under pegasus's weight and released a loud scream of pain.

“Yeah, keep yelling, bitch!” shouted Rainbow Dash. “It won't bring Fluttershy back, but at least we'll gladly listen!”

Twilight screamed again and almost immediately two guards came in, separated two mares and ordered the visitors to leave. Twilight was left alone again.

Several minutes later, doors were opened again and Spike entered the room. He looked like this night he hadn't slept at all. He slowly approached the bed and said:

“Hello, Twilight.”

“Hi, Spike.” said Twilight, grimacing in pain. “So, what's up?”

“Nothing, really.” Spike tried to avoid unicorn's gaze. “When you went missing, I found the bloodstained knife under your bed, so I called the police, they took it to the forensics, and interrogated me the whole night. They said the trial is on Wednesday and you can get life in prison.”

It looked like Spike really took to his heart the lessons on abiding the law. Twilight released a small chuckle.

“So it looks like we won't be living together again anymore. We should say goodbye to each other. Are you going back to Canterlot?”

“No, I'm staying at Ponyville library. Pinkie Pie is gonna take it over. I'm afraid I'm gonna put on some weight.”

Twilight laughed.

“Pinkie Pie? A librarian? She's no librarian, she's a pastry chef! Those two aren't even similar.”

“Crazy, isn't it? But after everything that happened, she totally lost her talent for sweets and the Cakes fired her. She asked the Princess for some help and the Princess appointed her the Ponyville librarian. Tomorrow's her first day. The Princess said it might be either temporary or permanent job, but given everything that's happening right now, I think it will be permanent...”

Smile waned from both their faces.

“So, Spike,” Twilight continued. “What about the interrogations? What did they ask you?”

“Well, various stuff.” said Spike. “I told them you were hanging a lot with Fluttershy recently, that you were depressed...”

Twilight realized that she was hardly any good in concealing her emotions. She kept listening to Spike's report.

“...and finally, that on that day, you sneaked into the kitchen and teleported awa–”

“Teleport! Right!” Twilight yelled excitedly. “Why didn't I think about it before!”

“What? Wait, Twilight, don't–” Spike tried to stop her, but she wasn't listening. Her horn started glowing, the aura started to grow, engulf her head, when suddenly it disappeared in flash of white light. Twilight shrieked in pain and rolled out of the bed on the floor.

“–do that...” finished Spike. “The whole floor is in an anti-magic field, No spells will work here.”

The unicorn sat up, hung her head down and started to cry. The last spark of hope, hope she had in her own magic capabilities, was just destroyed. The only fate that stood before her was darkness of hopelessness, orange suits in female unicorn prison, no more seeing her friends, no more seeing her family, no more seeing Spike...

“I'm a failure of an equine being.” she whispered.

Spike could only think up the stock answer to that:

“Don't say that.”

“I'm a failure! I got overwhelmed by my own selfish paranoia! I understand why my friends all hate me now! I deserve it!”

“Twilight,” Spike tried to reassure her. “I don't hate you. I've been with you much longer than the rest of your friends. You're for me like a family. And I still can't believe you did that.”

Twilight smiled.

“Neither can I.”

Spike hung his head down and left the room, leaving Twilight sitting on the floor, alone.


Wednesday morning

Twilight barely remembered what happened during the trial. She remembered being carried in an anti-magic cage. She saw her parents in the courtroom, crying. On the other side of the courtroom she saw Fluttershy's parents. She also saw Rainbow Dash, screaming some obscenities towards her from the back row. The trial went quickly. The sentence was the highest possible: life in prison.

The cage was carried on a wagon into a dark passageway in the Canterlot castle underground. Twilight was given a bright orange suit and shackles were put on her legs. After that, the guard who gave her the clothes said to her:

“Before we escort you to your cell, you might send one letter.”

Twilight nodded. The guard gave her a sheet of paper and a short pencil. Twilight tried to pick up the pencil using her magic, but it caused the familiar, but this time milder pain and flash of light. She smiled and picked the pencil up with her mouth. She couldn't remember when was the last time she tried to write without using her horn. She proceeded to slowly write her message.

Dear Princess Celestia,

During the last month, I've learned a lot, sadly it was mainly on my own mistakes. I've learned that sometimes friends might ask you for help in doing something bad, and in that case because of the ever-growing fear of others finding out, you might end up doing worse things to cover up the original crime.

Sadly, I've learned this lesson the hard way, and my friends suffered a lot because of my recklessness. I don't blame them for hating me now.

Also let me report to you that my studies on the magic of friendship came to their end.

Your former student,

Twilight Sparkle

“Are you done?” asked the guard, when he saw Twilight stopped writing.

“Ah think tho.” she answered with the pencil still in her mouth.

The stallion passed her an envelope. Twilight focused her thoughts for a moment, and as soon as she remembered what how to address a letter to the Princess when using normal mail, she wrote it down. The guard looked at it and raised his brow.

“To the Princess? Are you sure? You know that most letters sent to her are read by her secretaries.”

“Don't worry,” said Twilight, spitting out the pencil. “I'm sure she'll get it.”

The guard put the letter into the envelope and threw it onto a stash of outgoing mail. The second guard took out keys and opened a metal bar door leading deeper into the dungeons. He gave Twilight sign to enter. She followed his unspoken order and walked through the door, where three other guards surrounded her. She found herself in a dimly lit corridor with many metal doors on both sides. She knew that soon one of those doors will close behind her tail.

“Goodbye, everypony,” she whispered. “I'm sorry.”