All Hail Empress Fluttershy
Chapter 4:
Meanwhile, up in Cloudsdale, the Cutie Mark Crusaders approached Rainbow Dash's old home. Scootaloo unlocked the door, while Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle grabbed the boxes. They went inside and looked around. Everything was left exactly where it was before Rainbow Dash died. Scootaloo turned to the group, flying above them.
" Okay, I'll take the upstairs," she ordered. " Sweetie Belle, you take the first floor. Apple Bloom, you take the basement. If you find any clues, bring them to the kitchen."
The three agreed then split up.
Cadance was sitting in the throne room of Canterlot Castle, restrained by chains. She had palace guards surrounding her. Celestia entered the room, looking confused.
" What is the meaning of this," she questioned, approaching them.
" It's Princess Cadance," one of the guards explained. " She murdered Shining Armor."
" Really," she turned to Cadance, glaring at her.
" It's not true," Cadance argued. " It was Fluttershy. She put me under some magic spell. I couldn't fight it."
" Silence," another guard yelled at her.
" She came over to the Crystal Empire with this magic emerald," Cadance continued. " It was black, red, and orange. Please, your highness, you have to believe me."
Celestia stared at her. She started crying, again.
" Please," Cadance begged, her voice cracking.
Luna entered the room and widened her eyes, stopping at the entrance. Celestia looked at the guard in charge then at her sister. She turned her attention back to Cadance.
" Now, why would Fluttershy do that," Celestia questioned then softened her expression. " I am very disappointed in you, Cadance. I…I trusted you…More importantly, Twilight and her parents trusted you…I'm afraid you leave me no choice, but to take away your powers."
" But," Cadance stuttered. " Fluttershy…She…"
Celestia shook her head, firmly.
" Princess Cadance, I hearby strip you of your Alicorn magic, including your wings and title as Princess of Love," Celestia announced as her horn glowed, eyes tearing up.
Cadance's eyes widened as panic set in.
" No," she shouted. " No! No! No! Wait! Wait! Wait!"
The Princess of the Sun siphoned all of Cadance's magic and took away her wings. Cadance, now weakened, fell to the floor. She started sobbing.
" Take her to the dungeon," Celestia ordered the guards.
The guards did as she said and took Cadance away. Celestia watched on, feeling a twinge of regret and remorse. Luna approached her.
" Sister, did you see her Cutie Mark," the Princess of the Moon asked. " What if she's telling the truth?"
" Yes, I saw," the Princess of the Sun replied. " Part of me wants to believe her, but you heard the guards."
" Well, I believe her," Luna retorted. " Her magic was obviously corrupted."
" You may be right, Sister," Celestia replied. " I'll be having a talk with Fluttershy tomorrow. See if she saw anything."
Back in Cloudsdale, Scootaloo was searching Rainbow Dash's room when she heard something shift nearby. She turned her head in the direction of the noise.
" Hello," Scootaloo uttered. " Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle?"
The noise continued. It was coming from the closet. Scootaloo bit her lip and approached it. Sweetie Belle was looking under the coffee table when she heard a scream coming from upstairs. She jumped, smacking her head.
" Scootaloo," Sweetie Belle hollered then started running toward her.
Apple Bloom was about to enter the bathroom in the basement when she heard the same thing. She gasped, widening her eyes.
" Scootaloo," Apple Bloom yelped and ran upstairs.
The two fillies entered the bedroom, fear stricken. Their expressions softened when they found Scootaloo laying on her back, laughing. In her hooves was Rainbow Dash's pet turtle.
" Tank, you scared me," she chuckled, standing up. " I thought you were the murderer."
" Tank," Apple Bloom questioned. " What's he still doing here?"
" And alive," Sweetie Belle asked.
Tank belched up a piece of cake.
" What's this," Apple Bloom picked up the crumb, smelling it. " Ginger?"
" Hey, Scootaloo, wasn't Rainbow Dash allergic to ginger," Sweetie Belle asked.
" Yes," Scootaloo answered.
" Then what's that doing in her house," Sweetie Belle questioned, suspiciously.
The Pegasus gasped then glared.
" She really was murdered," Scootaloo stated. " I was right."
" Now, the question is, who did it," Apple Bloom uttered.
" They were obviously close to her," Sweetie Belle then turned to Scootaloo.
Apple Bloom did the same thing. They both glared at her then started approaching her. Scootaloo started backing up.
" Guys, it wasn't me," Scootaloo defended. " I swear."
" Then who was it," Apple Bloom asked.
" I don't know," Scootaloo answered. " Maybe it was Pinkie Pie. She bakes things all the time. That, and she is a little on the crazy side."
" But, you saw how Pinkie Pie was at the funeral," Sweetie Belle argued. " It couldn't have been her. Maybe it was Mrs. Cake."
" Now, why would Mrs. Cake do that," Apple Bloom questioned. " She's always been real nice."
" Why would she not do that," Sweetie Belle rebutted. " You know what they say about the too nice ones. Besides, Mr. and Mrs. Cake have a baby who is a Pegasus and another who is a unicorn. That doesn't even make any sense."
" What's that got to do with this," Apple Bloom argued.
" I don't know, okay," Sweetie Belle blurted.
Tank jumped out of Scootaloo's hooves and went back into the closet. The Pegasus watched as her friends fought.
" Guys," she shouted, getting in between them. " Guys! Guys! Get a grip!"
The two ponies kept arguing.
" Shut up," Scootaloo screamed, making them quiet down. " It wasn't Mrs. Cake. She and Mr. Cake were out of town the entire time. They were at a bake off. The only ones who were at the bakery the day of Rainbow Dash's death were Pinkie Pie and the twins. And we all know the twins didn't do it."
" Will you get off of Pinkie Pie already," Sweetie Belle argued. " She didn't do it. How do I know? She can't fly."
" And, yet, Mrs. Cake somehow can," Apple Bloom rebutted, making Sweetie Belle blush and look down at the floor.
" Now that you mention it, that accusation was a little farfetched," Sweetie Belle sheepishly admitted.
Scootaloo looked around.
" Have any of you seen where Tank went," she asked.
Tank came out of the closet, carrying a long strand of pink hair and a yellow feather.
" Watcha got there, Tank," Scootaloo picked the items up. " Are these from the murderer?"
The turtle blinked his eyes.
" I'll take that as a yes," she replied. " Now, who do we know that has pink hair and yellow wings?"
The girls eyes widened in realization.
Back in Canterlot, Celestia was using her mirror to help her get ready for bed. Suddenly, a figure appeared behind her. She turned around and smiled.
" Fluttershy, just the pony I wanted to see," Celestia then became concerned. " I was going to visit you, though. Is everything alright?"
" Oh, everything is just peachy," Fluttershy pulled the emerald out.
All Celestia saw was a flash of green and that was it. Princess Celestia's tiara fell to the floor of the bedroom, clanging against the cobblestone. Fluttershy smirked at the pile of dust in front of her then put the emerald away. Luna was walking down the hallway when she heard a commotion coming from nearby. She went to go investigate and found a couple of guards with their throats slit open. Luna backed up as she scanned the area, shocked. She flew passed them and went straight to her sister's room, knocking on the door.
" Celestia, something's in the palace," Luna shouted. " They just killed two of our guards!…Celestia?!"
When she did not answer, Luna opened the door. As soon as she saw what was left of her sister, she gasped.
" Celestia," she shouted as she ran toward the pile of ashes, picking up the tiara. " No! No!"
Her eyes started tearing up as her whole body quivered. She jumped when she heard something approach her from behind.
" Oh, don't worry," she recognized the voice. " You'll be joining her soon."
Luna turned around just in time to see Fluttershy pull out the emerald and zap her.
Back in Ponyville, the Cutie Mark Crusaders ran up to Twilight's castle, pounding on the door.
" Twilight, open up," Apple Bloom hollered. " It's an emergency!"
Twilight opened the door, eyes red and watery.
" What," she croaked.
" It's Fluttershy," Scootaloo explained, flying above her. " She killed Rainbow Dash!"
" And you would know this how," Twilight questioned, raising an eyebrow.
" We went to Rainbow Dash's home to search for clues and found Rex," Sweetie Belle explained then pulled out the evidence. " He gave us this."
" Fluttershy went over to Rainbow Dash's home all the time," Twilight defended. " That doesn't prove anything. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to check on Flurry Heart."
" Flurry Heart," Apple Bloom squeaked, eyes lighting up. " She's here?"
" Can we see her," Sweetie Belle asked, grinning. " Please?"
" Well, alright," Twilight uttered. " Just don't wake her…She's…had a long day..."
The fillies went into the room that Flurry Heart was staying in. They approached the crib where she was sleeping.
" So, how long is she staying," Scootaloo asked.
The Princess of Friendship hesitated.
" Don't tell me," Scootaloo stated. " Cadance and Shining Armor dumped her on you, so they can have a break and you have no idea when they'll be back."
" Not really, no," Twilight retorted in a hushed tone.
" Twilight, are they okay," Apple Bloom approached her, worried.
Twilight quietly shook her head.
" What happened," Sweetie Belle urged. " Did they get into a fight?"
" I think it would be best if I didn't tell you," Twilight rejected, looking away.
" So, they did get into a fight," Scootaloo raised her voice. " Even the Princess of Love has relationship problems!"
" Scootaloo," Apple Bloom snapped. " Can you try to be a little more sensitive?"
" Sorry," Scootaloo apologized, sheepishly.
" Yes, they had a fight and thought it would be best if they left Flurry Heart with me until they worked out their problems," Twilight lied.
" That makes sense," Apple Bloom agreed.
Suddenly, there was a loud boom. It shook the entire palace.
" Twilight, get out here," Spike shouted from down the hall.
" Excuse me a minute, Girls," Twilight excused herself and left the room.
Spike was standing outside, eyes fixated on a green light in the distance.
" Spike, what did you do," the Alicorn questioned, sternly.
The dragon pointed a shaky claw. Twilight looked in the direction it was pointed and gasped, eyes widening.
" That's coming from Canterlot," she squeaked. " Spike, see if you can get a hold of Celestia!"
Before he could, the dragon burped up a letter and opened it. He read it, his face turning pale.
" You might want to read this," Spike handed the letter over to Twilight.
" Twilight," the princess read aloud. " Trouble in Canterlot. Need help. Luna."
She looked up as she read the last part, her heart dropping.
