All Hail Empress Fluttershy
Chapter 1:
Angel Bunny was sitting on the couch, reading a newspaper. Next to him, on the end table, was a bowl of carrots. He reached out a paw and grabbed one, gnawing on it. His left ear twitched as he heard the knob to the front door jiggle. The rabbit set the newspaper down and turned his head just as the door opened. Fluttershy walked into the cottage, closing the door behind her. Her face was stained with tears.
" So, how was your friend's funeral," Angel Bunny asked as he approached her.
Fluttershy smirked and narrowed her eyes, letting out a chuckle.
" All according to plan," she uttered in a haughty tone. " I knew Rainbow Dash couldn't resist that cake I baked for her. It was to die for."
" What was she allergic to, again," Angel Bunny questioned, raising an eyebrow.
" Ginger," Fluttershy answered, proudly. " You have no idea what I had to do to hide the flavor."
" So, who's next on the list," the rabbit kept prying.
" That's for me to know and for you to find out," Fluttershy stated as she poked Angel Bunny on the nose.
" And nopony is suspicious," Angel Bunny shrugged.
" No one suspects a thing," the Pegasus shook her head, smugly.
She walked passed Angel Bunny and picked up the newspaper, looking at the picture to Rainbow Dash's obituary. The yellow and pink mare then began mocking her late friend.
" Why I would love a piece of cake," she imitated Rainbow Dash. " Thank you, Fluttershy. You're such a great friend. Ha! What a fool! The simpleton actually believed I was her friend. That'll teach her to stick her loyalty where the sun doesn't shine."
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Fluttershy put the newspaper face down on the coffee table and went to go greet the visitor. Angel Bunny hopped onto the arm of the couch, going back to eating the carrots. The Pegasus forced herself to cry before opening the door. Standing in front of her was Twilight.
" Hey, Fluttershy," the alicorn greeted. " You took off mid-eulogy. You going to be okay?"
" I-I guess so," Fluttershy stammered in a soft tone, hastily wiping a tear from her eye with her hoof. "… I can't believe she's gone…She was my first best friend…We've known each other since flight school."
" I understand," Twilight sympathized. " We all do. Hey. Why don't you come over to my castle tomorrow? Everypony else will be there…What's left of us, anyway. We're having a party. Pinkie Pie's idea. She said Rainbow Dash would've wanted it."
" That sounds lovely," Fluttershy faked a smile. " I would love to go. What time is it?"
" Noon," the princess retorted with a grin. " It'll give everypony time to rest up and recover a bit from today's events."
" Yeah, noon is best," the Pegasus chimed then yelped as an empty bowl hit her on the back of the head. " Ow! Angel Bunny!"
She turned, glaring at the rabbit. He glared back at her, arms folded.
" You okay," the purple mare asked and Fluttershy turned back to her, smiling.
" Yeah, I'm okay," she tweeted. " Just a bruise. Well, I better rest up for tomorrow. See you. Bye."
The Pegasus closed the door then turned to the rabbit, eyes filled with fire.
" You could've gotten those yourself, you know," she snapped.
" And break character," Angel Bunny shrugged with his paws up.
" Twilight was solely focused on me," Fluttershy gestured to herself. " She wouldn't have noticed you. Trust me. I barely do."
" Well, aren't you vain," Angel Bunny snarked, putting his paws on his hips.
" You know it," Fluttershy scoffed, whipping her mane from one side to the other. " Anyway, about the rest of the plan."
" Ooo, I was wondering when you were going to say that," Angel Bunny squealed with delight.
Meanwhile, at the bakery, three of the remaining friends were hanging out in Pinkie Pie's room, sipping on hot apple cider. The crisp silence burdened the air.
" I still can't believe it," Rarity was the first to speak, choking up. " I'm just so floored. I don't get it. I don't."
" Me, neither," Apple Jack sniffed. " She was as healthy as an ox and nowhere near my Granny Smith's age."
" You left too soon, Rainbow Dash," Pinkie Pie, whose curls were flattened, sobbed.
Twilight entered the room. The group turned to her.
" Hey, Guys," she greeted with a solemn smile. " I'm back."
" So, how'd it go," Apple Jack asked, nerves on end.
" Honestly, not sure," Twilight replied, sighing.
The alicorn walked over to her friends, sitting between Pinkie Pie and Rarity. Apple Jack pushed a mug in front of her.
" Here," the orange pony offered. " Have some of this. It's Granny Smith's famous "Cheer Up" apple cider recipe. Helped Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and I when we lost our parents."
" Thanks," the purple pony uttered then picked up the mug, taking a sip.
Pinkie Pie bawled louder and hugged Twilight, tightly.
" Rainbow Dash loved hot apple cider," she wailed then took a sip from her mug. " I will never ever drink this again, not without…her."
Pinkie Pie continued to drink until it was all gone. She belched then held the mug out to Apple Jack.
" May I have another glass, please," she croaked, her eyes glistening.
" Of course, Pinkie," Apple Jack picked up the pitcher and gave her a refill.
" Pinkie," Pinkie Pie sniffled." Rainbow Dash always called me that."
Twilight turned to Rarity, who was still wearing her black dress with matching hat and veil. She was staring into her drink, swirling it around with her hoof.
" You're awfully quiet," Twilight commented.
" Oh, I'm sorry," Rarity quipped, looking up. " Should I be talking? Because I've got nothing to say! I-I-I'm too shocked to form a coherent sentence about, well, any of this!"
" Me, too," Twilight stated, forlornly. " I don't understand. She was fine the day before."
" Maybe your magic can help you figure out the cause," Apple Jack suggested. " Ever thought of that?"
" Darling, she's right," Rarity piped up. " You're an alicorn. Surely you must know something."
" Unfortunately, there are no spells that will allow me to do that," Twilight looked down at the floor. " Not even Zecora can help me."
The others followed suit, bowing their heads. Together, they let out a sigh of melancholy.
" Well, I'd better go," Apple Jack stood up. " I promised Granny I would be back by dinner. See ya'll tomorrow."
The orange pony left the room as the others bidded her farewell for the evening.
" I better go, too," Rarity started heading toward the exit. " If I leave Opal home alone for too long, she'll start tearing up my new Spring line."
After they left, Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie.
" Guess it's just you and me, Pinkie," she uttered. " So, what do you want to do?"
" Go wherever Rainbow Dash is," the pink pony cried.
" I'm afraid that won't be for a long time, Pinkie," Twilight placed a hoof on her shoulder. " Sorry."
" This is so unfair," Pinkie bawled.
Meanwhile, in the Everfree Forest, Fluttershy and Angel Bunny were out walking. It was dark outside now.
" What are we doing out here in the middle of the night," Angel Bunny complained, trying to feel his way around. " I can't see a thing."
He bumped into a tree. The rabbit backed up and shook his head, before straightening himself.
" Sorry, Sir," Angel Bunny apologized. " I didn't see you there."
" Because the last thing we want to do is draw attention to ourselves," Fluttershy responded, waiting for the rabbit to regain his footing. " In order to do that, we must enact our plan while everypony is asleep. Besides, we had to wait until the mine was unoccupied first."
" What exactly are we looking for, again," Angel Bunny questioned, turning to the sound of her voice.
" The Emerald of Chaos and Destruction," the Pegasus chimed. " It was created by an ancestor of Discord's many generations ago. A draconequus and only a draconequus knows its location."
" And you would know the location how," Angel Bunny shrugged.
" Oh, it was easy," the mare bragged, smirking. " I asked Discord where it was and the love-struck fool told me. "
" And you know for sure that he wasn't just lying about it," Angel Bunny gave a suspicious glance. " You know how he likes to trick others."
" He wouldn't dare lie to me," Fluttershy snapped, getting in the rabbit's face. " If he did, well, I'll just have to step up my game. Play with his heartstrings. Do more than just bat my eyelashes."
" You're not going to get all seductive, are you," Angel Bunny asked, cringing.
" I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, even if it means sleeping with him," Fluttershy uttered then continued walking, Angel Bunny in tow.
Soon, the two arrived at the mine. Fluttershy grinned wickedly then went inside, grabbing a guest hardhat. The rabbit followed her, doing the same. They went deep into the cavern, passing by Maud's and Rarity's hangouts. Eventually, they reached their destination. Fluttershy pulled a pick-axe out from underneath her wing, tossed it over to her friend, and then pulled out one for her. They began digging.