Fluttershy arrived at her cottage, which was strangely quiet. She had ordered most of the animals to go into deep hiding, only emerging when absolutely necessary. Not even Angel was there. She looked around the empty rooms. The sheer loneliness pressed down on her shoulders until she gave in and called Applejack.

"Are you sure it's okay for me to stay over? I don't want to be a burden."

"Nonsense, Sugah Cube. I wouldn't want you alone in that cottage anyway. I'll come pick you up at around seven." A brief pause followed, before Applejack asked quietly, "Are you alright?"

Fluttershy shivered but replied, "Yes. The Newsponies and police give me a bad sense of déjà vu."

"Well, at least you won't have to be alone. See ya later!"

Fluttershy sighed and put up her phone. This was going to be a long wait.

A flump outside Fluttershy's door said the newspaper had been delivered. She opened her door and grabbed it, scanning the front page after she had sat down on her couch.

Brutal Double Murder Shocks Ponyville

Last Night, Carrot Top and her boyfriend Caramel were found dead outside her home. Police are baffled by the lack of clues, which makes this case similar to the murder of Rogue Skies, mother of one, found in a similar condition.

Fluttershy stopped reading. There was her elephant in the room. Dropping the paper, the yellow pegasus got up and began walking around her house. After a couple of minutes, she curled back up on her couch.

The ringing of the phone woke her up. By then Princess Celestia had set the sun and Princess Luna had raised the night. Fluttershy groaned slightly and picked up the phone.

"Hey, sorry I'm late. I got lost on the way and had to ask directions." Applejack sounded not the least bit tired.

"It's okay," Fluttershy answered while stifling a yawn.

"Would ya mind terribly if I dropped by Sugar Cube Corner? I was thinking something chocolately."

Fluttershy shook her head, momentarily forgetting Applejack couldn't see her. "That's fine, just get here soon, please?"

"I will. See you soon." The earth pony hung up, leaving Fluttershy to look around her empty house with slight despair.

The phone rang again. Fluttershy glared at it before picking it up again.

"Applejack, please, anything will work-"

"Hello, Fluttershy." Fluttershy frowned at a stallion's voice coming from her phone.

"Oh. Hi. Who am I talking to?"

"You tell me." She could almost hear the smirk.

"W-well, I have no idea."

"Scary night, isn't it? With the murders and all, it's like something out of a horror movie."

Fluttershy broke into a relieved grin and giggled slightly.

"Pinkie Pie, you gave yourself away. Are you calling from Sugar Cube corner, because Applejack's on her way over."

The voice switched subjects. "Do you like scary movies, Fluttershy?"

Fluttershy, still grinning, answered, "I like what you're doing with your voice. Wonderful disguise."

"What's your favorite scary movie?"

Fluttershy shook her head. "Pinkie Pie, you know I don't watch those."

The voice sounded surprised. "Why not? Too scared?"

"Yes."

After a moment of silence, the voice asked, almost cautiously, "Are you alone in the house?"

Fluttershy rolled her eyes. "Pinkie, that was a bit unoriginal. I know you can do better!"

The voice darkened. "Maybe that's because I'm not Pinkie Pie."

Fluttershy froze. She glanced around, terror building, before she calmed herself down.

"Th-then, who are you?"

"The question isn't 'who am I', it's 'where am I'."

Fluttershy frowned. "So where are you?"

"Your front porch." The voice sounded smug. Fluttershy looked towards her door in fear.

"W-w-why w-would you be calling from my front p-porch?" she asked, trying to gain some assertiveness like Rainbow Dash and her friends had been telling her. She inched towards her door.

"That's the original part."

Fluttershy looked out her front window. There was no pony visible.

"O-oh yeah?" she challenged, straightening herself out, "I call your bluff."

She opened the door and stepped outside. Nothing. She looked around, before asking, "So where are you?"

"Right here."

Fluttershy moved so she could see around her house. Nothing. She frowned, narrowing her eyes, before a faint smile worked its way up her lips.

"Can you see me right now?"

"Uh huh."

Fluttershy nodded, bravery building as well as confidence.

"Ah." She then proceeded to push a tip of her hoof up one nostril.

"What am I doing?"

There was no answer.

"Huh? Huh? What am I doing?" she all but sang, swinging around. She then giggled and removed her hoof.

"That was a very good try, Pinkie. Could you please tell Applejack to hurry up? Good bye!"

As Fluttershy was about to hang up, the voice shrieked, "YOU HANG UP ON ME YOU'LL DIE, JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER!"

Fluttershy froze mouth open. Terror replaced her earlier confidence.

"Do you wanna die, Fluttershy? Your mother sure didn't," it hissed maliciously.

"You little cretin," Fluttershy whispered, before racing back into her house. She slammed her door shut and locked it, watching outside for any signs of movement. A faint creak was her only warning before a pony of unidentifiable specie lunged from her closet, knife in hoof.

She screamed, ducking its first slash and dragging it down with her by its black costume. The white mask, seemingly screaming, contrasted with the pitch black of the rest of its clothes. The killer got up first, and prepared to stab Fluttershy before she kicked the hind legs it was standing on out, forcing it to fall on her.

They wrestled furiously before the killer smacked her head on the floor. Fluttershy was unable to do anything but try and see through the stars as the killer tilted its head, before raising the knife attached to its hoof. Fluttershy wanted to faint, but didn't.

Right before the killer struck, Fluttershy screamed "NO!" and kicked its stomach, sending it sprawling. Leaping up, she scratched at the door, but was unable to open it before the killer was on its feet again. She avoided a stab that impaled her door before running upstairs, hearing the killer follow. She reached her room and slammed the door shut, locking it, before lodging a birdhouse against the door. The door shuddered as the killer threw itself against it, getting through the weak lock but unable to break the birdhouse. Fluttershy bit her lip, whimpering, as the killer repeatedly launched its shoulder against her door.

The hoof with the knife slid through the crack and slashed pointlessly at her. Fluttershy made it to her phone, next to her computer, and tried calling for help. The phone lines were dead.

Sending a terrified glance back at the killer, she got on her computer. The killer froze and vanished. Fluttershy nevertheless got to 911 and was about to call for help when she noticed a lack of movement at her door and a gain of movement at her window.

She whipped around, letting out a shriek, before realizing it was Rainbow Dash. The rainbow pegasus held up her hooves in a placating gesture, saying, "It's me!"

Fluttershy shuddered, whispering, "Rainbow," then raced forward and tugged her into her room.

"The doors were locked and I heard screams, are you alright?"

Rainbow Dash was almost cut off by Fluttershy's frantic whimpering of, "He's here, he's in the house! The killer's here, he's gonna kill me!"

Rainbow Dash hugged Fluttershy, watching the door out of her room.

"It's okay, he's gone, he's gone," she whispered reassuringly.

Thunk.

Fluttershy glanced down to see a mobile phone drop from Rainbow Dash's wing feathers. Her breathing seized. She slowly pulled away from Rainbow Dash, horror, fear, and denial coursing through her in the form of adrenaline.

"What?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking confused and concerned.

Fluttershy's gaze flicked back up to her friend's face. Terror covered her expression.

"Fluttershy, what is it?" Fluttershy shook her head, backing up farther. Rainbow Dash took a step towards her, eliciting a panic response. Fluttershy threw the bird house aside and charged out, ignoring Rainbow Dash's yells of, "Fluttershy, stop! Wait! Come back!"

Running through her home to the front door, Fluttershy threw it open to see the killer's mask staring blank-eyed at her. She screamed, startling the holder of the mask, Big Mac, who jumped and jiggled the mask hanging from his police horse saddle. Fluttershy put a hoof to her mouth, trying to quiet the sobs escaping it.

"Found this," Big Mac said breathlessly, before motioning to other police ponies outside.

Rainbow Dash was forcibly muscled out of the house and read her rights, despite repeated denials of doing anything. She was dragged over to Thunderlane, who was in charge of the group.

"Thunderlane. You know me. I didn't do it!"

Thunderlane didn't spare her a second glance.

Algebra takes precedence over writing *helpless shrug*