Princess Celestia rose from her canine-style sitting position on her throne to all fours as two stallions; one a dark blue earth pony with a white head and hooves, brownish-orange eyes, and black mane and tail, with the image of a pen evidently finishing the writing of the word “off” on each of his hips; the other a light-gray pegasus with light-brown head and hooves, brownish-green eyes, white mane and tail, and the image of a closed suit case on each of his hips; approached her. They stopped about a yard from the daytime alicorn and bowed.

Princess Celestia nodded to them and said, “Case Closed, Signing Off, please rise and give your reports.”

The two stallions rose and looked at each other, then turned back to their daytime princess, and the pegasus said, “Yes, ma’am. When we went to Ponyville to see why the Pegasa’s Pizzeria hadn’t been torn down yet, we learned from the residents that they didn’t dare go near the structure. It seems there were reports of the ghost of Fluttershy sitting in the doorway of the basement, trembling, eyes wide, ears folded back.”

The earth pony continued, “I went to look inside the building, and I did see an apparition of a yellow pegasa fitting Fluttershy’s description, posed as described. Whatever happened to her when she died, it was clearly more traumatic than anything I’ve ever faced.”

The pegasus added, “The remaining three, well two, element bearers refused to go near the structure because three of them had died there; and it represented memories that they didn’t want to relive. So, we had to hire a team of royal guards to disassemble the building and take the pieces out of Ponyville into the desert, where they were burned. All physical evidence of the Pegasa’s Pizzeria is gone from Ponyville.”

Princess Celestia turned to the pegasus and said, “Thank you, Case Closed.” She then turned to the earth pony and asked, “Signing Off, is there something else?”

Signing Off answered, “Actually, yes there is. We were able to remove the entire structure and destroy it, then bury the remaining hole so that nopony would know the building was there. But, there is still that yellow pegasa’s apparition sitting there where the doorway to the basement used to be.”

Princess Celestia sighed deeply, then said, “That can’t be helped. I’ve never been able to get the story about how Fluttershy died, but I don’t think I could do anything even if I did know.” She then nodded again to the two stallions and said, “Thank you, Case Closed, Signing Off. You are dismissed.”

Again the stallions bowed to their daytime princess, then rose again and turned and cantered out of the throne room.

Alone in the room again, Princess Celestia took a moment to collect herself after a wave of grief once again washed over her. Memories had arisen of her former student and the letters she’d sent to her, along with the friends the purple unicorn had made in Ponyville, friends that had helped the purple unicorn earn her wings, and thus her position as an alicorn. It had been one of those five friends that had betrayed and murdered Princess Twilight Sparkle, as well as Pinkie Pie, and taken the other three hostage. The traitor had been the one that had reformed Discord, and Discord had been forced to execute her.

Princess Celestia had seen generations of ponies be born, live out their lives, and die. She had been forced to send her younger sister to the moon. But, this was the first time she’d had one of her subjects turn against her and murder two of her other subjects, not to mention deeply traumatize another one.

Not knowing if Rarity would ever recover from her experience in that basement, the daytime princess had been forced to take from the white unicorn the rights to the element of generosity, and bestow them on another pony, just as she’d had to do with the elements of magic, laughter, and kindness. She could only hope that the remaining original bearers of the elements of loyalty and honesty could guide the new element bearers and help them best represent their elements.

After taking a deep, unsteady breath, Princess Celestia left the throne room through a side door.

It had made sense to both princesses that Discord would have great difficulty accepting the death of Fluttershy. After all, she was the first, no, the only, friend the draconequus had ever had. But, to lock himself in a dungeon and refuse to come out again? Wasn’t that going a bit far?

Such was one of the many questions roaming through Princess Luna’s mind as she approached the cell were Discord was. And, as she took a canine-style sitting position in front of the cell, seeing the draconequus lying motionless on the floor, facing away from the bars, she thought it strange how, considering the spirit of chaos was immortal, if she didn’t know better, she’d think he was dead.

That is, until Discord groaned, “Yes, what do you want?”

The nighttime alicorn answered, “We want you to know that … we understand how thou feels.”

At this point, Discord rose up and turned to Princess Luna. Glaring at her, he asked, “Do you? Do you really?”

Princess Luna found herself intimidated by the draconequus’ glare. But still, she answered, “Yes, we do. Fluttershy was one of the six that rescued us from being Nightmare Moon. She befriended and reformed you, and you had to end her life.”

Discord turned away from her again and, sighing, said, “You don’t understand at all.”

The nighttime princess stretched out a forelimb toward the draconequus and said, “Then, help us understand. Explain why thou refuses to leave this dungeon.”

In response, Discord sighed, “I deserve it.”

Princess Luna took a moment to sigh as well, then asked, “Why, Discord? Why does thou deserve to be locked away in a dungeon?”

Discord’s patience with the intrusive alicorn was wearing thin. Hoping she’d take the hint and leave, he groaned, “Because I do. Let’s just leave it at that.”

Instead of leaving, though, Princess Luna said, “Thou are not the only one to feel the loss of Fluttershy, you know. Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, our sister and we, and all of Ponyville, Canterlot, Appleoosa, …”

Presently, Discord turned and jumped at the nighttime alicorn, causing her, in alarm, to fall over backwards. He said, “You don’t have to keep reminding me of the trouble I’ve caused! I know how much pain I caused every pony! I’m the one that made her … I’m the one … I …” And, he collapsed on the ground and started sobbing.

Princess Luna rolled back onto her hooves, turned to face the weeping draconequus, returned to her canine-style sitting position, and asked, “Discord, thou made Fluttershy what? What did thou make of Fluttershy?”

Discord seemed to struggle as he used his mismatched forelimbs to drag himself away from the bars, away from Princess Luna. When he was stretched out so he could touch the back wall with his nose and the bars with his tail at the same time, he answered, “It w-was … b-before sh-she built … th-that pizzeria. I just wanted to pop in and pay her a visit. So, I popped in.” After unsuccessfully trying to stifle a sob, he continued, “Sh-she was outside, giving a d-deep tissue massage to her b-bear friend. How was I supposed to know that I’d pop in just as she was twisting the bear’s neck?”

In an effort to show empathy, Princess Luna started to reach out a forelimb again as she said, “Discord.”

The draconequus wailed, “I heard the bones snap, I saw Fluttershy drop his head, and I saw, … I saw …”

At this point, Princess Luna put her front hoof down, rose to all fours, and asked, “What did thou see?”

Discord continued, “I didn’t know my sudden appearance was going to literally scare the creature to death! I just wanted to visit Fluttershy! I didn’t want to make her kill one of her creatures!”

Princess Luna then said, “Thou can not be held responsible for what thou did not know.”

The spirit of chaos started to float upward as he continued, “I couldn’t bear to see Fluttershy after that, so I popped out of there. That’s why I’ve been staying here in Canterlot, because I couldn’t face Fluttershy after what I made her do!” He sighed heavily before continuing, “I didn’t think she was going to take the death of that bear the way she did. I didn’t think she was going to build a restaurant to get rid of the remains. I didn’t think she was going to become a murderer. And, I didn’t think I was going to have to kill her.” At this point, he fell onto the floor of the prison cell, and didn’t bounce. He concluded, “Well, I hope you’re happy. You know the full story. Now you can leave.”

The nighttime princess opened her mouth to say something, but she found herself unable to say it. She turned and ambled away from the cell, then turned back again and tried to speak. But, each time she opened her mouth to say what she wanted to say, to reiterate that Discord was not responsible for what had happened, she’d forget what she was about to say; and she’d end up closing her mouth again and turning back to the entrance of the dungeon, to canter a few more steps and repeat the process until she got to the door. And even then, when she tried one last time, she couldn’t speak the words of comfort she wanted to speak. So, she just left the dungeon to deliver her report to her sister.

Three ponies stood in front of the door. One was an orange earth mare with yellow hair, green eyes, and the cutie mark of three red apples; one was a blue pegasa with hair of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple in that order, dark-pink eyes, and a cutie mark of a cloud with a red-yellow-and-blue lightning bolt coming out of it; and behind them was a pink earth mare with yellow hair, yellow eyes, and the cutie mark of three lilies.

The orange earth pony and the blue pegasa took two steps away from each other and looked between them.

The orange earth mare said, “C’mon, Lily. We’re here to visit Rarity.”

Lily lowered her head and said, “I really don’t know if I should. She’s your friend, after all, not mine.”

Angrily, the blue pegasa said, “Come on. She’s just as much a friend of you as she is of us. You bear the element she used to bear because she can’t anymore.” She then backed up a few steps until she was right next to Lily before continuing, “Look, the bearers of magic and laughter are visiting the graves of Twilight and Pinkie, and the bearer of kindness is visiting the ghost of Fluttershy. Rarity’s still alive, and the least you can do is visit her.”

Lily just stammered, “B-b-but, …”

Presently, the orange earth mare backed up until she was next to Lily, opposite the blue pegasa, and said, “Trust me, Lily, she ain’t gonna hold it against ya because you represent the element of generosity and she can’t no more. Who knows? You just might jes' be the one that helps her feel better. Don’tcha want that?”

Lily raised her head again, glared at the orange earth mare, and shouted, “Of course I do, Applejack! It’s just that …” Then, after being shushed by ponies around the trio, she lowered her voice as she continued, “It’s just that, well, she knows you better than me.”

The blue pegasa responded, “That’s a real lame excuse, y’know. To other ponies, you’re generosity now. And, how do you think others are gonna think about you if you don’t visit Rarity at least once?”

Immediately Applejack eyed the blue pegasa and said, “Rainbow Dash, Ah really don’t think that’s a'helpin’.” She then focused on the pink earth mare again and said, “Look, Lily, ya did come with a gift for Rarity, didn’tcha?”

For a moment the pink earth mare hesitated as she said, “Well.” Then, she continued, “I suppose I could give her my flower. Maybe that’d cheer her up.”

Applejack smiled as she said, “Ya know, that jes' might work. C’mon, let’s go.” And, to set an example, she proceeded toward the door.

Rainbow Dash, in an effort to keep Lily from backing out, kept pace with Applejack, trapping the pink earth mare between her and the orange earth pony.

So, Lily only moved forward unwillingly, although she still struggled to maintain her position, as she asked, “But, what if Rarity hates my present?”

Rainbow Dash growled for a second before stating, “Look, you’ve never hated any of the gifts that Rarity gave you, right? So, she has no reason to hate any gift you’d give her.” Pausing just long enough to extend her closest wing over the earth mare, she then said, “Let’s just get going. You’ll see. Rarity won’t hate you.”

Defeated, Lily inhaled and exhaled, then said, “Well, alright, if you say so.”

And, so the three proceeded through the door and into the psychiatric ward.

As the group proceeded through the hallway, it was clear that any ponies there, besides the three going to visit their friend, were probably unable to move on their own; as many just sat in the hallways, some drooling.

The first door they passed, after they passed, vibrated with a loud thud as the pony behind the door apparently attempted to run through it. But, that was the only evidence that any of the rooms there were occupied by anything living.

It took a minute for the trio to reach the room, at which point Applejack reached out and opened the door to allow the three inside. And, she lingered long enough for Lily to enter before she herself entered and closed the door behind her.

Inside the room, on the bed, was Rarity, apparently asleep, although one eye was open and staring off into space.

Next to the bed was her sister, Sweetie Belle, who, hearing the door open, had turned to the sound, and was watching the three ponies as they marched toward Rarity’s bed. In the mean time, she rose and said, “Oh, hi, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Lily Valley. I’ve been here hoping to see if I could get my sister to say something or do something. But, so far, nothing.”

Applejack smiled and nodded and said, “That’s alright, Sugar Cube. Lily here’s jes' come to visit 'er.”

Taking that as her invitation, Lily proceeded toward the white unicorn, who was lying on her side as though dead, and she placed herself between the former bearer of the element of generosity and her little sister, and said, “Uh, hello, Rarity. I’m Lily Valley, the one that bares your element of generosity now.” She waited for a few seconds for a response, then, when she got none, she continued, “I’m still working at the flower shop in town. And, I’ve been working on being more generous with the flowers we sell. I’ve made a few mistakes, but I am learning.” And, she proceeded to take Rarity’s left front hoof in her own two.

In response, Sweetie Belle called out, “No, Lily, wait!”

But, it was too late. As soon as Lily grabbed Rarity’s left front hoof, Rarity immediately got up and screamed. And, she continued to scream and struggle until Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Sweetie Belle were able to calm her down, at which point she rolled over to her other side.

In the mean time, an alarmed Lily backed away from the bed and into the wall behind her.

When Rarity was finally calm again, Applejack approached Lily and said, “It’s alright, Sugar Cube. The hoof you grabbed was the one Rarity’d touched Twilight’s dead body with. You didn’t do nothin’ wrong.”

Clearly shaken, Lily rose to all fours again and said, “W-well, if you s-say so.” She then returned to the white unicorn mare’s side and said, “I can see that what happened to you must’ve been horrible.” She then forced a chuckle as she continued, “We flower mares freak out when we find a flower with a broken stem.” Her voice then took on a more serious tone as she said, “But, none of us could imagine what it would’ve been like to be in your position, and have to touch a dead body. None of us have ever had to be in that situation.” She paused for a moment before removing the flower from between her mane and ear and placing it in that visible position on Rarity’s head before saying, “I hope I can learn to represent generosity the way you did.” And, with that, she lowered her head and rested it on Rarity’s ribs, feeling them rise and fall with the white unicorn’s breathing.

For a second it seemed that Rarity’s breathing became irregular, then the white unicorn took a deep breath before saying, “Thank you, Lily.” Then, as Lily rose up again and looked at Rarity, the white unicorn continued, “You’ll learn, and you’ll represent generosity as well as I did, maybe even better. I still have a ways to go before I can go back to work, but I will likely never have the element of generosity again. Keep it, and make the best of it.” And, with that, she rested her head on her pillow again.

A surprised Sweetie Belle looked at Lily and said, “That’s more than my sister said in the past year. Maybe she is getting better after all.”

At this comment from the little white unicorn, Lily smiled and said, “I hope you’re right. Maybe I’ll come and visit again tomorrow.”

Applejack replied, “Good idea. In the mean time, let’s go so Rarity can get her rest.”

And, with that, the three element bearers left the room.

Vinyl kept an all-fours stance over Pinkie’s grave, seemingly unable to move.

Next to her, Twilight’s father sat canine-style in front of the tombstone of his daughter, directly over where her body was. Reaching out a front hoof to touch the grave stone, he said, “Well, it turns out that my position of bearer of your element was just temporary. Princess Celestia and I helped train an earth pony. And, she’s earned her horn now. It shouldn’t be too much longer now before she also earns her wings. I hear you may be familiar with her.” He then turned to the grave stone of Pinkie Pie as he added, “I’m sure your friend, Pinkie Pie, here, knows her.” He then rose to all fours and strolled off.

From behind him, a gray unicorn with lavender mane and tail and wearing a faded-azure frock approached the grave next. With an expression and voice almost completely devoid of emotion, she said, “Hi. I’m Maud, Pinkie’s sister. I would have preferred to bear my sister’s element, but I can bear yours instead.” She then approached and sniffed the tombstone, then grunted and said, “Marble.” Then, she backed away from the stone and continued, “Your father and Princess Celestia, as your father has said, have trained me in magic, and I have earned my horn. They also suggested that a visit to your grave might help me earn my wings. But, so far, I sense no change.” She then turned to her sister’s tombstone and said, “I had thought you would live longer than any of the rest of us, maybe become an alicorn yourself. I suppose, when you get close to somepony, you run the risk of getting too close, and not seeing them turn into something different from what they should be. If I cannot carry your element, sister, then I can carry the element of a friend of yours.” Then, unable to speak anymore, Maud Pie just stood there, fighting a losing battle with her feelings of loss.

Pinkie Pie’s spirit, seeing her sister start to cry, reached out to her with a front hoof and said, “Oh, Maud, I know you’ll represent magic as well as Twily did. You were always the strong one, and that’s why you were my favorite. I knew you’d always be there for me. Now, you can be there for my friends, and the other element bearers. You have them to care for now.”

To the surprise of everyone there, including the spirits of Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle, Maud said, “I know. Maybe I can take better care of them than I could of you.”

Pinkie Pie opened her mouth to say more to her sister, but was unable to find the words she wanted to say. Finally, she turned to her friend, Vinyl, and said, “Vinyl, I know you’ve been struggling to make everypony laugh. But, if you can just make everypony smile, that’ll be enough. As long as everypony is happy, that’s what matters most, not if everypony’s laughing.”

The DJ Pony also showed signs of understanding what the pink party pony’s spirit had said, as she answered, “I’ve tried everything I saw you do to make ponies laugh, but nothing worked. But, if I can use my music to make everypony smile, then maybe you’re right. Maybe that is all I need to do.” She then smiled as she backed away from Pinkie’s grave.

In the mean time, Twilight approached her father and said, “Thank you, dad, for representing magic as well as you did. I know it wasn’t easy for you, but I also know you put in as much effort as you could. It doesn’t matter who bears the element of magic, it just matters that you represented it the best you could.” She then turned to the gray earth unicorn and said, “I earned my wings by correcting a spell with a better understanding of friendship than what Starswirl had. I don’t know for sure what you need to do to earn your wings, but I know my friend Rainbow Dash can help you with that, and maybe Applejack as well. Maybe even Derpy could help you. Maybe Vinyl and Lily. The best advice I can give you is to trust in your friends. Support them, and they’ll support you.”

Neither Maud nor Twilight’s father showed any signs of understanding, or even hearing, what Twilight had said, at least not on any conscious level. After a few more seconds, the three unicorns turned and wandered away.

Seeing the stallion and the two mares leave the cemetery, Twilight turned to Pinkie Pie and asked, “Do you think they understood me?”

Pinkie Pie answered, “I’m sure they did, even if they didn’t show it. Now, let’s go back.” And, with that, Pinkie Pie, then Twilight Sparkle, disappeared.

A gray pegasa with light-yellow hair and yellow eyes, and a cutie mark of seven bubbles, made her approach toward the ghost of the pink-haired, yellow pegasa who had once represented kindness, then sat canine-style in front of her. Why she still tried to reach out to the trembling spirit she couldn’t say for sure. Certainly there was some effort to comfort her, hopeless as it might be. After all, she was bearing the element of kindness, just as Fluttershy had before. Only, she had it set firmly in her mind to be more careful, and not kill any creatures as Fluttershy had done.

When her front hoof was close enough to touch the trembling apparition of the yellow pegasa, the gray one said, “Hi. Remember me? I’m Derpy Hooves. I just came here to talk to you.” She then retracted her front hoof, put it down under her, and continued, “Your friends, Applejack and Rainbow Dash, have been training me, and I’ve been working on representing kindness the way you used to, you know, before you …” She trailed off, then switched mental tracks and looked down as she added, “None of your creatures trusted me the way they trusted you, so I couldn’t take care of them. They don’t even live in your cottage any more. They're living in the Everfree forest again.” Then, she looked up into Fluttershy’s empty gaze, and her right eye balanced with her left eye so that she was completely focused on the yellow pegasa's ghost as she concluded, “Even if you betrayed your element, I want you to know that your example has been a real learning tool to me, a real inspiration. And, I just came here to thank you for that.” After that, the gray pegasa rose to all fours again, and her right eye pointed down again as she turned away from the spirit of the yellow pegasa and strolled off.

And, still the ghost of Fluttershy sat, canine-style, eyes wide open, ears folded back against her head, immobile except for her constant trembling.

Author's Notes:

For those who haven't picked up on the clues by now, the inspiration for this story was the video game, Five Nights at Freddy's. The Book of Mormon villain that served as the model for Fluttershy was Nehor.

I hope you enjoyed this story. The next worst-case-scenario story I plan on writing will be about Twilight Sparkle, who I plan on modelling after the Book of Mormon villain, Corihor.