"Angel!" Fluttershy called. "Angel! Your dinner is ready!" The mare carried a bowl of salad in her hooves as her wings casually took her across the room. "Angel?" She called once more.

The mare entered her living room, frowning when she didn't catch sight of the bunny. Usually, he would always come at the sound of "dinner". She set the bowl of salad at the end of her couch. She turned, scanning around the room only to find not one animal in the room.

Even though she was beginning to grow worried, she knew it wasn't a big deal. The bunny was probably just doing something or he didn't feel like eating... that or he left the premises.

The pegasus noticed that her window shutters were open, she usually kept it closed, especially at night. She began walking over to close it.

The mare was still shaken up about the hospital incident but she was also relieved that it was resolved quickly, thanks to Twilight and Pinkie. She also heard about the ponies that lost their lives during the incident, other patients that were unfortunately in the same room with the stallion when he began attacking. Fluttershy felt the color drain from her face when she first heard that.

The mare saw the look on the pony's face when she told her that it was just "blood". She appreciated what Pinkie tried to do, cover it up and act like it was "paint" when really it was just another pony's lifesource.

She gulped as the image came into her head...

The pale mare made it to her window. "Angel?" She called out once more, glancing around. She could see the Ponyville lights in the distance. Instead of doing what she came there for, close the shutters, the pegasus decided to go outside to look for the bunny.

She opened the door and let herself out, taking in the nice fresh breeze. She promised herself she'd check up on Twilight and Pinkie tomorrow to see how they were handling with everything. From the rumors she's heard and the things she's seen, it was obvious that they needed some support.

The mare called out for the bunny several times during her search, earning no result. She looked around outside for a few moments and had no luck in finding the bunny.

There was still the backyard to check, hopefully he didn't enter the Everfree forest. After what happened today, Fluttershy didn't feel like spooking herself even more. The mare went back inside, closing her shutters and finally locking her front door.

She made her way through the living room, failing to notice the missing bowl of salad she left by the end of the couch and out to the back door.

She looked through the window, barely able to pick out anything in the darkness. Her cottage only lit up about half of the backyard until it became almost pitch black. The only thing she was able to catch was grass, a few flowers here and there and the faint outline of her chicken coop. Maybe the bunny wasn't out there, perhaps he may have just gone into hiding?

Fluttershy didn't want to go out there, especially at this time of night and she definitely did not want to go trotting through the Everfree either. She could just go fetch a torch and bring that out there with her? But what happens when she catches something she didn't want to see? The pegasus quickly shook away the thought, trying to laugh it off. Come on, Flutters. You're just scaring yourself now. Just go out there and call Angel. Taking a steady inhale, she forced herself to go open the door when she noticed it.

Standing just outside of the fence, on the right side, was a strange silhouette. It's outline was strange, like some type of dragon but only wasn't. It looked too... smooth? She would've been able to see the faint outline of it's scales or claws but it didn't have any. It definitely wasn't a pony and it wasn't an animal either but that wasn't what got her quivering from head to hoof. The thing that got to her was not the fact that there was a strange ominous figure standing motionless in her backyard but the fact that it was staring directly at her. The mare ha been steered into a state of paralysis under it's locked gaze even though all she could see was just a black silhouette she could tell that it was looking right at her.

It wasn't doing anything and somehow that was the worst part. It was just standing there, doing nothing.

The terror induced mare stood there for a few moments, her eye never straying from it's prey... well; more accurately, it's predator. Suddenly, she felt something on her shoulder and she fell to the floor and screamed.

She screamed loud, so loud that the citizens of Ponyville must've heard it. She shuffled to the left side corner, stuck between the wall and the door. She wailed, crying out for help.

She kept her eyes tightly shut as she trembled but when she heard the comforting chirps of her birds, she opened them. Half of her initial fright was gone as she looked over the five colorful miniature birds that were hovering right in front of her.

In one scoop, she brought them all to her chest, clutching tightly to them. A bit too tightly... . She was slowly starting to calm down and the mare dared herself to look again. She peeked over the small border of wood that met the window and the sinister figure that was ominously standing there had vanished...

When she finally noticed the severe lack of movement coming from her chest, she looked down and immediately felt the bile that came rushing up out of her throat.

---

Twilight woke up with a gasp, a nightmare plaguing her dreams. It had a something to do with the hospital incident that happened yesterday. Where was Luna when you needed her? The unicorn stayed in bed for a few moments, aimlessly observing the sun seeping through her blinds.

She tried not to think about what happened yesterday, it was too early to get herself worked up but regardless of that; her mind forcibly recalled back to the moment. The first image that came to mind was the stallion... killing the other stallion. She was still in complete disbelief as to how he was able to do that, it didn't seem like he knew what he was doing. He just seemed petrified.

But of what? What could've gotten in the hospital? Was there even- Twilight immediately put those thoughts to rest; it was definitely too early for this.

Sighing, the unicorn sat up and removed herself from the seafoam colored blanket she was using. She got up from the bed, giving herself a big stretch before beginning her routine.

---

Rarity didn't want to but she had to, for her friend. She promised Twilight that she would go with her to check on that crazed stallion. Rainbow Dash was coming along too as the "extra backup". She didn't disagree with that, in fact, she was glad that the foolhardy pegasus was coming. It provided that sense of protection, knowing that the cyan mare would do anything to protect her friends.

She just wished Applejack decided to come along too but the pony had other issues she needed to deal with.

Perhaps, it would be wise to check on Pinkie once I'm done with Twilight. The elegant mare thought. She still wondered how she was doing, she hadn't seen her come out of her room since yesterday after she tried visiting. The door to her room had been locked and the cakes said that when she came into the shop, the pink mare was crying.

Rarity felt nothing but sympathy for the poor mare. She was sat at her table, tea set in front of her. It was ready. She took a sip. She suppose she would've been the same if it were her in that position; if she had went with Twilight to the hospital yesterday.

Hopefully, this will be dealt with quickly. She hated seeing her friends in such a distressed state.

---

The farm pony trotted toward her farm, carrying the last basket. The mare couldn't stop thinking about Twilight or Pinkie after hearing what happened to them yesterday. Applejack didn't no what to think, ponies suddenly going crazy and... killing each other?

That didn't make any sense, why would they just start attacking other ponies? The farm pony had been debating herself on whether to come with Twilight to interrogate this sick stallion or stay here and finish up her work. Yes, she did want to interrogate the colt. He was dangerous and he already killed another pony. She didn't care why he did it, he killed another pony. She was perfectly fine with interrogating him but Twilight probably wouldn't allow it.

The mare plopped down the basket by the tree and went to buck some apples. She drew her hind legs and effortlessly delivered a powerful kick. The apples all fell into the basket. "What!?" The mare looked down at her apples, her bad apples. They were all mushed, rotten and mold looked was growing around the flesh.

The mare groaned. "That's just wonderful... fruit bats..."

---

"Twilight, a-are you sure you're feeling alright? Perhaps, we should come back tomorrow?" Rarity suggested, walking with the lavender unicorn and Rainbow Dash. They were in the streets of Ponyville, late in the morning. The sun brightened the town in a welcomed glow.

"Yes, I'm fine Rare. I just gotta ask the stallion a few questions and that'll be it." The bookmare replied.

"Yeah and he better not try anything while I'm there or there's gonna be some serious trouble." Rainbow Dash added.

"Let's just hope, for our sake and yours, that he doesn't." Rarity relented.

The trio trotted toward the hospital which was in the distance, a few buildings away. Even though she was nervous about doing this, she still had to find out what caused this whole thing in the first place, what exactly caused the stallion to go berserk.

"Have you told Princess Celestia about this?" Rarity inquired.

Twilight sighed. "No, I haven't. I-I was honestly not even thinking about it until you brought it up."

"She probably already knows." Rainbow interjected. "Murder doesn't happen everyday, I'm sure somepony's told her."

"I hope so... 'cause I don't wanna have to tell her myself." Twilight muttered the last part.

They made their way toward Ponyville Hospital. On their way there, they could see the townsfolk. Their troubled looks as they spoke amongst each other. Probably talking about yesterday's incident. Some ponies were even staring, gawking at them as they past by, only looking away when Rainbow or Rarity gazed back.

As Twilight was walking, she spotted a familiar pale pegasus only problem was, was that she looked scared, frightened. She could tell by the trembling and the wide-eyed expression she was occupying on her face. She could also see some bags under the mare's eyes. The pegasus was headed in the same direction they were headed except she didn't notice them. The pegasus was staggering in her walk, her hoofsteps erratic.

There were ponies walking around everywhere but they were practically walking side by side, the only thing that separated them was the random ponies that past in between them. The pegasus still hadn't noticed them even when there weren't ponies weren't cutting in between them.

"Fluttershy!" Twilight called out.

The pegasus let out shriek, startling every other pony around her and ran to a nearby stand to hide under. There was a fuchsia colored mare with an aqua blue mane selling herbs as well as tea and coffee. She saw the pegasus run over the counter next to her and frowned. Rainbow Dash turned to look at the girls. "You know, I thought Fluttershy already got over her fear of being shy."

"I think it's fear of being in social situations, darling." Rarity corrected.

"Well, whatever they're the same thing."

"Actually, it's not but beside the point. What is she doing hiding away like that?" Rarity asked with a frown.

"The usual, Fluttershy being Fluttershy. Her scared-self."

Twilight sighed. "Come on, let's go see if she needs anything." They walked over to the counter, the fuchsia mare looking down and pleading for the frightened pegasus to leave her stall.

The mare noticed them. "O-oh, I'll be right with you in a minute!" She politely told them but Twilight waved her off.

"We don't need anything, w-we're actually here for her." Twilight gestured at Fluttershy.

The fuchsia mare gasp. "Oh, right well please do your thing! B-because with all due respect, I really have to get back to work." She gestured to the line of ponies, impatiently waiting.

Twilight nodded and the mare went back to work. "Fluttershy?" She took a glance over the counter, the pegasus was huddled over, trembling with her hooves covering her eyes.

"Fluttershy!" Rainbow called out louder this time.

The frightened pegasus peeked through her hooves and saw them "O-oh, h-h-hey g-girls." She offered a fake smile.

"Fluttershy, would you please come out of there? You're distracting this poor mare." Rarity said.

The pegasus shook her head quickly. "N-no, I-I-I'm fine h-here, thank you..."

"You can't stay down there Flutters, this is somepony's stall." Rainbow Dash sternly interjected.

"Y-yes, I can."

"Fluttershy?" Twilight started again. "Is there something going on?"

The mare give a simple nod. "No."

"Are you sure?" Even though she already knew and this was kind of the norm with Fluttershy, that was why she hadn't caught on earlier. She was scared, not of public or social interaction but genuinely scared. Dash was right, Fluttershy was fine with public interaction albeit not perfect but she was much more better in comparison to when Twilight first met her. Something must've gotten her spooked...

which means...

"Fluttershy, did... something happen?"

The pegasus looked like a deer caught in headlights and she shook her head; much quicker than before. "Mm-mm."

"Wait, what do you mean? What happened?" Rainbow interrupted but Twilight ignored her.

Something was wrong, she must've seen something. She can't be this spooked of the public anymore. "Are you sure that nothing happened?" Twilight repeated, sternly this time.

"Twilight, I do have to object to this." Rarity interrupted this time. "Why are you questioning her like that?"

"Nope. D-d-didn't see anything..." Fluttershy kept her lips sealed tight.

The unicorn relented and sighed. "Well, you're gonna have to come out of there. Was there something you needed? Maybe, we could go get it for you."

Fluttershy shook her head but slowly pulled herself up from the floor. "N-n-no, I c-can get it myself." The mare flew herself out of the stall and without another word trotted from her friends.

"Perhaps, we'll pay her a visit after we're done. Make sure she's okay." Rarity suggested.

"She's probably just having one of those days, no big deal." Rainbow casually said.

Yeah, maybe..." Twilight trailed off before continuing on to the hospital.

Next Chapter: "It follows me everywhere-" Estimated time remaining: 10 Minutes