The Whooves Collection: Episode 2
Vengeful Hate
Prologue
Gaia; Equestria; Ponyville; Behind the Town Hall; 1026 C.E.
The cloaked figure watched as the crowds of ponies wandered around the town, their enthusiasm for Nightmare Night growing with every passing minute. The mysterious figure groaned. He hated all of this joy, this happiness, this... friendship. It was simply too much for him to bear. A spiking pain ran down his spine and he grunted, shivering in the aftershock of the chill. This land was too happy, he needed some form of anger, now. He and his master were ever so hungry.
Suddenly, a pair of pegasi raced past him, just above his head, and landed in a field a few yards away. One of them, a mare, turned to the other and complained, "Why can't you just leave me alone?!"
"I enjoy annoying you," the second replied happily, this one had the voice of a stallion.
The figure watched as the pair argue, and he licked his lips silently. They would make a lovely appetizer for he and his master. He approached the two of them slowly and silently, his cloak helping him to blend in with the surroundings. The pegasi were too preoccupied with their conversation to hear the footsteps approaching.
"Excuse me," a proper voice sounded.
The pegasi jumped and turned towards the cloaked figure that had seemed to appear out of nowhere just that moment.
"Would you be so kind as to direct me to the nearest restaurant?" the figure asked, "Or anywhere that I can get some... sustenance."
The first pegasi mare, dressed as a dragon, had a yellow coat and a pink mane, "Yeah, there's Sugarcube Corner. It's just past the Library and across from the town well. Do you even live here?" she asked.
"Thank you. Oh, and no, I don't. I'm... visiting a friend in town."
"Fair enough." The two pegasi then continued their feud, and they didn't notice the figure remain standing where he was. He slowly came closer to them and bared his teeth.
Some screaming could be heard echoing throughout the town, but screams were common during Nightmare Night, and so nopony else gave it a second thought.
Time Vortex; TARDIS; Control Room
VVRROOMMP! VVRROOMMP! VVRROOMMP!
Twilight stood around the TARDIS controls and watched as the Doctor worked under the grating. The ship had malfunctioned mid-flight and had left the pair suspended in space for the past few hours. The Doctor had his sonic screwdriver clenched between his teeth and was using it to repair some damaged wiring.
"When you said 'time machine,' I figured that you wouldn't be having any engine trouble," Twilight commented.
"Don't... ungh... worry, Miss... hmph... Sparkle. I'll... have us out of this... hungh... in no time." The Doctor briefly looked at Twilight, "Still, you don't hear me talking about how your dimension is affecting the temporal drive on the TARDIS." He plugged in two large cables and the space shook, suddenly. "Ha ha!" he cheered, "We're moving!"
The TARDIS shuddered for a few more moments and ceased making its VVRROOMMP! sound as it came to a halt.
"Where are we now?!" Twilight asked, barely containing her excitement.
The Doctor smiled, knowing exactly what she was thinking. "Let's see!" The Doctor trotted down to the doors, threw them open, and looked around. He turned around, frowning, "Well I can't tell where we are."
"I was thinking when."
"No, I mean I can't tell where we are because it's dark out here."
Twilight gave him a 'are you serious' look and shook her head. Instantly, she produced a small illumination spell, a purple glow emitting from her horn. "It's a good thing I'm here," Twilight said as she stepped past the Doctor.
Twilight and The Doctor left the TARDIS and began walking. They reached a small hill, and when they were over, Twilight extinguished the light because she didn't need it anymore. Spread below them... was Ponyville. Twilight was strangely confused, and at the same time, somewhat happy. This place was her home, and it didn't matter which day in whichever year. It was always home. "Doctor?" Twilight asked without taking her eyes off the small town, "What year is it?"
The Doctor checked the watch, which Twilight had just noticed, he was wearing around his left foreleg. "It's... 1026 C.E., whatever that means, the thirty-first of October, 6:59 P.M. And... there's light showers scheduled for 10:27 P.M., Central Equestrian Time."
"You get all that from a watch."
"Yes. Is it odd?"
Twilight smiled and nodded, "A little."
"Perfect!"
Twilight laughed and started to make her way down the hill. The Doctor chased after her in a full gallop. "Wait for me!" he called. Twilight turned her head to laugh but, otherwise, she didn't stop.
They were halfway to the town and Twilight had distanced herself from the Doctor fairly well. Looking back, she could still see him, his silhouette dimly visible from the lights of the small town. She turned back and stopped before she could trip over two large objects lying in front of her.
The Doctor caught up to her and asked, "Why did you stop?"
"I saw these just sitting here," Twilight pointed to the two objects on the ground. It was hard to make out any distinguishing features because of the semi-darkness, so she fired up her illumination spell, yet again. The Doctor and Twilight both froze when the objects were illuminated.
Lying in the scorched grass, were two colorless, scarred, and burned pegasus ponies, their expressions caught mid-scream.