Dark Heresy Chronicles:
Operation Equus
Chapter 3
“Chicken Little”
Location Unknown, Unknown World
???? hours (Terran Standard Time)
Running for their lives away from the angry looking stallion was starting to get trickier than the small yellow filly planned.
“You fillies get back here!” cried the angry stallion,
“We might wanna run faster!” cried the orange Pegasus from behind her.
“Well I would if Sweetie Belle wasn’t getting us lost!” she retorted,
“I could have sworn this was the way we came…” the white unicorn said, the Apple Bloom only sighed.
The morning had started out good enough, She and the other cutie mark crusaders had planned another adventure to earn they’re cutie marks, in photography. However it seemed no matter whatever they photographed somepony got upset, this time it was a brown stallion with an hour glass mark leaving some stall made of glass and metal.
As they maneuvered through the crowds and side streets of Ponyville, Apple Bloom had noticed that sweetie belle had somehow gotten them lost in their home town of all places.
“How can ya’ll be lost Sweetie Belle, ya’ll live here for Pete’s sake!”
“Uhh…” replied the little unicorn,
“Don’t answer Sweetie Belle just find us a place to hide!” cried the orange Pegasus at the groups rear.
Apple Bloom noticed Sweetie Belle looking around very lost for some reason, then she pointed to their right, everypony saw it was her sister Rarities shop.
“We can hide there!” she cried,
“Ya’ll think Rarity will mind?” asked Applebloom.
“Who cares?” Scootaloo yelled.
With that Sweetie Belle lead Apple Bloom and Scootaloo into the shop and took cover behind anywhere they could.
Applebloom watched as the stallion walked up to the window, peering inside searching for them.
“Whatcha lookin’ for professor?” a mare asked from outside,
“Just some fillies taking pictures of…” suddenly the stallion’s voice was cut off by the sound of somepony coming down the stairs. Apple Bloom glanced around the counter seeing the stallion quickly leaving the store front.
She sighed and rested up against the counter,
“That was close…”
“What was close?”
Apple Bloom slowly looked up to see a very well groomed white unicorn pony with a purple mane staring down at her,
“Are you girls alright? Why are you all hiding in my boutique?”
“Uhhh…” was all Apple Bloom could manage while she wracked her brain for a good excuse, “We uhh… we was lookin’ fur things ta… take pictures of!” Apple Bloom beamed nervously, telling herself it wasn’t a whole lie, the crusaders had planned on coming here, eventually.
“Well I am sorry girls but I am far too busy right now and have I have no time for games” Rarity explained.
“Oh, ok Rarity… we’ll just come back later” Apple Bloom whined trying to make it sound believable.
*** *** ***
The Cutie Mark Crusaders left Rarity’s shop and headed back to their club house, having escaped and lied to enough ponies for one day.
“Taking pictures is hard work…” Scootaloo sighed,
“Yah, who knew you could get so much exercise being a photogra... photo… taking pictures!” said Sweetie Belle smiled.
Feeling defeated, Apple Bloom plopped down on a pillow, her arms and legs stretched out behind her.
“We’ll never get our cutie marks if ponies are constantly yellin’ at us” Apple Bloom said receiving a nod from the other fillies.
The group sat for awhile pondering what to do next, Scootaloo had begun working on her scooter and Sweetie Belle was humming the CMC theme song while she looked at their map of Ponyville.
Apple Bloom lay there staring at the camera she had borrowed from Twilight, remembering the bookish pony saying there were plenty of things to photograph in Ponyville.
“I’m bored” moaned Scootaloo.
“Me too…” added Sweetie Belle.
Looking around Apple Bloom noticed her friend’s unhappy faces and then felt her stomach growling,
“Let’s get somethin’ tah eat, I can’t think with mah stomach growlin’ like this.
The she saw her friends nod their approval, so they loaded back into the wagon and headed over to Sweet Apple Acres to try to find something to eat.
*** *** ***
Applejack heard the door to the house screech open, she poked her head around the corner to see her little sister and her friends walk towards her in the kitchen.
The little fillies each took a seat around the table, they looked really discouraged so, taking pity on them served them what was supposed to be her lunch, and began asking questions as to how their latest crusade had gone.
“It’s horrible Applejack” cried Scootaloo, “Nopony wants their picture taken, it’s always ‘I’m too busy’ or ‘Hey that’s private!’ or ‘get out of my face!’…” Scootlatoo sighed.
Looking a bit shocked Applejack took a seat at the table looking at the three fillies, “Well shoot girls, ya’ll can’t just be goin around takin any ol’ ponies picture without them wantin’ one, it’s just rude”
“Well then what can we take pictures of sis?” asked Apple Bloom
“Well uhh… uhh…” Applejack said as she seemed to puzzle over the problem. The crusaders watched the older pony purse her lips as she scanned the table as if looking for answer written on it, “Well… ya gotta camera righ’?” she asked,
“Yah?” replied Apple Bloom.
Continuing to think the front door suddenly flew open making a loud creaking sound and she heard somepony rushing inside Applejack watched her older brother Big Macintosh run into the room.
“AJ!” the earth pony called, “they… some critters got into the barn and ate some of the crop!”
“Wha’!?” Applejack exclaimed and immediately took off to the door, Big Mac just behind her.
*** *** ***
Apple Bloom watched the pair depart and looking at her friends, they all nodded and bolted after the ponies.
Catching up to the older ponies, Apple Bloom noticed her older sister gapping at something in the barn, Apple Bloom scooted past them and saw the horrific scene, apple cores and other half eaten plants were strewn all over the floor.
“Dagnabbit!” she hollered, “Big Mac… wha… what happen’d? How’d them varmints get in the barn?”
“I dunno AJ” Big Macintosh responded, “I was pullin’ back this here cart of apples when I saw this”
Examining the scene for a moment, Apple Bloom turned to her friends, they nodded to her apparently having the same idea she did and quickly Apple Bloom snapped a picture, the flash causing Aj and Big Mac to turn around,
“What’d ya do that for?” AJ asked.
The cutie mark crusaders all looked at each other and smiled,
“Because we’re… Cutie Mark Crusader news reporters!” the fillies yelled.
Apple Bloom turned to see Scootaloo getting their wagon towed behind her scooter ready, Sweetie Belle and she both piled into the wagon and Scootaloo took off back towards Ponyville.
Apple Bloom glanced back at her slowly shrinking siblings, AJ and Big Mac staring at them, an eye brow raised and mouths slightly open in confusion.
Location Unknown, Unknown World
????(Afternoon) hours (Terran Standard Time)
From her vantage point in the tree home, the light purple unicorn watched the other citizens of the small town go about their lives happily and content, this brought a smile to her face.
“Hey… hey twilight you home?” came a voice from the trees interior,
“Yah I’m out here Spike!” she yelled, still looking at the peaceful scene.
Hearing someone approach her, Twilight turned to see a small purple dragon with green spikes lining his back,
“Hey Twilight you know what happened to our camera? Rarity said something about Apple Bloom and her friends having it.”
“Yes I lent them the camera for their ‘crusades’” she replied holding up a hoof indicating quotes, Spike shook his head,
“Chances are we’ll never see that camera again…”
“I’m not worried about it, besides we barely use it as it is”
“What’s got you in such a good mood” he asked, raising an eyebrow,
“I don’t know… just… just seeing such a peaceful scene just… I don’t know it’s just nice to see.”
“Hmm… well it’s not like Ponyville is ever anything but peaceful ya know” Spike explained,
“I know but it’s still nice to see” she said as she walked back inside the tree library.
“So what’s on the schedule today number one assistant?” Twilight said looking around and walking over to her pet owl who was asleep on his pedestal, smiling at the fluffy bird and nuzzling him gently so as not to disturb him.
Clearing his voice with a cough and grabbing a scroll from behind his back, Spike started listing the day’s duties,
“We have to visit the Sugar Cube Corner for the cupcakes you were bringing tonight, visit the writing supplies store for more quills and ink… uhh… oh yah and pick up your telescope from the repair shop… sorry about that again” spike said blushing a bit, Twilight simply smiled at her friend, remembering the whole incident of dropping it out the window, somehow.
“It’s no problem Spike; at least it’ll be ready for the star gazing tonight”
“Yah… about that. Did you ever send out those invitations?”
“Of course I did… right?” Twilight’s eyes suddenly grew and she raced over to the desk and began hurling papers and books away to find underneath a large book were her invitations for tonight,
“Oh nononononono! I forgot to mail them out yesterday!” Twilight said frantically looking around for some way to fix this, “Quick spike, what time is it?”
“Um… like one something. Why?”
Quickly Twilight grabbed the invitations in her mouth and raced to the door, nearly knocking Spike down as she opened the door with her magic and saw just the pony she needed.
“Hey Ditzy!” Twilight called out to the gray colored mail Pegasus,
The mail pony looked at her and smiled, her cocked eyes staring at her and the sky,
“Could you to deliver these right away? They’re for a get together I’m having tonight”
“Oh… ok, what’s going on Ms. Sparkle?”
She didn’t usually speak to the mail pony, a friendly nod and smile every now and again but she knew her name only by reputation alone, she figured Ditzy knew her the same way.
“Oh just a star gazing event tonight. nothing special, but I was hoping to send those invitations out yesterday, do you think you could help me out?”
Wrinkling her nose for a second thinking hard the grey pony smiled and accepted the task, “Hey Ms. Sparkle…”
“Oh please… cause me Twilight, Ditzy.”
“Alright… Twilight, I can deliver those invitations for you, no problem” Ditzy said,
“Thank you Ditzy” Twilight finished and began trotting off,
“Hey Ms. Sparkle er... Twilight?”
“Huh?” the light purple unicorn responded, “What’s up?”
“Could… Could we join you all tonight?”
“Sure… Whose we?”
The mail pony looked really nervous for some reason; Twilight was hoping she didn’t look angry,
“Me and my daughter, Dinky. We don’t get out much and I’m always looking for a reason.” She said, blushing a little,
Twilight giggled which caused the mail pony to blush more, “Yes you may Ditzy, you were nice enough to take my invitations, we’ll be meeting on the big hill north of town” Twilight finished with a smile.
“Alright. Thanks Twilight!” Ditzy said with a smile, “Alright back to work.” giving the lavender pony a salute and then bolted off to continue her work.
Entering the library again Twilight saw spike pacing around the room, “Alright Spike, lets finish those chores and get ready for tonight. We have more guests coming.” Twilight said already heading out the door,
“Wait Twilight!” he said, racing to catch up.
Location Unknown, Unknown World
????(Nightfall) hours (Terran Standard Time)
As she approached with her wagon and Spike in toe and Owlowiscious on her back. Twilight saw her friends had gotten her invitations. Spike and she had spent the entire day getting things ready, getting the telescope and other things and she even rented a few binoculars harnesses for everyone to use.
“Good evening Twilight” said Rarity sitting with Sweetie belle,
“It’s ah real nice night tonight Twi’. Sure glad you thought of this, especially after how great the last time we did this turned out.” Applejack said with a nod, Apple Bloom standing right beside her smiled at Twilight.
“Hey Twilight!” came a voice from just down the hill, all the ponies present looking at the interloper, “Whose that?” Applejack asked pointing with a hoof to the random mare,
“Oh it’s…” Twilight started,
“That’s Ditzy, she’s a bit of a feather brain but she’s a nice pony” Rainbow Dash interrupted, “I didn’t know she had a kid? Why’s she here?”
“Well I-I invited her. She was nice enough to deliver my invitations to you all so I thought if she wanted too she could come.”
All the ponies nodded, not ones to turn a pony away just because they didn’t know her. Ditzy finally made it up the hill, a basket in her mouth and a small purple unicorn filly on her back, Twilight raised an eyebrow at where a Pegasus would get a unicorn daughter but stopped herself before over analyzing the situation.
“He-Hey ladies. I brought muffins” she said, digging at the ground shyly; something Fluttershy had a tendency to do when she was nervous.
“Oh thanks Ditzy. And this must be…” Twilight asked,
“I’m Dinky!” the lavender filly blurted out, everyone started giggling at the sudden outburst,
“Welcome Ditzy, Dink, lemme be the second here to thank ya’ll for joinin’ us” Applejack smiled.
“Yes thank you for coming” Fluttershy murmured with a smile, the other ponies followed suite welcoming the grey mare and her filly.
Twilight was so happy to see everypony be so nice to Ditzy. After the greetings, Spike and Owlowiscious had set up the telescope and distributed the binoculars to everypony. The fillies took turns using the telescope and the older ponies sat around talking and gazing up at the heavens.
“Where’s Scootaloo, Applebloom?” Twilight asked, confused as to see they were a crusader short.
“She couldn’t come, something having to do with our picture takin’” Applebloom said rolling her eyes, Twilight raised an eyebrow at the little filly,
“Did you get any good pictures?” Twilight asked,
“Kind of… we’re hopin’ tomorrow to get better ones!”
“What of…” stopping herself when Applejack began motioning with her hoof across her throat to keep quiet,
“Oh, I mean… that’s great girls.” Twilight beamed nervously, Apple Bloom gave her a confused look and then turned back to Sweetie belle who had started conversing with Dinky.
Pinkie pie had raided the wagon for the cup cakes, saying something about eating the ones she was going to bring. Rainbow was using her tortoise as a head rest while she lay on the ground looking at the sky, the other ponies were in small groups discussing the day’s matters, and Ditzy was talking with Fluttershy.
With Spike resting at her side and Owlowiscious on her back, Twilight happily sat just looking up at the night sky.
“Twitchy Twitcha” Pinkie Pie yelped.
Twilight glanced over at the pink pony and saw her tail begin to frantically shake, the whole group jumped at the outburst, knowing Pinkie Pie’s pinkie sense were not to be taken lightly, and began looking around for the imminent falling object.
“Hey look, shooting stars!” cried Rainbow Dash, Twilight breathed a sigh of relief that it was nothing dangerous, but a sudden realization hit her.
“What shooting stars? There isn’t supposed to be any…” Twilight started, but stopped herself when she noticed where Rainbow Dash was pointing.
In the distance red flashes of light began shooting across the sky.
“Wow that’s not somthin’ ya see everyday girls” Applejack said.
Twilight was very confused, she hadn’t read anywhere about there being a meteor shower anytime soon.
Moving towards the now abandoned telescope she tried getting a closer look,
“Is-Is something wrong twilight?” Fluttershy asked,
“I’m… I’m just looking, that’s all.” Twilight replied. Looking at the objects, Twilight saw they were large shapes with a fiery tail, not like any meteors she had ever seen.
“This is awesome Twilight. There’s so many! Scootaloo is going to be so mad she missed this.” Rainbow announced.
Twilight continued looking through the telescope trying to get a better image; she began to use her magic to adjust the end of the telescope.
Suddenly Twilight’s vision began to flicker, she reeled back, shaking her head and blinking her eyes frantically, but nothing worked.
She began to see flashes of something, images of a person she thought, but they were too quick and sporadic to actually make out anything coherent.
“Twilight, are you ok?” Fluttershy asked.
Twilight began to lose her footing; the images began flashing quicker, and began becoming much clearer. Twilight started groaning and fell on her rump as she grabbed at her head, trying to end the spell.
“Twilight, you alright? You’re getting all sweaty.” Rainbow asked,
Ditzy began moving to the purple unicorn but stopped when she began seeing a blue and green aura begin to seep from her glowing horn.
“Uhh, is it supposed to do that?” Ditzy asked, slightly afraid and worrying for the unicorn that looked weaker by the second.
“Twi’. Twi’!” yelled Applejack as she raced to Twilights side, her eyes forced shut by something. Twilight was scared, she had no idea what was wrong with her but she couldn’t stop the magical energy.
She clamped her eyes shut as images began to flood into her mind and finally overtaking her vision.
*** *** ***
Applejack looked around at the other ponies; they were all just as shocked at the scene as she was.
“Rarity help her!” she asked,
“I… I don’t know what to do Applejack. I have never seen Twilight so focused on a spell before” Rarity said looking at Twilight’s face, sweat forming on the poor unicorns brow and her eyes clamped shut in concentration.
Applejack watched Spike and the fillies begin to back away from Twilight, everypony looking real worried about her, more so when Twilight’s horn began to ooze a green and blue aura, the magical energy slowly spilling onto the ground.
Looking on with confusion and worry, Applejack was completely lost on what to do, Twilight began to groan louder, her hooves jabbing at the sides of her head,
“Make it stop!” Twilight cried, tears running down her cheeks as gritted her teeth.
“Alri-Alright Twi. Just-just hold on!” Applejack said trying to reassure her friend, but she knew nothing about how unicorn magic worked.
“Somepony help her” Fluttershy bleated.
Applejack stared at her friend and when she tried to approach her, she could swear the grass was, hissing at her, she backed away and glared at the patch of earth, seeing the plants being too slowly move towards Twilight.
“Twitchy twitcha-twitcha twich!”
Hearing this Applejack turned to Pinkie Pie, the pink pony’s tail suddenly started twitching much more frantically,
Applejack turned skyward and saw what had been few were now dozens of shooting stars, all headed towards the skyline and disappearing at the horizon.
“What’s happening guys?!” Dash said, grabbing her tortoise, Tank, and backed away from the meteors direction.
Turning back to the scene Applejack saw the weird oozing magic had begun changing the ground from its normal green color to a vast array of weird and bizarre colors, even the plants began to change, a patch of dandelions next to Twilight suddenly began to grow spikes where their normal soft seeds would be; everypony stepped away from the scene terrified.
“It stopped! My tail stopped twitching!” Pinkie pie exclaimed gleefully, Applejack looked to see her pink friend grabbing her tail for comfort.
“Hey… hey! They stopped!” Dash cried, Applejack turned to Rainbow and saw her pointing a hoof off to the distance, the sky was empty again.
Seeing the sky clear Applejack turned to Twilight who was still on the ground, but the magic was beginning from Twilights horn began to recede, the ground returning to normal. Applejack ran to her friend’s side immediately to offer aid.
After a few minutes she saw the unicorn’s eyes open, everypony letting out a sigh of relief that Twilight was alright.
“Wha… What happened? “Twilight muttered,
“Well first you were all argh! And then you were all glowly and your horn changed the dirt and the flowers went hisss! And then my Tail twitched and everypony was like oh no!” Pinkie pie blurted out, playing out the whole scene with her hooves.
“Wha... what do you mean? All I remember doing was adjusting the telescope and…” but as Twilight spoke she began shifting her eyes from pony to pony, Applejack saw how confused Twilight looked.
“Twi… you… how can ya’ll not remember what the hay happened? Ya’ll were talkin’ to us and everything.” Applejack exclaimed,
“Huh?”
“Twilight dear, Are you alright? Did you lose control of your magic?” Rarity asked, holding Sweetie Belle close.
Twilight looked around and then looked down at the ground; she sprang to her hooves and looked at the ground seeing a strange symbol.
Looking at the symbol Applejack could see a dot had formed around where Twilight had sat, a long wavy tail formed at the top and a smaller one on the opposite side, both forming a sort of crescent moon.
“Wha…” Twilight suddenly started looking at the ground and then turned away towards town, “I have to go…” Twilight said as she raced off towards Ponyville, Spike and Owlowiscious frantically picking up their supplies and heading after her.
Apple Bloom pushed through the group of ponies and snapped a picture of the symbol; Applejack didn’t stop her, too worried about Twilight to care.
“What do ya think it means Applejack?” Apple Bloom said turning and looking up at her.
“I dunno Apple Bloom, but somethin’ tells me ain’t nothing good gonna come of it.”
*** *** ***
Twilight had raced home as fast as she and immediately set Owlowiscious to work unloading their things and Spike prepared to write a letter,
“Dear princess Celestia, I am having Spike write to you now over a very grave and serious matter. Tonight I witnessed a random meteor shower; however the objects in the sky were not Meteorites. Also it seems when I attempted to use my magic during this event I became...”
Twilight stopped for a second thinking of how to describe the scenario, suddenly stomping her hoof to the ground and continuing,
“I became incapacitated, and formed a strange symbol on the ground with strange magic. When the event ended I did not recall any of it prior to using a simple spell. I am scared and in need of guidance. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.” She finished and immediately had Spike seal the letter and in a green burst of fire send the message on its way.
Twilight didn’t have to wait long for the baby dragon to start coughing and belch a green flame, the flames receding to reveal a regal scroll with a response from Princess Celestia and began to read it aloud.
“My Dearest, most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. After reading your letter I am truly baffled by the event and I am very glad to hear you are well after the fact. I have a Carriage coming for you in the morning Twilight, I want you to get a good night’s rest and tomorrow we will figure this out together. Luna has shown interest in the event and has said she will aid in any way she can. Please do not worry yourself Twilight, we will figure this out. Your friend, Princess Celestia.” Spike finished reading aloud.
Twilight nodded and understood the princesses would help her get to the bottom of this.
“Alright Spike, let’s… let’s try to get some sleep. Tomorrow we’re going to Canterlot to solve this” Twilight explained, letting out a small yawn and feeling sleep probably wasn’t a terrible idea.
Twilight waved goodnight to Spike and hobbled off to her bed up stairs, Owlowiscious fluttering past her to take his spot near Twilights desk.
*** *** ***
As the night grew later and all the lights of the quiet equine settlement had long since been extinguished for the evening, Twilight lay in her bed tossing and turning, her eyes squeezed shut and her face contorted in pain.
Twilight found that a pleasant night filled with dreams was too much to ask for.
Deep within her mind, nightmares and strange images appeared to her, one scene though stood out in particular.
Twilight glanced down to see that her body was smaller than she remembered; she figured she was no more than a filly again.
Afraid and confused, Twilight frantically searched her surroundings for any glimmer of hope, anything she could use to keep back the encroaching darkness.
As Twilight watched the boundary of her small circle of light slowly grow smaller, Twilight noticed a familiar object just on the out skirts, still within the light.
Twilight raced for the object, her breathing heavy and frantic as she saw the boarder of the circle slowly moving towards the object, she worried she would be too late.
Within feet of her prize, Twilight leapt at the object, snatching it up just as the circle enveloped the spot.
Backing towards the middle, Twilight noticed the circle closing in on her with greater speed.
Twilight found the brightest spot in the lights center and nuzzled her Smarty pants doll, the old doll still just as new as it had been as a child.
But as she watched the circle move closer, Twilight saw Smarty pants slowly begin to fall apart, her mouth fell open in horror as she scrambled to hold the stuffing inside the poor doll.
Twilight grabbed the now withering doll in a tight embrace and watched as the darkness was now merely inches away, causing her to closer her eyes and hold onto her doll tighter.
Moments passed and Twilight could still make out the faint traces of light, she opened her eyes, seeing that Smarty pants was still together, but barely, a single thread held the shambling toy together.
A cold shiver went down Twilight’s spine, her eyes growing wide and tears beginning to develop as she slowly began to turn away from smarty pants unwillingly, her gaze finally stopping as she was forced to look into the dark abyss.
Twilight fell as she heard footsteps approaching her, but none like she had ever heard before.
A tall figure slowly began advancing towards her, its outline faintly distinguishable from the black surrounding it.
Against her will her head slowly raised up towards the top of the figures outline as it stepped closer towards the light, its features still cloaked by the darkness but Twilight felt sure she didn’t need to see the rest of the creature as a pair of glowing red eyes stared at her.
Twilight was petrified, her body unable to move even if she wanted to. She tried calling out, but only a small whimper escaped her lips.
The creature leaned in towards her, its face concealed by a red hood.
Twilight wished the nightmare would end as she willed with everything she had to close her eyes but to no avail and her struggling only causing the figure to smile at her, its mouth filled with razor sharp fangs and its tongue similar to a dragon.
Cowering beneath it's gaze, Twilight paused for a moment, seeing that the creature had stopped approaching her she looked up to see it throw back it's head and begin to laugh manically.
Suddenly remembering, Twilight glanced down to see the darkness still slowly advancing towards her again.
Quickly she looked down at smarty pants as the the final string began to slowly fray.
Twilight turned back to see hundreds of eyes staring at her now, all different shapes and sizes but all staring at her, they looked like a dragons eye but the pupils were far smaller and much more alien.
Twilight curled up as tight as she could grabbing Smarty pants close and using the doll’s remains to shield her from the sea of eyes, but no matter what she tried, nothing could shut out the laughter.