Twilight Sparkle was falling. Falling for ages. Centuries. Or was it hours? Minutes? The lavender mare couldn’t quite tell at the moment, luckily, she finally landed in a seemingly endless, white abyss; bewildered and slightly aching.
“Strange,” Came a deep, Trottingham accent from behind her, “You weren't due for another ten years… The balance must be out of whack again.” A sigh of frustration followed. Twilight shakily got to her hooves, unsure of the solid, yet transparent substance she was standing upon. Her eyes were blurry and hazed, further confusing her cloudy mind. She slowly turned to see a black stallion covered in robes; he was large and intimidating as well, prompting her to step back once. His back was turned and he himself appeared to be fiddling with some strange, round sphere filled with smoke. Twilight closed her eyes and shook her head, attempting to rid her brain of the fog that plagued it. She opened her violet eyes to see the terrifying looking stallion from before, but he was turned around now, with a long black horn protruding from his forehead. He had a black face, but it was accented with white splotches that eerily formed a skull. Not only did this unsettle Twilight, it confused her even more as she looked for a way out of the endless plane.
“That’s not going to help, bloody mortals. All the same, you lot.” The stallion spoke in disgust, “Here.” He said and levitated a small vial of swirling, white liquid to the mare. She looked at it with a raised eyebrow, then glanced into the stallions eyes. She instantly felt a warm feeling, enough to fill a thousand hearts with joy. She was compelled to down the poultice as quickly as possible, and she did exactly that, not missing a drop as she chugged the liquid. Yet, as soon as it hit her tongue, her very tastebuds recoiled and she gagged, but despite her disgust, she could not stop drinking the foul liquid. When she finished the potion off, she tossed the vial to the side and gagged again, showing her clear distaste for the tonic. Then, she stumbled, a rush of blood making her lightheaded and causing her ears to ring. But when the blood drained, it seemed to have washed her mind clean of its haze, allowing rational thought to process.
“W-Where am I?” The mare asked, confusion masked by piqued curiosity. The strange stallion chuckled lightly, irritating the mare.
“You don’t know?” He asked, earning an annoyed shake of the head from Twilight. He sighed and threw his head back, letting a mane that started as deep read, but then got brighter as it reached down to the flayed tips that ended in black, flowing around as he shook his head and landing in a handsome part over his horn, which was currently lit with black magic. “I’ll help you delve into your memories-”
“No need.” Twilight interrupted, “I’ve got my own magic.” She added, smirking at the fact that she had one up on him. But he only chuckled, causing even more irritation.
“Feel free to try, but you’ll find that you won’t get very far.” The stallion said. Twilight glared at him and nodded, begging to reach down into her core where her vibrant magic resided, only to find it hollow. Where there was once a shining ball of tamed, purple energy, now there was nothing. The mare frowned lightly and tried again, still not understanding the gravity of her current situation. She tried three more times before collapsing.
“See?” The stallion commented smugly.
“What did you do to me?” She gasped, terrified that the mystery stallion had sapped her magic.
“My job.” He said, confusing Twilight even more.
“What do you mean?!” She shouted in exasperation, causing him to sigh in annoyance.
“You know, for Celestia’s prized student and one of the brightest minds in Equestria, you’re pretty fucking dense.” He shook his head. Twilight was normally a calm soul. Intraverted and timid, silent and antisocial. Typically avoiding conflict and keeping to herself, but right at that moment, she was beyond angry. She had blacked out, then woke up in some random place with some random stallion who might or might not have taken advantage of her, and now on top of that he was insulting her intellect and ability! Who does he think he is?!
“Now you listen here-” The mare was cut off as a black energy fired from the stallions horn and hit her between the eyes. It seemed to stay there but a moment, before seeping into her skull. It put her mind at ease, calming the enraged bookworm to rational levels.
“What did you do to me?” She asked evenly.
“You ponies are so damn inquisitive, aren’t ya? I calmed you down. Now, if you would please, allow me to perform my memory spell.” The stallion said with annoyance.
“Why not just tell me?”
“That’s not my job. My job is to show you.” Twilight sighed in defeat and stepped forward, lowering her head slightly.
“Fine. Just… Don’t try anything.” She warned, flashing the stallion a glare. He deadpanned to her face and raised an eyebrow.
“Even if I wanted to, sweetcheeks, I couldn’t. I’m rather ill-equipped.” He said flatly, then turned and raised his leg. It revealed where the sheath would be if it existed.
“So I’m in a Cloplic Church? It would explain you being a unic…” The mare thought aloud.
“I’m not a fucking unic, you purple twat!” He snapped, “And we are definitely not in any Cloplic establishment. Do you see a little Timmy glued to anypony’s crotch around here?”
“Alright, alright. Can you just do your job already? I want to go home.” She asked, ending on a, to the stallion, pathetic note.
“You won't be able to go home after this, not entirely anyway.” He said, lowering his horn to hers.
“Wha-” She was cut off by a bright light flooding her brain. Images began to swirl around her chaotically, all of which were her memories. From birth to present, her entire life was splayed out before her. She sat on her haunches in awe, taking in all of it as her life literally flashed before her eyes. The lavender mare reached out, coming close, but never being able to actually touch the frames as they raced by. Finally, the memories seemed to slow as they neared their end, which contained her most recent memories. She was so absorbed in the senses that only her subconscious had remembered, that she did not realize the stallion had appeared behind her. He said nothing, just standing as a silent vigil while Twilight was sucked into her own memories. For Twilight, it became lifelike at her last memory. As she came across it, she stared into the image of her and her friends laughing. She could hear all of them laughing, see the bustling street of rush hour Ponyville, smell the dust in the air, feel the sharp pain in her abdomen and the unwanted pleasure in her nethers, and she could taste the copper of blood. All of these senses flashed through the mare before she was thrown into the memory.
“Uh, Twi? Equis to egghead, ya there?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Huh? Oh sorry,” Twilight said, shaking her head as she registered the memory subconsciously, What’s going on? She tried to ask, but found her lips incapable of the movement.“I must have zoned out for a moment.” She nervously chuckled, inwardly frowning at her will being thwarted by her subliminal memory. At least her confusion garnered a few giggles from her friends.
“Ah knew ya liked stars, Twi, but jeez.” Applejack joked, getting even more laughs, some even from Twilight herself, much to her own surprise.
“Now, now girls. Let’s not forget why we came.” Rarity’s regal voice said, calming the other girls from their fits of giggles.
“Rightio, to the candy stand I go!” Pinkie exclaimed as she bolted through the crowd of ponies faster than what should be possible. Rarity sighed and began walking to the opposite side of the market.
“If you should need me, I will be near the Exotic Threads and Fine Jewelries. Ta-ta, darlings.” She said, not stopping to look back as she pranced through the crowd.
“Ah reckon Ah outta be gettin’ off ta tha Apple’s sellin’ stand. See ya later, girls.” AJ said as she trotted to the East.
“Yeahhhh, heh heh…” Rainbow nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck. “DarringDooautographsigninggottagobye!” She quickly zipped off, causing the lavender mare to chuckle, simply going along with the memory at this point.
“And I better get to Quills and Sofa, you coming Fluttershy?” She found herself asking.
“Um… Actually, I need to get food for my animals… I’m sorry, Twilight. I’ll make it up to you, if that’s okay with you.” The buttery Pegasus said quietly, hoping not to disappoint her friend. Twilight smiled at her friends stereotypical behaviour and nodded lightly.
“Oh thank you!” Fluttershy exclaimed and bolted to the food market, leaving the other mare by herself in the crowd of ponies. As she weaved her way through them, she found them lessening and lessening, until she wound up where there were no ponies. As it turns out, she was also on the other side of town where Quills and Sofa was not.
“Ugh, of course I’d make the wrong turn.” She groaned and walked over to a nearby alleyway. She breathed a small sigh of relief to be away from the crowd, though. She had always hated crowds, mainly due to her claustrophobia. She was very happy to finally be able to breathe, instead of being choked by a sea of ponies. Ponyville may look small and rural, but in actuality, there are quite a few ponies living in the town. But most stay inside, being too terrified to come outside unless they really needed something due to Ponyville’s recent dangerous events that the town has become prone to.
She leaned against the cool brick of the more modern style house, calming from her near panic attack. Suddenly, a hoof coated in black gunk slammed against her horn. She cried out in pain and tried to reach within herself for magical defense, only to find her magic locked in dripping chains of the black gunk. She had nearly no time to think as the stallion punched her in the throat, not allowing her to scream at the moment. The offender then slapped her across the face and began to drag her down the dark alley by her mane. She tried to scream again, but her vocal cords were still too injured to allow noise of any kind. He finally reached a wall and threw her against it, causing her to lose her breath.
“Well, well. If it isn’t the ‘star student’ troublemaker.” A smooth voice sneered.
“P-Please…” Twilight begged, fear invading her raspy voice that she had finally found under the fear of dying..
“Just shut up and give me all your damn bits!” He scoffed. Twilight saw a brief flash of light illuminate her assailant. He was a dusty brown Earth Pony with a rather kempt appearance His trimmed mane accented his face handsomely, and overall, his appearance didn’t scream ‘Dark alley thief’ pony, which surprised Twilight greatly. Except for the malicious grin he was sporting. He grabbed her mane and slammed her against the wall again, getting a whine of pain in response. He pressed the tip of something hard and sharp against her abdomen, sending terrifyingly cold chills throughout her body. Her eyes widened as she finally realized what was going on and she began to struggle, shifting and twisting against his grip as the pure fear fueled her movements. Despite all of that, she could not escape the stallions iron grip.
"I-I don't have any bits! Please don't kill me!" She exclaimed, terrified for her life.
"You don't have any bits? Too bad you've already seen my face." The stallion said, then he shot his hoof forward, imbedding the knife into her organs and twisting violently. The resulting screech was so high pitched that one who did not know better would mistake it for a fillies cry of play. But five ponies did know better. They knew the scream of their friend, right?
"Why are you doing this..." She asked, coughing up a small bit of blood. Her assailant smiled sadistically, throwing his head back with an evil laugh.
"Because, I can. Besides, your death will bring in a hefty amount of bits from a few rather... Corrupted politicians. After all, who wants Celestia's favorite little pony getting some royal position? That would be terrifying for all of us." He remarked, turning and leaping over the wall.
“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash’s worried voice came from her side. A rainbow blur sped down the alley, coming to a stop over the bookworm.
“Hang on, we’ll get you to a hospital!” Rainbow exclaimed as her other friends ran over with equal looks of worry. All except for Applejack, who’s jaw was set as tears ran down her face.
“Dash… Her main artery has been cut… There’s nothing we can do.” Applejack choked as the blood pooled around them.
“But… But we were suppose to have that party…” Pinkie said, getting sad for but a moment before she changed back to her normal self, “It’s okay! We’ll do it when you get back.”
“Darling… There has to be something we can do…” Rarity said, stamping her hoof futilely for a lost emphasis. Fluttershy remained silent, just completely shocked at the event unfolding before her eyes. Twilight was barely coherent at this point, and the blood draining from her body was not helping. She decided it was time for some her final words. Interestingly, her memory did not. She struggled for a moment with it, fighting for dominance. Eventually, she won out.
“Girls…” She rasped, gathering their attention quickly.
“What is it, Twi? Who did this ta ya?” Applejack asked.
“Girls… My time is almost up. I… I hate to say it… But it’s true,” She coughed up a little blood. “I love you all, and I wouldn’t be the pony I was without you… I have some much to say, but I find this hard to fight… He… He was… Brown…” She said her final words, fading away as her friends bowed their heads in respect while staying silent through her departure.
“Ah will find him, and make him pay.” Applejack said, being the last words Twilight heard before she was slammed back into her own body.
“Wha-What? I-I’m alive?” She asked, patting herself down. The stallion behind her facehoofed, groaning.
“No, you dense little wanker!” He shouted at her incompetence.
“Then what am I?”
“Dead!”