The Observers
Twilight wandered down from her bedroom for breakfast. Sleepily she popped some toast under the grill and walked straight into an Observer that was standing in front of her fridge.
The Observer stumbled back at the impact making the weird low pitched sounds that they communicated to each other with. Twilight looked up at the creature; it was typical looking for their kind; tall, white cloaked and with features that she’d never been quite able to focus on.
“Sorry can you step back from my fridge? I kinda’ want some butter.” Twilight asked the confused Observer.
“See me?” it asked moving out the way.
“I’ve always been able to see you guys. What are you doing in my Kitchen?”
“Nothing. Just…”
“Observing? Silly question.”
“Sorry.”
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Breakfast finished, Twilight set off for Sugarcube Corner. Pinkie wanted her help on some new cake recipe that involved teleporting the ingredients into the same space to mix them perfectly. Twilight had a suspicion it was going to result in a massive cake mix detonation but was willing to give it a shot.
As she trotted down the road she noticed for once; the number of Observers scattered around town. Two appeared to be taking particular interest in walking between shops, following an exhausted looking Fluttershy. She didn’t usually bother to think about what the observers were up too but after the fridge incident she was concern that Fluttershy kept looking over her shoulder at where the Observers were standing.
“Hi Flutters!” Twilight smiled trotting up to her friend, “Are you ok? You look a little tired.”
“Good morning Twilight. Guess I’m a little tired; I just couldn’t sleep last night. I just couldn’t shake the feeling I was being watched!”
“Being watched? How strange!” Twilight said, shooting a look at the two impassive Observers. “I was on my way to Pinkie’s house; maybe you should come along and lie down on her sofa for half an hour.”
“Yeah…..” Fluttershy yawned suddenly stumbling.
The two continued on with one of Fluttershy’s wings over Twilight’s back as support. Twilight looked back at the Observers to see that a third had joined the, except this one’s cloak was pure black instead of white.
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Twilight had seen the Observers for as literally as long as she could remember. When she had been younger she’d initially paid them no heed, after all no-one else did. However one day she’d asked her Brother about the white cloaked things that were everywhere. Shining Armour had laughed it off with a comment about her strange looking imaginary friends. Similarly Cadence had thought she was playing some kind of game. Realising that no-one else could see the white cloaked creatures Twilight had gotten very scared, her parents were anguished she suddenly wouldn’t leave her room, not even for food or school.
Eventually the situation came to a head when one appeared in her room late at night. After unsuccessfully trying to throw several objects at the white cloaked figure Twilight realized that it wasn’t actually interested in her. It was looking at several crayon drawings on her desk.
“Who…….Who are you?” Twilight squeaked, shuffling up behind the towering creature “What do you want?
The creature had been very surprised that Twilight had spoken to her. Smiling the creature had sat on the floor and started talking gently. Most of the speech was an unintelligible garble but the word “Observer” had come through, the name sticking whether that was their true name or not.
It took a little while but eventually the Observer had managed to explain that his kind were only interested in observing the lives of the ponies, and posed no threat to anyone as they didn’t like to interfere. Twilight looked into its kindly face and decided it was telling the truth. Whatever the Observers were they were simply investigating the lives of the ponies; just like how naturalists studied animals in their natural habitats. She had no idea why she could see them when other couldn’t but suddenly it seemed less important.
She never spoke of mysterious white cloaked figures again, much to the relief of her parents, and over time she barely noticed them anymore. She could still see them, but they were just another constant of life; like the sky being blue or she had a purple coat.
Over the years she had seen one or two observers who had had coloured cloaks, but before they had always been soft pastel shades. Never had she seen an Observer who wore black, or looked who quite so ominous.
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Arriving at Sugercube corner they went upstairs to Pinkie Pie’s flat. After dropping Fluttershy in a heap on a sofa, Twilight trotted through to the kitchenette to see pinkie looking at a recipe book.
“Hi Pinkie!” Twilight smiled bouncing over to her, “Flutters is sleeping on your sofa by the way, she’s really tired. I didn’t think it be a problem so…..”
Twilight stopped. Fluttershy hadn’t moved an inch since Twilight had come in. Pinkie never stood still especially when there were cakes to be made or friends were around.
“Pinkie?” Twilight leaned round and waved a hoof in front of Pinkies face. There was no reaction. In a flurry of panic Twilight jabbed a hoof into Pinkie’s neck to check for a pulse. Pinkie didn’t even flinch.
Assured that Pinkie was indeed alive, Twilight reached out with her magic, but as far as she could tell there was nothing wrong, no magical influences.
Twilight tried to think calmly, part of her was tempted to put it down to Pinkie being Pinkie but this wasn’t her style of crazy. She walked back to the Lounge and found Fluttershy was snoring.
Getting anxious Twilight found a few attempts it became clear that Flutters was dead to the world. A quick run-around downstairs found that the Cake-family were all out leaving Twilight alone with the statue-like pink pony. Racing back upstairs twilight levitated Pinkie Pie into her bed and decided to grab Rarity from down the street.
“At the very least she can keep an eye on things whilst I find out what’s happened to Pinkie.” Twilight muttered to herself. She threw open to door to the apartment and raced out only to slam into something big and solid directly behind the door.
Bouncing back onto the floor Twilight looked up to see the black-clad Observer glowering down at her. For a few moments they stared at each other, until Twilight spoke.
“Sorry could you move please?”
The Observer continued to look at her.
Frustrated, Twilight began to yell. “Get out of the Bloody way! You guys aren’t meant to interfere!”
The Observer folded its arms and began to babble. Twilight’s anger bubbled over as she levitated a chair and yelled “FINE! We’ll play it your way.”
Passing ponies outside jumped as a chair smashed through a window in Sugarcube corner and Twilight levitated herself down.
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Twilight’s mind was racing almost as fast has her hoof beats as she shot down the street.
“What the hell was that Observer doing?” she wondered as she rounded a corner and Carousel boutique came into view. “They’ve never tried to interact with me before, but I’ve never seen a black one before... and its voice sounded...harsh. Did it do something to Pinkie?”
She burst through the doors of Rarity’s home and could barely contain a scream as she skidded to a halt.
The clothes shop was packed wall-to-wall with Observers. The sea of white cloaks swept out before her as the Observers milled around. Twilight suddenly found herself being swept along by their movement, their bodies so big and solid that she could barely resist.
Twilight stumbled. She flailed desperately, terrified of falling. If she went down the creatures would trample her to death, seeming oblivious to her presence. They had begun to talk. There odd muted voices filling the air with a sound like wind blowing through a Forrest of dead trees. Twilight shoved as hard as she could through the gauntlet, heading for the door into the back areas of the shop.
Almost on queue Twilight hooves met a spool of material that had been left on the floor and her balance flew out from underneath her. Her head hit the floor with a world shattering crack. She convulsed, trying to pull herself back up, but she was tangled in the dress material, which only got worse as a foot smashed into her back, spinning her over.
Suddenly she was off the ground. Twilight cracked open an eyelid to find herself being hoisted onto the shoulder of an Observer. Twilight twisted round and recognised the face of the one holding her; it was the one who had been there when she was a filly and continued to follow her for the rest of her life. The Observer cut through the crowd and deposited Twilight in the next room. The Observer smiled at Twilight and began yelling at it counterparts, throwing both arms up into the air.
Dazed, Twilight stumbled through to find Rarity washing some breakfast dishes in the sink.
“Oh! Hello Darling!” Rarity exclaimed, “Sorry I didn’t answer the door, but I’ve just gotten up. ...Oh my! What on earth happened to you?” twilight looked in a mirror and was she had several massive bruises.
“I’m fine....fallen over on the way in. Look I need you to get down to Sugarcube corner and look after Pinkie and Fluttershy! I’ll explain on the way.
As they left through the now, thankfully, deserted shop Twilight saw that the Black Observer was standing next to a mannequin. As Rarity exited the door it pushed the mannequin over.
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A massive crash emanated from Twilight house as something heavy was thrown against a wall.
Having dropped Rarity off and checking on the others, Twilight had raced home to see what she could find in the Library. Pinkie had still been statue still where Twilight had left her and worryingly Fluttershy now appeared to be comatose.
Panting from the constant running, Twilight entered to find Rainbow Dash being threatened with a shovel by Applejack.
“Oh man oh man oh man.” Rainbow Dash babbled, pulling Twilight into a bear hug, “Thank the gods your here! AJ’s gone off the wall! She...she...she...”
“Deep breaths Rainbow!” Twilight soothed the trembling Pegasus. Glancing round Twilight saw that Applejack had retreated behind a table but was still brandishing the shovel threateningly. “Now everyone calm down and tell me what’s happening.”
Applejack's face suddenly twitched violently. She dropped the shovel and a huge grin plastered her face. “Ahh can smell apples!” Applejack yelped “Where’s the Apples! Where! Wherewehrewherewherewherewhere.....”
“Kitchen?!” Twilight squeaked in distress.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPLLLLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEEEEES!!!” Applejack zoomed off and dived into the kitchen with a crash.
“She’s been doing that every 5 minutes or so.” Rainbow Dash said, tears rolling down her face, “That face spasm and...poof...totally new personality. She’s been normal a few times but doesn't remember being crazy.” Rainbow dash was desperately gulping for air now. “I didn't know what to do so I brought her here. At least...at least she’s stooped screaming about invisible black and white monsters!”
“Black monsters?” Twilights blood ran cold “Did AJ say what...”
The thought was cut off as a yell of “AHH HATE APPLES!” bellowed from the kitchen. Applejack charged out and through the front door saying “I’m going to Sugercube corner for some muffins!”
There were Observers all over town. Twilight could see them as Rainbow Dash flew her over the rooftops to get back to Sugarcube corner. And every single of of them was converging on sugar cube corner. Twilight felt like she was going insane. How could everything fall apart so quickly?
They managed to arrive at Sugarcube corner in time to see Applejack rush inside. The two ponies began to walk forward; a curtain of dread was dropping across them as they cautiously opened the door to the bakery. It was quite, silent, and cold like all the life had been drained from the building.
Creeping upstairs Rainbow heard a sound from one of the Pinkies bedroom. They inched the door open and found Rarity. She was sitting on the floor tearing chunks out of a dress with her teeth. Rarity abruptly got up and nimbly slipped past Twilight and Rainbow, dress still in mouth. The Twilight turned to see the Black Observer in the middle of the lounge Twilight's friends arranged around it. One of its hands was resting on Fluttershy’s head and blood was running out of the yellow Pegasus’s mouth.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Rainbow yelled striding towards the Observer, “You Observers have no right to mess with my friends!”
Rainbow Dash knew about them…..
Rainbow could see them too!
Twilight was frozen as her mind imploded. Everything she knew suddenly became irrelevant as a constant in her life…. a constant of her very existence came undone.
The Black Observer spoke with a gravelly voice, “They are not your friends.”
Rainbow let out an animal bellow of range and sprang at the Observer. Moving like fluid the Black Observer dodged the attack and with a single clean swipe of its hand cut Rainbows wings from her back.
Rainbow had only a moment to scream before she hit a wall head first and collapse into a bloody, unmoving heap. The Observer casually approached Twilight.
“Why?” Twilight asked, voice cracking, “Why.”
“You are broken.” The Observer replied voice full of distain; it reached out one hand and plunged it, ghost like into Twilight's chest. “You are broken and crazy. If the others will do nothing about it…. then I will once and for all.”
“I’m not crazy.” Twilight murmured, “Why are you hurting us?” A deep cold was gripping twilights hear, colder than anything she had known before. Around her colours were being leached away, falling from the walls like water.
“Your pain does not matter.” The Observer sneered, squeezing Twilight heart tighter. “You’re insane.”
The world was going dark now.
“You’re insane.”
Twilight’s vision flickered and died.
“You’re insane.”
All that was left was a howling void. The pain and that awful, gloating, detesting filled voice accusing her. Memories of her life swirled around her like willo’-wisps. Every good day. Every loved moment.
“You’re insane and you’re never going to see them again.”
I
AM
NOT
CRAZY
Twilight exploded with light and heat. Life flooded out from her and the world grew bright and colourful again.
“YOU WON’T TAKE THEM FROM ME!” Twilight screamed again and again. She took her will power and sent is crashing against the black Observer the two minds slammed and clawed at each other, fighting like titans over Twilight's very soul.
As the pressure ramped up higher and higher cracks began to form in the walls, in the ceiling, in the air itself. Blinding light poured through the cracks and burnt Twilight’s skin, but she didn't let up the. Every iota of her being was battering against the Black Observer.
Just when she didn't think she could take any more the cracks in the air behind the Black Observer suddenly resolved themselves into a door. The door burst open and a normal Observer barrelled through and tackled the Black Observer. Twilight continued to yell as two more Observers came through the door-in space and as a group they bundled the Black Observer out.
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Bernard stumbled back as a ward door burst open in front of him and yelling filled the normally quite institute’s air. From within three white coated staff appeared, dragging a black suited man with them. A deafening scream emanated from within the room then went silent. The man was swearing and threatening the staff and demanding to be allowed to continue his treatment. Doctor de Lancie, who Bernard had been following, strode forward and grabbed the Man by his collar.
“I am throwing you out of my hospital.” Doctor de Lancie growled, his deep voice resonating through the corridor, “If you ever try and get near them again the next time you leave here it’s going to be in a wheelchair.”
The black suited man fell silent and was bundled off. Bernard was only a works experience student and felt rather awkward at having been witness to some internal matter, but his curiosity had gotten the better off him.
“What was that all about?” he asked Doctor de Lancie whilst peering through the ward door window. Inside he could see a number of figures curled up in a corner.
“That, young fellow, was a man who really should have his psychiatric licence revoked. What an asshole....”
Bernard looked at the file sat in a holder next to the door. They were there to make sure that people had a basic understanding of what was wrong with patents in that room, that way no-one walked in on homicidal maniacs. The front of the file had six names printed on the front, curiously next to each name someone had penciled in a different name. It read:
• Sandra Troy (Twilight Sparkle)
• Roxanna O’Donnell (Rainbow Dash)
• Mary Rose (Fluttershy)
• Alexandra Janeway (Applejack)
• Dianna Patterson (Pinkie Pie)
• Athena Avant (Rarity)
Doctor de Lancie indicated for Bernard to sit down on the nearby bench.
“They were brought to this hospital maybe five years ago.” The Doctor started, stroking his beard in thought. “Between them they represented some of the absolute worst cases of mental illness I’d ever seen. They all killed at least one person, accidentally or otherwise. Some of them verged on sociopathic they were so dangerous. For such slender girls they could do some serious damage if you weren't careful.”
The Doctor stooped for a moment and looked, slightly sadly into space before continuing “It used to keep my up at night, six totally unrelated and totally incurable cases all dumped at my hospital because they’d been thrown out of everywhere else.”
The Doctor sighed deeply “I was almost considering wheeling out the old electroshock therapy equipment to treat Dianna Patterson.... Yeah, I know it’s barbaric now-a-days but at the time I almost hoped she’d be accidentally lobotomized by the procedure. Thankfully the ‘September Incident’ happened first.
“I heard about that.” Bernard said, throwing his mind back. “Didn't some activists break and try and set some of the patients free?”
“Idiots, you’d be amazed what you find people thinking on the Internet. Naturally they ignored the warning signs; criminally insane arsonists and murders were set loose and chaos ensued. It was a long while later before things calmed down, we’d had to move patients around as security tried to contain the rioting, and someone realized that files had been mixed up. So those six, who’d previously been in absolute isolation for their entire incarceration, had been locked in the same room together for 5 hours. We arrived expecting a bloodbath.....but......”
Doctor de Lancie got up looked through the observation window. Inside Bernard could see that the six girls had woken up and were now crying with relief and hugging each other. “Somehow they fell into this shared delusion. As far as they are concerned they are magical ponies living in the land of Equestria. They are totally unaware of anything that goes on around them or where they really are. We can let them out now and they see the entire institute as a town named Ponyville and the other patients are the other inhabitants.”
“So what are you doing to cure them?” Bernard asked joining the Doctor
“Cure them?” de Lancie exclaimed “Bloody hell, anytime we've tried anything it’s ended in disaster. I tried a drug therapy last year and they nearly killed me!”
“But.....but...surely you’re not going to leave them like that trapped in their delusion?”
“Why not! ....huh...why not?” de Lancie said, shaking his head, “Look I know it seems amoral to leave them like this but think about it; they are happy, they are safe, and they’re not hurting themselves or anyone else. Anything we do will make the situation worse,”
The doctor walked a few feet down the corridor, “And if we did do something that permanently breaks the delusion they will be miserable and scared and confused for the rest of their lives.”
Doctor de Lancie started walking away, “I’ll introduce you them later if you like, once they've calmed down. They’re very friendly and they make good muffins.”
Bernard looked through the window again. The girls were laughing and chatting. Congratulating the one wearing a lavender dress; at having held off the terrible Black Observer and saving them. Mind in a tumble, Bernard slowly followed after Doctor de Lancie as innocent laughter echoed down the corridor.