A/N. Feedback and critique is very welcome for this story. The first chapter has a number of reads and no rating or comments. If it's so bad that people don't even feel it's worthy of a rating let me know!
Questions
Twilight thrashed restlessly in her bed, she was unable to sleep. The Conversation with Doctor Hooves' wife still haunting her, her words playing over and over in Twilight's mind. She sat up and looked out her window to the blackness outside, with this kind of weather, day and night could barely be told apart, but at least rain was starting to die down.
With two hooves the pony rubbed away the growing tears in her eyes. The look on the Mrs. Hooves was terrifying, her eyes were wide and fearful after she was informed her husband was on his way home to her only minutes ago. She asked how that was possible, when she walked to the town hall she claimed to not have seen him. Twilight suggested that maybe Dr. Hooves just wanted some time to cool off in the rain, he was very steamed when he stormed out of the building after all.
When Mrs. Hooves left to go home that night, Twilight remembered the mare held a reassured smile, acknowledging that her husband was probably on the couch right now reading a book or studying on some Medical diagrams.
Twilight pulled the covers off and got out of bed. She slugged over to the candles on the other side of the room, three small embers sparked on three wicks, and quickly grew into illuminating fires. With one hoof, she grabbed a blank parchment, and with the other a small ink holder with a quill already inside it. She used her horn to lift the writing utensil and started scribbling away at the now tainted parchment.
"Let's see..." The Mare whispered her pen scribbling. "Rainbow Dash was a Pegasus from Cloudsdale, as was Thunderlane. Twist and Carrot Top were Earth Ponies, both born in Ponyville." She wrote down every word. Giving traits to each of the four ponies, Twilight made a game out of it, casting out the thoughts of her friends being taken in favor a lighthearted connection puzzle.
Twilight wrote two pages of traits down before her eyelids started to become heavy. She checked the time to learn it was a little after midnight. She heard a soft knock from down stairs and immediately jumped, becoming wide awake. "Spike?" She called in a whisper. She turned her head and saw he was still sound asleep in his basket in the corner of the room. Another few knocks sent Twilight leaping over to her assistant and silently shaking him awake.
"No, I don't wanna eat pearls, they taste funny." Spike sobbed pushing Twilight away. Twilight rolled her eyes and shook the baby dragon again. "Huh, uh... Twilight?" He yawned and was about to continue, but Twilight covered his mouth with her hoof.
"Shh, do you hear that?" Twilight asked looking back at the door that lead down to the Library.
Spike listened intently for a few moments, his eyes beginning to wonder as he lost patients from hearing nothing. He grabbed Twilights front leg and pushed it away from his mouth. "Twilight, you're hearing thin-" The knocking came again, a little louder this time, and he let out a gasp. "What in the?"
"C'mon," Twilight called opening the door to the room, ready to investigate.
"I don't know Twilight, what if it's the Ponynapper?" Spike asked fiddling his claws.
Twilight let out an irritated sigh. "Why do you think I woke you up?" She turned her back not letting her assistant reply and proceeded down the stairs. Her initial irritation with Spike's cowardice was quickly replaced with anxiety and anticipation. What if the Pony in black was down here? And he wanted Twilight to be his next victim?
She used her horn to light the library, nothing looked disturbed. Every book was put away; every chair was in its place. The knock came again; it didn't take long for the breathless pony to find its origin. The front door, and as she grew closer, she could see the shape of someone outside the window. The closer she came, the more detail she could make out.
"Twi-"
Twilight's heart skipped a beat and she jumped letting out a gasp she had meant to be a scream. She turned around and backed away in surprise. Her nerves calmed when she witnessed Spike holding a broom like a spear and a pan over his head like a helmet. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you; I just had to get battle ready." He swung the broom around as if fighting off an imaginary enemy, his moves more awkward than graceful.
Twilight turned back to the door, she wanted to be angry with the dragon, but she couldn't help but giggle about how ridiculous he looked. She opened the door just as a string of lightening flashed overhead.
Twilight fell back, two hooves on her chest. She closed her eyes and screamed; she felt the two hooves on her chest hug her and start shaking with her. The frightened mare opened her eyes to discover a pink fizzy blob in her face. "P- Pinkie Pie?" She asked.
The usually hyperactive pink mare lifted her face, a nervous smile looking at her friend. "Yea, Twilight?"
Twilight pushed her off and slammed the door shut. All of this stress and terror... was over Pinkie Pie? Twilight put a hoof over her eyes; she was on the verge of a panic attack for what had to be the friendliest of ponies she had ever met. Twilight couldn't help it; the initial scowl she held out of being afraid for nothing was replaced by unstoppable giggling. "I'm so-" An unstiffeled laugh interrupted her, "I'm sorry Pinkie, I thought you were the ponynapper."
Pinkie laughed from the comedy. "Me, ponynap? That's a good one, but that's the reason I didn't say anything from the other side of the door."
Twilight shook her head, even Pinkie was afraid of him. "C'mon let's go into the kitchen and have something to drink." She turned to find Spike with the broom overhead and his eyes clamped shut. "Uh... Spike?"
Spike opened his eyes, a bead of sweat treading down his face. "Oh, ok." Spike tossed the broom and pan away, than sheepishly proceed back to bed.
Twilight lit a few candles in the Kitchen and began speaking with her friend; pinkie confessed that she was a little scared of the storm and the Black Pony. The conversation evolved from talking about the possibilities of who the pony might be, to gummy, Pinkies toothless pet alligator,
Twilight was amazed how much better she felt. In spite of the storm, and the Pony in Black, Pinkie could still make her smile and laugh. She was almost amazed she was terrified only minutes ago.
"Pinkie, is it alright if I ask you a favor?" Twilight blushed a little at the silly question she was about to ask, but already knew the mare would agree.
"I would be more than happy to make you some cupcakes Twilight!" The pink pony declared throwing her arms happily in the air.
Twilight was taken back at the sudden and random exclamation. "No, I mean would you mind staying with me for a while? I mean, if the ponynapper did want either of us, there is safety in number right?"
"Well duh," Pinkie barked. "Why do you think I'm here?"
"That's not all." Twilight continued taking a final sip of her tea. "I need you to stay with Spike while I go and look for Rainbow Dash."
Pinkie gave an inquisitive look.
Twilight let out a sigh. "You saw him; he froze up as you tackled me to the floor." Twilight waved her front hooves dramatically, referring to Spikes inability to defend her, and in a huff she gently laid her head on the table. "I just want to make sure that my friends are taken care of." her tone went from angst and explanatory to desperate and concerned
The pink pony put her hoof on Twilight's and gave her a reassuring smile "Of course i will."
Twilight smiled and sighed, she knew that Pinkie would agree, but hearing her say it made her feel all the better about it.
The two mares decided to sleep downstairs tonight, on the rug next to the fireplace. Twilight used her magic to begin a small flame for light and comfort as Pinkie grabbed two pillows and blankets from upstairs. The spark ignited into a roaring flame, The Unicorn let out a content and proud smirk and turned back to see if Pinkie was coming down stairs.
She saw him in the corner of her eye. The light from the fireplace made out his face in the window. Twilight gasped as she stared upon it, the Pony in Black was looking right at her. His dark eyes glaring at her, obscured by his black fedora hat, but still she could tell he saw her. A black coat drenched his body; accept for a white shirt and black tie over his chest. The look he gave Twilight wasn't a look at her, but a look threw her.
The purple mare was frozen in place. It took all her will power just to keep breathing, his eyes... his chestnut colored eyes. Twilight had never seen anything like them before; they seemed in an eternal angry glare.
"Sorry that took so long," Pinkie said as she walked down the stairs. Twilight's eyes quickly scanned over to look at Pinkie than immediately looked back, but the Stallion was gone. She kept her eyes fixated on the window, half hoping to see him again. Feeling and ability returned to her legs and the Unicorn walked to Pinkie Pie.
"He is outside." Twilight moaned grabbing one of the chairs from the kitchen and putting it against the front door calmly. She was scared, but also exhausted. The purple mare was too in shock and exhausted to express her feelings of fear any longer. Pinkie frowned nervously as her friend started lighting every candle in the room, placing many of them right next to the windows.
Twilight collapsed on the rug, the heat from the fire forcing her eyes closed until she couldn't fight it anymore and passed out.
Twilight awoke to the sound of birds chirping. She rubbed her still tired eyes and looked around, trying to blink away the haze in her eyes. The found Pinkie sitting in front on the couch behind her, the poor party pony looked like she didn't sleep all night, her bloodshot blue eyes glared intently at the far window.
"Pinkie Pie?" Twilight quipped.
Pinkie’s eyes shot directly at Twilight, her concentrated face turning into a happy smile. "Morning sleepy head," She cheered.
Twilight stood up and shook off the blanket. "Were you awake all night?"
"Yea, if I wasn't what would stop him from coming in here?" Pinkie asked as if it was the dumbest question in the world.
Twilight nodded in agreement and wondered over to a shelf with her saddlebag. She secured it on her person and looked threw to make sure everything she needed was still in it. She glanced out the window to check the weather, the clouds were thinner now, but still had not dispersed. "Pinkie..." Twilight spoke, her voice braking at the end. That stallion in black's face running threw her mind, his angry eyes piercing her soul.
Pinkie looked at Twilight, whose back was currently turned to her.
"I- I may not come back. So, if I don't promise me that you'll take care of-"
"DON'T TALK LIKE THAT!" Pinkie shouted tackling and hugging her friend. "Nothing is going to happen to you."
Twilight could feel the tears stream from the unusually calm party pony's eye on her cheek. "I don't want to lose you too."
Twilight hugged her friend. Her hooves coddling Pinkie's head, trying to give her at least some kind of comfort.
"Please let me come with you." Pinkie looked up with pleading eyes.
Twilight smiled and brushed her friend’s frizzy pink mane. "You promised you would stay and look after Spike, remember?"
Pinkie buried her face in Twilight's chest and began to sob. "Promis-" she cut off in another sob. "Promise me you will be careful."
Twilight promised and gently stood Pinkie up. They shared one more embrace before the Unicorn walked out the door. She observed the small village around her, making sure that the Pony from last night wasn't around. She saw a little life return to the town, though everyone walked in pairs or groups of three as they traveled. The ponies brave enough to come outside were whispering rather than speaking, and there were no fillies out playing around the square as there usually were.
The unusual silence added to the uncomfortable grey tint that the clouds cast on Ponyville made Twilight feel a twinge of despair. If Rainbow Dash were around, she would have kicked it the remaining clouds into oblivion at day break, even if she had to do it alone. She had a thing about letting storms stay longer than a day or so.
Twilight wondered to the Everfree forest, she had decided to start her search with the zebra Zacora. Maybe she could tell Twilight something about the Rainbow mare's disappearance. Twilight walked to the edge of the forest and started passing the cottage of her Pegasus friend Fluttershy. Twilight crossed the stone bridge and knocked on the door, a few moments latter a yellow pony with timid turquoise eyes and pink mane answered the door. "Oh, Hi Twilight," Fluttershy greeted her with a smile. "What brings you here?"
"Fluttershy, I’m afraid I have some bad news." Twilight told her about the Pony in Black, and how ponies from all over Equestria were starting to go missing. She felt that the Pegasus had the right to know.
Fluttershy gasped and acted nervously. "Oh my." She fidgeted with her hooves on the ground. Twilight found this in suspicion. She had expected the sensitivity in Fluttershy to express something other than nervousness.
"Fluttershy?" Twilight called, a little concerned to Fluttershy's desensitized demeanor. Fluttershy just looked down in thought. It would make sense, even if she had heard it from another pony; a ponynapper is still a lot to take in. Deciding to leave Rainbow Dash out of her explanation, she gently put her hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder.
Fluttershy looked up and chewed on her lip, her eyes started looking around avoiding Twilight's. "Do- Do you think he's around her?"
"I honestly can't say, but I saw him last night when Pinkie Pie came over."
At the explanation a look of realization passed Fluttershy's face. "Oh ok, well I'm in the middle of giving Angle a bath, so I have to go. Good bye Twilight." And before the perplexed Unicorn could respond the large wooden door slammed in her face.
Twilight remembered that Angel was quite an impatient and at times aggressive rabbit, so maybe there was some merit to Fluttershy's abrupt rudeness... But still, Twilight noticed that she hadn't been acting normal threw out the explanation. Only the occasional mention of ponynapping seemed to cause her any real discomfort. The rest of the time her face was blank and intent.
Twilight dismissed her feelings and continued into the Everfree forest, hoping to find some at least some answers…