//------------------------------// // #18- Your time is up // Story: Earthling or Equestrian? // by Tjtbomb //------------------------------// Rainbow Dash POV "This should be fun." As the words left my mouth, a fast, ticking sound started. "ticktickticktickticktickticktickticktickticktickticktick-" Our eyes were drawn to the clock tower as the ticking steadily got louder and louder. The minute hand was quickly travelling a full circuit, but the hour stayed the same. Our hearts froze when it suddenly stopped on midnight once more. One, last, long tick resounded. "Click." We didn't know what to do. I thought Fluttershy was going to have a heart attack. All the gals were scared, shaking in their hooves, except Luna. I was quivering as well. I attempted to sound brave and called out into the night. "H-hello? T-T-Tob-Toby? Are you th-there?" Okay, So I was ready to go home now. My attempt at bluffing died before it began. I gasped when I noticed the twin white embers floating in the shadow of the clock hands. Luna stepped back with a worried expression. She whispered as we steadily backpedaled, revealing the fear behind her supposedly brave face. "I-I have t-to admit..... h-he-he's d-doing q-q-q-quite a g-good job.... hopefully..." I shrieked. The embers had suddenly fallen with a loud crash of metal on stone, confirming that they were indeed eyes. I was frozen in place as a shadowed figure arose while the rest quickly started fleeing. As it took step forward, my legs and wings suddenly went into overdrive as I promptly whirled around and sped away. I screamed as my wings were suddenly snared together, making me trip. I looked back and the figure was closer. I pulled myself up and scrambled down an alley into the next street. I was suddenly enveloped by a thick fog. I paused in the middle of the street and listened. After a moment I heard faint fleeing footsteps. The others! But which way do I go?! I made a quick guess and looked behind me. The figure stepped out of the alley before pausing, white eyes staring. I couldn't tell if it could see me, so I stood like a statue. crapcrapcrapcrapcracrapcrap- I was suddenly blinded as the already bright eyes turned into spotlights. They turned red and focused on me. I screamed and ran down the street, hoping Twilight or Luna could fend it off somehow. I yelled when I spotted the girls staring in my direction. "RUUUUUUUUNNN!!!" Their worry turned to horror as the red spotlights turned the corner and focused on me again. Luna used her magic and threw a trashcan. The creature merely batted it aside and continued forward. Twilight joined the Princess and tried to hold him still. It slowed for a moment before bullrushing through the magic hold. They quickly turned tail and ran as it accelerated. The others scattered in various directions as I just galloped as hard as I could straight forward. (Timeskip) I was finally forced to stop running or pass out. I looked back down the street behind me for any red eyes. There was nothing in sight, but the fog wasn't helping. Somehow it was less unsettling when it was chasing me. At least I knew where it was. I finally calmed my heart and sat down for a moment. It would not last long. I jumped as screams rang out. They came from the next block over. I steeled my nerves and ran in their direction. I searched the streets as I ran by, looking for anypony. I skidded to a halt. One street had a single, flickering, lamplight. It's my only clue so far... I slowly snuck down the sidewalk, hiding behind anything I could. My eyes widened when i saw a splotch of red on the ground, directly beneath the light. It trailed off into the dark... back the way I just came from. Uh oh. I flinched as another streetlight turned on. The being stood below it. I could finally see it in all of its horrifying glory. A monstrous, metal, man crouched in the light. Gleaming eyes, clock hand claws, a huge, tattered trench coat, spiked gears running down its spine, metal plates covering its core, and black oil trailing from the jagged teeth of a monstrous steel maw. It was staring straight at me. It knew where I was. It screamed and charged at me. I took off running down an alley. I breached the next street and looked back, it was already in the alleyway. It wasn't going that fast! Did it speed up!? I turned the corner and sprinted down another alley. I looked back again, and it turned the corner. NO FAIR!!! IT'S TELEPORTING!!! I dashed back into the main streets as it got closer everytime I snuck a glance. I shut my eyes and screamed, but nothing happened. I looked back, and it was gone. I slowly came to a halt as I looked around. It disappeared? I started walking again, very wary now. And horrified. I glanced back, and- *Thud* -bumped... into... something. I turned my head slowly, like a creaky door. I looked up, and was suddenly pushed onto my back. The Clockman stood over me. It leaned down... opened its jaws... I closed my eyes in terror... and... "Gotcha." Wha- I opened my eyes. Oh that turd. He suddenly began laughing and rolling on the ground. "OMG! HAHAHA! YOUR FACE! IT'S PRICELESS!!!" Toby took off the monstrous helmet and kept laughing as my face heated up. Soon other laughter started up as the girls trickled in. Twilight came up to me and had to take a moment to calm herself. "I'm sorry Rainbow Dash! But we were all in on that last one, it was hilarious!" I huffed. "You jerks! I thought I was going to die!" "Oh come on, Rainbow!" Spouted Applejack, "You have to admit he did a good job! He scared us too!" Toby finally wiped his eyes, still chuckling as he got up. "What'd you think? Fun, right? That'll teach you to sneak up on me." I stuck out my tongue and turned my back to him. "Aww, Dashie, don't be like that!" I will be like that, thank you very much. "Alright, alright, so I went overboard. What can I do to make it up to you?" I thought for a while as the other girls jabbered for a while. One idea made my face burn up, so I quickly tried to forget it. Eventually though, I found a good one. "Hey Toby?" "Ja'?" "You have to face Fluttershy's stare." "What?" "You heard me." "Um... okay? Hey Flutters!" He walked over to her and explained the situation. She nodded and closed her eyes. This is gonna be good. He sat down in front of her and waited. Fluttershy called down all the guilt ever and unleashed the stare upon his unwitting eyes. He paled and scrambled away in terror. He crawled over and hid behind me. "That.... was not fair." I cracked up and fell over as he pouted.