"Look to the sky, You will not find answers there, but you will certainly see what everyone is screaming about." -The Eclipse
Good morning, listeners. Or just, morning for you.
The citizens slowly got up from their long sleep and turned to the radio. Twilight came into the main room and listened to the dog's voice.
I have some great news! Apparently, the Hay and Hay By Products Snake Spirit creatures have vanished. They're gone. And Ponyville seems to be normal. The burnt and demolished buildings are standing firm. It looks as if the town never took any damage.
The whole town cheered and hugged one another because of the great news. Twilight was especially happy, but she was happier to hear that Cecil was alive.
I would also like to add that there will not be a broadcast tonight due to remodeling here. We are very sorry for any inconvenience, but we are still hiring! Are death rates have dropped a fair amount. Hehe, just messing with you.
"So, no broadcast tonight?" Twilight asked as she walked with the black furred dog.
"Sadly no," he responded, "I want the place to have a new look. I'm thinking purple and black. What do you think?"
She put a hoof to her chin and thought for a moment, "Maybe white too?"
"Ooo, I like that. I'll use it. So, Ponyville seems to be in great shape."
"Yep. I'm just glad that it's over. Who would've thought that hay would be evil?"
"You're telling me, the bad news about that is that we will never eat hay again. And that's pretty sad." Cecil said with chuckle.
Twilight agreed,"Definitely."
"Hey, do you want to go get some coffee?"
Twilight was a bit surprised by the gesture but agreed, "Sure. I'll just go get my bits from the castle and-"
"No need, I have some bits right here." He said as he pulled some out from his pocket.
"No, you don't have to do that. That's your money."
"It's fine, besides, being on the radio pays well."
"Okay then, its a date!" Twilight said with excitement in her voice.
"Then it is."
"So," Twilight started as she sipped her coffee from her mug, "Have you always wanted to be a part of the radio show business?"
"Well not always," he replied, "I always wanted to be an author."
"Really?"
"Yeah, I mean I enjoy writing. I really love coming up with stories full of mystery and poems. But I stopped when I was offered a job to be on the radio."
"Well, I think you would've been a great author." Twilight said with a smile, "The stuff you say on the radio, is that some of your writing?"
Cecil nodded, "Yes actually. I put some of my poems and stories on the show to entertain the listeners. Why? Is it boring or too weird?"
Twilight shook her head as he drank his hot beverage, "No, I actually find it quite entertaining. I don't find it boring or weird at all, it's actually quite soothing. Plus your voice does fit well."
"Thanks you, not many like my stuff. Say, how is it like being royalty and all. I'm sorry if this is too much of a personal question-"
"It's fine," she interrupted, waving her hoof, "and it's hard. It really is. Just last week there was this fiasco with the town. I released my friendship journal to all of Equestria, and most didn't even care for the lessons in that book. Then they came to Ponyville and wouldn't listen to my friends or I. So it's hard being able to put up with so many ponies who can be so...so...what's the word?"
"Aggravating?"
"Yeah, aggravating." She sighed and put a hoof to her head.
Cecil regretted asking her and put a paw on the hoof that lay on the table. Twilight was a bit surprised by this but she didn't show it.
"Listen, sometimes it's going to be difficult to handle the ponies of this town. Sometimes even more, but you have to remember that this is a responsibility that you have now. You will have to make tough decisions in the future, and many will hate you for your opinion. But trust me, it's all worth it when at least one pony comes to you and says thank you. You're a great mare, Twilight Sparkle. Don't let any pony else tell you otherwise."
"Wow," she said, a bit blown away by his words. "T-thank you. Nopony has ever said anything like that to me, ever. Thank you, Cecil."
A smile appeared on his face as she looked at him. He noticed that his paw was still on her hoof and he slowly pulled away, even though he didn't want to. He cleared his throat and fixed played with his tie, "So..."
"So..."
He cleared his throat again, "Listen Twilight, I-"
Just then, a stallion came by their table. He walked to Twilight and said, "Excuse me, Princess? You better have some explaining to do!"
"What happened? What's going on?" Twilight asked, concerned.
"In your journal, why did you and your friends get captured so easily by Chrysalis even though you defeated Tirek who was much stronger?"
Twilight sighed, "Please, I don't have time for this. The journal was meant to teach you friendship and-"
"That's crap! I want answers!"
"Hey! Back off buddy!"
The two turned to Cecil who just calmly walked towards the stallion. He was now making eye contact with him.
"Or what, are you going to broadcast me to death?"
Cecil just stared at him for a couple of seconds, then...he smiled. He smiled and laughed a bit.
"Now...that's an idea. Tell me, what do you feel about meat?"
"What do you mean?" Asked the stallion who was a bit weirded out by the dog.
"You know, meat. Your flesh. The flesh that sits on you right now. The flesh that protects you when you fall or when something bites into it. That flesh. Look at your hoof."
"What?"
"Look at your hoof."
The stallion slowly looked at his hoof and shivered in fright. His skin was peeling off, very slowly. The sound of skin tearing could be heard around him. He wanted to scream, but his mouth was glued shut. He stared back at Cecil who just smiled menacingly.
"Oh look, you're shedding. Do you feel it? Your shell ripping from you, leaving you to become food for the worms that will feast on you. Do you hear the sounds of flesh ripping and tearing in your ear? There is something inside you, it is eating your skin! Your skin is being devoured! It is spreading! Oh sweet Celestia, it is crawling all over your body! WHICH WAY?! MADNESS!!! WHICH WAY MADNESS?! You scream but nopony can hear you. You're being devoured, and before you are others. They're sitting in chairs like you, and they are waiting for their judgment, just like you. Welcome, to Lobsterfaust. Come see what's fresh today!!!!"
The stallion screamed in agony as the creatures slowly but away on his skin and inside his body. He coughed blood and screamed more as he saw the creatures invading his eyes. They were blinding him! He called out for help and fell to the floor crying.
"Hey! Buddy! Hello?! Are you alright?"
The stallion opened his eyes to see the dog and alicorn, they were looking at him with worried expressions.
"Are you alright?" Twilight asked as the stallion remembered where he was. He stared at his hooves and touched his body. He shot his eyes back at Cecil and backed away.
"S-stay away! Go away!"
Cecil looked at him confused, "Are you okay?"
"STAY AWAY FROM ME! GET AWAY! YOU DEMON!!!"
He quickly ran out of the coffee shop, crying and wailing. Cecil stared back at Twilight and asked, "What was all that about?"
She shrugged, "I'm not sure."
Twilight Sparkle sat in her throne chair, thinking about the day she had with Cecil. It was great to be out of work for awhile and talk with a friend. She smiled as she replayed the moment he encouraged and put his paw on her hoof. He made her feel special, and didn't care what other ponies thought about him. She heard music from outside, and smiled even more as she imagined Cecil saying those four words.
"And now, the weather."
"Twilight!"
Twilight quickly turned towards the sound of her name, the weather was over. She saw Starlight standing a few feet away from her, and she was smiling. She was smiling at Twilight.
"Starlight? Are you okay?"
She kept smiling, it was unnerving. Then, a ringing was heard, and Twilight turned to the map and saw a phone on there. She picked it up and answered, "Hello?"
"Twilight, it's Starlight Glimmer.
Twilight's breathing stopped for a second as she turned to the Starlight that was staring at her, smiling.
"S-Starlight?"
"Yes, it's me. Please tell Trixie I won't be able to make it for lunch."
"S-Starlight? Where are y-you right now?"
Starlight breathed deeply and kept smiling.
"Please tell Trixie I won't be there. Do you understand me?" Starlight's voice on the phone said.
"Yes, I think."
Starlight smiled again. She looked at Twilight. She put a piece of paper on the map, but Twilight couldn't read what was on the paper.
"Am I being clear, Twilight?"
"Starlight," the lavender alicorn said, "I don't know. Where are you? Where are you right now?"
"I can't make it today."
Twilight stared at the piece of paper on the map. Starlight looked toward Twilight, smiling. Then she turned, no longer looking at her, but likely still smiling. She walked away quickly, out of the door and to the hall, out of sight.
"Starlight, hello?"
"Tell Trixie."
"Click," the phone said.
Twilight hung up. She looked at the piece of paper on the Cutie Map. It was gone. She quickly trotted to Starlight's room, and on the way she saw Spike. The cloud outside the window was staring at them.
"Hey, Spike. Where have you been?"
"I was helping Rarity at her boutique."
"Oh alright. Say, have you seen Starlight?"
"Who?"
"Starlight?"
"Who is, Starlight?"
Twilight paused for a moment, "Starlight Glimmer. You know, she is friends with, Trixie. She's living with us. Almost destroyed Equestria."
"I don't remember any pony named Starlight."
"Is this a joke, Spike?"
"No, I'm honest. I've never known anypony named Starlight Glimmer."
Twilight breathed in heavily, she stared at the cloud outside of the window. It's was waving at her.
"Are you okay?" Asked a worried dragon. The cloud didn't say anything.