Falling Star
Twilight was returning to her library after finding Sugarcube Corner devoid of ponies.
Oh, I hope Pinkie’s all right. She thought. Please keep her safe Celestia…
She skidded to an abrupt halt on the dirt road and gasped. “Princess Celestia! Oh my stars, I haven’t told her!”
She galloped even faster to the library. Ponyville was still alive with the sounds of fear and the sky began to darken on the town. Almost breaking down the library door, Twilight fell to the floor gasping for breath. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash stared at her with surprise.
“Twilight! Where have you been!?” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, noticeably tired from her numerous flights around the village.
“And where’s Rarity?!” Fluttershy added, breaking out of her quiet, calm demeanor.
Twilight looked up with tear-filled eyes. She tried to speak, but couldn’t even muster that.
Fluttershy gasped in horror and covered her mouth with her hooves. Her eyes began to water as she ran to Rainbow Dash and embraced the speechless pegasus.
The cries of Ponyville echoed throughout all of Equestria. The fear of the unknown shrouded the entire world. And yet, the three friends heard nothing. Only the sound of silence resonated in their ears. Twilight trembled next to the door, a cold chill running down her back. Fluttershy sat crying, still holding on to Rainbow who hid her sorrow on the inside.
Hopelessness. Absolute hopelessness.
“That’s it!” Rainbow yelled, voice hoarse and shaky. She lifted her head and opened her eyes, letting loose a few tears. “I’m done sitting and waiting! … This monster has gone too far!”
Twilight stood and walked over to her friends. “No! Rainbow, we have to think this through!”
“After all that he’s done! He killed Rarity!”
The words hit Twilight like a steam engine. She looked around in despair. “Where are the others?”
“I… I saw Pinkie… and Mr. Cake,” Fluttershy whispered between sobs. “So I told them… to meet… with the other citizens in… the town square.”
“And Applejack?”
“I found her on the farm.” Rainbow Dash said as calmly as she could, though obviously frustrated. “She’s on her way into town, family in tow.”
Twilight gazed around the library slowly, and then became more anxious. Eye’s widened, she murmured, “Where’s Spike…”
The two said nothing. Just stared at each other, then back at Twilight.
“Where is he…?” She asked again, a bit louder.
Finally, Rainbow Dash quietly answered, “He’s not here…”
“… No…”
Twilight stood tall, though her heart fell tremendously. She had tried her best to be strong. She had tried her hardest to lead her friends. But it was becoming increasingly evident to her that she was failing them. Failing Ponyville… failing Equestria.
She dried her eyes and then remembered what she had to do. “Spike… he saw the culprit.
The other two looked up with a spark of hope.
“It’s a gray pony with a red mane… and yellow eyes.” She said remembering the words Spike had said.
“Well what’re we waiting for?” Rainbow shouted. “Let’s find this freak and make him pay!”
Shaking her head, Twilight said, “No. You have something more important to do. You need to go to Princess Celestia and tell her what’s going on.”
“Fly all the way to Canterlot?”
“It’s our only chance! We need her help, and you are the fastest flyer in Equestria.”
Rainbow looked down at her friends and nodded. “Alright. Be careful, you guys.”
As she took off, Twilight turned to her friend. “Fluttershy.”
“Eeep!”
“Fly to the town square and make sure the others are alright. Tell them to keep watch for the fiend.”
“Ok… What about you?”
“I need to find my copy of Teleportation and Transmutation. What ever he’s doing to his victims, he doesn’t leave a body or traces. I’ll be there shortly, but they need to know now.”
“Please hurry.” she said, bolting out the door.
Twilight turned to the bookshelves, but had hardly taken a step before bursting into tears. “I’m sorry Spike… I wasn’t there for you when you needed me the most.” As her tears fell to the floor and her exhaustion took hold, she heard the door slowly creak open. Her sorrow turned to terror as she turned to behold a fearsome figure.
“Hello, Twilight Sparkle.” He echoed in a distorted voice that sounded normal yet low and gritty at the same time.
His blood red mane flowed like flames against his dark gray coat. His eyes a piercing yellow surrounded by black. He had to duck his head as he crossed the threshold. His powerful form a contrast to his fledgling wings and stunted horn.
Twilight trembled beneath his gaze… the gaze of a connoisseur.
“Wh-Who are you?”
“My existence is questioned, he is not who he was, but you may call us, Devil-Ish.”
“Devil…Ish?” She repeated, still shuddering in fear. All too soon, she remembered her friends. She remembered all that he had done. Anger overtook her as she jumped to her hooves, horn charged with magic.
“Where are they? What did you do to them?” She demanded.
“You think you stand a chance against us?”
“Give me back my friends or else!” Her horn grew brighter “I’m warning you!”
“What makes you think you threaten us? We wouldn’t stand before you like this if it was otherwise. But we have no fear. After all, you couldn’t protect your friends.”
Twilight faltered.
“They cared for you. They trusted you. You were to lead them, but where are they now?”
“T-that…You…”
“I don’t believe you cared for that dragon anyway. The way you treated him like the slave he is. You let him come here by himself when you knew we were taking ponies. That’s hardly what a friend would do.”
“Shut Up! SHUT UP!”
“Can you not face the truth?”
“It’s a lie!”
“Look at yourself. You know it’s not. You’ve always stepped on him, pushed him around, and made him clean all of your messes. You may have been his friend, but he was not yours.”
She fell to the floor and closed her eyes. “Just…just go away.”
“I’m sorry Twilight. I can only speak the truth. It is my curse.” He reached a hoof towards her. “But don’t worry. It won’t hurt for much longer.”
“…Before you kill me, just tell me: What are you?”
He paused. “Kill you? I don’t kill ponies. As for who I am. I am Doubt.” Touching her forehead, he said, “Now sleep, my dear. You’ve had a very hard day.”
*****
Now to visit an old friend of mine. I wonder if she’s still as sunny as ever.
*****
This feeling, I know this. Oh yes, now I remember. The Elements must have fallen. I didn’t expect this so soon, but I won’t complain. Do you smell that? It smells beautiful. It smells wild. It smells… like Chaos.