Pinkie entered the shop, with Fluttershy following shortly behind. Loads of dresses and fabric were on display and surprisingly, all of them were heavily discounted. Pieces of fabric as low as a bit. That put a confused look onto her face. “How can a shop sell these at such prices? These look luxurious!” She said, eyeing the fabrics and dresses. After half a minute of admiring, she noticed something weird. “Wait, are the display windows painted over?” Fluttershy pointed to the displays near the door where windows should be.
“They are. I honestly thought it was just a weirdly designed wall.” Pinkie said, walking up to it and placing her hooves against it. “I wonder why would anyone do it.” She then turned away from the wall and yelled, “Hello! Any pony there?”
Only a crashing of metal responded back. They both turned to the sound and a dark green mare with silver mane came out of a door behind the counter.
“Sorry sorry!” The mare shakenly walked past Pinkie. “I fell asleep in the back rooms,” she giggled nervously, letting out a short yawn right after.
Pinkie noticed bags hanging under her eyes, as the mare stared at the wall.
“Um, are you okay?” Pinkie asked, waving her hoof in front of the sleepy mare. “You look like you haven’t slept in days. Also, why is there paint over the window?”
The mare shook her head, deep lines of worry crossed her face. She refused to let her eyes meet Pinkie’s. “I’m so sorry! Can one of you pass me my coffee please? It’s on the counter.”
Fluttershy grabbed it and flew over to her.
“Thanks darling.” The mare grabbed it and swallowed a big gulp. “Ahhh, the good stuff. Name is Silver Gew, what can I do for you two?”
Suddenly a sound of crashing shelves assaulted their ears as the mare recoiled back. “Can you two go outside? I’ll be with you in a moment.”
They exited out, shutting the door behind them as they looked at each other. “I really hope nopony got hurt. That was weird.” Pinkie said, looking over the painted window. “Something is off here, I can feel it!”
“I agree, especially this paint over the window. She looked panicked when we noticed it. I hope she is okay right now.”
The mare crashed through the door and slammed it shut, causing the two ponies to jump back in surprise. “Sorry about that!” She said while locking the door. “Now, what can I do for you two?”
They looked at each other for a second before Pinkie came up to ask.
“We were wondering if you’ve seen Rarity around. We have been going to all of the shops, asking around if they’ve seen her, and we haven’t found anything. We hope you can tell us something.”
The mare stared at her with a nervous smile. Eying the door as she spoke with hesitation.
“I… I’m sorry. I can’t really help with that.’' The mare looked disappointed. “I told Coco and Breeze the same thing. I can’t help you find her.”
Fluttershy and Pinkie looked at each other. Worry crossed over their faces as they started to walk away. “But,” the mare called out, “can I tell you something that has been going on? It’s been happening since Rarity left my shop a few days ago.”
They nodded in response, as she walked over to them.
She sat down and began to tell them the story...
“It was a day like any other. Staff came to work, ponies sorted through the dresses as you would expect. I went to the storage room to gather all of the items for Rarity’s order. Then, the air started to feel heavy.” The mare kept eyeing the door, sweat running over her face. “The place had gone quiet, weirdly quiet. Normally I could hear the music that is playing in the store, but I couldn’t even hear that. Instead, a medley came rushing into my ears. The speakers had it flood the room. There was something sinister within it… Like insanity was coated into it.” The mare noticed their worried looks and straighten herself. Closing her eyes and taking deep breaths.
“Sorry, this is making me terrified. Nopony outside the storage room seemed to have heard the music. After that, I gave Rarity her order and the rest of the day went as normal. But things changed when night fell. Every night I’ve been having nightmares since. A lightless world is where I would be. Whispers and distorted screams would ring through my ears until a black figure would appear in front of me. I would wake up every time it happened, but it would get closer to me each time.
“I’m the only one still working here now. Others were too scared to come to work today.” The mare looked at Pinkie and Fluttershy and sighed. “I hope you find what you’re looking for. There is something happening in this city, so please stay safe. I’m going to stay out here for a moment.”
Fluttershy and Pinkie stared at each other, lost in thoughts as the mare sat down, and shakily drank her coffee.
The two walked away, looking at each other with eyebrows raised.
“I really don’t know what to think about it, Pinkie. That sounded scary.” Fluttershy said, shaking a bit herself.
“Yea it was, I wonder what caused the music to pla-” Pinkie’s left ear began to flap as a shiver spiked up her back. She turned around and noticed the mare was gone. “Hey, where did the shopkeeper go?”
Fluttershy looked back and looked around for her. “She was there seconds ago!”
“Maybe she just went back inside. Ow!” Fluttershy bumped into something as a poster flew into her face.
“My posters! The Great And Powerful Trixie commands you to stop flying away from me!!” Spat an angry mare’s voice.
Fluttershy pulled the posters off her face, and saw a familiar unicorn standing in front of her. “Trixie?“ She asked.
“Oh, Fluttershy. Trixie is surprised that you came into a city like this.” She gathered the posters with her magic and placed them into her pouch. “So, may I ask what you two are up to?”
“We have been traveling through the city, asking shopkeepers if they saw Rarity.” Pinkie told her. “She has gone missing and we haven’t found anything that could help us.”
Trixie’s eyes went wide and her jaw went ajar at the news. “Really? Well, unfortunately Trixie can’t help you. But, since you two are here, I think I passed Twilight while I was taking my trailer to the park.” She pointed down the road. “She was heading towards a hotel that is five blocks away from here. Trixie doesn’t know if she is still there, but I passed her thirty minutes ago. This is all I know. I wish you two good luck.”
The two mares nodded, and gave their thanks to her.
“Wait,” Trixie called out before they walked away. “I’ll be performing tomorrow night. The great and powerful Trixie would like you and your friends to come and watch my great and powerful show. If you find Rarity, that is. It gets lonely after the performance is done. What do you say?” She asked with almost pleading eyes.
Pinkie and Fluttershy looked at each other for a moment. Pinkie gave her a smile. “Yeah sure. If we get the chance, we’ll come.”
Trixie gave them a smile and they headed off to the hotel.
“Trixie seemed to be better than the last time we met her. Alicorn amulet and that. What do you think, Fluttershy?” Pinkie asked.
“Well, it was weird to hear her pleading for us to come.” She said, confused look on her face. “Are you really sure about going to her performance when we find Rarity? I don’t think the others would agree to it.”
“I know, they may not like it but I’ll still go. I think she should get another chance, even if she can be full of herself!” Pinkie stomped around joyfully, jumping into the air. “I can see the hotel up ahead. The last one is a rotten egg surrounded by melted ice cream!” She dashed forward, leaving Flutters in the dust as she put on a smile.
Galloping behind her, she slowly caught up to the pony. The wind went through her mane, getting it wrapped all over her face and causing her to trip up onto her stomach.
Pinkie didn’t seem to notice her falling as she sped up.
Picking herself back up, Fluttershy flapped her wings and flew up. While seeing that Pinkie had stopped a block in front of the hotel, she also noticed something that made her gasp.
Pinkie dashed as quickly as she could. “Twilight! Spike! Sweet Celestia, sweet Celestia…” She called out, getting a closer look at them. Dots of blood covered Twilight’s face, while Spike’s lower face was covered in dry blood. They laid on the sidewalk, motionless.
“Come on, please be alive…” She rolled Twilight onto her back and placed her ear to the unicorn’s chest. Slow breathing could be felt, her heart rhythmically beating into Pinkies’ ears. Letting out a sign of relief, she saw Fluttershy approach her.
“Oh my gosh! Please tell me they are okay!” Fluttershy stared in a panic at the three of them as she got closer.
“Twilight is breathing, and she doesn’t have any wounds I can see. Go check if Spike is injured!” Pinkie told her.
She grabbed Spike and held him in her embrace. Blood oozed out of his nose, face turned gray. She set her hoof along his chest, feeling faint breathing.
“Please wake up Twilight. Please!” Pinkie begged her, shaking her around and getting Twi onto her hind’ legs while keeping her hooves locked to her face.
Twi’s eyes twitched open.
“Pinkie…” Twilight said weakly, blankly staring at her. “Where am I? And why…. Am I?” She continued, while touching her head that was visibly hurting.
“It’s alright Twilight,” she gave her a hug. “Trixie told us she saw you heading here. Really glad she did.” Pinkie’s ears began to flap onto her eyes. Confusing her as they alternated. Right right left left left and kept going until they stopped moving.
“What the heck does that mean?” Pinkie turned her head to look around. She caught a black hoof mark in the corner of her eye, right next to the hotel wall. Then another mark appeared. It was like something was slowly moving towards them, but they couldn’t see it.
“What is it, Pinkie? You look a bit spooked.” Fluttershy commented.
Spike coughed as his eyes opened.
“...I think it would be good if we go somewhere else.” She looked at her with a frown. “Trust me on that, please,” Pinkie said.
“Wait,” Spike woke up and called out. “ Where’s the gem? It might come in handy later.”
Flutters looked around and spotted the shiny rock with a glow coming out of it. Grabbing it, she gave it to Spike who clutched it tightly. “Thanks Fluttershy, this is more important than you would probably think. Twilight? Wait, where is she!?”
“I’m right here, Spike.” Twi replied and he hugged her immediately.
“We got to meet up with Rainbow. There is a lot we all need to talk about.” Pinkie kept on eyeing the black marks as another appeared to get closer to her. She began to walk with the others, nervously keeping her eye trained on the mark until it was out of sight.
Rainbow was flying at half the throttle, as she approached a tall red painted building that was getting bigger each second. Once a few meters away from the entrance, she suddenly stopped and flew towards the ground and landed. She then eyed the sign reading “Wild Mild West”.
“Looks like the place. What a dumb name for a play.” She smirked and commented as the clapping of hooves went on behind her.
“Well-then, that has t’ be the worst name of a play I have ever heard.” The
Applejack said, walking over to Rainbow.
“You’re preaching to the choir. Ugh, let’s get this over with.” Bringing out the keys, she pushed on the door, but it wouldn’t budge. “Why thank you for the keys, Breeze.”
Unlocking the door, they let themselves in. The place was quiet. “For maintenance or practice, this place is pretty quiet.” Dashie said.
“Come on, let’s find the stage. We are down to find somepony there.” Applejack said. Rainbow dash flew around, looking around for the auditorium entrance. Nopony was in sight. Not even a janitor, even though a cleaning cart could be seen. Nopony stood in the ticket booth either. The place felt weirdly empty, The place felt weirdly empty, her ears moving around uncomfortably as she glanced about..
“I found it!” AJ called out.
Rainbow flew over to her, following behind as she entered. Lights were lit around the room, stage having all the props set up. But nopony was around.
“Where is everypony? This is weirding me out AJ.” She said, flying over to the stage. The speaker to her left startled her, static suddenly playing from it and disappearing as quick as it came. “Stupid speaker. What the heck was that?”
“Like I know.” AJ shrugged. “The new tech is real sensitive” With that, Applejack jumped onto the stage. “Come on, we got to find somepony.”
Rainbow landed on the stage beside her, looking at the props that were laid about. “Looks like they had everything set up, but they had to abandon the place quickly. I won’t lie, this is giving me the creeps.”
“Hello! Anypony here?” AJ called out and the room echoed the words back.
Looking above, she noticed one of the lights was swinging left to right. “Hey Rainbow,” She turned to her, “can you take a look at that light? It’s swinging a bit.”
Dash nodded and flew up to take a look. “The power cable looks a bit damaged. Do you see any tape or something to cut it? We wouldn’t want this crashing down on us.”
AJ looked across the floor, spotting some pliers placed down. “They are pliers under the light!” She shouted, and bent down to grab them with her mouth.
Rainbow flew down grabbing it, catching them way sooner than AJ could even bend down. Then the light suddenly came crashing down on her.
“Look out!” AJ tackled Rainbow, the falling light missing them by inches.
“What in the holy Celestia is going on here?!” Dash shouted, picking herself up as Applejack got off her. “Who cut that light down?! Show yourself!” The lights turned off, plunging the room to darkness. “Oh great, what now?” She said, sitting down in anger.
The lights flipped back on. Rainbow was facing AJ, whose eyes went wide as her face lost some of its color. “AJ, what’s the matter?”
“Take a look for yourself.” She pointed to the seats behind her.
Eyebrows raised, she started to gag as a stench hit her nose. Dashie turned around and recoiled back. Confusion turned to fear at what she was seeing. As far as she could see, in every single seat there was a rotten corpse, with eyes replaced by insects coming out of them. Some were bloated, some looked like all their color was sucked out of them.
Both AJ and RD screamed like there was no tomorrow. The sight was unbelievable. “Where the hell did they all come from,” Aj screamed out.
“Who cares, run!” Yelled Rainbow back, knocking Applejack to the side and taking to the air. Dashing over to the top row of the seats. She looked around for a door that was once there. “Wait, the door is gone!”
“Wha?” AJ ran up to Rainbow, placing her back against the wall. One of the bodies began staring at her, its caved-in gray eyes felt like it was piercing into her soul.
“Maybe there is another exit!” Yelled Dash. “I’ll take a look on the balconies, has to be a door up there!” She flew up to the one closest to her. Landing and running behind the curtains, she checked the hall for any door in sight, but there was nothing but a hall. Only a body laid against the wall. This one was different from the others, catching her eye to take a look.
This one was fresh compared to the others. Blood oozing out of a hole where one of her legs should be. Black prints covered the dark green coat of the mare, wearing a shredded uniform. Blood covering her silver locks, Rainbow placed her hoof onto her forehead.
“Warm…” she said uneasily. “You were killed recently. What the heck happened to you?” She opened the mare’s eyes and dark smoke started to stream out of it. “This is unbelievable. Hey AJ, you found anything?” Applejack didn’t respond and the place has gone quiet. “Yo, Applejack, don’t play games with me. Talk to me!”
“He…lp me.” A faint voice hit her ears. Hair standing on end, she let out a sharp gasp. Like something just wrapped around her. Turning over to the body, its eyes seemed to be looking straight at her, “did you say that?” she thought.
She felt a hoof rub against her leg and looked down. The mare’s hoof was right next to Rainbow’s leg. When she tried to back away, the hoof shot itself to Rainbows’ neck. The body turned its head, as she struggled to break the grip. “What the hell?! Get off of me!” She began to flap her wings as fast as she could. Vomit left the corpse as she loosened the grip.
Throwing a punch, she knocked it to the side and made the corpse lose its hold. Allowing herself to fly away, she turned her back and looked around for AJ. “Where are you Applejack?! Ugh, crap.” She looked back for the body, but it was no longer there. Her eyes went wide in shock as a door appeared in its place. “Wait, what?” She looked down at the seats below her. They were all empty, no bodies and no marks left on them. “Did I… imagine all that? Applejack, where are you!”
“Ah, you must be Rainbow then.” A voice called out. “Come down, I’m over here.”
Rainbow turned to the voice, a dark blue mare unicorn with a purple mane was standing at the edge of the entrance. Confused, she landed and cautiously approached her. Getting a closer look to see bags under her eyes, and a coffee she is keeping to the side.
“It’s alright, your friend is just packing some stuff up for me. I’m Page Tale. I should have told Breeze not to allow anypony in. But well, too late now. We need to talk.”
Applejack was searching the file room, packing up documents for Page Tale into her bags. “That girl better tell us what’s goin’ on. I will make it hell for her if she doesn’t.” Alright, I got most of the stuff off her desk. She mentioned a letter but where in the haystack, is it? ” She looked around the room once more, taking a look through the cabinets. Files of practice days, schedules, and costume diagrams within them. Annoyed, she began tossing files out onto the floor and ripping drawers out of the cabinets.
“What the hay is this,” a folder was hidden under one of the drawers she ripped out. Confused, she picked it up, opening it up to see a bunch of drawings and a document full of random symbols. “Huh? ‘Classified’? What can be classified about a bunch of weird letters?” Then she noticed a small text at the bottom of the page. ‘Three wild ponies ran through a field filled with freshly baked dinosaurs &’
“Uhhh, this document is getting weirder ‘n weirder. I ain’t a scientist but that seems like a heck of a riddle to me. Twilight will surely know what it means.” She said, as she tugged the document inside her cowboy hat. “Alright, better hurry up and find the letter.” She said, and after a few moments found the letter sitting on the chair. “There we go.” She said while grabbing it with her mouth, and putting it inside of Page Tale’s bag.
“Have you put all of it inside of the bag?” Page Tale asked when she entered the room. “I don’t have much time before I have to go.”
AJ nodded and the unicorn lifted her up with a spell, keeping her in place while she cleaned the mess she made.
“What are you doing? Set me down!” Applejack spat out in anger.
“Relax, the spell will send you outside in a bit. Now listen to what I say.” The mare got close up to her ear. “ Leave the city while you can. If you value your life you will do this. Now go.”
After being teleported outside, in front of the cinema’s doors, Applejack fell flat onto her face. “Ooww. Why that unicorn!”
“You got teleported too I see. Did she tell you to leave the city?” Rainbow asked, helping AJ get up to her hooves.
“Yes she did, if that is a threat if I ever heard one. The nerve she has to say that!” She tried to open the door, but it would not budge. “It’s locked! That little rattlesnake took the key from you, hasn’t she?” RD nodded as she kicked the wall in anger.
“Let’s go find the others, AJ.” She said, when suddenly a voice called out to her.
“No need, we’re here.” They turned around to see Pinkie. The others followed shortly. “ Good to see you two are okay. Twilight and Spike weren’t so hot.” Rainbow and Applejack looked at Twilight’s bloodied face and the bandage that was placed over Spike’s nose.
“What the hell happened to you two!? You look like they put you through a meat grinder!” Aj cried out.
“It…is a long story.” Twilight replied. “We all have things to share, no doubt. Let’s get something to eat, and then we’ll share. Today has been exhausting for all of us.“
“I sure wouldn’t mind something to eat!” Dashie called out excitedly, and did a somersault in the air. “Let’s go to Papa Will’s pizzeria!”
“Yes!”,“Totally agreed!”, “Heck yeah!” sounded from everypony in the group of friends, as they all headed to get the tastiest pizza they could afford.
While they were traveling, they discussed most of what happened. Fluttershy and Pinkie told them about their encounter with the clerk, which reaped a scared look from Rainbow, who remembered that she saw the exact pony, dead back in the theater.
“Something wrong?” Asked Pinkie.
“N-no it’s just,I saw the exact same pony at the theater… what was left of her, that is.”
“What do you mean, Dashie?” Fluttershy asked.
“Exactly what I’m saying. I saw the corpse of that poor girl back there!”
That put horrified looks on everypony’s faces, and everyone’s attention focused on AJ and RD. So they told the girls and Spike about their entire visit to the theater.
By the time they finished, Fluttershy was shaking with fear. “T-that’s horrible! This doesn’t even sound like something you could make up…”
Pinkie held her, and said, “Yeah… we should definitely check up on her the next chance we get.”
“Now, hold on a second.” Said Applejack. “You met the Trixie? The one that almost killed the entirety of Ponyville? I don’t wanna point hooves at anypony, but her being in town and this stuff happening can’t be a coincidence, I’m telling yall.”
“We can’t discard that possibility.” Twi said, with a slight frown on her face as well. “It all would’ve made sense, but what me and Spike experienced in the hotel just doesn’t make sense! It was as if he was blocking my magic! Besides princesses, I can’t imagine anyone else performing such a spell. And we know that Trixie lost the alicorn amulet.”
“We will need to find all of this out. But right now, I’m just too hungry to think straight.” Proclaimed Pinkie, as they reached ‘Papa Will’s Pizzeria’. “Good day!”
“Heya.” Responded the clerk, eyeing the group of ponies. “What do you wish to order?”
“Uhh…” Pinkie thought. “Girls, what do we want?” She turned her back to the clerk, facing her friends once again.
“I see no reason to try to fight over the type of Pizza.” Replied Twilight. “I’m paying for everyone’s order!”
Cheers erupted from the group, as they all scanned the menu for their favourite pizzas and began telling their orders to the clerk.