“See? There’s nothing here. Nightmare Moon is gone. We kicked her flank two years ago. You need to chillax and stop worrying about every little thing!”
“I know what I felt, Rainbow! I never said it was Nightmare Moon, but there is something here. I’ve been feeling an immense amount of magic being used here, and there have been reports of missing ponies around Dodge City and Appleoosa! I know there has to be a connection!”
“So some ponies got lost in the desert near Everfree Forest, what’s the big deal? Ponies get lost all the time in the desert; they’ll probably just turn up later!”
“But they haven’t, Rainbow! This has been happening for months! uugh, I still can’t believe I’ve only just noticed this recently!”
“Grrr, Fine! Let’s just get this over with already, all this silence and fog is starting to creep me out!”
o.o.O.o.o
I leaned against the wall, my face in my hooves.
Who was this ‘Rainbow’? What had I been investigating and what had I been so desperate to forget that I drank a potion that made me forget my entire life?
I strained my ears, trying to make out sounds in the dark hallway but there was nothing but silence. I breathed out a sigh of relief, and rubbed my face with my hooves. I couldn’t stay here, I didn’t know how long it would take for the Thing to find me again and I wasn’t sure I’d survive my next encounter with the monstrosity.
I walked down the hallway cautiously, my eyes having long since adjusted to the lack of light in this part of the castle. I had no idea where I was going but I knew I had to get as far away from the Thing as possible.
Even if it meant I had to walk in utter darkness.
Fear began to set in as my heart rate slowed making my legs shake as I walked in the darkness my head pounding from a headache, and every tiny sound caught my attention. I could hear faint whispering and I strained to make out what was being said.
‘I stopped and looked at Rainbow “There’s somepony here, I’m sure of it! I know what I saw, Rainbow, he might know something.” I continued down the darkened hall, searching for the Stallion I’d seen earlier.
Rainbow Dash walked beside me, staying close as she gazed about warily “I-I don’t know Twilight... why would he be hiding from us... I don’t like this... it’s too quiet, I think we should go...” I turned to Rainbow Dash, levitating the lantern higher so I could see her better.
She was visibly quaking for some reason and she kept looking back over her shoulder, muttering about ‘scratching sounds’ I put a hoof on her shoulder to calm her down.
She startled and jumped away from me, a look of abject terror in her magenta eyes “Gah! Oh, it’s you... for a moment there I thought...” I furrowed my brow in puzzlement, she looked absolutely terrified of something and I didn’t know what had her so shaken, “Thought what? That I was some kind of monster?”
A door burst open down the hall and I snapped my head over to it, seeing Rainbow Dash’s silhouette outlined by the torchlight, “Hey Twilight! I think I found something!” I stared at her stupidly for a moment.
“Hey! How...” I looked to my side to where I’d seen Rainbow earlier, only to find my hoof outstretched towards nothing...'
I shook my head, lowering my hoof to the floor again and looked at the door I’d seen in my memory.
The door was closed and flickering orange light shone from under the door and I approached it warily. My heart was racing and the sounds of my heartbeats were accompanied by the sounds of the floorboards beneath my hooves creaking.
I nudged the door open slowly, the rusty iron hinges creaking at the movement.
I stood in the doorway and gazed over the room’s contents, it was well lit because of several torch sconces and the furniture was relatively new and well cared for. I looked back over my shoulder, the fur on the back of my neck was raised and I felt horribly exposed with the long, dark hallway behind me.
I entered and shut the door, sliding the deadbolt into place with a loud, echoing thud.
I placed my flank against the door and once again looked over the room. It looked as though it had been searched before, and recently. Several tomes lay scattered about and there were sheaf's of parchment in disorganized stacks, I calmed my breathing and made my over to the nearest stack that rested on an ornate desk and picked up the first page.
o.o.O.o.o
Research Log, 6387.
I have finished setting up my laboratory here in these ruins and have continued my experiment. After the disaster in Manehattan I have concluded that I should avoid large population areas, this forest, is an adequate location in which I may continue my work.
The single test subject I was able to recover from my laboratory in Manehattan is deteriorating quickly, but that is not of concern as there are three low population districts in the area around these forests, ripe with viable replacements. My primary concern at the present time is bringing my store of alchemical ingredients back to full strength. Gathering herbs of potency should not be a problem here in these forests.
For now I must strengthen the bonds restraining my test subject, its mind has long since deteriorated into its primal state and it is prone to aggressive behavior, though that is easily controlled with regular dosages of oil harvested from Animus bane and careful pheromone manipulation.
o.o.O.o.o
I re read the note in horror, there was somepony here who was performing experiments on other ponies! What had I gotten myself into? I quickly picked up the next note and read it, occasionally looking at the door over my shoulder.
o.o.O.o.o
Research Log, 6392.
Subject A has deteriorated completely, but not before it was able to capture several suitable replacements. Two Pegasi, three Earth Ponies and five Unicorns. I have begun the process of lowering their resistance to make them susceptible to mind altering agents, I shall begin this initially on the earth ponies I have, as they represent the most basic template that I am used to experimenting on.
I have had to apply devices to prevent them from communicating with each other, as the two Pegasi have attempted to escape multiple times, I did not want to do it but secrecy must be preserved at all costs, so I have broken their wings in several key locations to cripple their ability to fly should they manage to escape restraint again.
The unicorns I must keep unconscious for now. I have some working theories I have never tested before and their biological structure is well suited for the implementation of said theories, and keeping them unconscious ensures they cannot use their magic to escape captivity.
The earth ponies are easy enough to manage as they have no special abilities to call upon to aid in an escape attempt. Regular leg restraints and sensory inhibitors keep them under control and I have begun experimentation on one, a Stallion, red coat and green mane, his talent marking depicts a wagon wheel.
Initial results are promising and the subject’s cellular structure holds minor mutations well, I believe the subject to be strong enough to handle a higher dosage of chemicals from the Mutare Flower.
Research Log, 6393.
I have succeeded in reducing the subject’s mental capacity and will, it now responds to my commands willingly and without question. I will soon begin the process of chemically altering its body. This series of changes may include improved eyesight, an increase in muscle elasticity and an advanced auditory system. However, the effects of the mutare flower are unpredictable at best and may cause one, if not several, undesirable side effects.
In addition to my usual experiments I have been performing research into a herb I have discovered growing around the castle here, minor testing reveals it to be an incredibly efficient mutagen and I believe it would be an excellent replacement for the mutare flower. The mutare flower is fairly common and easy to use and harvest, however, the effects take an incredibly tedious amount of time to have any real effect and require months of strong dosages. This new herb mutates a subject far faster and far more efficiently than any mutagen I have come across, I look forward to exploring the effects of this herb in full.
Research Log, 6394.
Success! The new mutagen, which I have named Nightstem, has exceeded all of my expectations. Upon application, the test subject almost mutated right before my eyes and I have recorded an increase in almost all expected areas of improvement, muscle elasticity has doubled, and the auditory system has improved by sixty percent.
The eyes are by far the best improvement, they now resemble those of a reptilian species, I hypothesize that the subject has improved vision. This is a breakthrough for my res-
o.o.O.o.o
I threw the note away; I couldn’t read any further, whoever had written this log was a monster! I had to get out of here, now more than ever. I was suddenly overcome with dread at what would happen to me if I were caught by this mad pony, and I said as I sank to my haunches.
“Oh, I just want to go home...”
‘I kNOw YoU aRe iN ThERe, tWIligHT...
I looked up, somepony was outside the door... whispering to me, I got up and slowly backed away from the door. My flank bumped the desk and the legs scraped against the floor noisily.
‘cOMe OuT! tWiLigHt!’
‘CRASH’
I yelped as something beat the door, the wood splintering inwards.
‘jOIn Us!’
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the door, the wood splintered and the deadbolt was beginning to buckle. It continued to beat the door and finally, it smashed inwards, revealing a wavering barrier of white mist. I screamed and covered my eyes with shaking hooves falling to the floor in terror.
I sat there, cowering for some time, before I managed to remove my hooves from my eyes. I looked up at the door only to see it still closed and completely undamaged. I sat and watched it as my thoughts unfolded and my heart rate and breathing returned to normal.
“I have to get out of here...” and with that I turned back towards the desk, and the writings of that... monster... he might have something here that I could use to escape. I began to skim through the possessions, ignoring his ‘Research logs’ and looking instead for anything that might tell me where exactly I was. I knew that I was in Old Canterlot in the Everfree forest, but what I didn’t know was where I had come from in the first place.
This mad pony might have a map of the surrounding area, listing the nearby ‘low population districts’ he’d mentioned. I pulled the drawers out and searched them quickly, I didn’t want to be here any longer than I had to be because there was no telling when he would show up.
After an exhaustive search of the room, I finally found a rolled up map, the parchment felt fairly old and I was unsure of its accuracy. I unrolled it and set it down on the desk, planting my hooves on either side to prevent the parchment from resuming its familiar shape.
Equestria, this is where I was. I quickly scanned the map, looking for Everfree Forest. I found it near the center of the map, nestled in between three towns, Dodge City, Appleoosa and Ponyville...
Ponyville...
“Then... when will you make friends, like the Princess said?” I didn’t look at Spike as the carriage soared through the sky. I, instead, looked down at the drab little town that was hosting the summer sun celebration. A small farming town in the middle of nowhere, Nightmare Moon was returning and Princess Celestia had decided to send me here to make friends.
Didn’t she realize none of that would matter when Nightmare Moon escapes?
“She ‘said’ to check on preparations. I am her student, and I’ll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends!” I braced as the carriage touched down with a slight bump in the street.
I looked around at the gathered ponies briefly before getting out with a sigh.
“Ponyville... The Summer Sun celebration...” I desperately tried to grasp more from the memory, but the details were already fading. I let loose a defeated sigh and let the memory be for now so I could focus on the situation at hoof.
I rummaged through my saddlebags, looking for a compass, I found one tucked away in the corner and withdrew it. I flipped the lid open and my heart dropped when I saw that the needle was spinning crazily, incapable of resting on a single point for more than a second before some unknown force caused it to spin again.
I dropped the useless instrument to the floor, rolled up the map and left the room.
I stood in the doorway for a moment, the oppressive wall of darkness in front of me giving me pause. I went back into the room and took one of the candles from its holder, and I held it high as I moved into the shadows carefully, my eyes warily darting about the darkened hallway. The utter silence was beginning to make me tense and I had to force myself to calm down.
I kept getting the feeling there was something following me, I could feel its gaze boring into me from the darkness. The light from my candle picked out a set of stairs and I proceeded up them. I turned the corner and looked up at the second landing, there was a single torch lighting the top of the stairs and I made for it as I adjusted the grip on the candle.
I stopped when I heard something moving up there, and I quickly blew out the candle and backed away towards the corner as it came into view.
I couldn’t see it clearly because it stood between me and the torch, but what I could make out terrified me. It resembled a pony, but it was horribly disfigured, its mane and tail were mostly gone and it had no fur, revealing its pale flesh. Its jaw hung limply, revealing a row of razor sharp teeth jutting unevenly from its upper jaw, and its hooves were cracked and splintered. The monsters flesh was torn in places from where several ribs had pierced its flesh.
I remained paralyzed in the corner, shaking in fear and desperately trying to keep my breathing under control lest I reveal myself. The creature remained at the top of the stairs, breathing heavily, as though part of its throat had collapsed.
I dropped the candle.
The creature snapped its head towards the stairs with a grunt and shuffled down the steps slowly, its torn hooves leaving smears of blood on the stone steps. I remained where I was, heart thundering and legs quaking. I pressed myself firmly against the wall as it came closer and the odor of dried blood and rotting flesh assaulted my senses.
I suppressed my breathing and remained absolutely still as it came to a stop a few feet away from me. I felt the urge to scream when I saw the lengths of rope tied tightly around its midsection, the ropes seemed to be holding the creature’s torso together. It shifted slightly, causing a few of its ribs to slide out even further. The creature didn’t seem to notice its body was falling apart and I suppressed a whimper of horror.
After what seemed an eternity, the creature continued down the stairs, the shuffling of its broken hooves and sagging flesh echoing from the stairwell. As quietly as I could, I made my way up the stairs, not bothering to pick up the candle I’d dropped and avoiding the smears of blood the creature had left behind.
Who could inflict something so horrible on another pony?
My head throbbed and the walls looked like they were warped. I turned left and stumbled down the corridor, trying to keep myself upright as the corridor warped and shifted around me, the floor heaving and the walls bulging inwards. I focused on the door at the end of the hallway and made my way straight towards it, ignoring the other doors I passed. I unlatched the deadbolt and pushed the door open and found myself in an ornate antechamber.
soft blue light streamed in from the elaborate stained windows and the ceiling stretched high above me, sculptures of what I guessed was the lighter side of Equestrian history carved into it artfully. The center of the chamber was dominated by an immense fountain depicting an earth pony a unicorn and a Pegasus in harmony beneath the sun and moon.
A staircase wound upwards from behind the fountain, leading to the tower above in an artful spiral and the sound of water trickling from the fountain gave the chamber a calming air. The world stopped heaving and I calmed somewhat. The chamber was mostly undamaged and, apart from a few cracked flagstones and worn tapestries adorning the walls, everything was perfectly preserved.
I put aside my caution and continued toward the fountain and looked into the calm waters. A unicorn mare with purple fur, amethyst eyes and a violet mane with a streak of indigo and pink running through it stared back. I smiled and the mare in the water smiled back wearily and I placed a hoof to my face.
I stood by the fountain in the courtyard, the events of the past few days had left me drained and Pinkie Pies parties always took a lot out of me and the reception was no different. I had left the celebrations as soon as I decently could to enjoy some time to relax and take stock, “Why dost thou seeketh solitude on this most joyous of celebrations, Twilight Sparkle?” I looked up to see Princess Luna.
The Princess of the Night had shadows beneath her eyes and her manes enchantment had been removed, “Oh, I just needed some time to come to terms with everything that’s just happened, it’s not every day that changelings invade... what about you, Princess? You look like you haven’t slept for days.”
Princess Luna smiled at me and joined by the fountain, “Tis nothing to worry about, Twilight Sparkle. We hath been dealing with some disturbing revelations of late and they hath robbed us of our time of rest.” Despite her words, I knew Princess Luna would not want to talk about said ‘disturbing revelations’ and that if she had wished to discuss them, she would have informed me by now.
“Excitement all around then, huh?”
“We hath guessed this to be the current trend of this strange new time we find ourselves in. We only wish we had not rebelled against our sister so we could have watched thy world grow into its current state.” I put a hoof to Princess Luna’s shoulder as she stared into the waters of the pool, she flinched slightly at the contact and then turned, looking down at me.
“You were possessed by Nightmare Moon, it wasn’t your fault, Princess.” She grimaced slightly at my words and looked back into the pools depths, “If only thy words held truth in them, Twilight Sparkle...”
I removed my hoof from my face and sighed, looking around the chamber again, I felt relatively safe, but who knew how long that would last. I could, at the very least, satiate my sudden thirst, the fountains waters looked relatively clean and safe to drink. After taking one last look behind me, I lowered my head to drink, the water was cool and free of dirt and I drank to satiation.
I finally lifted my head and wiped my muzzle dry of a few stray drops and sank down beside the fountain and closed my eyes.