//------------------------------// // The Time of Darkness // Story: Nightmares Over Equestria // by Ignimbrite //------------------------------// "Alright youngin's, it's time to go to bed." "But Grampa, we wanna hear another story." "Sorry, but it's gettin' late." "Awwwwww..." The old stallion chuckled. "Well, don't forget. Your grandma's makin' pancakes in the mornin', and the mornin' won't come if you don't go to bed." The foals all looked around at each other, a single question echoing in their minds. Gramma's pancakes, or Grampa's stories? "How about this? Since we've got all mornin' before your parents all come back to pick you up, I'll tell you a bunch of my stories instead of just one." "I thought we were goin' fishin' by the lake." "Ahhh, but that's the thing, young filly." He poked her on the nose. "The best time for stories is while fishin' by the lake." "Really?" "Really. In fact, I might just tell you the story of the first time your folks caught a fish. It happened right at the same lake we're goin' to tomorrow." Their grandma came in and looked over at the colts. "Or he could tell of how your father first kissed your mother out by that creek." All four foals provided some rather amusing facial expressions. "Eeeewwwwwwwww..." The stallion looked back to the fillies. "Well then, I just might have to describe the time your father just about fell into the creek tryin' to reel in a big one instead." He turned to the colts again. "Or maybe I might describe the time yours caught the biggest catch of his life when it bit his nose." That was when their grandma jumped in again. "Or I could tell you of the time your dads both tricked your grandpa into thinkin' he caught the biggest one of his life when it was really only this big." She held her hooves an inch apart. "Hey... it was this big!" He held his hooves two inches apart. The foals looked at each other, then raced off to their rooms. That was a story they for sure weren't gonna miss. In Manehatten, a young colt sat upright in his bed as his parents came in.   "Hey champ, how are you doin' today?" "I'm fine.  Doc just left.  He told me he wanted to try something new." "I know," his dad replied, "we saw him on the way up." "Think it might work?" His parents looked at each other.  Finally, they turned back to him.  "We think so.  He said you could start tomorrow if you're up to it." Before he could respond, there was a knock at the door.  It slowly opened, and a masked thestral walked in, speaking in a gruff voice. "Any of you seen a pony in clown makeup?  I've got word that he has something big planned for tonight, and I can't let him get away with it." The colt's eyes became wide as saucers.   "Woah.  Batstallion!" The thestral stepped over to his bed. "Hello there kid.  You haven't seen the Prankster by any chance, have you?" As the colt shook his head, Batstallion fished a small flashlight out of his utility belt, turning his head to hide a small smile.   "Well if you do, shine this out the window, so I'll know where to come.  Okay?" The colt gaped as he took the flashlight.  Somewhat curious, he pointed it at the wall and turned it on, projecting Batstallion's logo onto the surface. "Whoaaaa..." He looked up to the masked thestral. "Thank you.  I will." "And in the name of justice, thank you.  Now, I must be off." The two parents grinned.   "Well, that's not something you see every day." They continued talking until the visiting hours were expended.   "See you in the morning, champ." "Honey. Something's wrong." The stallion raced to the hospital as quickly as he could, carrying his wife on his back the entire way there. He burst through the doors to the ER and called out for help. The workers immediately removed his wife from his back and took her away, asking questions the entire time. He didn't remember what the questions were about. He didn't even remember the answers he gave. All he remembered was sitting alone waiting for them to bring her back out. At least, it seemed he was alone. The room might have been empty, or it might have been filled with ponies, but he wouldn't have noticed. Eventually, another pony came in and sat down next to him. "Your wife is safe now." He looked up, and saw the doctor beside him. "You brought her here just in time. She's stable, and she should be able to go home again in about an hour." "What... what about her foal?" The doctor looked down and exhaled. "I've never seen anything like it before. Nothing on any of the tests showed anything wrong. There is no discernible cause for this..." He steadied himself before continuing. "She's gone sir. I suspect she was before you even made it out your door." "How is your part coming?" "Almost there sir. The crystal's about halfway charged." The colt slipped away that night, still holding on to the flashlight. He looked at the crystal. It was so close to perfection that he could practically feel the energy buzzing through it, but it just wasn't quite enough. Gramma stood outside her room, pale and shaking. "Shadow Fax!" The colt galloped up and skidded to a stop in front of her. "Get Doctor Neighsier. You remember where she lives, right?" The colt nodded. "Good. Tell her to come. Grampa's sick." The colt dashed out the front door faster than he ever had in his life. As the door slammed behind him, two fillies and another colt watched, then turned to the mare. "Is something wrong?" "Yes youngin's, I'm afraid there is." The pony packaged the crystal into a box with the other equipment.   Now that the crystal was charged and ready, all they needed was the host. Red Shirt had finally gotten over her fears of getting kidnapped again and was out picking up groceries.  She had picked up everything on her list and was now walking through the market on her way home. Out of nowhere, a dart lodged in her neck.  She pulled it out, examined it, and fled.  More darts filled the air, but the rest of them missed.   She was almost to her home when lightheadedness overtook her.  She tripped, she stumbled, she got back up.   If I could just reach the door... Thirty feet...   Twenty feet...  Ten...   She passed out. Red Shirt Dies