//------------------------------// // The Train To Canterlot // Story: Rocket To Insanity : Twilight's Passage // by DontWakeTheNeighbour //------------------------------// To say you could cut the tension with a knife would be an understatement. Spike found himself struggling to stay awake as he looked out the window of the train as it charged towards Canterlot. The lack of sleep was starting to take its toll on the baby dragon. The only thing that was keeping him awake was the thought of Twilight turning. As he weakly looked across the table, he saw the tired unicorn, herself barely conscious as her eyes drooped before her head abruptly darted up, her eyes wide with fear. But soon she began to doze off; the cold arms of slumber began to embrace her. Spike tried to open his mouth to speak but he too found the darkness flooding his sight. “NO!!” Spike’s mind screamed as he shook himself before he called out to the sleeping unicorn. “Twilight!” No answer he shouted again, still nothing. He soon found himself starting to panic, but then he took a moment to sit back in his chair. Spike’s body stayed as stiff as a board as he watched the purple unicorn sleep, but then he started to calm down thinking to himself. “It’s been days. I bet she hasn’t slept at all since. ... That happened.” He smiled, it was the first time he had seen Twilight so calm and still. Not rushing around or trying to kill him. He sighed to himself, trying to convince himself that it’ll be okay. Maybe she’ll find out who started this war, maybe this whole nightmare can end. ********** “Heheheheh.” .... “Heeheeheehee.” “Uh?” “SPIKEY!!” Spikes eyes shot open, his heart shot into his throat as he saw the chair in front of him was empty. Suddenly a shadow loomed over him, instantly filling his heart with fear. Without thinking, Spike threw himself to the ground; his grunts of pain were soon overshadowed by the loud crash echoing throughout the carriage. Opening his eyes, he saw a pile of his clothes and belongings spilled all over the floor as well as Twilight’s. Suddenly the carriage was silent, Spike held his breath, trying to clear his vision as he could hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears. Tense moments passed, still no sound, Spike tried to think it off as a hallucination but then the evil giggles of the insane pony were heard once again. Suddenly a tornado constructed of paper scrolls and quills exploded from the centre of the carriage, rocking it from side to side. Spike yelped, he couldn’t see through the parchment storm in front of him. Then suddenly, everything fell to the ground, revealing the lavender unicorn, which was sat down, giggling at the floorboards. Spike’s vision cleared, he was struck with horror, not only had the monster in Twilight’s mind taken over her body again but Spike could also see disturbing red marks going around the left side of her body. Branded like tattoos but looked like veins and arteries. The marks went along her hooves, like leafless branches they clung to her body almost making Twilight unrecognisable. In fact the only thing that could resemble Twilight was the distinctive burn on her flank, where her cutie mark was before she watched her best friend, Rainbow Dash, plummet to her death. “S-s-s-spiiiiiiiiiike.” The monster said in a mocking voice. “S-s-spiiiiiiiiiKEEYYY!!” Her voice was distorted, like every demon in Equestria was in her body, Spike could hear a deep bellowing growl a, menacing snigger and the screech of a young fillies voice talking at the same time. “Hellooooooooo SPIKEY!!” The purple dragon recoiled in horror as the possessed unicorn looked up at him. Those eyes, they stared directly into the darkest depth of his soul, like red orbs with black ink swimming in the centre and white dots which resembled the pupils. Spike could clearly see the freak staring at him, which only made this whole ordeal even more terrifying. “T-t-twilight?” He whimpered as a vain attempt to snap Twilight out of this psychotic state. But nothing happened, instead the unicorn stood up, looking like it was using all its strength to do so. “What the hell is going on here?” A colt’s voice shouted from behind. Spikes hopes soared but soon went down again. To his horror, the monster’s horn began to glow, it’s new found power slammed the doors of the carriage shut, locking them for good measure before anyone could run in and help. The scrolls were picked off the ground and began to circle the room once again, no pony could see in or out of the room, Spike found himself pushing against the door behind him but it was sealed shut. There was nowhere he could run, he shuffled into a corner as the psychotic monster was only inches away from him. “W-WHO ARE YOU?!! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!!” It smiled, it’s toothy grin was also red with those gruesome marks. “W-w-what do I want?! HeheHAHAHAHAHAH!!! HA!! HA!! HAAAAAH!!” A sudden was of silence swept across the room. You could hear a pin drop, even the raging storm around them fell silent as Twilight’s puppeteer whispered. “Death to all and thyself.” The deafening storm came back as the demon jumped onto its hind legs, neighing to the sky before shouting in an ear shattering tone. “DEATH TO EXISTANCE!!” Spike looked past Twilight, a crowd of unicorns and earthponys were trying desperately to open the door but there was no use. Spike was doomed. Twilight gave one last look of madness before her hooves came crashing down on her assistant’s head. Spike was lucky, his scales made him tough to injure but that didn’t stop the beast from trying. Again and again it struck its hooves, harder and harder on his head. Spike screamed but nobody could hear him over the chaos. Spike cringed, there was only one thing he could do to save himself. “I-I’m sorry.” Spike took a deep breath before forcing a fireball from the depths of his lungs and into the unicorns face. Spike saw his chance, the beast screamed, wailing as its body was burnt in the combustion. Spike began to crawl away; his legs were shaking too much for him to stand up. Suddenly the screaming ceased and Spike was stopped in his tracks as a bubble of light consumed his body. The baby dragon was forced onto his stomach, he couldn’t move, he screamed again but to no avail. Spike could see in the reflection, it was standing right over him. *Chomp!* Spike screamed again, he felt the unicorns teeth grab his scales and slowly begin to pluck them off his back, one by one. Spike wanted to flail about wildly but he was held still as the torture commenced. Soon a good chunk of his scales was missing from his back, leaving only a soft leathery like texture. Spike closed his eyes, he knew what was coming, all Twilight had to now was plunge something into his back and that would be it. He felt the scolding hot tip of Twilights horn press onto his flesh. Spike began to blow fireballs anywhere he could, he had to do something. ANYTHING! Twilight reared up, about to deliver the final blow, Spike closed his eyes, this was it. Suddenly the bubble surrounding his body slowly began to fade, he could move again, he looked back, the monsters look of lust for blood as diminished into a look of fear and despair. Everything fell silent once again as Twilight horn grew brighter and brighter, suddenly a beam of light exploded from her horn destroying the entire right side of her carriage, papers belongings, everything flew out of the train and into the countryside. Then Twilight screamed, she screamed as loud as her lungs could take before her body fell limp onto the ground. Spike push himself onto his feet ready to run for the door but then he saw Twilight’s body rolling to the edge of the train. Without thinking her ran as fast as he could, grabbing Twilight’s tail as she fell off the edge. Spike dug the claws of his free hand into the hard wood of the floor stopping both him and Twilight from falling to their death. His arms burned, his claws began to slip then he heard the door crash open. “HELP!!” He screamed as loud as he could. *Rip!* Twilight’s tail was tearing, he couldn’t move but in a matter of seconds mare and colts from all directions ran to his aid. Spike was relived but then he saw that they were trying to pull him in. “NO!! TWILIGHT!! HELP TWILIGHT!!” The trains whistle roared as Spike looked down the tracks, a tunnel was in sight and already the locomotive was inside, he had seconds left. Using all his might Spike growled as he tried to lift Twilight his left arm his arm slumped but his grip remained firm. Ponies from all around him tried everything to reach down to Twilight but there was nothing they could do without falling out themselves. Spike looked down the train again; the tunnel was two coaches down. He had moments to make a choice. Let go and live and Twilight might possibly survive the fall down the steep hill or try to lift again with a risk the tunnel could kill them both. Spike eyes momentarily glowed green as he made his decision. With one earth shattering yell he used what remained of his strength to toss Twilight over himself and back into the carriage, then all of a sudden the wreck of a coach turned dark as Spike drifted out of consciousness as his last ounce of energy was spent closing his eyes.