//------------------------------// // Help/ Attempt // Story: The Thin Man // by kirbyzilla //------------------------------// The mental state of Twilight Sparkle deteriorated as each second passes. Everything she could see is her worst nightmare. Eyes open, eyes closed, she saw the same thing. But she still didn't know what it is that she saw. Every negative emotion ran through her at every waking moment, amplified far greater than it would be for a normal being. Her fear was consuming her. Spike had sent his letter to Celestia only minutes prior to her arrival- yet, it seemed like so much more. It was because of Twilight's fear, that he now fears. Maybe for a different reason, but it is contagious nonetheless. Celestia hadn't knocked, or made any indication that she was coming in, and had the look of utmost haste as she quickly came in the house. As would be expected. Celestia spoke before Spike even got a chance. "Where is she?" Spike pointed a finger at a closet in another room and said, "In there. She won't tell me anything, she just ran in there, seconds after leaving the house, and made noises that sound like crying... Can you help her?" Celestia thought for a moment before answering. "I do not know." This was not an answer spike wanted to hear. "W-what do you mean?" "I mean what I say. I will do everything I can, but I cannot guarantee you anything." The fear spread even deeper into spike. He said nothing after that, as nothing would be appropriate to say at the moment. Celestia hurried to the door, but with the same grace that she always walked with. She knocked on the door. "Twilight, it's me, Celestia! May I come in?" Twilight panicked. This was not the voice she wanted to hear. She did not want to see the face of her teacher, role model, princess to be perverted by the mess of humanity that her brain would interpret it as. "No! Stay out!..." "I am here to help you, Twilight, I know what you are going through! I want you to be relieved of your fear!" "I can't... You can't... I don't want to see it! I want everything to be what it was before, but the face in my head appears all the time, whether my eyes can see, or if it is black as night... I do not want to see you as an evil!" Her speech now, just after a couple hours of this fear, was becoming more and more vivid, more psychotic. It was not her, and this should not be her. "Twilight, it's spike! You have to let Celestia help you! We want you to be normal again to... just let us help!" "You do not understand... I can't look at any of you! You will be vile and disgusting! Along with the face I see in the dark! You all are him! Don't be him!" Celestia closed her eyes and sighed. "This is not the Twilight I know. This is almost just a... shell of her... I do not want her to be afraid of us though. Bring me the book." Spike nodded, and went to grab the book that is destroying Twilight. Had destroyed, I mean. "I may be able to reverse this spell if I can know what I'm looking for... let me try." Celestia focused her magical powers into the book, searching for a trace of an indication as to what spell was used on the book. She dropped it, and put on a panicked look. "There's not even any trace of magic on this book... She isn't under any spell... it really is all in her head... Spike, come with me. Bring the book." They went back to the closet that twilight was locked in. "When I asked Twilight's permission to come it, it was completely courteous. We both know I can get in with the utmost ease. But that isn't what I'm going to do. I know where she is in the room by just hearing her voice, so I will try to search her mind for any bad thoughts, and try to erase them." Spike nodded again. "Do you think it will work?" Celestia frowned. "I have no way of knowing..." So, her horn glowed, and she targeted Twilight from across the door. It was easy to get this far, but searching her mind was another task in itself. She was searching for at least a good 20 minutes, but she found something. But that something wasn't good. "Spike... I have bad news..." "W-what's with that face? What did you find?" "There... was no hint of any source of fear inside of her, or at least any she planted within herself. So whatever this is, it isn't her fault. From the memories and reactions I found, it pains me to say that this is not psychological. It is real. Whatever is plaguing Twilight is from the outside, and is a real creature that can come out from that room at any moment, and put the same fear she has, and put it into you." Spike froze. Celestia had done her job. The fear of knowledge was put into Spike. It was spreading now. Fear is a funny thing... Just knowing of one persons fear, can put fear into you, because you think that you may be implanted with the same. But it is a different fear you have. You would be... Scared to be scared, if you will. Scared to know...