//------------------------------// // Ponyville Burns // Story: Shrouded in Fear // by TinnyPiano26 //------------------------------// As Ponyville slowly came into sight, Twilight was horrified to discover smoke and fire covering the small town. She quickened her pace, rushing to Ponyville in hopes that she could still stop the Dark One. As the lavender alicorn reached her destination, however, she saw that most of the buildings were already burned to nothing but ashes, the town seemingly deserted. Twilight slowed down and stopped, stunned by the horrific scene before her, observing the charred bodies of other ponies littering the streets. Twilight bowed her head, tears coming to her eyes, as the situation began to sink in. "It's horrific, isn't it?" a voice said behind Twilight. Her head shot up and turned toward the source of the voice to see a brown stallion with a dark brown mane and an hourglass cutie mark approaching her, a depressed look in his eyes. Twilight turned her head back to the burning remains of Ponyville. "Yeah, it is. I wish I could've done something." she replied. Doctor Whooves stopped beside her and sat down, looking at the devastation before them. "You wouldn't have been able to do anything. It all happened too quick." Twilight looked at the nut-brown pony. "What did?" He sighed and gestured towards the burning wasteland. "A giant black cloud came and started rushing through the houses, setting them all on fire. Many ponies tried to stop the fires, but the cloud rushed over and set most everypony on fire. Those that survived hid from the cloud, taking shelter behind and inside the burning houses. Most of them died. Those that didn't fled from Ponyville in search of help." "Why didn't you leave?" she questioned him. He turned and looked into Twilight's eyes. "I don't really know, myself." Twilight stared into his eyes for a few moments before hearing a distant explosion. She turned her head towards it and saw Canterlot being destroyed. She jumped to her feet and turned back to the Doctor. "Sorry, but that's my home, and I have to save it." she said to him. The brown pony stood up. "Very well. I wish you luck, princess." Twilight nodded and started channeling magic to her horn. The Doctor stood watching her, the look in his eyes becoming more and more worried, and just as Twilight teleported, he grabbed her and went with. As Canterlot ponies rushed for cover from the raging explosions occurring all around them, a bright purple flash enveloped the town square. When it subsided, Twilight and the Doctor stood in the middle of the carnage. Twilight pulled herself away from the brown stallion and looked into his eyes. "What the hay?!" she yelled at him. The Doctor shrugged. "I wanted to come with you. I can't stand being bored. Besides, I've always wanted to visit Canterlot." Twilight rolled her eyes and turned around, just as a black cloud rushed by them and into a building which soon after exploded. It flew out of the top and stopped in front of the lavender mare and the brown stallion and took on the form of a face. "Well, I didn't expect to see you here, princess." It turned to the Doctor. "Who's this? Your coltfriend?" "Shut up, Dark One." Twilight snapped at him. "I came here to stop you, and this is --" "The Doctor," the stallion proudly stated, "just the Doctor." "-- who came with me to stop you." The Dark One floated back, seeming to shake as he did so. "Oh, no. A doctor! I'm soo scared!" He began whirling around the Doctor, laughing maniacally, and started building up a fire, threatening to burn the brown pony alive. Twilight shot a magic blast at the dark tornado, going though it and hitting the building behind. "Say goodbye to your coltfriend!" the Dark One shouted over the sound of rushing wind. Suddenly, the dark mass screamed in pain and rushed off towards the Everfree Forest. Twilight looked up and saw Princess Cadence floating down, her horn glowing. As he hooves touched the ground, she trotted to the lavender alicorn and wrapped her forelegs around her neck, embracing her. "Are you alright, Twilight?" she asked. Twilight returned the hug and replied, "Yes, I'm fine, Cadence. Thank you." The Doctor shakily got up and rubbed his forehead. "Oh, geez, that felt weird." Cadence broke the embrace with Twilight and trotted over to the brown stallion, hugging him. "Um, hello?" he asked, confused. "You're right here, so I might as well hug you, too." Cadence replied. He looked at Twilight, who shrugged and mouthed, "She's the princess of love. Just go with it." The Doctor slowly returned the embrace, still confused. "Well, thank you." He added under his breath, "I guess?" Cadence broke the embrace and turned back to Twilight. "Anyways, I'm glad you're here. I have a feeling Celestia might want to speak with you." Twilight nodded and set off towards the castle, the Doctor following closely behind, still occasionally looking at the sky, fearing that the Dark One might come back. Cadence giggled and trotted up beside him. "Don't worry, I don't think he'll come near you as long as I'm here." The Doctor nodded and continued, still worried.