//------------------------------// // Aftermath // Story: Experiment 187 // by Mike the Red //------------------------------// Twilight trotted slowly back to Ponyville, a short jaunt which lasted only ten minutes. She took the opportunity to reflect upon the tragic events which unfolded as a result of her experiment. The closer she came to the town, the greater the enormity of the damage done became evident, causing her to gasp in astonishment at just how bad the situation was. Her dragon assistant saw her and scampered onto her back. "Did you find Twi-bot?" he asked, a worried expression on his face. "Discord killed her, Spike," she replied in a flat monotone. She trotted around the town, taking mental notes of the damage, tears trickling down her cheeks as she realized just how many ponies had died. She decided to visit Sugarcube Corner to see if she could find Pinkie Pie, though after having trotted in that direction for about five minutes or so, she came to regret that decision. The sounds of wailing and sobbing filled the air, the smell of death hanging like a shroud. Blood stained the walls of various cottages as well as the streets as ponies tended to the wounded and dead. Some of them gave the librarian a harsh glare as she passed them, others spat at her, some of them cursed her name. The further she went, the more depressed she became. I hope Pinkie's okay... she thought as she entered the bakery. "Hello? Anypony here?" she asked as she surveyed the main room. The sound of hoofsteps rapidly descending the stairs alerted Twilight to another pony's presence before she was tackled to the floor by a very angry Pinkie Pie, her mane and tail completely flat and straight. "How could you?" the baker screeched. "Everypony's dead because of YOU! Rarity! Cheerilee! Diamond Tiara! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Fluttershy! I can't even --" she wailed as she began sobbing, tears flowing from her eyes. "I'm so sorry, Pinkie! I had no idea something like this would happen! Even Princess Celestia's gone!" "We're doomed, you know that, don't you?" Pinkie asked gravely. "Without the Princess, who's gonna raise the Sun?" "I think Princess Luna can do that, Pinkie -- look, I had no idea this would happen! I am so sorry! Please, please forgive me!" the librarian wailed, tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks. "I forgive you, Twilight -- but I don't think it's safe for you here in Ponyville anymore -- I overheard some ponies talking about burning down the library after you go to sleep tonight," she warned softly. "I know you meant well, but ... I can't guarantee your safety if you remain here much longer." "Oh, Pinkie Pie, what have I done? I -- I -- I can't believe something like this would happen! I only wanted -- I only wanted to make just one robot to give Spike a break sometimes..." the librarian muttered, her words trailing off as she seemed to be thinking of a plan. "I know you're my bestest friend, Twiley, but --" the baker began before grief overcame her again. She fell to the floor as she wept. "Pinkie, look -- I'm really sorry -- but if it's not safe for me here, I guess I'm going to have to take Spike with me back to Canterlot or somewhere." "Just -- just -- go, please," Pinkie begged. Twilight and Spike left the bakery silently. Upon exiting, a small group of surviving ponies was waiting for them, their faces unified in anger. "Look, I'm reeeeealy sorry about what happened -- I had no idea something like this would happen!" the librarian declared, trying to make her voice heard above the outcry. She began to back away slowly from the advancing group of ponies -- only six of them were in the small mob, but all of them showed extreme anger at the mare. "Umm, can I get a few books from the library before I leave? I'll talk to Princess Luna to see what can be done to help you," she offered. "I think you'd better leave now, Twilight -- unless you want us to be even angrier with you than we already are," one of them declared. "Haven't you done enough damage here already?" asked a tawny yellow earth pony mare who bore many cuts and bruises as a result of the beating she took. "We can't let you stay here any longer, Twilight -- you've got five minutes to grab whatever you can from your home before we set fire to it!" shouted another stallion. "I don't wanna wait that long! I wanna burn her house down NOW!" shouted another mare. "No! Please! Not the library!" Twilight pleaded as she watched the mob of ponies start slowly moving towards her. Spike retreated behind her, cowering in fear as the mob began shouting at her, readying lit torches that had been surreptitiously given to them by a unicorn. Their voices seemed to meld together in an angry cacophony, the collective sound drowning out any discernible single statement. "I'm sorry!" the librarian wailed as tears streamed down her cheeks. She cast a barrier to keep the mob from advancing and retreated to the interior of the library, quickly choosing books to save -- but the sad fact was that she wanted to save all of them. Trying to make such decisions with no time to spare caused her to panic and she began taking books at random, teleporting them to the train station. Trying to maintain her barrier and teleport books overtaxed her magic skills and the mob began setting fire to her tree. "NOOO! STOP!" she screamed out as the fire began to work its way to the top of the tree. The fire moved quickly, forcing Twilight to scamper as quickly as she could -- she teleported some more books out before the smoke began to bother her too greatly. "Twilight! We have to leave! NOW!" Spike admonished as the sound of the flames roaring all around them forced him to shout. "Just a few more books, Spike!" she pleaded as she sent as many books away as she could. She started coughing as the smoke began to overwhelm her. "C'mon, Twi! Let's go! NOW!" the drake shouted in a panicked frenzy, tugging at her mane. Both of them coughed violently as the smoke obscured everything but the floor they were standing on. "Just a few more books, Spike," she said through her coughing fit. At this point, a flashover occurred as everything seemed to ignite spontaneously. "AAAAAGHHH! Not now!" she cried out when she saw all the remaining books catch fire. "Okay, Spike, I guess we have no choice but to leave," she noted glumly as she picked up the drake and teleported to the train station. "Two one-way to Canterlot, please," she requested at the ticket agent's window -- only to see that the pony in question was slumped over the counter. She used her magic to prop him up and shrieked in horror as his head detached from his body and fell to the floor. Another pony came up at this point. "Going somewhere, Twilight?" asked Lyra, glaring daggers at the librarian. "Um, I'm headed to Canterlot," she replied, glancing around nervously. Her gaze wandered the platform to see a large pile of books from the library, some of which were marred by smoke from the fire. "I'm sorry I ever asked for a robot -- I wish you'd never built any of them!" "I wish I'd never built that first one either, Lyra -- I am so sorry! Please forgive me!" she wailed. Lyra maintained a steely expression, trying to contemplate the request. An awkward silence followed for a few brief moments, punctuated by loud yelling coming from a distance. Apparently Twilight had been spotted, but the sound of a train whistle was music to her ears, even though it meant she'd have to leave the town she'd grown so fond of. "Lyra, I promise I will do whatever I can to make amends for my mistake," she offered. "Yeah, well -- Bon Bon's in the hospital," the mint-green mare growled. "You should be thankful I'm willing to let you go -- but you'd better not come back if you know what's good for you!" The librarian hung her head sadly, her ears laying flat against her head. The shouts of the mob grew increasingly louder as they began to move faster upon seeing her at the station. It was a tense few minutes for Twilight as she anxiously awaited the arrival of the train to take her to Canterlot. For a moment, she was afraid the mob of angry ponies would reach her first, but at least in this instance, she was lucky enough to board the train with Spike. She teleported the pile of books into the carriage just as the mob began beating on its doors, the train blowing its whistle as it began to pull away. Tears streamed from her eyes as she watched the town fade from sight, knowing she could never return to it with any degree of safety. She turned to look at her dragon assistant, who lay unconscious. She silently wondered if he would be okay or if he had succumbed to smoke inhalation. When the train pulled into Canterlot Station, a phalanx of Royal Guard were waiting for her, as was Princess Luna. Her grim expression made Twilight's heart drop. "Word travels fast, Twilight," the Lunar Princess stated in a low measured tone.