//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 : News Spreads // Story: A Light In The Dark // by Umbra Dator //------------------------------// A Light In The Dark |...| Twilight burst out of the front door, right into Rainbow Dash’s face. “Twilight! Come quick! Something blew up outside of town!” exclaimed Dash, pulling Twilight. “I was wondering what blew out my windows. Do you know what it was? Where did it hit? Is anypony hurt?” Twilight asked, worried. “Just follow me, I’ll show you!” Rainbow exclaimed, beginning to run down the street. As they ran they could see in the now streetlight lit town that there were very few injuries, most of them from glass and other shrapnel whipped up by the shock-wave. Most of the windows facing the west were blown out and clean up was already starting. When she came to the edge of Ponyville Dash stopped. Seeing where Rainbow stopped, Twilight teleported next to her causing her to yelp.  “Now, what did you want to show me, Rainbow?” Twilight inquired. “I was just finishing clearing the sky when something fell from the sky and crashed over there in that field.” exclaimed Rainbow Dash now hovering and pointing impatiently. “So that’s what caused that bang...” Twilight murmured while looking to the field for any disturbance. Noticing a large pillar of smoke and some fire near the ground she turned to the chromatic pegasus and asked, " Do you think you can carry me over there?" "I don't know Twi, it looks about five miles outside of Ponyville. I don't think I can carry you that far." Twilight sat and pondered the situation, after a minute of studying the now dying pillar of smoke an idea popped into her head. "Okay, Dash just pick me up high enough that I can see the crater" Twilight said nodding to herself. "Can do!" Dash said saluting and swooping to pick the purple unicorn up. As they flew Twilight noticed that some houses had holes in the roofs and most of the glass was gone. As the source of the impact crater came into view the ever studious unicorn began to take mental notes. She noticed that there was one large crater and many small ones, presumably bits that broke off, around it. Also the main body of the meteorite was still intact. With that last observation Rainbow Dash stopped ascending. “Okay,  now on the count of three I need you to drop me, I’m going to teleport over there” “You sure about this Twi?” Dash asked, not quite sure that Twilight would be able to make it all the way over to the crater. “I’m sure” she replied her horn beginning to glow “now on the count of three... one...two...three!” Dash dropped Twilight as she finished casting her spell, she had not even fallen two feet before she disappeared in a flash of purple with a *pop!* |...|          Twilight rematerialized into the world directly next to the fallen space rock. Shaking off the dizziness that comes with teleportation she started to take a step to get closer when the rock which, now that she had gotten a closer look at it, was made of ice, not stone, began to rumble and groan. However before Twilight could react the rock split open. Staying perfectly still she waited to see if the ice block would continue to settle. After a minute or so she started to once again walk towards the ice. As she approached Twilight could see something moving in the center of the meteorite. “it looks like some sort of monkey,” she thinks. “What is it doing inside that meteorite?”. Suddenly  the creature sat up with a groan and looked around. As it turned its head towards the forest Twilight realized that it was no monkey. It had no tail and only hair on the top of its head. This is something completely different. Unfortunately, Twilight let out a gasp at this realization, and seeing that the creature was turning to look, teleported away with a faint *pop!*         Appearing near the now landed Rainbow Dash, Twilight fell to her stomach and lay there to catch her breath, after such long range teleports.         “What was over there?” Dash asked after the purple unicorn had settled.         “Something *pant* came with *pant* the meteorite.”         “What do you mean by that,” Dash inquired, “like some sort of alien?!” “Perhaps,” Twilight sighed as she stood back up, “but whether it’s an alien or not, the Princess’ need to know, let's go back Dash.” And with that Rainbow Dash and Twilight headed back to the library. |...|          Syra walked around the structure she had just come out of to get a look at her surroundings. In front and to her right was a forest, now dim by the light of the moon. To her left was a field, now smoldering. Behind her previous prison was open field and a mountain in the distance, Syra thought she could see something on the side but it was too dark to be sure. Syra began to walk towards the forest, but was stopped by a sharp pain in her leg. Foregoing any attempts to head into the forest, the young girl flattened some grass and proceeded to leave the waking world. |...|         Twilight rushed into the library, startling Spike who was picking up after earlier. “Spike, take a note!” the unicorn gasps. Dutifully, the young dragon pulled out a scroll and quill while taking a ready writing position. Dear Princess Celestia, As I am sure you know, a large object fell out of the sky near  Ponyville. It caused some damage but nopony was seriously injured. I went to investigate said object to  gain some insight to what it was. I found that it was  made of ice and laced with magic, located around five miles outside Ponyville. Upon my approach the object split open and something crawled out. I await your quick response. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle Twilight nodded and with a breath of fire and the scent of burning paper, the message was sent.