To Twilight Sparkle it was a day amongst others. It felt like forever since she had moved into the peaceful, if a bit zany township of Ponyville. Long gone were the initial feelings of apprehension she harbored on her first arrival there.
Now Twilight had friends, something she had neglected to make before coming to Ponyville. It all felt so stupid in retrospect. Her friends were her everything now and she couldn’t imagine a day without Rainbow Dash’s bold brashness or even Pinkies unexplainable hijinxs.
She had come to love this town with all her heart, and she didn’t regret it in the least.
Twilight sighed happily and turned her head away from the window and back into the book she was reading. One of the benefits of living in a library was that you have as much reading material as you could possibly need.
But it felt a bit odd. Normally the library would not be so quiet but today was slow. Not many had come to get books in a few days. It didn’t help matters that Twilight’s assistant was out of town in Canterlot to do some errands for a week.
But in its own way the quiet was calming. Her nerves were fully up for the silence, and considering what the life in Ponyville entailed she most likely deserved it.
Twilight pulled her nose from the book again to re-read a letter she had gotten a few days ago. It was from her brother, Shining Armor. He was the captain of the royal guard, a feat their mother did not stop bringing up in conversation.
Twilight loved her brother very much. They had always been very close ever since they were young, but her time in ponyville had sadly limited their interaction. The letter he wrote was a nice surprise, although it’s contents were a bit odd.
So she read it for the upteenth time.
Hi,Twily! I hope you are doing well. Sorry I haven’t been in touch much. Duty calls, you know. Just wanted to tell you that I’m doing fine. The guys are obedient and on their top shape, as they should. Nothing that exciting has come up yet but it’s only a matter of time. Preparation never hurts.
Oh, but Iron Wall came by to see how things were doing! Funny, everypony keeps reminding him he’s retired but he just won’t have it. I bet he is just worried about me fitting into his admittedly big horseshoes.
Twilight was still amused by this news. Iron Wall was a very old stallion and a family friend. He was also the former captain of the royal guards before Shining inherited his spot. Though he was retired he still had that “spark” that only a royal guard can have, as Shining put it.
Twilight read on to the most intriguing part of the letter.
But I’m not only sending you this letter to let you know I’m fine. I’ve actually got a favor to ask of you, Twi.
An old friend of mine from school is moving to Ponyville but his housing isn’t quite ready yet. I’d very much appreciate it if you would provide him with a roof over his head until his housing gets cleared out.
Oh, and he’ll also be bringing his kid sister along, so be nice to her! They should be coming in by train in a few days. His name is Smiles and you’ll know him when you see him. Trust me.
If you’d do this, it’d mean a lot.
Love, Shiny
Ps. Just a warning. Smiles is… quite something. That’s all I’m going to say. Don’t want to ruin the surprise!
This request was a bit odd. Twilight knew Shining had a lot of friends in school but this name was not amongst the ones he had mentioned before. And the Ps was weird too, though the name Smiles made Twilight think of Pinkie Pie. Celestia knows one is quite enough.
For the most part Shining had just been so… vague about this whole thing.
Still, Twilight had accepted to house this friend of her brother. It was the right thing to do. Leaving somepony hanging like that would go against the things she had learned from her friends.
Twilight set the letter down and looked out the window again, thinking.
‘I wonder what kind of pony this Smiles is.’
I look out at the passing scenery. Everything moves by so fast it almost seems like a blur. The noise the wheels make when moving along the tracks fills the whole cabin. It’s not particularly loud, but sort of calming in fact.
Ponyville. I had heard the name a few times, but didn’t really know much about it. It really came to my attention when Shining brought it up during our previous discussion. Apparently it was a quiet little town in the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. Shining though it would be a good place to move, so I took his word for it.
His sister also seemed to live there. Twilight Sparkle. The name was not unknown to me, even without Shining telling me about her. Element of Magic and a local hero. I had to admit I am a bit anxious that Shining set up temporary housing in her home. I hope I don’t intrude.
“Hey, are we there yet?” I break out of my thinking as I hear that small voice. I look down to the filly looking out the window.
“No, not yet. Shouldn’t be long though.” I reply to the question. She just puffs her cheeks cutely and pouts.
“That’s what you said ten minutes ago!” I could not help but feel happy. Even while trying to pout and act angry my little sister managed to be so cute.
“And it’s still true.” I smiled. “But we need to be patient. Remember, we will be guests. So try to behave, okay?”
The little filly just shot me a playful glare and murmured “Fine.”
A voice spoke through the intercom. “Next stop, Ponyville station. We will arrive in five minutes. I repeat...”
“Hey, did you hear that?” My sister asked excitedly.
I chuckle and nod. “Of course.”
A moment of silence passed, filled with nothing but the tracks under us. Then she spoke up most innocently. “What do you think our home’s like?”
I put my hoof on her head and ruffled her mane lightly. “We’ll have to wait and see.”
She brushed my hoof of and hopped in place all excited. “You think my room could be pink?”
I chuckle again. So adorable. “Well, we can always paint...”
“Yay!” She throws her hooves up in joy. I’m just glad to see her happy. My darling sister.
“Hey, the train’s stopping!”
I blink. Must’ve zoned out for a second. “Well, we better get our things ready. You got your bag?”
“Yessir!” She pulled a pink bag from under her seat with a salute. I just laughed softly and got up, grabbing my saddlebags.
Oh, how pleasant. The other ponies in the cart immediately give us room as we pass. How nice of them.
We wait for the train to stop and then step out to the station. Immediately most ponies turn to look at me. It’s kind of embarrassing, but I am kind of tall. I just look down to my sister. “Okay, remember where-”
“The house that looks like a tree. Got it!” She said automatically. I ruffled her mane again.
“Good girl.”
“This is officer Glimmer Badge, reporting suspicious activity.” I overhear a pony in uniform talking into a walkie-talkie. “Reporting a small filly with a suspicious stallion at the Ponyville station. May require back up.”
“... Huh?” There was something like that going on here? Oh my, I hope the officers have it under control.
“T-the suspicious stallion has noticed me! Need immediate backup!” The officer mare yelled into her walkie-talkie… Hold on, why is she looking at- “You, stop right there!”
“... Eh?” I tilt my head as the mare jumps me, followed by two more officer mares just seconds after.
“You have the right to remain silent!” One of the mare officers says in a commanding tone as she and one other of her coworkers drag the stallion away, a blank but somewhat confused look plastered on his face.
The third one stays behind and walks to the small filly. “Don’t worry, kiddo. We got things under control.” She said with a wink. “The name is Glimmer Badge. Let me know if I can help you out any further, m’kay?”
The filly looked at the officer mare with wide innocent eyes. “Well...”
Twilight Sparkle’s reading was interrupted by a knock at her door. She put her book aside and went to answer it. The knocking continued. “Yes, yes. Coming!” She called out.
She opened the door. There stood a cocoa brown coated earth pony mare with a short amber mane and matching eyes. Twilight noted that she wore the blue uniform of the Equestrian Police Force. Her cutie mark was a shiny gold and silver badge. “Pardon my intrusion, but are you Ms. Twilight Sparkle?”
Twilight nodded, a bit confused as to why an officer of the EPF was on her door. “Yes, I am. What sort of… business do you have with me?”
“Oh, I have no business with you. She does.” The mare said, gesturing to her left side with her hoof. Twilight looked but saw nopony there. The mare pointed down.
Besides the mare was a small earth pony filly, her coat, mane and eyes all a different shade of pink, the mane a more dark shade than the rest. The mane in question was sort of poofy but obviously well taken care of. She had no cutie mark.
“Well, you think you can manage things from here, kiddo?” The officer mare asked. It was answered with a quick nod. “Then take care, little one. And stay out of trouble.” the mare trotted off with a wink.
Twilight was still looking at the filly,
“Hey, you’re miss Twilight, right? The filly asked, snapping Twilight out of her trance.
‘What… What just came over me?’, She thought before shaking it off to answer the filly. “Oh, yes. I am Twilight Sparkle. And who might you be?” She asked as nicely as possible.
The filly raised a hoof up into the air. “I’m Coral!” The filly grabbed her hoof suddenly and began pulling her. “Come on, let’s go!”
“H-hey, what-” Twilight stuttered in surprise as the filly dragged her off.
The filly just flashed her a bright smile.
“... How did I get here?” was Twilight’s first question when she next became aware of her surroundings. For whatever reason she was now standing in front of the RPF HQ, a new addition to ponyville.
“What, you don’t remember walking here?” The filly asked. Twilight became aware that she was still holding onto her hoof.
“Uh, well… Wait, why did you drag me here in the first place?!” Twilight shot a question back, remembering the initial issue. The filly, Coral, as she introduced herself just smiled.
“Well, to help out big bro of course!” Coral said. This got Twilights gears turning a bit.
“Wait… Is your brother named Smiles by any chance?” The filly just nodded. “... Then why are we-”
“Less talk, more action!” Coral interrupted and pulled Twilight inside before she could retaliate.
Inside was a waiting room with a lone stallion officer standing in as reception. He looked up at the filly and mare that just barged in. “Yes, can I help you?” He asked, lacking any motivation for his job.
Twilight was confused and did not manage to say a word before Coral answered the officer’s question. “Miss Twilight is here to bail out my big bro!”
“... What?” Twilight said flatly as her mind processed that phrase.
The officer stallion just sighed and spoke as unmotivated as before. “Description or name, please.”
“Well, he’s got a black mane and his coat is dark grey. Big bro’s name is Smiles.”
Twilight saw the stallion’s eyes shrink into tiny pinpricks at the description and some nervous sweat appearing on his face. “I- uhh… I mean… You sure you got the… right pony, little miss?”
“Eeyup!” Coral said with a weighty nod and a million bit smile.
The officer gulped. “Uhm… You- I mean… Just take the key! Take the left, second door on the right!” He placed the key on the table and quickly hid behind his desk area. Twilight raised a brow at this very strange behaviour. The stallion almost seemed scared.
Coral jumped up and snagged the key and hopped ahead. “H-hey, wait!” Twilight called out and followed the filly, if only to make sure that she didn’t get into trouble.
Left and second door to the right. Coral stopped in front of it and jumped to unlock the door, swing it open and jumped inside with an upbeat demeanor. Twilight followed but stopped at the doorway.
The room was dark and inside were two cells with metal bars. This had to be a holding area for those caught committing crimes. One of the cells was vacant. The one beside it on the other hoof…
Twilight could see a shape. A tall figure she could not make out in the dark. But what she could make out were the eyes. Like lights in darkness she was immediately drawn into them. Wide open with extremely small specks for pupils. Those eyes seemed to stare into the depths of her soul. Then the figure flashes a wide and eerie smile that sent chills down Twilight’s spine.
“Aaaand… Open!” Coral shouted cheerily as she unlocked the cell door with the figure in it. It stepped forward slowly and Twilight could hear heavy heaving, something that made her back away into the hallway.
She could not understand it, but the mere sound of hooves slowly clopping on the floor sent signals in her brain. An order to get away, even if she did not know why.
Then the figure stepped into the light, and what Twilight saw made her breath get trapped in her throat and her body froze.
In front of her was a stallion with a lanky frame and great height, somewhere between Princess Celestia and Luna. His coat was grey and his messy black mane covered its face a bit. And that was what made Twilight so uneasy.
This stallion’s eyes were wide open with its extremely small pupils. The dark bags under his eyes added to the unnerving effect of their piercing gaze. And his mouth seemed stuck in a near psychotic smile nearly going from ear to ear.
But most of all, and Twilight did not know if it was just her mind playing tricks on her, the stallion seemed to be covered in a dark, ominous aura. Then he spoke in the most creepy and unnerving voice resembling a shaky whisper.
“Hello there...”
Twilight fainted.