//------------------------------// // Book One; Chapter Fourteen // Story: What Happens After Dusk // by Tiaa OwO //------------------------------// Ditsy Doo reached out for her daughter and grabbed her. She sniffed that fragile neck and imagined crushing it with one squeeze of her hand or tearing it out and watching the lovely red liquid gush out like a waterfall. The pegasus mare shuddered and ran her tongue over the artery, causing Dinky to whimper and squirm. "I'm going to enjoy this, muffin." Ditsy purred into Dinky's ear. "It'll be so fun. Don't worry, it won't hurt too much..." The mare opened her mouth and dug her teeth into her daughters neck. The filly screamed and flailed her arms, hoping that somepony would hear her and come to help before it was too late. There was the sound of feet coming down the halls and Dinky hoped it wasn't one of the shady guards that took after the Princess in these situations. "What's that screaming about?!" a ghoul guard growled. Another two guards, one a faerie and one a shadow being, followed behind that one and entered to the room. They stopped and gaped for a few seconds before one hissed, and the other grunted. Dinky continued to scream and write in pain. The ghoul wrapped his arms around Ditsy's neck and held on firmly. The shadow's four black tentacles stretched out and grabbed Ditsy. He narrowed his pure-white eyes and made a raspy, guttural noise before prying herd of Dinky and flinging her across the room. Dinky felt to the floor with a groan and pressed her hands to the wound in her neck. The faerie leaned down and checked her over with his dark magic. "Hm... She didn't go too deep to fracture anything but you'll bleed out if we don't get you help soon." he said. "What do we do with this one?" the ghoul asked, keeping Ditsy in a chokehold despite her struggles and angry screams. "I doubt the Princess will want a rabid one running around here." "Take her to the king. The Princess and the princes don't know about The Infection yet." the faerie answered. Dinky was going in and out but still heard enough to instantly panic. What infection? What's going on? Why is the king hiding this from the princes and Princess?, Dinky thought, her eyes tearing up. Then, she asked herself a question that made her fear for her life, What if I have this infection, whatever it is? What will happen to me...!? "She left. Probably went to see if there'll be any changes in guard shifts or anything." Flash said to Simon. The earth pony shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "But think about it...she's a little kid...she hasn't come back...something could've happen to her." "She's been here longer than any of us, " Blueblood sighed. "This place is practically home to her. I'll bet allt he guards and whatever freaks they have out there are old friends or something." "While your reasoning can be true, Blueblood, Simon does have a point. Just because she's been here before doesn't mean we should expect her to be alright running around this Faust forsaken place." Caramel frowned and glanced at Simon who glanced at Flash. "I think she's in trouble. I don't know how I know but...I feel like something's not right. We need to get out of here and go help her." "And how do you suggest we do that, Oh Mister Enlightened One?" Blueblood sneered. Caramel shot him a look and glanced at Simon again. "Well, we do have a volunteer who has years of experience staying hidden." Simon put up his hands and his eyes widened. "WOA WOA WOA, are you talking about me?" Caramel smiled a bit trollishly and Flash smiled and Blueblood scowled. "Nonononononononono. I am not going out there. This room is locked and safe and not filled with crazy not-so-mythical creatures that want to kill me. I'm staying right here and there is no way you're getting me to go out there." ~Ten Minutes Later~ Simon was crouched behind the door and managed to slip past as Flash and Blueblood managed to make a big enough distraction to make both guards come in. Simon quickly wondered how Dinky got the weapons to them if there were two guards by the door at all times. He made a mental note to ask her later, when he found her and brought her back. "How did I get talked into this...?" he wondered to himself and continued to creep down the halls and not get a heart attack from every little sound. Dinky let the nurse tend to her wounds. She stared at the ceiling, her vision going blurry a few times and ignored the throbbing pain that was coursing through her body. She wondered if it was The Infection that she was feeling. The nurse had given her painkillers before getting to work on the wounds so it wasn't her injuries causing all that pain. "You alright, honey? Need a little more juice?" the nurse asked in that soft, soothing voice of hers. So, her discomfort must've been visible then. Dinky shook her head no but stopped when her neck felt like she was trying to rip it off. "No ma'am." she lied and tried to focus on the problems she now faced. She had to warn the guys. With some viral threat going around the castle, there was the possibility things would change. The whole banquet could be canceled...all those ponies would end up getting sold as blood-slaves! She couldn't have that. "How long to you think this will take, ma'am? I need to...get to...the Princess." "Almost done, dear. But...you should rest. You've been through so much today and there's these wounds you have..." "Yes, I understand all that but I really have things to do... I promise I'll take it easy after but now I-" Dinky's jaw dropped as she watched Simon creep past the door. She stared and he backed up, staring at her, wide eyed. The nurse moved to turn around so Dinky grabbed her arm. "What's the matter?" "Oh...um...I just wanted to say how thankful I am..." Dinky made a shooing motion at Simon. He made wild gestures as if asking, what the hell happened!? The nurse tried to glance behind her, curious of what Dinky was looking at. "...aaaand I wanted to make sure you heard me say it before I leave." "You're very welcome, dear. Can you let go of my arm?" "Um...sure..." Simon beconed her to come to him and she shook her head and gestured to the nurse. "What're you doing? Who's behind me-" the nurse began, turning. "NURSE!" The nurse whipped back around to face Dinky, worry etched onto her features. "What is it? What's wrong?" "I...um...I ...need you to check out my head..." Dinky winced at her own lie. The nurse mistook it for pain so she inspected Dinky's head. Go hide. Wait for me. Dinky mouthed. Okay. Simon mouthed back. That was a close one, Dinky thought, sighing as the nurse probed her head for an injury that wasn't there...