Dawn
"Hello Dawn!"
"Hi Mr. Cake!" I smiled to him for added affect. Everyone needed to believe that today was a perfect day. And it would have been, if it weren't for the storm thundering and rumbling in my head.
I walked around Ponyville, taking the route I take every morning. Starting in Canterlot and heading towards Ponyville's public library. Why can't I just use the library in Canterlot? Because I simply don't want to. I prefer the quietness of Ponyville to the bustling life of Canterlot. Most ponies see me, and think me as a strange, shy pony. Which is half true. There is definitely something strange about me, but I'm not quiet; at least not in my head.
If only others knew what happened inside my head, they'd most likely send me to the closest asylum, where ever that is. I've always wondered what being in an asylum would be like. Maybe my life would be better there, with others just like me, voices inside my head.
Earlier when I had seen Mr. Cake, the all to familiar voice inside my head had told me to trip him and send him and his cake flying to the ground. The voice had laughed almost evilly at that thought, and so did I, but not so evilly. I took all I had to not bend my will to that other voice. Every day, it takes more and more effort took control of my actions.
I had just opened the door to the library and barely lifted my hoof when it happened again.
You should tell Twilight how lame it is to live in a library.
I shook my head, clenched my jaw, and shut my eyes tightly. I couldn't think like that. It is wrong. Twilight is my friend, and friends don't make fun of each other.
Since when have Twilight acted like a friend to you? All she is doing is her job as being Ponyville's only librarian.
That was true, she never really acted like a friend to me outside of the library. In fact, no pony acted like a friend to me outside of their jobs. They were all just being nice to me because they pitied me. How couldn't I have seen it before? Do I even have any real friends? Maybe I'm to strange of a pony to be friends with, maybe they see me as a freak...
I'm your friend Dawn. I'll always be here for you...
I walked all the way inside the library to see Twilight look up at me with a raised eyebrow. I guess I must have been standing in the doorway a little too long to pass as normal. Dismissing Twilight's looks, I went in a bee line towards the third shelf going up, on the leftmost section. My normal routine. I picked up a random book off the shelf and sat down to read.
It didn't matter which book I read because it was my favorite. In fact, Twilight designated a shelf reserved just for my favorite books. That is how often I come here. When reading, I can go anywhere I want at anytime with just the flip of a page. When ever I read, I just get this spark of excitement of all the possible places and adventures soon to follow. I can never explain the feeling I get when I read. It's like I was meant to go on all of these adventures. It's a really weird feeling, but I can't just help but feel it. It also seems to be the only time when I never hear that voice inside my head, my only time of peace.
I finally turn the last page of the book with a heavy sigh. Why can't I just be in the worlds of my favorite characters? Life would be so much better there. I fly up and put the book back on the shelf with a thud. Turning around, my wing brushes a book on the shelf above, shifting the book as if it would fall over, but it doesn't. It just sits there on the edge of the spine, hanging over the edge of the shelf. Curious, I move closer, wanting a better look. As I look behind the book, I see some kind of lever. The book seems to a cover, a false book to hide the secret.
Go ahead Dawn, pull it...
I looked around and saw nopony. Twilight must have left while I was immersed in the latest edition of Daring Do. Turing back to the lever, I cautiously lift up a hoof and gently give it a tug. It moved easily, as if it was used often. Does Twilight know anything about it? She must, considering it was her library. Maybe she was hiding something...
Beside me, a portion of the wall with shelves full of books moved back and slid over to the side, grinding against the wooden floor. I walked hesitantly to the entrance, peering down the long stone hallway. But how was it stone if the library was inside a tree? Magic? Anyhow, it was dark, but there was a dim light at the end. Twilight must use her magic while in there, I don't think a torch would work to well with all the wood.
Go inside Dawn. See what shes hiding.
My mind was racing. Should I go in and quench my curiosity but intrude on her privacy? Or leave and let my curiosity get the best of me? I eventually decided to go ahead and comply to the voice inside my head. I had to find out what Twilight, or who ever this place belongs to, was hiding.
A couple steps inside, the secret entrance closed behind me. Once again, my mind was racing. What if I was stuck in here forever? What if I was never found and died in here and nopony noticed? What if somepony did find find me? Then I'd have to explain my situation and it'll be a huge mess. What if...
Calm down Dawn. Keep moving forward.
I didn't notice it, but my legs started to move forward, heading towards the light at the end of the tunnel. Before I knew it, I was halfway there. I needed to stop this, I needed to be in control. I drew in a breath and flung my self aside, hoping it would shake what ever was moving me, and leave it open for me to regain control. Luckily it worked. Standing up on shaky legs, I continued my march towards the light, but this time I was in control.
It was dark in the tunnel since the door closed, but my eyes quickly adjusted. Not that they needed to since I was almost at the end of the tunnel. One more step and I would be in the not so "secret" room. I couldn't help myself from thinking second thoughts. This was so wrong of me. I couldn't do it. I decided I needed to live with the curiosity. I had to leave.
YOU'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!
An invisible force came out of nowhere and threw me into the room with incredible power. I was hurled at least 10 feet, skidding to a stop right in front of a table, full of stacks of papers. Breathing heavily, I slowly stood up, careful of the scrapes. One of my wings lost a couple feathers from the freak accident. I wasn't flying anytime soon. How did that happen? Was it that voice? I need some serious help. Things just keep getting worse.
I blinked a couple times, clearing my vision. Once I caught sight of what was around me in this room, I didn't blink for what seemed like hours.
All around were maps, pin cushion boards, chalk boards, and pictures. All based on me. Tracking my every move and every word. How could this have happened? Why? I don't know. With a slight frown slowly spreading, I walked up to the table in the center of the room. On top, it was cluttered with papers of all sizes. With what seems like data on them. What could all of this mean? In the corner of my eye, a deep green book was sitting right on top of all the papers. It's simplicity sparked my curiosity. I picked it up and looked at it. It seemed to be made of leather, and home made. There was some kind of pattern on it that made the cover more complex than at first sight. I turned it around, this way and that way, just looking. It had no title.
Open it and read...
This time, the voice didn't have to tell me what to do. Books were one of my weaknesses. I couldn't let a book like this just go past me. I sat down on the cold hard floor, curiosity tainted with worry flowing through my veins. I opened the book towards the middle with a swift movement of my hoof. Something I've practiced many times before. After scanning a couple pages, I found out that this was some kind of journal, or diary. I stopped and read one of the passages.
Day 248
Today was just like any other normal day with her, except, there was a slight difference. At one point, she seemed to have been muttering to herself. I believe she was having a conversation with an unidentified being. A few times, I heard her speak in a lower voice, that had sounded odd coming from a mare like herself. Anyways, there is something up with her. I'm not quite sure if she knows of it quite yet, but I plan to inform her soon. Hopefully I can get her some help. If only the Doctor would return one day. I'm sure he doesn't know me but if he knew of the circumstances... Anyways, her condition is getting worse and I am afraid something terrible may happen in due time. I shall continue to gather research on the topic and hope to find some answers.
~TS
My heart raced. This had to be about me. This passage must have been from last week. I didn't think anypony would notice, it's not like they ever do. But why would Twilight do this? It could only be her, TS are her initials. I thought she was my friend, but it had turned out that I was her science project. How could she do this and not tell me? M,y eyes threatened to bring tears, but I held them back. This wasn't the time or place.
I told you Dawn...
Angry, I shut the book with as much force as I could muster. Right now I just wanted to find a deep dark hole, crawl inside, and stay there forever. It would be much better there than where I am now. I hadn't given much attention to the book, so I hadn't seen the small slip of paper that had fallen out. I set down the book on the floor and stood up. I was about to find a way out of here when my hoof brushed over the paper. Furrowing my eyebrows, I picked up the paper and almost threw it behind me, thinking it was another one of those passages. But the smallest hint of color caught my attention and I stopped myself. I flipper the paper to see the other side, only to find a picture of a face. Not any regular face, but a kind one. It was a stallion, with soft tan fur. At least I imagined it would be soft in real life. He had a deep, rich, brown mane, and sparkling blue eyes. He had a soft jaw line and a handsome smile. Suddenly, a name popped in my head...
The Doctor...
It had to be him. But why did the voice spit out his name as if it hated him? He looked like a lovely pony. I could just imagine standing in front of him bearing a smile on my face. I could feel myself, getting close to him and breathe the same air, closing my eyes slowly and leaning forward, closing the already small space...
"It happened again today... just before she came inside. I could see it in her eyes..."
I stumbled forward, the trance broken by Twilight's voice. Anger filled inside surpassing all other feelings, excluding the worry clouding my senses. I had to hide. I couldn't face her here red-hoofed. Glancing around there was nowhere to hide except...
The table!
I threw myself underneath just as Twilight came into the light. Breathing heavily, I waited to see if she knew of my presence. She looked around, once. Twice. Three times. then shrugged and muttered to herself once more. Relieved that my position wasn't compromised, I waited for the perfect moment. Once Twilight had her back turned, I raced towards the still open door. Only a few feet away from freedom, fear tugged at my heart. I just prayed that she wouldn't notice the book or any of the feathers.
The sun was about to rise, which meant I was needed. It was my job to paint the sky the colors of dawn as Celestia raises the sun. I have absolutely know idea how exactly this whole thing works, with pagination the sky and all, buts its my duty that I must perform. I headed towards Canterlot, trotting at a brisk pace. I would fly if it weren't for the "accident" I had in Twilight's "secret" room. I had no intentions of every going to that library again after that experience. Even if it meant no more reading. It didn't even dawn upon me how I would even do my job without flying. It would have normally been my first concern, but just then something spectacular happened. A shooting star came down, landing not to far form where I stood. Celestia would just have to wait.
I ran towards where I assumed the star had crashed. Weren't shooting stars falling down too the ground impossible? I've never heard of anything like it before... maybe this wasn't a star? Soon enough, I came upon the site of what I had thought was a star. Once all the smoke cleared, I saw I was wrong. Completely and utterly wrong. This was not a star. It appeared to be some kind of blue box. Written on the box was Police Public Call Box. My head tilted to one side as I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "Police?... Public call?... Box?..." Where did this come from? What was it? None of it made any sense.
Inside there was a lot of noise, like something was in there. I nervously walked up an knocked. "Hello? Is anypony in there?" I called. No reply. I shook my head. Maybe I just heard something like that voice. I decided to give up on finding answers and turned, walking away. Behind me, I had heard a squeal of hinges and coughing, along with a hiss. I quickly snapped my head around, wanting to know what was happening. My eyes widened in shock as I saw a pony standing there in the doorway of the box. Then I realized that its been some time since I've heard the voice inside my head. Which only meant one thing...
"Hello! If I may ask, where am I?"