A mare ran through the Everfree Forest. It was the dead of night, and the wind was howling.
No doubt this will turn into a storm. The mare said to herself, pulling her cloak on tighter. Sure enough, fat drops of water began plummeting from the sky, wetting the mare and everything around her. She cursed nature as her long purple mane and tail began to get muddied.
I've got to get there fast! Finding her second wind, she shot off through the forest, running faster than she ever had before. Seeing the pale glint of moonlight reflecting in water, her pace slowed. Just ahead was an exit into Ponyville. Yes!
She trotted out of the forest, breathless and soaked, as the rain came down harder. She ran again, determined to get to her destination. Must...find...Twilight!
Spike pulled back the curtains to the library's windows and peeked out at the storm. "It's really coming down out there. Wasn't it supposed to be sunny this weekend?"
Twilight turned a page in her book. "The pegasi changed their minds."
"Oh."
"Can you blame them?" Twilight adjusted herself on her pillow. "We haven't had a good rain since...I don't even remember the last time!"
Spike spent another minute looking out at the rain. "Say, Twilight, do you think..."
"Spike, those stories where somepony knocks on your door during a storm is purely fictional, I can guarantee that."
“How can you be so sure?” Spike asked nervously. “In lots of stories I’ve read, ominous rains draw out the strangest of ponies…”
“That’s not how things work in real life, Spike.”
Somepony pounded anxiously on the door, causing the alicorn and the baby dragon to jump.
“Yeah, they’re purely fictional alright!” Spike yelped as he cowered behind Twilight.
Twilight snorted. “Please. It’s probably just some poor old pony who got lost in the rain. I’m sure he or she doesn’t want to, I don’t know,” Twilight waved her hoof in the air. “Eat our souls, or anything!”
“That’s exactly what everypony says before their souls get eaten!”
“SPIKE! Calm down!” Twilight got up and slowly trotted to the door. “If you’re so scared, go in the kitchen, or something.”
“Will do!” Spike dashed into the kitchen.
Twilight rolled her eyes and yanked the door open.
“Hello…” Somepony said in a hoarse voice. Standing in the doorway of the Golden Oaks Library was a tall mare wearing a wheat-colored cloak, her face hidden from Twilight’s view.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!” Spike shrieked from the kitchen, where he was peeking out from the doorway and waving a claw in the air. “DEMON!!!”
“Oh, shut up Spike!” The mare yelled. She stomped into the library. “That’s really no way to be treating a mare, now is it?”
Twilight’s eyes narrowed. “Who are…”
A white aura enveloped the hood of the cloak, pulling it away from her face. The mare had a horn that was about equal in length to Cadance’s, long amethyst colored mane, and beautiful emerald eyes which were slightly surrounded by wrinkles—suggesting the mare either smiled a lot or frowned a lot.
“I apologize for my intrusion,” the mare spoke. “Please, allow me to introduce myself.” She turned to Twilight and bowed slightly. “My name is Pluto.”
“Pluto…” Twilight said with a nervous laugh. “What an...interesting name. That was my grandmother’s name.”
“How nice, Twilight, but not everypony falls for that trick.”
“It’s not a trick.”
The mare lifted her head. “That was a ploy to try to get me on your good side, was it not?” Before Twilight could respond, Pluto rolled her eyes.
“Please. I’m not a dangerous pony, or anything. Why does everypony always assume that?”
“Because you look like a demon.” Spike said as he slowly came back into the main room. “A gorgeous demon.”
“Save it for Rarity.” Pluto looked back at Twilight. “I suppose you’re wondering why I have showed up out of the blue to the home of a pony I know nothing about?”
“Well...yes...the question has crossed my mind many times since you came in here…”
“I shall tell you then.” Pluto sighed. “But please, promise not to tell anyone unless I say so, alright?”
Spike and Twilight eyed each other for a moment, then nodded.
Pluto took a deep breath. “I am seeking you, Princess Twilight, because I need to know the location of Princesses Luna and Celestia.”
“What about Cadance?”
Pluto snorted. “That ridiculous pegasus-turned-alicorn is of no concern to me. I would like to never meet her for all of eter-” Pluto’s eyes bulged, and she covered her mouth with a hoof to cough. “I would like nothing more than to never meet her for the rest of my life.”
Twilight bit back a retort.
Pluto sighed. “Oh dear. That was quite rude of me, was it not? My apologies. I’m quite aware of how found you are of Cadance. Not only because she was your former foalsitter, but also because she is currently married to your brother. Shining Armor.”
Twilight’s mouth dropped open. “How did you-”
“That does not concern you, Twilight.” Pluto said simply. “Will you please tell me the location of Princess Luna and Celestia?”
“Why do you wanna know?” Spike asked defensively.
Pluto sighed again. “That is another thing which is of no concern to either of you.”
“Well, I’m beginning to think you’re a pretty dangerous pony because of how much information you know about Twilight!” Spike said. “So how do we know you’re not going to somehow capture them and take over Equestria?”
“Do you really think I would be capable of a feat such as that?”
“We barely know you.” Twilight said, waving a hoof. “We don’t know if you would be capable of something like that. That’s why we’re concerned.”
The two ponies and the dragon sat in silence for a moment.
Pluto was the one to break the silence. “I do not wish to tell you my reasons for wanting to see the princesses, nor will I ever if you keep treating me this way.” She smirked. “Fine then. I envisioned something quite similar to this happening when I was planning out what to say on my way over here. In truth, I already know where their castle is. Everypony does. I just felt like dropping in, and needed a good reason to do so.” She stood and trotted to the door. “If I am truly up to no good, as you say, the princesses will have no trouble taking care of me. So do not worry about it.” And just like that, she was gone.
Twilight shuddered. “That mare gives me the creeps.”
“Same here.” Spike said. “Something about her just seemed...off…”