//------------------------------//
// Part 1, Chapter 1 - Watercolors 
// Story: What We Are In the Dark 
// by StormkingArcana 
//------------------------------//

---Chapter 1 // Watercolors---

It was not a good day for Twilight Sparkle. In fact, it was a really bad day. As soon as she ran out the door, she was drenched by water. It was raining a foul-smelling, unpleasant rain that smelled a little bit like paint thinner. 

"If you had looked outside before you stepped out, you would not be soaking now!" called Spike over his shoulder, who was happily munching on his breakfast. Spike turned to see just how soaked she was when his jaw dropped as he realized that Twilight was now an sickly shade of light purple. 

"What are you looking at?!" she demanded, impatient and irritable. 

"Your coat and mane... they're lighter!" 

Twilight lifted one hoof to find that indeed, her normally purple coat had faded to a pale purple. "How did that happen?" Twilight thought aloud. She then realized that Spike had already gone inside, leaving her out in the rain. Twilight ran inside and tried to find a way to dry off.

---

"Things like that don't just happen for no good reason." muttered Twilight as she rummaged through her bookshelves. "There has to be a logical explanation for my coat going pale." After a couple hours of unsuccessful book-delving, Spike made a belching noise and a black-green flame burst out of his mouth. "Letter from Princess Celestia." Spike announced. "Let me guess, it has a reason for my coat and mane going pale." Twilight said, rolling her eyes. "Actually, yes!" Spike said, eyes widening in surprise as her sarcasm rolled right over him. Spike cleared his throat and began to read. 

"Dear Twilight, 
The condition you are experiencing is called Palefade, and it is a very rare disorder indeed. Although not contagious, Palefade can lead to death. The only other known pony who ever had it lives in the heart of the Everfree Forest. He is a very reclusive pony who, despite being kind and knowledgeable, doesn't show his face much in Ponyville. He developed a cure, but due to Palefade being exceedingly rare, has never needed to use it, except on himself. You should probably go find him. 

Sincerely,
Princess Celestia"

"Well, I guess that is good news, but I think I should stay here." said Spike, heading for the kitchen. Twilight grabbed him by the tail,growling. "I don't think so, I might need your help somehow. You will be coming along, so you had best get used to the idea of going to the Everfree Forest. Besides, it can't be that bad, right?"

---Chapter 1 // Watercolors // END---