The First of Many

by Spirit Shift

Letter #3

I decided to take it easy and ride the next train back to Ponyville. I had a lot on my mind, so the time passed fairly quickly. I really wanted to do something about this whole situation, but now, both the ruler of Equestria and an otherworld Death Angel were advising me not too. I supposed that I didn't have a choice. I would have to sit this one out.

A slight jerk forward alerted me that I’d arrived at my destination. Trotting outside I decided to go find Rainbow Dash and let her know that I was alright. She was, no doubt, freaking out about leaving me behind in the forest, not that I could blame her. I just needed to reassure her that it wasn't her fault.

I took all of three steps from the station before a ball of confetti hit me in the face and rained down, covering my entire body.

“Welcome! Welcome! A fine welcome to you--no, wait a minute…. I did this one already! Silly Pinkie. Howdy! Howdy! Howdy-- wait another minute.” A pink hoof shown through the darkness and moved a few streamers from my eyes. Pinkie Pie stood in front of me with her usual high-energy smile.

“Twilight? I didnt know you were new!”

“Pinkie Pie,” I deadpanned, “I’m not new. I just went to Canterlot for a little bit. What is all this?”

She giggled and gathered up all of the streamers and confetti back into a ball. “Sorry, Twi. There’s been a whole slew of new ponies today so I had to welcome them all. And of course, I’m throwing a party tonight welcoming them. Oh gasp! You should come meet them!”

Oh yeah, I thought. I just remembered the Mayor talking about some new ponies moving into town. I really should've gone to sleep the night before that meeting. “I don’t mind going Pinkie. When is it?”

“It’s right now!” she exclaimed. “At Sugarcube Corner.”

“Really? Why this early? And for that matter, why are you here?”

“So they’ll have more time to socialize. Duh! I’m here to find any new ponies and direct them to where the party is. Like so.” Pinkie turned her body and stiffened, pointing her head directly toward the bakery like a living arrow. I simply couldn't help but giggle at her. Pinkie’s antics were just what I needed after the days I’ve had lately. I bade her goodbye and made my way over to Sugarcube corner.

The second I opened the door three things instantly met my face. The first was the many voices conversing with each other. The second was another ball of confetti, and the third was Pinkie’s smiling face. She reared up on her hind legs and began doing a familiar howling gesture.

“Welcome to Po~o~nyvi--”

“Still me, Pinkie.”

“Darn! I was waiting to try that one out. Oh well, next time. Anyway,” she ran over and put her hoof around my shoulders and led me through the party. She pointed at ponies and told me who they were.

“Over there’s Lemon Drops,” she said pointing to an earth pony mare with a yellow coat and blue mane. She appeared to be talking to Bon Bon, and making fast friends with her as well. “She makes lemon candies. Over there are the Pitter Pat twins,” she pointed to a pair of light blue stallions; both of whom were currently hitting on Raindrops. She seemed to actually be enjoying it. Pinkie then turned to Rarity, who had been talking to a curiously familiar pony. “You remember Coco Pommel right? It seems that her job in Manehatten is done, so she moved down here to learn from Rarity. Isnt that great?!”

Finally, she turned me toward a pegasus pony that had attracted the largest crowd, including what looked like the rest of the new ponies. He had a light blond mane and a pale gray coat. “And over there is Shift, he’s an adventurer. Over in the crowd you can see the other new ponies that aren't important; Cloudy Sparks, Ink Well, and Button Mash.”

“But Button Mash and his mom aren't new,” I said.

“Well, I couldn’t give him a party before because he wouldn't leave his room,” she pouted. “I glad Sweetie Belle finally got him to come to this one.”

“Why does Shift have such a large crowd? Is he really that interesting?”

“Well, he’s telling these really funny stories. So that’s one reason.” Twilight looked back over to him and noticed how energetic and animated he was. He was waving his hooves around with each word and the ponies around him were listening to him intently.

“I guess I’ll listen to some stories then.”

“Don’t forget to grab a cupcake!” Pinkie said, handing me one and nudging me over to him.

“So then, the Wonderbolt yanks me out of the sky and wing slaps me a few times for being an idiot. I don’t know what she was so mad about. Nopony told me that I wasn't allowed to practice with the storm clouds.”

Rainbow Dash jumped up, “I know, right?! I mean put up some signs or something! I can’t tell you how many times I was tempted to practice in the Cloudsdale colosseum. I never thought about using storm clouds, though.”

“Oh, yeah. Wonderbolt-grade storm clouds are no joke. One wrong move and BAM! Fried wings.”

“Rainbow Dash?” I trotted up to her and gave her a surprised expression. She quickly extracted herself from the group and met me halfway.

“Oh, hey, Twi. Where’ve you been all day?”

“I was… in Canterlot. What happened to you today?”

“Yeah, it’s the weirdest thing. I woke up this morning outside Whitetail woods. I had this creepy feeling, like something was out to get me. I shrugged it off and joined in on this awesome party. Speaking of which, Twilight, you gotta meet Shift. He’s got such awesome stories. It’s like having somepony read Daring Do live! I know some of them aren't real, but they way he tells them, it’s just awesome to listen to. ”

“Alright then. I guess that it couldn't hurt to mingle a bit.” I was still tired and I planned to leave early. Before then I wanted to at least meet these new ponies.

“And then we took our keyblades and-- o-oh,” he quickly bowed his head when he saw me make my way through the crowd. “Princess Twilight.”

I blushed a bit and told him to stand up, “It’s fine. You don’t have to bow to me. I’m just the local librarian.”

“It’s still an honor to meet you. I’ve heard so much. How you beat Nightmare Moon and Discord. How you even beat the Changelings and Tirek. All without any injuries!”

I blushed harder from the praise. “Well they weren't all--”

“I mean, I can’t go anywhere without harming myself or others.”

“Well, we have our share of clumsy ponies here in Ponyville. In fact, you remind me of one in particular. Except your eyes are red, not golden.” It was true, he did have deep magenta eyes. Such a color was a rarity even among ponies. His cutie mark was that of two small red horns with a glowing golden ring between them.

“Really? Who?”

I looked over the crowd and tried to find her. “Pinkie, do you know where Derpy is?”

Pinkie popped up next to us and caused Shift to flinch slightly. I begrudgingly let out a giggle at the sight of somepony else doing that for a change. “Derpy couldn't make it today. She had a thing with Dinky.”

“I actually met her earlier when I first came in. We saw the similarities instantly. We played the mirror game for a bit and she gave me a muffin when she had to go. Best. Muffin. EVER!” His eyes glazed over and he began drooling slightly. This actually reminded me of the first time I had one of her muffins. He wasn't overreacting at all. It was really that good.

I....I really wish I could've had just one more…. Sorry, got emotional there.

“But anyway,” he restarted, “you wanna hear some of my stories? I have this great one about a giant ham. Not true of course, but I’ve been told it’s hilarious.”

I was already beginning to like this stallion. Unlike a certain show-mare, he wasn't using his stories to brag, he was using them to entertain. Not only that, but he was modest, funny, and just a joy to be around. I could definitely see why the ponies of Ponyville had gathered around him. It was times like that that I was glad to be the Princess of Friendship.

I took my place within the herd and tuned into his stories. His voice was smooth but excitable, fast-paced, but he still managed to enunciate clearly. And, I just had to appreciate the way he told his tales with such emotion and description. I couldn't help but become entranced by both his outlandish tales and his true ones. The next thing I knew it was nearly night, marked by the sun dipping to make way for the moon.

“So exactly how did the Moon King fall to the hero?” I asked.

“It turns out that it was weak to oxygen. Once the stallion’s oxygen tank took a hit from behind and hit the monster, he knew what he had to do. He took a deep breath, yanked out his cord, took his tank, and pointed it directly at the creature. In one fell swoop he turned the nozzle and let all of it out, completely destroying him.”

“Oh no,” said one mare, “If he lost his oxygen how did he survive?”

Shift gave all of us a sad look. “That’s the end. The stallion gave his life for the sake of his planet. If he didn't do what he did, the Moon King would have used the moon’s magic to crash the moon into his home. But don’t worry, even this story has a moral.”

“What is it?” I asked.

Shift looked directly at me with a strange look. “Not all stories have happy endings,” he said softly.

“That’s… so sad,” I muttered. Even my eyes were beginning to tear up. I wasn't the only one, several other mares were doing the same. Rainbow looked fine on the outside, but her shaking told a different story. I looked outside and realized that it was already night time. All my fatigue from the day finally came back, and I realized how tired I was. I let out a large yawn and stood up.

“Well, it’s about time for me to go,” I said. I was surprised to see many ponies were still here. I may have well been the first pony to leave now that I think about it. Pinkie Pie stood up and looked at me with wide eyes. “Aww, can’t you stay for one more story?”

“Girls, he’s gonna run out at some point. Isn't it better to save some for next time?” I said, trotting to the door. “I’ll see him again. He’ll be living here for a while so I’ll have other chances. Bye, Shift. Your stories really are amazing. If you ever think about becoming an author, I don’t mind editing and proofreading.”

“Thanks, Princess!” he replied, waving his hooves at me. “See you tomorrow!”

I left Sugarcube Corner and held my head high to feel the night air. I took a long inhale before slowly letting it out. I was tired, and I learned some terrible things, but at least the day had ended on a high note.

I began trotting home, doing what I always did when I was outside at night. I looked upward and gazed out at the sea of stars. I marveled at the work and effort Luna put into her night so that ponies like I could enjoy it. If anypony asked how many constellations I could point out back then, I’d have spent entire the night showing them.

I was so enraptured by the stars in the sky, I didn't notice the sound of hoofsteps running up behind me.

“Hey, Twilight?”

My attention was finally turned away from the stars when I turned back to see who was calling my name. I turned around and found my head forcibly turned back toward the sky. Before I could understand what was happening I was flying through the air and crashing back down several feet from where I turned around. My jaw was likely cracked and I may have sustained a serious head injury when I crashed to the ground. Before I could get up and see what happened, I felt somepony grab my tail, lift me up, and fling me through the air.

I didn't come to a stop until I slammed against a wall, probably forming cracks all over it. I hunched over and struggled to regain my breath before losing it in violent coughing spree. Specks of red littered the ground around me. Everything had happened so fast, I didn't have any time to come to terms with what happened. First I was looking at the sky, then the next thing I knew I was slammed against a wall looking at the blood dripping from my muzzle. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I observed that I had been thrown into an alleyway near the edge of Ponyville.

I slowly glanced up, “W-w*cough* what?”

“Sucker Punch.”

Standing in front of me was a pegasus with a dark grey, almost pitch black coat. As my eyes slowly trailed upwards something caught my attention. A cutie mark depicting a golden ring between two red horns. “S-Shift?”

I finally got a look at his face, and what I saw took my breath away. The charming colt that had the golden mane and kind smile was nowhere to be seen. In front of me stood a monster in every sense of the word. He had a nearly psychotic smile that showed off a row of jagged, pointed teeth. His once calm red eyes were now glowing in the dim light with black swirls of darkness spinning within, nearly hypnotizing me when I stared at them. Fear, real fear, gripped my soul at that point and it didn't take me long to piece together what was happening.

"SAMA-ugh." I tried to scream out his name, but Shift was too fast. He jabbed me harshly in the neck, sending me into another coughing fit.

He gave me a smug smirk and waved his hoof at me. "Ah, ah, ah. Not yet. We haven't even gotten to know each other yet."

"S….S-Sa-," I tried to speak, but once again fell over and coughed up blood. His attack must have damaged my larynx… my vocal cords, because barely any sound managed to escape my mouth. My eyes widened when one simple fact entered my mind.

“Yes, that’s right. I very well could have killed you just then.”

My head shot up and I fixed my stunned gaze on his. He looked at me, with that sick smile still on his face. “You’re probably wondering how? I mean, you are an alicorn. You should be more resilient than that.” He stopped, locked eyes with me for a second and dropped into a deep frown.

The next thing I knew I was back on the ground with a deep hoof print on the side of my face. If I was in pain before, I was in agony then.

“Please,” he scoffed. “No one is immune to death in this or any world. The only difference is the effort it takes.”

I let out a low growl at that last sentence. I mustered up all of my will and, taking him by surprise, I let out as much magical force as I could. I didn't have as much magic as I did when I fought Tirek, but I could still send out a considerable blast.

It did nothing. When the smoke cleared and the pieces of rock fell to the ground Shift just stood there, dusting off his coat. He had an amused smile that was directed right at me.

Impossible, I thought. I let out all the magic I could. There was no way he could have survived without so much as a--

“That’s good. Equestrian magic is absolutely useless on their kind anyway.” Celestia’s words from before echoed through my head and I cursed myself for forgetting them.

He finished dusting himself and spoke in a low sarcastic manner. “Twilight, don’t make a scene. I still have a few things to do to you before I go.”

I began backing away until I hit the wall. I knew that I should've flown away, but the image of him breaking my wings kept them glued to my side. He took a step closer and I decided to take my chances. I forced my wings open and tried to take to the sky.

I didn't get far because he quickly grabbed my tail and slammed me harshly back into the ground so hard that I’m pretty sure a small crater formed. To keep me from getting up he dug his hoof into my chest and twisted it.

I let out a soundless scream as I felt my ribs cracking under my skin.

CruNCh

I can still hear the sound in my head. I can still hear his laughter.

“Oh, calm down,” he said, “I’m not going to kill you. Not here, anyway. That would bring undue attention to Ponyville.”

“Y-*cough* kill…,” I coughed out, somehow managing that much.

“Good girl. Yes, I am the one going around killing all your precious equines,” he smiled.

“Why?” was all I could get out before I ended up coughing out more blood. My throat was in blazing pain by this point. My skull and jaw were probably both cracked. My ribs were nearing their breaking point. I’ve never been in so much pain… it was the second worst experience in my entire life.

He gave me a large smile that sent shivers down my spine. “I am so glad you asked. You see. I hate this world. Do you know why? Don’t worry, it’s not the colors, the ponies, the magic, or even your self-righteous views on friendship. When I first came here, I meant no harm beyond spreading the seeds of evil to regain my powers. Do you know what I discovered?”

My heart nearly stopped beating when his smile disappeared. I felt my ribs break completely under his hoof and I heard the crunch of my broken bones. When I felt one pierce my lung I let out another soundless scream of pain and tears began falling from my eyes.

It hurt… so much. I’m sorry about the stains, this is hard for me to recall….

He continued in a rage. “I discovered that no matter how much I tried, what I did, or who I manipulated! I absolutely, positively, could NOT get you ponies to kill one another! I could get you to beat one another, mug one another. Even rape was possible If I tried hard enough. But whenever it would get to the stage of murder, something would happen. The authorities would appear, they would come to their senses, or something else ridiculous. It was as if the world itself would not allow death by murder! Not even that bastard Tirek managed to kill any one of you! I don’t know what sort of creational magic surrounds this disgusting place, but I couldn't stand it anymore!

“Finally, I’d had enough. I tried not to get directly involved for fear of being found. But I just couldn't take it anymore. If I couldn't get you ponies to do it then… well,” he smiled, “you know the saying. I began killing, and my powers returned more and more.” He lifted his head into the air and closed his eyes, his smile shrinking into one of bliss. “Soon, I will return home and I will ascend to my rightful place. But before then....”

All at once, he threw his head back down to face me with the most psychotic and disturbed smile that I wouldn't see even in my worst nightmares. But what really got my attention, what really had me crying… were his eyes. His real eyes. Red slits surrounded by pools of darkness. Inside that darkness, I saw something I never wanted to see again. I saw the death and hate. I saw the utter evil hidden in it. He finally lifted his hoof from my body, and before I could even take a breath, plunged it right through me and into the ground below. Even now it boggles my mind as to how a flat hoof could have pierced through my body with such ease.

I can feel the pain even now. Not a crushing feeling like before, it was as if I had been completely run through with a razor sharp object. I looked down with a hazy gaze at the bloody hoof jutting from my chest, and I saw my own blood pouring out. I watched as it began spurting and bubbling down to the ground to pool around me. My vision began to grow dark and I realized that I was dying, I looked up at Shift one more time. His eyes had turned back to normal and he opened his mouth to say something before I went completely black.

“Equestria will have its first real serial killer….”

Author's Note:

lol nearly forgot to upload today.

Comments

[Mad Maudlin]

Well, teaching by example is an effective technique. Though given the news blackout, he's going to have to start mailing body parts to the news papers.

[Z0MG H4X]

Oh damn, now I see why the 'dark' tag is on this story... O_O