> Sketching Dusk > by Dawn the Pegasus > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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?" > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Who are you?" I knew it was a silly question to ask, since I already knew who he was, but I needed to keep a low profile. "I," he gestured to himself, "am the Doctor" Proudly he smiled. "Is that your box?" "Why yes, and it's not just a silly old box, it's a TARDIS." TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space. It basically is a time machine and a spaceship wrapped up in a tiny blue box that is bigger on the inside. "Okay, I see how that makes sense." I walked the perimeter of the TARDIS, admiring it. "Now why does it say Police, when you are a Doctor?" I stopped in front of the stallion, looking into his eyes as he explains. "Well, I am not A Doctor, I'm THE Doctor. There is quite a significance difference." He walked a couple steps toward me, looking at me, taking in my appearance, until his gaze fell in line with my own. "Now if I may ask, how do you know what a TARDIS is?" He had a look of curiosity mixed with seriousness. Should I tell him about the voice? Twilight had written that he could help. But then again I hardly know him. I decide to lie about the voice. "I read about them in books. You can name just about any book in Equestria, and the chances are, I've read it." I smirk triumphantly at his shocked look. I knew I took him by surprise, and he wasn't prepared. He furrowed his eyebrows, and inspected me closely. Once again, his gaze reaches my eyes, but this time it's different. He had an intense look, one that felt as if he could look right into the depths of my soul. I couldn't stand that look. I looked away, admitting defeat, letting him win the unseen battle. "You're lying" A smirk played across his face. He caught me red-hoofed. "There isn't a book about the TARDIS. So, how do you know? What's your name?" He circled me, his gaze burning into me, tearing me apart. What ever he says, do not listen. He is a traitor against his own kind. You are not safe with him, Dawn. I sat down under the unbearable pressure. He continued to walk in circles, hungry for answers. But the voice inside my head was much stronger. I would do as it says. The Doctor could not break me that easily! Instead of reply with an answer, I replied with a question. "So, Doctor. How did you betray your own kind? How can I trust you?" The instant the last syllable left my lips, I knew the battle was long gone. I had won a victorious victory. He immediately stopped moving, and his ears pressed against the back in his head. Sadness replaced his hunger. I had broke the Doctor. His head hung low, he was trembling slightly. His mane fell over his face, making me unable to read his expression. How could I have done this? What was wrong with me? He didn't seem like a traitor. He was just an innocent stallion whom my path had just happened to cross with his.Why had I given into the voice so easily? What was wrong with me! I needed to comfort him some how, and ask for his forgiveness, but my lips wouldn't obey my brain. He is a traitor! He doesn't deserve you! Yet, I couldn't see him as one. I didn't know what to do, so I did what do too often. My eyes teared up, and my breath became ragged. Soon my head hung low as I cried quietly. Tears dripped down my face and gathered in a pile at my hooves. What was wrong with me? He was just a stallion that I didn't even know... a complete stranger. I hurt a complete stranger! And he possibly could have helped me! What was I turning into? Who does this? Why must it be me?... Soon, words somehow were able to make it to my mouth, allowing me to spear softly, "I'm sorry." That was it. two simple words that probably held no meaning to him. But I got up anyways, wanting to leave this stallion and TARDIS behind forever. "No. I'm sorry I didn't come sooner." My ears flickered. The voice went dead, and I knew it was worried. I have really good senses, including hearing. If it weren't for my unnatural super hearing, I would have never caught those seven words. I stopped dead in my tracks, those seven words going in circles in my head. Never had seven words meant so much to me. "I'm truly sorry Dawn." At some point, I must have looked down, because when I looked up, I saw his sad blue eyes. They weren't sad in the picture I saw. What really happened to him? I looked more closely in into his eyes and saw a hint of pity in them. He was the same as every one else. Everypony pitied me. I hated that feeling. I shut my eyes tightly, trying to get the image of his sad eyes out of my head. Once I opened them once more, a different pair of eyes looked at me. The reflection of my own. They were happy, sad, scared, mad, sorry, confused, and worst of all terrified. One look at my eyes, and he had to know I was different, a mistake. The eyes in front of me teared up, I couldn't tell who they belonged to, but I didn't care. I started sobbing, my emotions unstable inside. Some would say it was just a mental breakdown, but it wasn't. Nothing was that simple in the land of my mind. I felt hooves wrap around me in a hug and fill me with warmth and comfort. At this point what I had said earlier didn't matter, it was forgotten, gone from existence. I just let everything building up inside of me go. I surrounded this stranger with all of my pain, all of my anger, and he took it away. For someone with a misleading name, he was a good Doctor. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Overhead, the moon is covered by clouds, giving a thin mare darkness. She steadily makes her way towards her target, a sleeping stallion. Taking slow steps, making sure she doesn't step on any fallen twigs. Nearby an owl flies by, rustling the leaves of the trees surrounding the clearing of the crash site. Snarling, she looks at him with disgust, hatred towards him fills her every nerve. Her plan was to take him out quick and quietly. Hovering above him, she lowers her back, emitting a low growl. She wanted to make him suffer, but stealth was of the essence. She curled back her lips and opened her mouth wide, revealing glistening white fangs. She leans down to the stallions exposed neck, a grin spreading across her face. Her fangs were just about to pierce his skin, sinking into one of his main arteries, leaving him dead in seconds. A voice nearby belonging to a certain purple unicorn interrupted her. The sudden noise made the mare jump, and her fangs pierced the stallion, but they missed home. She quickly pulled her fangs covered in blood out of his neck, and stretched out a pair of wings. With one flap, the mare was high in the air, blood dripping down her chin. She dove into a nearby tree in silence as she watched the unicorn proceed to the stallion. Pure hatred filled her gaze. She then left for the cover of pitch black darkness. knowing of her next plans, and smirking with the knowledge that she had injured whom they called the Doctor. I wake up and notice two things. 1. There is a strange metallic taste in my mouth. No idea where that came from. 2. I'm in my bed, in my house. When I'm pretty sure I fell asleep outside... with him... My cheeks flush red. I don't know why but they do. I crawl out of bed slowly, remembering how much I do not remember about the night before. How did I even get here? How come I can't remember anything. This was all too strange for me. I look out the window and see it's about noon. Celestia probably rose the sun without dawn this morning. I can't wait till I see her next. The more I thought, the more those blue eyes came to mind. I need to find him. Hopefully before somepony else finds out that he's here. He's just about the only pony that could help me in all of Equestria. But facing him once more scares me. The voice sounded as if it hated him, what would it do then? Times before, there have been moments where I've lost control, was it because of the voice? I needed to find him soon. But then, the voice had said he isn't to be trusted. He did know my name without me telling him... and what did he mean by he was sorry that he was late? Is the voice not to be trusted? Silly Dawn, of course you can trust me, I've always been here for you. Guiding and helping you. You need to trust me, or you may not survive. We may not survive. A storm was brewing, yet it was a sunny day. There is almost never a day where a storm brews. I let out a heavy sigh. No matter what I do, my path will cross his soon enough, may as well just cut to the chase. I set out the door, worried about what may happen when we meet next. But regardless whatever happens, it needs to happen. Something was different when I reached the site. The Doctor was missing, and not in a good way. I walked over to where I thought we had been the night before. In the grass there two indents showing proof of two bodies previously being here. I assumed that the older one was mine. But the fresher one, wasn't so fresh. I gasped a little too loudly and quickly turned my head around. This wasn't a sight for my weak stomach. But I had to know the truth, I needed to know where he went. I turned my head back to the ground. There was a maroon pile of dried blood, sitting there at my hooves. What happened to him was a complete mystery to me. Something buzzed in my head. But it wasn't a buzz. It was laughter. It must know what had happened. Looking around, I searched for clues. Nopony can just vanish without leaving a trace, unless you were a very careful Pegasus, but he didn't have any wings. A few inches away, I found a smaller pile of the icky substance. From there, another inch or so, was another, along with a hoof print. They were tracks. Hope fluttered in chest, which confused me. Why was I so happy to find tracks that could lead me to this stranger. I don't know anything about him except that his name is the Doctor, he might be able to help me, and... he's a traitor... But it couldn't be right, not at all. He wasn't a traitor, how could he have been? Maybe it's all an act... Maybe it's all an act?... I don't know anymore. I shut my eyes, trying to brace myself against the invisible storm. I just didn't know what to do, where to go. But there was one clear question echoing throughout my head. Why me?... Once I finally gather enough courage to open my eyes, I find my self well away from where the site was. I look down and see my hooves moving without telling them too. At this point, I'm just so tired to even notice, so I just let my legs take me where ever they want to go. The trail leads me to Twilight's humble home which also serves as the town's library. My stomach fell and my guts twisted into knots. I had no desire to confront this mare. I had no idea why, but I hated her. I hated the sight of her. I hated the way she spoke, moved, the way she did anything. I hated her existence. Which greatly surprised me, since I never really think of anyone in a negative way. Sure, I'm a freak, and she may have been studying me, but I wouldn't use that as a reason to hurt her. It's completely against my morals. Against my nature... Anyways, I pushed the door to the library open, hoping she wasn't home. Wasn't today the day she has one of her pet play-dates with her friends? Every week they all have a pet play-date in the park for an hour or so. Hopefully today was that particular day of the week. I slowly put a hoof on one of the wooden boards, not wanting to make a noise in case she was here. Putting my weight on it, a loud creak emitted from the floor, alerting any living thing in the tree of my presence. I froze in place, adrenaline running throughout my body. I felt like a spy in one of the action and adventure books I love to read. Why was I sneaking in? This is a public place after all, and I always come here. I let out a sigh of relief after a few seconds and not hearing any noise. Shifting my weight, I lifted my hoof again and placed it in another spot, careful of the old floor boards. I take a quick glance around, knowing the Doctor must be in here somewhere. The tracks stopped right at the library's entrance, leaving me to rely on my instincts. Something tugged at my mind pulling towards the bookshelf. Taking the same practiced pattern of steps to the shelf, I fly up to become level with the correct shelf. I didn't want to continue on, but I had to, I needed to find him, see him. Shutting my eyes tightly, I reached out with a shaking hoof, and pulled the false book, making it tip over on its spine, and revealing it's secret. Unknowingly, I let out a sigh of relief. How much did I care for this stallion anyway? I was tempted to just go away and leave him alone, but my body was paralyzed, hovering in the air. It was getting so difficult lately to get control of my body, but how was that even possible? Am I just insane? Is it some kind of medical problem? Shaking the strand of thoughts out of my mind, I continued with my mission and pulled the lever, making it squeak loudly, it badly needed some oiling. Just like the other day, a chunk of the wall beside the shelves contain the lever slid over to the side and revealed the stone tunnel. Since I knew what to expect today, I wasn't as worried like the last time. Stepping into the tunnel, I shuddered, my nerves tingling. Loud echoes bounced off the rock walls from my hoofsteps. My mind kept wandering to the Doctor, creating vicious ideas as to put him to sleep; permanently. I'm not a violent pony, so those thoughts shocked me. I couldn't hurt anypony without feeling the twinge of guilt in my gut. Hesitantly, I made my way to the room at the end of the long tunnel as worry seeped into my soul. Trodding as silently as I could, I made my way to the center table, where I had found the book the day before. But instead, there was a large lump underneath a blanket in it's place. A pony sized lump. Looking closer at the blanket, there was two red spots, originating from what must have been a neck from the looks of it. Blood. I licked my lips. Confusion. Hatred. Unsatisfaction. Blood lust. It all filled my entire being. My eyes narrowed. My teeth sharpened. And I leaned closer to the body. Grinning, I opened my mouth wide, the desire to finish him off was growing in anticipation. Then, I stopped short. My eyes widened in confusion and horror. What was I doing?! I fell back onto the floor, bringing a pile of papers down with me. A loud clatter echoed. I scrambled up onto my hooves, my heart racing wildly. I flapped my wings and flew straight for the door, wanting to get away from this horrid place and, without realizing it, myself. "Dawn?!" I couldn't go back now. Not now, not ever. At the moment, all I had wanted to do was to just run away and hide from everything I knew and loved. Which is saying quite a lot, considering, I don't love anything at all, except for one stallion. So I had just flew in a beeline straight for what I had called home. And the last thing I did that night, was cry. As the moon starts it's journey across the night sky, Twilight sits in her hidden room, lit only by candle light. She sits at the center table, deep in conversation with a stallion. "Since you are now awake? How do you feel? Any pain? Aches?" She looks up at the stallion, a single eyebrow raised. "No. I feel fine, a little stiff, but fine." He stretches his neck, revealing a bloodied bandage. "Last night when you found me, did you happen to see the attacker?" "All I saw," replied Twilight, "was a winged pony. Not any normal Pegasus, that's for sure. But more of a Bat-pony, but not quite one either. The attacker also had a long flowing mane as well. I couldn't get that close of a look, it flew away before I could get any closer." The stallion looked down in disappointment. Lifting his hoof, he rubbed his forehead, deep in thought. "No, no, no, no, no. It couldn't be. Why would anypony want to even hurt me? Certainly not a winged one. In fact I haven't met any pegasus before-" He stopped suddenly and paused. "It couldn't have been her, no. No-" Twilight interrupted his sentence, "Doctor, who did you meet after you crashed-" She was then cut off by the Doctor. "No. That does not matter now. What matters is that she could not have done it. She doesn't fit your description." He took a heavy sigh and looked down. His eyelids closed as he once again got lost in thought. After a few moments, his eyes opened and seemed to gleam under the flickering candlelight. He stood up suddenly and nodded towards Twilight's direction. "Thank you for helping me Miss Twilight Sparkle, but I must be on my way now." He turned towards the exit. "Wait before you go, let me give you a fresh bandage. It'll help you out in the long run." She heads for the secret entrance at a brisk trot, not wanting to keep him waiting, while he takes his time, meandering after her. Once Twilight reached her closet full of medical supplies, which she had learned to have close by after a few misfired spells, she shuffled through everything in attempt to find another bandage. She created a ball of magical light from her horn and looked deeper in the closet. All the while, from a nearby open window, a shadow swooped in and landed like a feather a few feet behind Twilight. The mysterious figure crouched and took a few steps closer to her target until she was in range. The strange mare spread her wings and enveloped her prey with a grin. Her fangs gleamed in Twilight's light before it was snuffed out by the dark magic emanating from the mysterious pegasus. Twilight's eyes widened in fear as realization swept over her. The stranger reared her head back, her eyes flashing a fiery gold. Like a strike of lightning, the mare brought her head down, fangs sinking into flesh, as well as hitting it's mark. Twilight let out a shriek before her eyes rolled back, blood dripping down her neck. Her body went limp as it collapsed to the floor, sounding a dull thud. The strange mare let out a low chuckle and licked her fangs clean of the dark liquid. She glided towards the window and paused, looking back at Twilight's limp body. Her pupils narrowed into slits as a thought crossed into her mind. The Doctor, just upon reaching the secret entrance, heard a scream. He muttered under his breath cursing himself for leaving her to go on by herself. He quickly raced as fast as he could towards the source of the scream without pushing past his limits. Reaching the hallway containing the closet, he skidded to a stop a little ways from her body. With a straight face, he went over and inspected her body. After some time, he found two needle like pricks on the side of her neck with a slow trickle of blood gathering on the floor. Lifting her head, The Doctor looked into her eyes. Lifeless. "I am truly sorry Miss Twilight Sparkle." With a fluid movement, he took his hoof and closed her eyelids. A single tear rolled off his cheek and into her fur. The tear slowly disappeared as it was absorbed into her still warm pelt. "Goodbye." The Doctor gently placed her head back on the ground and stood paralyzed, staring at her body. Movement from the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was a shadow. He took a closer look and found writing in it. Eyes darting towards the window, he found it closing, as well as a message in an oozing, deep, dark red. Anger filled his expression as took in every one of the words. Unexpectedly, he ran for the door and out into the moon-light night, the words seared into his memory.