"It began with the castle. That's where it started. Then the disappearances. Then... that thing. I'm scared. I really am. The castle, the eclipse, that thing... and I still haven't heard from Celestia. Where are you guys? I'm... scared. I'm really scared."
Ponyville is well and alive again. After the strange incident last night, I was worried for the ponies here. They seemed rather shaken about it. In the end, it all worked out though, and I am pleased to report that life is going on. Yet I am still puzzled as to the origin of such an... event. An earthquake doesn’t quite describe what it was. No, not at all I think, however it was quite similar.
Being an alicorn now has perks in itself. I could feel something, a sort of fluctuation that came with the quake. It... resonated, yes. It resonated from the Everfree forest. I don’t want to venture in there, but now as a Princess, I must find the source of this near catastrophic event. I do not know what could have caused this, but one thing is sure; it was felt everywhere. As for the catastrophe, that was averted, and as I said, life goes on.
I’m looking outside right now, and it is a beautiful day. The sun is warm and very bright, and I wouldn’t be surprised if somewhere in those purple mountains was my... sister? Mentor? I’m still trying to decide what she is to me now that I have this abnormal position in life. She’s probably still up there though, warming herself in her own sun. Makes me wonder if I get a celestial body. In a way, I want one, though I don’t know where it would fit in with they cycle of day and night, or what it would be called. The Twilight Sun? Sounds kinda cheesy.
I’ll ask about that. In the meantime, Dash and Applejack hit it off! Yep, and I am proud to call that genius plan my own. That’s right! That dinner date was an astounding success, and having recorded the outcome and doing some late night predictions, and maybe a bit of gossiping with my partner in crime, I have decided that these two will be a couple in a week, give or take a few days for the probability factors. Either way, it’s very exciting! I can see it now... those two out by the Ponyville lake, together.
Rarity is getting in my head.
But this is the exact reason that I don’t want to go scouring through the Everfree right now. To go alone is dangerous, and I don’t want to drag Dash and Applejack in, and those two are my reliable ponies. Rarity and Pinkie? One’s afraid of dust particles and the other is bloated right now. Something about “cakes just falling into her mouth”. Yeah, the Cakes aren’t too happy with her as of late. She’s gone on a sugar spree.
Guess it’s just that time.
Anyway, I’ll report in more as this all develops. For now, I think I’ll go out and treat myself and Spike to some lunch, then go see how the townsponies are handling the minor reconstruction work that needs doing. Will devise a plan for the Everfree soon.
Monday, March 1, Dusk
The town today was so busy that it was hard to think. For now, everything seems to be going well though, and that’s good. Scaffolding is up everywhere, and the pounding of hammers and nails is consistent. Dust is everywhere, and so breathing is incredibly hard. It just hasn’t settled yet. It will soon though, so I’m not concerned. My concern is actually with Mayor Mare, who I saw today while I was out in the market (which, by the way, is doing surprisingly well). She was so frantic and frazzled; I could smell oil on her knotted fur and mane, and the dark lines beneath her eyes had been distressing. I’ll entail the conversation here:
“Mayor Mare? You look terrible! Did you get any sleep?” I asked.
She shook her head and sighed, slouching a bit. I cut the conversation with the tomato vendor short and turned to her. “Is something the matter?”
She blinked and yawned, nodding. “Would you follow me, just for a moment? I have something I must tell you.”
Standing she nodded to the town hall, our apparent destination. Quickly and hooved a few bits to the counter and snatched my tomatoes, cantering to catch up with her. When I was beside her I said, “What is it? Is somepony hurt?”
Again she shook her head, which seemed to not want to stay upright. “No, but I would be lying to say I understood. Has Princess Celestia contacted you, by chance?”
I thought for a moment. “No, not yet, but I’m due to write her a letter tonight.”
“I’m not surprised,” said the Mayor. “Her note to me was written so hurriedly, but I thought perhaps you’d like to have a look at it.”
I nodded. “Yes please. If anything important has happened, though, please tell me right away.”
“Oh, nothing yet,” she said. By now we had gone through the dusty, boisterous streets and arrived at the scaffolded Town Hall. “But again, I believe you should see this note.”
I followed her up the steps and into the shade of the building; today grew exceptionally hot exceptionally fast. It wasn’t long before we were baking in the sun, and so the shade was welcome. In the foyer, she asked me to sit on the couch, and I did as she went into her office. After a few moments, she came back with a rolled up piece of parchment bearing a broken wax seal of a sun.
I took it, thanked her, and left; she said she was busy, and I was busy too. By now I’ve read the note. It was hastily written, just as Mayor Mare had said, and said only one thing: that a detachment of guards were on their way to Ponyville, and should be here by tonight. I’m more than “kind of” worried, now. Just after reading this, I sent her a letter informing her of the damage, the rebuilding, and my plans to venture into the Everfree. I haven’t heard from her yet, and it is distressing.
Even more distressing is the sun; it’s still in the sky. The moon is already on the horizon, but the sun refuses to budge. I’m very concerned now. It looks like the moon is headed for an eclipse, but I’m not sure. Now I wonder what in Equestria could convince Celestia to hold the sun there. A trip to Canterlot may be in order.
On a brighter note, though, Dash and Applejack stopped by tonight, or today, I’m not sure which thanks to the sun. But they still stopped by and asked if I wanted to come to dinner with them. I politely declined, but the moment the front door shut, Spike and I chatted like fillies. I couldn’t stop smiling!
And yet when I look outside now to the bright night and realize that there may not be a twilight tonight, I find myself worried again. The moon is still headed for an eclipse and will darken the sky soon. What interests me the most about this, however, is that a solar eclipse, usually saved for the Festival of the Sisters, has but a tiny umbra that can only block out a certain area, and that area seems to be here. The rest of Equestria will get the sun tonight, it seems.
Midnight, March 1-2
Ponies are gathering outside the library. My friends are here, but nopony else. I don’t know what to say to them! They’re looking to me for help, and I’ve got nothing! Sure, I’m a princess, but that doesn’t mean I can move the sun for them, or that I know what’s going on. My friends are throwing questions at me left and right, and I feel a little dizzy. My clock says this has been happening for five hours now, and it’s about to chime at midnight. The eclipse is in full swing, and neither the sun nor the moon seem to be moving. We’re stuck in an eclipse.
Every attempt I’ve made to get the Princess’s attention has come to no reply. I wonder if she is even getting my messages... It makes me think of the Nightmare Moon incident, almost. But she’s long gone, and the sun is still in the sky. I’ve never read anything on this before, I’ve never heard of an event like this occurring. My only saving grace is the guards, which are dispersing the crowd as I write this. I can hear hooves stomping outside as frustrated ponies go home to try and sleep, but I can already tell that nopony is going to sleep “tonight”.
To that end, I’ve made my decision. I’m taking my friends into the Everfree straight away, and we’re going to get to the bottom of this. I’ve asked the leader of the guard detachment to stay in Ponyville and keep order; he seems to agree. In fact, none of the guard are even looking at the forest. It makes me wonder.
But my friends and I all have our elements on, and we are ready to go. I’ll take this journal in my saddlebag, just in case something develops and requires recording. By Celestia I’m nervous... it’s like my hooves don’t want to work. But I’m a princess now; I’ve got this. And with my friends by my side, I’m sure we’ll end whatever new threat Equestria faces now. Surely the eclipse is of some use to us.
That use we just have to find.
Wish me luck. I’ll record my findings in the morning. I don’t want to be in the forest for more than a few hours.
Tuesday, March 2
It’s been what I would guess to be three hours. Rainbow Dash and Applejack are with each other constantly; they’re obviously getting closer. Rarity and Pinkie opted to bring up the middleground, and our couple obviously took the lead. Fluttershy stuck with me the whole time, reluctant to come in the first place. I had to constantly assure her that things would be fine, and I am still convinced that they are. All in all, our group seems to be doing well.
Right now we are in what appears to be an ancient ruin. Jaded and worn stone, all barely cemented together, craft the skeletal remains of what appears to have been a castle. What is interesting about the find, however, is that the architecture is something that I have never seen before. It is not Equestrian nor Griffon, and that makes it quite intriguing. Even more interesting, it is obvious that this ruined castle was massive. I am beginning to think that its collapse was the cause of the quake.
We are in what appears to have been a tower, though only the very base of it still stands. There is ruined furniture here and there, and books too, but all illegible. I am sitting on a dusty loveseat, actually, and it is obvious that it has not been sat on for a hundred years at least. A bookshelf is at the other end, though it is battered and collapsed into itself. Fluttershy and Rarity are inspecting it right now, looking for some sort of clues, but every legible page they find seems to be covered in strange glyphs of a language that I’ve never seen before.
Applejack and Rainbow Dash are in another tower next to this one. It seems to have survived the fall better, and I can see clearly the bashed stairs that ran up its side, and the shattered windows that were probably dusty as well. In the light of the eclipse it is almost scary to see, but right now what I feel is excitement! This is quite the interesting find! And yet, I also feel a sickness that comes with being nervous. It’s like my stomach is twisting.
I don’t like the way the castle feels.
But I assume that, with all abandoned, shattered castles that have recently collapsed within a haunted forest, the feeling must the the same looming dread. Must be something in the loamy soil that the ruins fell into. Oh yes, the castle fell, that much is obvious. From where, I don’t know. If it had been from the mountain, I surely would have seen it before. But the facts are too obvious to think it was a mere collapse in the internal structuring. The beams, the stone, the towers, all of it is at a slant that could only be caused by a strong fall.
Of course, that makes it all so much more interesting. All the doors and ruined tapestries are at a permanent slant. The walls, the corridors--those that are still standing, of course--are all bent and twisted. Some of them are even like a spine; all boney and decayed. There’s no actual bones, though, unless the shattered furniture counts as “bones”. Like I said, the castle was absolutely abandoned before its collapse.
Well, I’ll take a moment to record all of our other findings before wrapping this little investigation up. When we arrived, we found that the front gate was completely knocked in, and so we got in easily enough. The entryway, which opened into a foyer, was also dusty and dead. The hollow orange light poured in absolutely everywhere, and the shadows of the castle did nothing more than create a feeling of loneliness.
Some stairs ran up the back of the once-grand room, and on either side were some dusty banners, too tattered to really make out what was once on them. Everything else in the room was, again, shattered. We made our way up the stairs, where hallways once branched off. It was hard to step down from the ledges and into the crumbled halls, which were all partly sunken into the marsh, but Dash and I made good use of our wings.
We went down a long hallway, being sure to avoid as much marsh as we could, but the slick slime was coating the walls. Almost every door we tried as unlocked, but led to the swamps; it seems like many of the rooms that branched off of the castle walls have fallen into the mud, and we could even see some of the wooden bracing and stone mortar. So we left the halls and explored a bit more.
Many of the rooms we found were crushed though, and so we could not go in them. There were some, however, that were in tact. Among these was a simple art room, but every single canvas was shredded, and so we have no clue as to what kind of art was in there. Fluttershy suggests that it was of the castles original owner, and if that were true, then it would have given us great insight into the ruins. The room was huge, and connected to a tower that was lost to the marsh. From this room’s crushed windows we could see what was most likely a courtyard at one point, but it and the canvases bore many similarities. From here, however, we could also see a massive tower, mostly in tact, at the very back of the castle. When we reached it and tried the door, however, we found the entrance to be blocked by fallen stone.
Where we are now is the left wing of the castle, which was probably symmetrical with the right, telling me that wherever this castle was perched, it was somewhere that allowed for such symmetry. This is strange, simply because there’s only two places that could allow that: the ground or the peak of a mountain. And seeing as the castle fell...
More on this later. For now I’m eager to get out of these lonely halls and this orange light. The wind, though warm, is beginning to pick up, and it’s ominous to say the least. Besides, trading the castle for a bed sounds enticing, and I’m sure the rest of my party would agree. I’ll go round them up and head out for the night.
I’ll come back though. This ruin must be full of mysteries and treasures, and answers of course. Answers that I’m eager to have.
Wednesday, March 3, Dawn
The eclipse is retreating, and the sun seems to have the sky again. We just made it home, and parted. Applejack and Rainbow Dash have gone to Sweet Apple Acres together, which I can’t help but grin at. Fluttershy asked to stay with me for the night, after Pinkie bounced away, blabbering into Rarity’s ear how exciting the castle was, and how it must have gone “all kablooey and whoosh” when it fell. So I have Fluttershy for the night, which is good. Poor girl was completely shaken by the trip. I don’t blame her.
What I think got to her the most, though, was the bats. When we left the castle, a flurry of black bats rushed out of a window on the tall tower. I remember her screaming when they swept over us. We tried to explain that they were just bats, but the castle and eclipse had already scared the poor mare so badly that she could only mumble things about the bats not being, well, bats. I’m worried for her. I fixed her some soup and led her to my bed, where she’s lying down now. Seems I’ll be sleeping on the couch for a while, but I don’t mind. If only I could record her eyes, it would make sense. Something in the pupils, something deep in them... it gives me the chills. I really feel for her.
But I need some sleep now; my magic is faltering with the quill, and I can’t stop yawning. I have to stop before my eyes close completely, but that’s alright. Spike said he’ll take good care of Fluttershy if she wakes up, and I trust him completely.
I’m just glad to be out of those ruins. They might be fascinating, but they creep me out. By now it’s obvious that there’s something wrong, but I still have a feeling that by the time this is all over, our thoughts right now will be comparatively calm.
So... I had a good time, y’know? It was nice and stuff. Um, yeah, I was just wondering if you wanted to maybe, I dunno, do that again. You, me, alone, and... you know. Kiss.
Not that I need it! I mean, totally your choice, I’m good either way. I just thought maybe you’d be wanting some grade-A Rainbow loving. Hah, hard to live without that, I know, I know. But I’m up for it, if you are. I had a good time. You’re a good mare to chill with, heh. Just give me a shout. Or a letter, if you’re too nervous or something.
Not that I’m nervous! I’m not nervous! Just don’t have the time to really sit and chat right now. That’s actually true, you know. The pegasus weather team stopped by this morning right before I hit the hay, and they said something about a major weather malfunction. Sounds pretty bad, so I think they’ll need me at Cloudsdale either today or tomorrow. But after that, if you’re feeling a bit deprived of yours truly, well, you know where to find me.
‘Til then I’ll be with the flight crews. They don’t know what’s causing this malfunction in the machines, but apparently it’s really bad, and they don’t have a grip on it. Said some kinda big storm is brewing up, and they need some help to kick it down. They also said it might be coming this way, so you might want to spread the word around town. Hey, and also, tell everypony else I’ll be gone for a while!
Applejack stopped by today around lunchtime. She told me of Rainbow Dash’s leave. Apparently there’s been an incident at the Cloudsdale Weather Factory, and a heavy storm is brewing. I can’t say I’m surprised. The sun hasn’t set yet, and it’s baking outside. Ponies are panting because walking is extraneous; I’m watching them from the library, where I have as many fans going as possible. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if the heat had fried some of the factory’s systems. I’d be on fire if it weren’t for these fans.
Spike’s enjoying it though, so at least one of us is happy. He’s actually off right now with Fluttershy, accompanying her to her house to check on Angel. Fluttershy doesn’t want to go, that much was obvious. As she walked home, I watched from an upstairs window; it looked like the sun was melting her legs. She had to lean on Spike just to get two steps from the library door.
Before they left, though, I sent another letter to Celestia. I hope Spike returns with a scroll in his hand. If he doesn’t... I don’t know what I’ll do. These ponies are looking up to me for some answers, but I don’t have any. The only way to get answers is to return to that castle and do some more looking. Perhaps a better look this time; last time we barely scraped the surface of the ruins. I’ll have to go alone though. I won’t take Fluttershy back there. I won’t do that to her.
And with Dash gone, I don’t exactly feel safe bringing anypony else out there, in case I have to make a quick getaway. My wings will carry me, and I can carry somepony, but four ponies? That’s out of the question. No, until Dash returns, only I will go into the forest. I must remember to inform Mayor Mare and make sure she informs the rest of the town. Nopony is to go into the forest until the eclipse stops and I can get in contact with Celestia. Not that they’ll have a problem with it, but it may stop the few adventurous ponies who feel like they should investigate (no doubt to earn a cutie mark...).
Once Spike get’s back, I’ll venture back into the forest. I have to know about that castle. Where did it come from? It wasn’t always there, I’m sure of that now. No, that was not there before. Does it have to do with the sun being stuck at midday? I’ve asked the guards if they knew anything, but their responses are short, choppy, and always negative. They know less than I do. Which makes me concerned that something happened to Celestia. I know her, and she would never put crops at risk like this. Not unless it was an emergency, but even then, what sort of emergency could require the sun to hang in the sky like this?
I’m going to go to Rarity’s today, before I venture into the woods. This way somepony will know where I am. I’ll record the conversation in my journal, just in case something important is said and I need a reference. Then, I’ll be off into the forest. Celestia help me in that ruin. Just thinking about it makes me... uneasy.
Wednesday, March 3
I’ll start with the conversation:
“Rarity,” I told her over a cup of tea, “I’m going back to the ruins.”
She gasped and shook her head, mouth open but no words to say.
Sipping the last of the tea, which I was very thankful for (her tea is the absolute best, and it always calms me), I nodded firmly to her. “I have to go. I’m a princess now, remember? These are just things I have to do.”
She sat beside me now. “But dearie, you mustn’t go alone. Take Applejack with you, or Pinkie. You know they both are never ponies who tend to laze about. They need the excitement.”
But I shook my head here. “No, I’m sorry Rarity. What if something happened and we needed to dash? I can carry a pony, but not two, and not far. It’s not safe, and I won’t let anything happen to you guys. That’s why I’m going in there. I’ll be back before sundown, no worries.”
“If the sun sets this time,” Rarity remarked, and that was the end of that.
Before leaving town though, I stopped by Town Hall to visit Mayor Mare. She’s looking pretty bad now, and I suggested she really get some sleep, but only after doing me a favor. I told her that if she could assemble the town for a meeting tonight, I’d take over the situation completely, and she could get some rest. I’ve never seen a mare resign her duties as fast as she did, but like I said, I don’t blame her.
So then I left down and trod through the eerie swamps of the Everfree. This place never gets easier to walk through. Behind the wailing reeds and the frowning flowers there always seems to be a spook, a shadow that watches. The trees don’t help either; it’s like walking through an army of skeletons. At least the sun wasn’t eclipsed this time, and I could see clearly.
The ruins in the day seem to be less daunting, more real. I can’t explain it, but they seemed more real, as though they truly had been there long. Still they were slanted at their fallen angle, but now I could get a good scope of the structure. It was triangular, it seemed. Walls, which seemed to comprise the bulk of the interior castle, connected three separate wings of towers, through, as I have said, the only standing tower is the tall one in the back, and even it stands at a strange list. But now I could see something that seemed to be a way into it.
Left of the tower was a smaller tower that was part of the back wing, collapsed into it’s twin. I quickly made for that tower, gliding above the rest of the ruins on the warm wind. To my right was a clocktower, part of the right wing, though the clock seemed stuck at midnight. Interestingly, I’ll add for my notes, the clock seemed to be quite fine, unharmed by whatever had befallen the castle. I’ll be sure to investigate it soon.
After gliding across the marsh-soaked courtyard, I landed on the roof of the tipped spire and made my way into the tall one. The first room I found to actually be the third story, but the first two were caved in, and thus blocking the entrance. Stairs curve up the inside of this tower from story to story, but it seems the story above the third is locked behind a metal door. Again I am puzzled by the layout of this castle. The only thing I could find in this tower (on the parts I could enter, that is) was a painting. It was very peculiar, of something that I’ve never seen before. In fact, I believe we are on the precipice of a great discovery!
The upper part of the painting was torn away, and despite my scouring of the room, I could not find it. The lower half I have carefully taken down and will transmute into the journal, just in case.
What is the most peculiar about this picture is the skeletons that the throne (I assume it to be a throne) is made of. Never in all my studies have I stumbled across skulls such as these. Is this a new species? Have we discovered something? I... I would be excited, and yet I must say that, given the circumstances, I am anything but. I must return to Ponyville now, and this will be kept confidential for the time being. I don’t want to scare anypony. They’re already scared enough.
Now, it’s about time for me to get out of this castle. I have a meeting to hold.
Wednesday, March 3, Evening
The meeting with the town went well. I explained the situation to the best of my knowledge, and I urged the townsponies to go about their business as they would.
“The moon is still rising,” I told them. It was, too, just off in the horizon. It seems that there will be another eclipse tonight. “I urge you all to take comfort in the fact that the princesses are in fact still there. Please go about your business as you will. I will continue to try and contact the Princesses.”
There wasn’t much to be said after that. The entire crowd was uneasy and shifting, but in the scorching heat, there wasn’t much to be done for it. In closing I suggested that they remain indoors with fans on and a cool drink in their hooves. Then I cracked a joke about Ponyville being “so hot that it won’t need the sun; it’ll be a sun.” Got a few chuckles.
But I can’t shake this. Today, in the castle, I felt very... strange. I didn’t notice it at the time, but now that I think about it, it felt almost like there was something there. This wasn’t the normal Everfree spook either. After an hour of thought and examination, I’m convinced that there was something there. A wild critter, a hard-headed pony, or something else, I’m not sure, but there was something. I don’t feel well now. So I decided a little while ago to lie down. Fluttershy urged me to take my bed, and she would have the couch tonight. The girl would hear no argument.
She’s doing well, though. Her animals are all well, she tells me, and her house is fine. Perhaps I should show her my find; she is the animal lover, after all. If anypony knows what kind of creature this is, it will certainly be her. But that can wait for the morning. I feel spent, and a nap would do me wonders. I’ll show her in the morning.
And maybe in the morning, there’ll be a sun-sealed scroll waiting for me.
Thursday, March 4, Dawn
It’s cool today. I woke up to feel a pleasant breeze drifting through my window, which I’ve been leaving open to try and keep some sort of natural breeze flowing. But today, it was cool. At first I was content to lie in bed, letting the welcome wind cool my sticky fur. But then I realized something; it was cool.
I’m looking out the window right now. Black storm clouds are blocking the sun’s light, and while that feels welcome, it’s dismal to realize that the weather machine had not been fixed in time. We now, of all times, are facing a brazoning storm. It worries me, so much so that I can’t even eat my breakfast. My mind is racing.
I need to find Applejack. We have to help the town secure the scaffolding and construction before the winds really pick up. Right now, things are cool, and the air has a nice pre-storm scent on it. But I can taste the dust in the air, and I don’t like it. The story will come fast and hard, of that I have no doubt. I must find Applejack. I’ll write more when I’m finished around town.
Thursday, March 4
Things are tied down and the town is set for the storm... whenever it decides to start. Thunder and lightning seem to be the “rain” here, but not much else has fallen save a few drops here or there. The wind has picked up for sure, and I can hear it howling outside. It sounds like a timberwolf, and it’s chilling. I can’t sit at the window for more than a few minutes at a time without feeling like ice.
After Applejack and I helped tighten the town down, we made a trip to Sugarcube Corner to see how Pinkie was holding up. What we found, however, was Mrs. Cake, who urged us to let Pinkie rest. She treated us to a seat and some coffee, which was nice, and then explained that apparently, just as the storm had covered the sun, Pinkie had one of her “Pinkie Sense” moments. Applejack and I aren’t entirely sure what to make of it, but Mrs. Cake obviously didn’t want to speak of it. She simply asked that we let Pinkie get some rest and to come by later.
So we went to check on Rarity, who was doing well enough. Carousel Boutique is laced with wooden scaffolding, and we quickly went through the rounds of it. After making sure it was set, we watched her do a bit of sowing and shared some thoughts over cups of tea. I’ll record as much of the conversation as I can remember:
“So nopony has heard from Dash, eh?” Applejack asked.
All of us, sipping on tea, shook our head. “No,” said Rarity, “but something interesting did happen, and I’m rather glad you’ve all stopped by. You see, last night I was watching to see if the story really was going to roll over us, when I saw a flock of bats fly overhead.”
“Bats?” I asked, remembering Fluttershy’s eyes that night. “Where were they headed?”
She looked at me, then to the storm outside. “The Everfree. I watched them go. Filthy creatures they are.”
I have to ask Fluttershy about them, now, and show her that painting. This crossed my mind at the time, but I instead said, “I’m worried. I haven’t heard from Celestia in... days now. She normally responds instantly. This delay is... kinda scary...”
Applejack nodded. “T’ain’t like her to be so quiet, especially with recent events and such. I reckon there’s a problem a might bit bigger than it seems.”
I agree. I wholeheartedly agree.
Thursday, March 4, Dusk
The storm still hasn’t started yet. Whatever malfunction it was, it must have been massive. Dash still isn’t back, and Applejack said that she’d be writing a letter to the Weather Factory for Dash just in case. As for me, while we’re all waiting for things to develop, I asked Fluttershy about the painting. And, to my dismay, she knows nothing on the skulls. Of course, she didn’t look for long; the sight of bone was enough to turn her into jelly yet again, and with all the recent happenings, I’m not going to stress her more than I have to.
I can see it in her eyes. She’s worn down, despite going for one walk a day, and only to her house at that. Spike tells me she’s doing fine, and she’s eating well, but I’m still worried for her. Fluttershy has a natural connection to the animals of Equestria, and I’m beginning to devise a theory on her behavior. With Rarity’s bat sighting, I’m thinking that Fluttershy feels no connection to those bats, and that must be throwing her off.
But then, if this is true, then those bats really aren’t bats. There’s something going on here. Even the guard feel it; they’re beginning to increase their shifts, even put ponies on double shifts. The whole town is on edge. Me? I’ll just keep my eyes out for Dash. We’ll see where to go from there.
Rainbow! We’re worried sick as a dog for ya back home. The storm’s sittin up there, and it ain’t goin nowhere. How are things at the factory? I’m beginnin to get a feelin in my gut tellin me that I ain’t gonna like what y’alls gonna tell me. But we’re all so worried for ya. Twilight especially seems a bit tired lately, so we’re countin on ya to come back and liven things up a bit, especially with Pinkie out for a while.
‘Sides, Twi ain’t lettin anypony go with her to the ruins while you’re still out and about.
I ain’t good at this note stuff, but y’all come home soon now, ya hear? I hate to admit it, but I really do what some of that there “Rainbow lovin”. So hurry your flank back here! We all need ya Dash.
We regret to inform you that Rainbow Dash has not arrived at the factory, and we are unsure of her arrival in Cloudsdale. We regret that we cannot be of further service, due to the recent meltdown of our storm reactor. If Rainbow Dash is chanced upon, we ask that you send her this way immediately. Her help would be greatly appreciated.
I gotta go. I left ya a copy of the Factory’s letter, but I ain’t stickin around to hear your side of the argument. I ain’t got time for useless yammerin, because RD’s in trouble somewhere. I gotta go find her, and I ain’t gonna be persuaded not to go. I’m really sorry to just leave ya like this, but that mare’s really comin into my life, and that’s your fault and you know it.
Twi, I really gotta go make sure she’s okay. I’ll only be gone a few days, I promise. More sorry than a broken fiddle,
I don’t like this at all! This time it was a leg-twitch tail-itch ear-flip eye-snitch hoof-trip neck-crick! I should tell Twilight! I gotta tell Twilight, but if I get another one of these I’m gonna be sore and sick and upset and that’d be bad! Twilight has to know! Oh, I don’t like this at all!
It’s the bats I tell ya! Do you hear me diary?! It’s the bats! There’s something wrong with the bats! They might call me batty, but you just wait diary! A leg-twitch tail-itch ear-flip eye-snitch hoof-trip neck-crick is nothing but bad news!
Mr. and Mrs. Cake are acting funny too! They’re closing shop an hour early today, and they never ever close shop early! And the foals! They’re keeping them in their room tonight, instead of letting them sleep in the cribs! Something’s fishy! Twilight thinks its the castle, that’s what she thinks diary. But it’s the bats I tell you!
Only the bats could cause a leg-twitch tail-itch ear-flip eye-snitch hoof-trip neck-crick. It’s nothing but bad news. Nothing at all!
Thursday, March 4
I had another one, diary. I had another leg-twitch tail-itch ear-flip eye-snitch hoof-trip neck-crick and now I hurt all over. I have to lay down, but I still don’t feel good. Mr. and Mrs. Cake think it was all the sugar I’ve been eating. But they’re wrong. I know it’s the bats. That’s why my Pinkie Sense is telling me.
I wish Twilight would come over soon. I have to tell her this, she has to know! Those aren’t bats at all! Those things are evil! They’re pure evil, and I mean it diary. They’re evil with wings, and that’s dangerous evil! Twilight has to know this! Twilight has to know that they’re evil. Nope, not bats at all.
Five days ago, an earthquake shook Ponyville. Five days ago, we discovered the ruins of a great castle. Four days ago, the sun refused to go down. Three days ago, I discovered what might be a new species. Two days ago, I realized that the bats have something to do with this. Yesterday, Applejack cut town in search of Rainbow Dash, who seems to have gone missing.
Today, it began to rain. I thought that this was a welcome relief, but I was wrong. The tempest makes my gut swirl. The wind outside is deafening, and I can hardly see two feet from my window into the swell of the storm. Every so often I see a flash of golden armor; at least the guards are still on patrol. I can hear the metal outside, and it makes me feel a bit safer at least.
I’ve taken the time to circumspect the situation. Applejack’s note was scrawled with obvious haste, and honestly, I don’t blame her. I just hope she made it out of here before the storm caught her. As for Rainbow Dash, I’m not sure what happened, but it’s probably safe to assume that she never made it to her destination. I’m worried for her, but with a headstrong mare like Applejack on her tail, I’m confident that she’ll be found. And besides, Applejack is probably safer out of town.
Fluttershy has had her nose in my journal all morning, and I’m a bit sorry to take it from her. Though the entries make her shaky, it seems to give her mind something to do, and I think it’s helping a bit. She’s taken a keen interest in the transcribed painting, comparing similarities of the shape to bats. But she’ll only speak of it for a moment, before she skirts off of the topic. Again, I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t think of it if I didn’t have to.
Spike is being very helpful, too. When he’s not giving Fluttershy some much needed company, he’s downstairs with me, helping me creep through the library for some sort of information. So far we’ve found… nothing.
We started with bats, looking for any sort of clues to the origin of those skulls. Chiroptology is quite fascinating in itself, but I can find neither the origin these bones nor information about the bats we saw in the Everfree. We’ve been at this for hours now; it’s almost midday. But still, the closest thing we found about this was in a chiroptologic anthology, but all that told us was that there was a species of bat rarely seen before. We’re going to look into that, just in
There was a scream. Will continue shortly.
Saturday, March 6
I am perfectly disturbed. If the journal seems blurred, it’s because I’m soaking with rainwater. The scream we heard had no source, but I know better than to think the pony was swept away in the wind.
When I opened the front door, a swarm of foul bats skittered before me, screeching and crying as they rode the wind away. I almost killed over from a heart attack, but the stomping of armor in the mud pulled me back. A group of guards rushed up to me and pounded me with questions. Where was the scream? What had happened? Why were there bats here?
The answer was the same to all of them. I don’t know!! I don’t!
Quickly I rushed out with them, and we began a search of the area. The scream sounded like it came from Lyra; I would know her voice anywhere. But she wasn’t anywhere! The guards and I searched through the flooding streets and through the stabbing wind for her, but she wasn’t there! It sounded like came from Mane Street, but that street was as deserted as a graveyard.
Eventually we began to poke around town to see if anypony knew what happened. Thing is, those ponies were all locked away in their homes, safe from the storm. Nopony knew anything! I… I don’t know anything! We even asked Bonbon, but that was the most disturbing part.
We came up to her house, which sits on Mane Street. The lights were on, and there was a silhouette in the window above. It looked like her, but she was pacing. The guards and I took no time in rushing through her muddy yard and banging on her door. Poor mare must’ve been frightened to death; I watched the shadow nearly jump out of itself. From within we could hear heavy hoofsteps galloping towards the door, which was thrown open by a frazzled, shaky Bonbon.
“Lyra stormed out!” she told us. Her cheeks were matted and stained from long strings of damp fur. It was obvious that she’d been crying. “We’d been arguing and she just… she just grabbed her coat and stormed out! I’m sorry, where is she? Did you find her?”
I think that, in her dismay, she’d not heard the scream. I just couldn’t bring myself to tell her that Lyra was lost somewhere in the storm (but I think I would have been lying if I did). We just… told her that things would be fine. What else were we supposed to do? Sad girl couldn’t take it if we told her the truth.
But I can’t live with that. Honestly, I can’t. I have a hunch where Lyra is, if she is in fact anywhere at all. I have a feeling that she’s in that castle in the Everfree. I want to go see, I want to go try and find her, but that storm is not letting up anytime soon. There’s no way I’ll be able to go out in it. I’m making a note to go back to the ruins as soon as possible, though. Just to check. I doubt that she’ll be there, but I pride myself as a smart mare, and my guts are telling me to at least check.
But in the meantime, the bats are back. I can see them in the sky, circling just beneath the clouds and thunder, flashing with the lightning. I can see them up there, looking down at us as we are beaten by the rain. The longer I stare at them, the more I feel like crying. I can’t explain it. However, I will be doing my best to keep Fluttershy away from any windows, and when the storm clears up, I will leave for the ruins.
That scream, it just wasn’t natural. It came from Lyra, of this I am sure, but it died and morphed with the howl of the wind. It was almost like it faded away. I don’t know if I’m being paranoid (remember: a level head is essential to problem solving) but I can’t shake this feeling. I mean… it was right there. Right there. Mane Street is where most of the ponies in Ponyville live. Even if they were all tucked away in their homes, they would have seen something. But they didn’t. They didn’t see anything.
I’m going to look more into those rare bats again. As long as they stay in the sky, I’ll be able to compare them with the diagrams. This may work to my advantage, but I hope that they stay in the sky, and away from the ground.
My sister is gone. She. Is. Gone. I don’t know where you get off calling yourselves guards if a simple rainstorm can’t keep us safe! What’s wrong with you? She’s gone! She’s gone, and it’s your fault! You better find her, you had better find her or so help me…
Please… please, just find her. I’m so scared. Please… the kids need her at the school. I need her around here. Ponyville needs her! I’m scared for her. She shouldn’t have gone out. She shouldn’t have… please find her.
-Berry Punch
Sunday, March 7
Captain,
I think I saw something. I don’t know what it was, but it looked like… bats. I couldn’t see in the rain, but it looked like the bats were surrounding somepony. I couldn’t see the face. In fact, I could hardly see the color. I swear up and down it was Carrot Top. What could compel her to go out in such a storm, I don’t know. But… when the bats flew away, nopony was there. I don’t know what kind of trickery this is, but Princess Sparkle needs to know.
Hoped I helped.
-Junebug
Sunday, March 7
Captain,
I went out to check on Hugh Jelly, a patient of mine, during a pause in the storm. When I reached his home, however, he was gone. I don’t know if this is odd coincidence, but I’m hearing things around town, things about some ponies going missing. Now, Hugh and I have a strictly business relationship, but I can’t help but be concerned with his absence. If you could please look into that, I would appreciate it.
A Column From The Ponyville Inquirer Sunday, March 7
The Ponyville Inquirer; More Damage
Today welcomes the relief of no storm, no sun, and general stillness that Ponyville has longed to see over the past week. However, all is not well in our little town. The storm that threatens to begin again has done more damage than we know. Ignoring the torn down scaffolding that was rebuilding our homes after the strange earthquake that happened almost a week ago, and ignoring the extraneous water damage to some homes, we face a new issue.
In the storm,some ponies ventured out, and many of them are lost. The guard claims that they are scouring the area to the best of their ability, but it may not be enough. Therefore, we at the Ponyville Inquirer urge all ponies to aid in the search for these missing ponies. So far, we know of four that have vanished. Their names are as follows:
-Lyra Heartstrings
-Carrot Top
-Cheerilee
-Hugh Jelly
The Inquirer is unsure where they might be, as we have very little information on the disappearances. A few ponies have contacted the inquirer about “bats”, which were seen flying above and sometimes through Ponyville during the storm. So far as the guard’s knowledge goes, bats are not involved in the disappearances, so we ask that Ponyville put logic first.
Our own Princess Twilight Sparkle has been contacted this very day, and has only one thing to say: “Keep a level head and ignore any superstition. That’s only going to get in the way of reason and logic, which we are going to need in order to find these ponies.”
Our hearts go out to the families of those missing. The storm was a rough one, and may start again, so for their sakes and yours, please aid the search teams in finding these missing ponies.
On a closing note, our advisors, as well as the guard and the Princess, all urge ponies to remain indoors during the storm in the hopes of preventing any further issues. Stay safe Ponyville, we’ll be riding the storm with you.
The Ponyville Inquirer stopped by today. I could only offer my condolences and advice, which would be to forget any superstitions and focus on finding these ponies. I was in the middle of preparations when they stopped by, but I was more than happy to offer my words. But now I am back to preparations.
Fluttershy had a nightmare last night. She woke up in a cold sweat with a high fever, and the total incident was alarming. Her whole body was shivering, and she was unresponsive. I was becoming severely worried, but soon her body began to warm again, and she began to look about the room. Spike was kind enough to fetch a glass of warm milk for her and, after I helped her down it with a gentle hoof, I asked what had happened.
All she told me was, “Bats.”
I’m alarmed, even as I pen this. I can’t wait for the storm to blow over; I’m going back to those ruins and I’m putting an end to whatever this is. I just hope the town will can do without me for a while, possibly even a day. I realize that the storm might ground me in the ruins, but I will have to go, because the look in Fluttershy’s eyes this morning, those tiny black dots for pupils and the terror beneath them... I shudder.
I’ve told her to stay in bed, and that on my way out I would stop by her home to ensure that everything was still well and fine. Spike is more than happy to take care of her, and it makes me proud that he is doing so well. In fact, I’ve entrusted him with running a note of mine to Rarity, enclosed in which are my plans to stay at the castle, even if that means overnight. I have to leave now, though, while there is no wind to beat me down.
Twilight! Confound that headstrong mare! She’s gone back to the ruins and didn’t even stop by to tell me! While I am normally a cool, level headed mare, I must claim how much I detest this course of action. Why, she’s gone in the middle of a storm, and left Fluttershy all by her lonesome. Well, she has Spike of course, and he’s quite the dear. Perhaps she will be fine, but Twilight? She has no right to make me worry like this!
I do hope that mare is alright. She’s tough, I’ll give her that much, and she’s smart too. She must have some reason to risk being stranded in that creepy place... but it had best be a good one! Applejack has gone on her search for Rainbow Dash a while ago, and we have yet to hear back from either of them. I fear I will worry myself sick soon.
Ah, but Pinkie is doing better, and this is very good. In fact, she was over for tea just a little while ago, and I could see that Pinkie pink back in her cheeks already. Oh we spoke of many things, a good bit of gossip here or there, and a bit of word around town was shared between us. Though, when the disappearances were brought to light, I felt myself pale a bit.
I’m very aware of how many ponies have disappeared. It is rather disconcerting to hear of the strange happenings, especially with the guard clueless as to their happenings, but I advised her that we both simply stay indoors while Twilight does her hunting. I personally did not see anything suspicious, nor did I hear any disconcerting noises, so I am a little left out on the fiasco. Which is fine by me, of course; it sounds absolutely dreadful.
What concerns me the most, though, is my own sister! Sweetie Belle is off to Sweet Apple Acres with Applebloom and Scootaloo. We (Applejack and I) discussed it over when Twilight had departed us a few days back, and we both agreed that the fillies should stay there for now.
But it’s no secret that their big schemes get the best of them, and it is worrisome that Applejack, who is quite the staple of order, has been gone for so long. Big Macintosh can only do so much before those three overwhelm him... Oh dear, I may have to schedule a trip there soon. First though, business!
The boutique has been doing well recently, despite the happenings. I suppose ponies have already budgeted orders in, and so far, none have been cancelled so I am quite busy. I have thought about taking a break and seeing if Twilight needs some help with that research of hers, but she has only recently started packing away the books. When she returns, I will offer my time to her, but for now, I will sow. At least, this is, until I hear from Applejack or Rainbow Dash.
Speaking of that devil, her name was mentioned in another section of the Ponyville Inquirer today. It seems that the weather team here can’t quite function without her, or perhaps, they need her simply for the looming storm. It is still out there, by the way, daunting black clouds that stretch in every direction. Even the wind stays, swelling and screaming just outside my door.
These strange happenings only come at one advantage: the sun is not morphing the town into a blister, thank Celestia. Personally, I don’t mind the rain. When disappearances begin, however, I find myself thinking otherwise. There must be an explanation for it, but if Twilight hasn’t found one, then I am certainly not going to stumble upon one. I can only wait for her return and hope for the best. Until then, I’ll sow, visit Pinkie when the storm clears, run to the market, and get some sleep.
Monday, March 8
Twilight has not returned. She told me explicitly in her letter that when she should return, she would visit me at once to keep my nerves at bay. But she has not returned, and the storm outside shows no sign of letting up. I worry for the dear, and I am sure that I am not alone. Fluttershy must be trembling by now. (Remember, treat her to the spa soon.) I do hope that the storm lets up. I’ve already started to plan to trek into the forest soon.
I don’t want to do it, and I’ll admit that here. Through the mud and the swamp and the ick, I daresay I’d never go in there of my own accord. But for Twilight… well, we need her! And she is my friend, and I would do anything for a friend of mine. Rarity never lets a client down, but when it is a friend at stake, my life shall be on the line for her with no quarrel or hesitation.
I will first contact the guard and inform them of the situation. I’m not sure if they are aware of Twilight’s absence, but with them at our side, we’ll be in and out of the forest without a problem. Then if Pinkie is feeling up to it, we’ll team up. First order of business then is to send a letter to the Princesses to inform them of the situation and see if they’ll send us a response this time. I still firmly believe that some sort of correspondence to the letters could have prevented this situation. Yet, all we can do is try again.
But regardless, I think this is the best plan. Not much else to do now but wait until a pause in the storm to rush to the guard’s bunks. They’ve taken up in Town Hall, with Mayor Mare, which makes me feel much better for her. Poor dear has been running herself ragged, and had it not been for Twilight’s intervention, she’d be dead from exhaustion, I have no doubt. As for the guard, I’ve only seen a few of them out in the storm, which is a pale comparison to the previous myriad of them that was swimming around out there before. I wonder if they’ve been posted to Mane Street, or if they too are staying indoors for their safety. It wouldn’t surprise me.
They made a public announcement this morning that all shops, stands, carriageways, and roads were closed until further notice. The only way out of the town is to fly or teleport, which forces everypony else to their homes. Surely the market will open again, hopefully under better weather conditions, because I seem to be out of celery. I feel like cooking something tonight, seeing as I’ll be dining alone again. I’m thinking some sort of stew, but without the celery, I can’t quite make it complete. I suppose I’ll have to substitute it with something else. Perhaps leeks, for a more savory flavor instead of something sweet. Not quite sure yet.
Well I will just have to see what happens, won’t I? In the meantime, I plan on opening a nice bottle of wine and relaxing for a while. I also plan to write to the Weather Factory and see if Applejack has stopped by. It couldn’t hurt, I suppose.
Tuesday, March 9, Dawn
There was an urgent call from Mayor Mare last night, around two in the morning actually. She said that the guards were gone. While I found this strikingly odd, I reasoned that they too had had trouble getting in contact with Canterlot, and had therefore left to see if something had occurred. The idea, however, was soon disproved upon further thinking. Mayor Mare was soaking wet on my doorstep, but refused to come in. I was unsure whether her shivering was from the weather or something else, but she was definitely shaken. She told me of the guard’s disappearance and demanded that I come to town hall at once. So, of course, I went.
Through that icky black whirlwind outside I could see absolutely nothing, but Mayor Mare led us straight to the town hall with no problem, other than nearly being blown down the road like a dead leaf. We rushed into the hall and she immediately questioned me on the whereabouts of Twilight. When I told her, I swear I watched every hue of color fade from her cheeks; she looked like a ghost.
Without another word, she galloped into another room, where I presumed the guards were staying. I ran in after her, and she instantly exploded her theories and worries through the now-empty room. The green mats that lined either side of the tall once-office space were all empty, with some of the golden armor still there! I felt a chill creep up my spine as I inspected each mat. Some were overturned. Some were still warm. And, as I said, some still had the armor beside them. The room began to feel stale and cramped. Perhaps it was just the situation, but as far as I was concerned, it felt like my mother’s sepulcher. I instantly felt the need to escape.
Cutting the Mayor off, I ushered her back into the main hall, and then asked where the guards had gone. She said she did not know, but she heard a great clamor downstairs (she was staying in the upper room, but is now with her sister). When she went down, she saw the regiment dashing into the storm as if in a chase, disappearing into the black storm without a trace. The thunder must have covered their hoofbeats.
I’m more concerned than ever now. My plans for safety have completely diffused, and now I do not know what I am to do. Luckily, my wits were about me, as they always must be of a Lady, and I asked the Mayor to give my letter priority in the mail. She took it and dashed to her sister’s home, where I hope she is safe.
On my part, I will be going back to sleep. After the incident this morning, I still smell the tomb-like scent that Town Hall smelled of, and it took sleep from me. I took a long rose petal bath, however, and I don’t smell of death any longer. I’ll decide what to do later on in the day, but for now, I feel like I may finally sleep.
Tuesday, March 9
The guard has not returned. I have decided now that they must have chased something into the Everfree. It is the only logical course of thought. Twilight has not returned, either, which means that she’s in the forest with whatever dreadful thing the guards were after. I only hope that they get it before it gets to Twilight.
The tempest outside shows signs of lightening up finally, and for that I am glad. I’m beginning to think that we may very well see the sun again soon. It may still be up there, but at least the risk of flooding will dissipate. So there is some good news. I just wanted to vent a few worries, and now, so long as the storm stays down at a light drizzle, I’ll run and visit Spike. It will be a good opportunity to try the Princesses again, so if there ever were a time to go, it would be now.
Tuesday, March 9, Dusk
We learned a few things on the state of things today because, thankfully, when I made it to the library, I discovered that Spike had a scroll in his hand, waiting to be read. He was expecting Twilight, and not me, but once I filled him in on things (and made sure that Fluttershy heard as well) he reluctantly cracked the seal. This part was interesting, however, because instead of a sun, the seal was a wax moon, and the writing was obviously not that of Celestia.
I’ve copied the letter down on a piece of parchment, which I’ve then stuck in this diary. It is very, very interesting, but it makes me worry even more. Twilight must return soon, lest we be left completely leaderless. Oh, if only Dash were here, or even better, Applejack. One of those two would gladly assume role as leader and take things off my hooves. But for now, I... need a nap. Yes, a nap would do me well. Or perhaps I’ll just go to sleep. No need to eat tonight.
