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Chapter 7: "Square One"

Becoming a little past dusk, it painted the sky with dark yellows and blues, the prosperity of clouds brought attention to the sky. The world was warping around them, both party's ignorant to its display, attention focused on each other. Leaving the hospital John seemed to skip with content, after several unthinkable hours within its depths being free once again brought with it a charm. This relief however was not to last, the abundance of terror that soon followed washed throughout John and the surrounding area, the atmosphere turned sinister.

The simple presence of this being distorted the world around it, turning it murky and ink like, exhausting opaque black mist wherever it advanced. The fumes danced around it, concealing its silhouette. John stood in stunned silence, shaking uncontrollably as she stared on at the demon that flooded her vision.

She feared the slightest twitch would set the creature off, slowly it prowled past her seemingly unknowing to her existence. This was her chance, not wanting to waste a second she slowly began to tremble to her right, over to a near by bush. The silence was excruciating, with no one else around she felt venerable to attacks, she was on her own in this one.

Walking right back into the hospital was dense, with the doors short but loud chime it would surely attract the beasts attention.

Before it got better, it got worse. The swirling mass of darkness had halted its movement, so too had John. Time began to lag, the tension was thick. Sweat poured down Johns brow, unable to take her eyes of the abomination. Sluggishly, the monster began to turn in her direction. Panicking she opted for a quick solution, this was her downfall.

Bending her rear legs she mustered all her stamina for a powerful pounce out of sight, hurdling through the air she aimed to land in a range of shrubbery that typically decorated most of the houses. This was not to be. Within a second the world had faded to white, and all thought had vanished.

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Most ponies would have become astray from reality at this time of night, blissfully unaware. Unfortunately for some this was not the case. Locked up in timber sat a few ponies, all varying to a certain degree. The most particular one sat relatively isolated, despite them all being bunched into the same room. She sat searching, probing for some answer, her codex of choice was suddenly tossed to one side, unceremoniously dismissed.

Twilights mind had become cataclysmic, murder was not completely unheard of. Although contemplating a murder was actually intriguing to her, the real thing was a completely distinct article. Twilights pride had been completely banished, with one foot in the door she had already demanded a letter to be sent to the princess. Spike had been left in the dark, only advised that things were going to change, and not for the better. Also to keep a night light.

Things were becoming dire, although only an hour had passed since they got back, it felt like an afterlife. Fluttershy had felt that leaving the griffins corpse to rot in that distressing cave was demeaning, he deserved a proper burial. So Fluttershy had split from the group and journeyed to the morgue with the deceased. Following just short were Rainbow Dash and Applejack, no one felt completely safe alone, a thick air of disturbance had set over their heads, she felt safe walking with someone.

By an hour they still hadn't returned, so the remaining three elements, and spike were left to occupy themselves to a certain degree. Rarity sat staring into the fires flame. She was distant, despite Spikes attempts to comfort her she wished she would be left alone, she now remained silent. Pinkie Pie was far from being the element of laughter, in fact she was far from being the element of anything. Quite recently she found herself to be completely undisturbed with most things.

She just could no longer muster up the emotion that usually controlled her every action. Such a thing as being emotional was child's play, but lately all she could assemble was the nagging feeling of something missing. Like part of her was erased. She began to sleep more often and wake up later then usual, at first she summed it up to age but that no longer seemed the case. The sight of the Griffins mangled corpse, its grotesque features that caused her friends to act with such distress somehow felt bland to her. She found as she gazed upon it, that it was as disheartening as a daisy, eventually causing her to leave the cave out of boredom. Nothing could catch her interest often these days.

Twilights ears flinched, the door abruptly opened to reveal three dripping mares. One by one they all approached the fire to warm themselves. Letting them become comfortable, Twilight released herself from her recent codex and faced the newcomers.

"How did it go?" Applejack's response was delayed slightly.

"T'was fine I suppose, when we got there they were closed" Applejack explained. Twilight raised an eyebrow at that. Interrupting her, Rainbow dash spoke as she turned her attention to Twilight, with irritation in her voice.

"Then I had to go all the way across Ponyville to wake Dampy up! Then we both flew back to the morgue."

When the conversation had died down without a conclusion, Twilight spoke.

"Then?"

Fluttershy quipped at that.

"History."

Twilight took her attention away from the mares and checked the clock. It read 22:54. Almost two hours since Twilight had sent her letter to the Princess, with no response. Never had it taken this much time, she tried to convince herself otherwise, but her thoughts preserved the notion that something was at fault. Was the princess in danger? Was she mad? These and similar thoughts coursed though her head, constantly distracting her from her research.

By the time the clock had struck 23:00, a scroll had finally arrived through Spike throat. Catching it before it hit he floor Twilight opened the parchment. She scanned the letter, instead of her initial thought of Princess Celestia giving her answers, instead she gave her more questions. It read:

Dear Twilight Sparkle.

We need to talk. Alone.

Bring living essentials.

Celestia

Had such a simple letter taken Two hours to craft? She doubted it, it was more of a battle of the mind. Twilight guessed that it took this long for her to decide whether to send this letter or not. This may be deeper then she thought. Explaining the context of the letter the others began to state their worries.

Fluttershy, expectedly was the first.

"What if something where to happen?" Rainbow dash continued.

"Huh? Why can't we go with you?" These and many complaints and worries were poured onto Twilight, who dismissed them, as she was the Princesses protege. But something was slightly off, after a few awkward moments she realised. Pinkie still had something to say about the matter, Twilight turned her head to detect her, she sat with a bored expression. Applejack was first to intervene.

"Aint ya gonna say somethin Pinkie?" There was no answer. It took while, but the mention of her name eventually dawned upon Pinkie Pie.

"Wait, what? Oh! Yea sure have fun.

Not much sleep was had that night, Twilight may deny she was worried, but her defiant tossing and turning showed the truth. Twilight woke, greeted by a monster headache she tumbled through her room and descended the stairs. Upon observing the main room she discovered that a few of the other element holders slept through nightfall. They all slept the night, with the exclusion of Pinkie Pie, she wondered briefly about Pinkie, how distant she seemed to be lately. She also wondered how all the other girls managed to sleep together on such a small couch. Staring into oblivion she jumped when an audible crash sounded from the kitchen door. Approaching the wooden frame she slowly budged the door ajar.

"Oh! Hi Twilight!"

In the mitts of a kitchen catastrophe stood young Spike, his appearance mirroring that of a baker. Analyzing the kitchen presented numerous things, the oven was smoking, Spike camouflaged in butter and cream, and a smashed plate, which Twilight caught a glimpse of before Spike attempted to hide it.

"Spike, what are you doing?" Twilight continued to view the room in shock and wonder.

Spike visibly stiffened.

"Err, nothing! Nothing at all!" This was accompanied by an immense belch from the stove, it sputtered black ash and smoke. Both parties flinched at its display, Spike hurried to retrieve oven mittens, assessing the stove he dove head first into the smoke.

"Spike!" Twilight concealed Spike in her magical grasp and pulled to rescue her #1 Assistant. Ragging him from the wreckage he convulsed to displace the soot in hid throat. He didn't come alone, in his Clothed hands were the salvaged remains as a small cake. Placing Spike down she manipulated the tap to regurgitate water, which she levitated on the fire.

"What were you trying to do Spike? And at 7:00 in the morning?!" Twilight caught herself, the stress was getting to her. Spike slowly began to try and formulate words to justify his actions.

"I, I really wanted to make you something special! But.." He Presented the cake he gambled to make, it was burnt and  beginning to chip away.  Twilight sighed at her realization. As quickly as she became furious, it was gone.

"Oh Spike, I'm sorry I shouted. Things are just too chaotic Right now." Twilight peered at the cake, its incoherent writing had melted into the cake, staining it red. Lifting the cave she inspected it further.

"What did it say?" Spike looked up at Twilight, reclaiming the cake he dug his finger into the frosting and wrote a sentence. Displaying it to Twilight she discarded the cake and lifted Spike into a hug. The hug lasted as long as it needed to.  Commotion began to brew in the main entrance meaning the girl were now awake. Strolling into the room they witnessed a very irritated Rainbow Dash battle of a determined Applejack.

"Rainbow! I knew that we would fell asleep but you kept on insisting we stay for 'just a little longer'!" Applejack was obviously embarrassed by 'accidentally' sleeping the night.

"Quit talking Applejack Im trying to sleep!" Rainbow tried to recover her position under the blankets as Applejack pulled them clean of the couch. After a heated argument, which caused Fluttershy to flee was over the two mare went their separate ways. Twilight swiftly packed her bags, and with the help of Spike was now rapidly barreling down to the train station. Despite the heart warming scene that transpired in the kitchen Spike was a little too happy that Twilight was gone. More so to the thought of having the Library all to himself now. Well partially to himself, for Rarity was yet to wake, she still lay nestled under the blankets.

Spike peered outside the front door, checking his left, then right he closed the door. Putting emphases on locking it behind him. He turned to face the sleeping mare, even asleep she was breath taking. Now, she belonged to Spike, taking a deep breath he closed upon Rarity. Looking before her grace he cracked a wicked grin and softly cackled at his prize. Spike licked his lips as he slowly and softly lifted the blanket and carefully submerged himself within them. His laugh never escaping his lips, he could all he wanted now. Twilight had soundproofed the Library walls.

In a slightly humid messy room, a cake sat unattended. A scribble lay into its frosting, slowly becoming engulfed in the abundance of frosting. It read:

"Be Good."