Dark Skies on Cutie'd Thighs

Chapters

First Of The Lost
Sunlit Shadows
Hard Choices
Broken Innocence
Danger Awaits

First Of The Lost

Dark Skies on Cutie'd Thighs

The Everfree Forest is unusually peaceful in the evening. The perfect half-moon is skittering across the skyline, chasing the sun into submission and turning the shadows a deep, rich purple. Either the princesses have their manes in a mangle arguing over something Twilight warned them not to do at least three dragons ago, or perhaps on this particular evening all the magic that infuses Equestria is restless, bored, and looking for something to do. Magic can be funny like that. Either way, it's probably not good.

Even in this densely dark, dank, and dangerous part of the dreaded Everfree Forest, some bravely intrepid (or perhaps pensive and comprehensively antisocial) pony has hoofed down, mared up and cleared enough of a copse in the forest to have a respectable vegetable patch, as well as a small cottage with some plain but well-made décor. The undergrowth at the edges of the clearing is so utterly impenetrable, and so perfectly shorn at the barrier that it seems uncanny. There's a single pony-sized break in the roiling mass of jungle, but distinctly lacking the clean, precise lines of the immaculate lawn.

For a few hours, there is nothing but the invisible sights and inaudible sounds of magic, suffusing the air until the atmosphere is singing with the promise of cataclysm. There's the occasional flash of coloured light or soft 'whoomph' from the cottage, neither of which do anything to decrease the palpable sense of power humming through the air. It seems like even the frank and untamed ferocity of the billion tiny power struggles that make up a forest like this have fallen silent under pressure of the force that is building up in places unseen or heard of. The very air itself is ready to silently spew it's power into the world, and unlock the physical laws of Equestria to allow something impossible and horrifying to slip through from the place where magic is raw, savage, and untamed.

Quite abruptly, there's a subtle shift in the night, and somehow all the magical tension and potential in the air has finally found a place to slowly ground itself, like a malign bolt of lightning: less obvious but far more dangerous and unpredictable. The walls, small to begin with, are contracting and expanding as if in nervous anticipation of the future. But strangely, inside the house there is a misty grey coloured unicorn taking no notice of the events outside, a stallion perhaps slightly taller than average. He seems oblivious of the enormous amount of magic potential that has built up, and is busily attending to some complicated alchemical experiment. He is apparently blissfully unaware of the power dripping from the air being funnelled into his hard-fought-for home. He casts a spell that sets a large, green bottle in the centre of the apparatus gently simmering under the shimmering grey magic fire...

Mane is silently working in his lab, intently focussing on a beaker. He doesn't notice when Derpy wanders in through the door, looking with interest at the intricate glassware around her as she walks up behind him.

''Hi mister doctor! I feel a lot better after my sleep! Did I bang my head again? I feel sorta woozy...''

''Aaah!''

The beaker breaks into shards of glass as Mane drops it in surprise.

''Oh no! I broke your poury glass! I'm sorry mister, I'll clean it up for you!''

''For Celestia's sake, Derpy, don't ever startle me while I'm working! No, don't worry about the beaker, I'll clean it up myself. Do you remember meeting me?''

''No, but your bed is really comfy. I'm sorry I broke your glass thingy, I didn't mean to. Also, I think I got jam all over your sheets and I don't know how it got there.''

''Just try not to do it again, if you think you can manage that. I'll explain everything soon, but I should introduce myself first: I am Dr. Brainymane, and-''

''Do you have any muffins? I'm hungry. I know! We can make some together! My favourite flavour is blue!''

''Derpy, shut up for a minute, this is important. I think you were coming back from a delivery, because your mailbags were empty. Somehow you managed to hit your head on the corner of my roof, and crash landed on my lawn. I took you inside and bandaged you up, but it was a nasty cut. It must be blood on the sheets, not jam. But I am finding it difficult to tell if you have any brain damage yet. Would you by any chance happen to have had any before now?''

He looks at the disoriented mare for a moment, noticing that her cutie mark is a group of small bubbles. I wonder if she even knows why her cutie mark is a group of bubbles? I should probably tell her all I found. But she needs some dinner first, and for that matter so do I.

''Derpy, have your eyes always been like that? And don't call me mister. Everyone just calls me Mane.''

''What do you mean mister-I mean Mane? Is something wrong with my eyes?''

Derpy strained to make her eyes look at each other, but only succeeded in making them spin in their sockets, dizzying and disorienting her even more. She sat down heavily, straight onto a loose floorboard, which promptly flew up and hit Dr. Brainymane in the chin, making him stagger back a little before he could regain his balance. He quickly shook off the dazed feeling, and helped Derpy get up and steady herself. This pony clearly needs my help. But first, she needs some food.

''Derpy,'' said Mane, ''If you're hungry I have some muffins in the kitchen. Blue isn't a flavour, so you'll have to be happy with what I've got.''

''Muffins... I like muffins... ''

Dr. Brainymane led Derpy gently into the kitchen, sat her down at the table, and brought out a plate stacked high with muffins of every variety. Derpy gave a hysterical gasp of joy, and immediately started cramming her face with as many different flavours as she could, getting crumbs everywhere in the process. Brainymane frowned, sighed to himself, and wondered if he was going to be able to find a cure. He was a prodigious chemist, but his special talent which set him aside from all other ponies was his understanding of the equine mind and how it works. Even his cutie mark was a psychiatrist's sofa, but this was the first pony he had come across that he was starting to think he couldn't help.

''Derpy, you should know something. When you were asleep, I had to know what was wrong with you. You might have had a concussion, or brain damage, or even a split in the blood/brain barrier''

''What do those words mean?'' asked Derpy. ''These muffins are really good!''

''Keep focused if you can, Derpy. I'm trying to tell you that in order to help you, I had to cast a spell on you.''

''A spell? What sorta spell? Was it one that makes muffins appear when I clap my hooves?!''

Derpy started clumsily banging her hooves together, even though she had more muffins than she could eat sitting in front of her.

''No Derpy. I cast a spell I created to read a part of your mind, to find out if it had been damaged. Again.''

At this, Derpy stops clopping and pays attention to the dark-blue-eyed stallion in front of her. She doesn't seem angry, just intensely curious and a little worried at the pony's snide tone.

''What did you see in there? 'Cause all I really remember about anything before I came to Ponyville is that I like muffins''

''You really don't remember anything about your past? Not even your parents?''

''I... I think something bad happened... but it's all grey and fuzzy...''

As Dr. Brainymane is trying to explain all this to Derpy, who is doing her best to remember how to remember things, the time has been turning with the light. It's now almost pitch-black back in the lab area, the doctor having turned the lamp off as they left the room. The only light except for the clear moon is coming from below the glass bottle the doctor set simmering hours ago. But it's no longer simmering, it's started boiling and sliding into steam as the heat grows more intense under it.

The liquid at the centre of the bottle, however, is starting to condense and coalesce, looking more and more solid by the moment. It’s starting to form an outline, nebulous and uncertain but many-legged and threatening. Almost all the liquid in the bottle has somehow solidified despite the boiling temperature, and now it is starting to grow at an alarming rate. First the size of a rat, then a guinea-pig, it is quickly becoming too big for the bottle. Eventually, the glass fractures under the growing pressure, and the thing, whatever it is, quickly scuttles into a corner. It's now the size of a cat, and somehow sucks in all the light that falls onto it. The pure blackness, which is all there is to indicate its presence, slips the eye over it as easily as a spelling mistake.

At this point, Dr. Brainymane walks into the room with Derpy in tow, who is happily munching on a muffin.

''Oh for buck's sake. I knew I heard something, Derpy! How in the name of Celestia's shiny ass did that bottle break? It had my latest experiment in it! I must have left the flames on like an idiot.''

''I don't know, Mane. Maybe it got tired and fell off? Stuff does that around me all the time...''

''Right, yes, I'm sure it does, Derpy. But try explaining how there's almost no liquid spilt, when this bottle was full of chemicals. It might have all boiled away, but we weren't gone that long.''

''Om nom nom.''

While the doctor and Derpy are puzzling over the mystery (well, the doctor at any rate), the thing has been creeping out from the shadows. The roiling blackness seems to follow it, keeping its form obscured and perfectly camouflaged. All that's visible under the impenetrable darkness is eight legs, jointed in strange places and at odd angles. If one had the chance to look closely, one might be convinced of two faintly glowing, entirely purple eyes hidden in the darkness- but then again maybe not.

The creature is creeping slowly up behind the two perplexed ponies, and it seems hungry and somewhat confused, as if undecided on which to feed. Whether it's because she's a mare, or because the monster can somehow sense she is the easier prey, the creature readies itself to spring.

''Aaaah! I don't like this! I don't like this! Help!''

Mane jumps three feet in the air at Derpy's shriek of surprise and pain, and spins around. When he sees what's happening, his stomach drops out of his chest as a wave of abject terror sweeps over him like a torrent of frozen bile. He can see Derpy's face, but her neck, mane, and the back of her head are hidden in a cloud of darkest shadow, with eight furry legs clamped around her shivering neck. The something is locked in place as it feeds on her. She is bucking, kicking, and falling around the room trying to shake off whatever it is, but nothing is working.

What happens next is impossible. The bubbles on the flank of the terrified pony, the bubbles that make her unique, special and even talented, are moving one by one, slowly but inexorably up her side towards her neck. Derpy is still screaming and shrieking her lungs out, trying to fight it off.

''Mr Mane! Please, help me! Something's inside my head and I can't get it out!''

This plea snaps Mane out of the horrified trance he was in, and almost in a frenzy he tries to reach the thing and drag it off.

''Derpy! DERPY! Stand the buck still, you idiot, so I can pull it off you!''

The feeling of total and complete desecration of the safe place in her mind, where the taunts of everypony didn't matter, was so overwhelming that she couldn't hear him. All she was aware of was the sickening feeling of having the one spark of magic that kept her sane and tethered to the world, the awful sickening feeling, part physical pain and part mental anguish, of having something she never knew she treasured literally sucked out of her skull by this terrible parasite. All she could do was buck and smash against the world, trying to stop this torture.

The first bubble is gone now, completely consumed by this vile, unnatural attacker. Frantically, Dr. Mane casts a spell that magically tethers Derpy to the ground, and keeps her temporarily still. But her mismatched eyes are still moving, crossing and wheeling, filled with tears of pain and emotional upheaval. With shaking hooves, Mane moves to grab hold of the mass of shadow clinging to her neck.

''Derpy, this is going to hurt, but it will be over soon. It's going to be okay.''

The comforting lies spilling from his mouth, Mane grabs hold of the monster gorging itself on the soul of a terrified pony. But his hooves slip through it, and grasp nothing but air. Growing even more frantic, he tries over and again, each time his hooves slipping through the creature cloaked by darkness. Another two bubbles, the largest ones, slip down the monster's greedy throat.

In a voice strangled by fear and panic and sudden shame at how he has spoken to her, Mane cries ''Derpy, I can't touch the damn thing! It's like it's made of bucking smoke, my hooves keep going through it!''

''Get it off meeee! Please, please just get it off!'' Derpy manages to force out weakly through the spell.

Close to crying himself through sheer terror and desperation, Mane tries to cast a telekinesis spell on the monstrous thing, which twitches a little uneasily, as if shaking off a bee, and digs a little deeper into Derpy's neck with its intangible claws. Only two bubbles are left, one of which is even now mercilessly moving up her neck to the insatiable parasite's gullet, where it too is swallowed whole.

''Derpy, I think it's working! Keep breathing, I'll try again!''

Concentrating all his magical prowess into the spell, he tries once more to drag the wretched bestial thing off his new patient. The thing digs its claws even harder into her neck, but slowly it starts to lose its grip. The veins on Mane's neck are standing out, and his teeth are gritted with the effort he is putting into the spell. He is starting to wonder if he has the strength of mind and magic to beat it. He opens his eyes for a moment, and sees that Derpy's eyes have stopped reeling in their sockets, slowing down to weak spasms. Dropping the binding spell and pulling up some last reserve of strength from his stomach that is twisted up in effort, the creature is finally dragged loose and flies across the room. Even though Derpy is broken and collapsed on the floor, the doctor keeps his eyes on the monster. He sees it land in a corner, and tries to tether it with the same spell he used on Derpy. But he is too exhausted from the mammoth effort needed to rip the monstrosity from her head, and the creature breaks free and within half a heartbeat is out the window.

Exhausted from the bone to the brain, the doctor collapses into a sorrowful hug with Derpy, who is curled up and shaking on the floor. Even as he tries to comfort the already-damaged pony, who has just had a vital part of her soul split off and lost to an unfeeling parasite, all he can think of is the rage at himself and grief for his stricken new friend, and the sorrow for the next poor pony whom the monstrosity feeds on. He must take care of Derpy first, put her to bed and try to find out how and what has happened to her. But then, he knows, he has to break his solitary life and somehow get a message to warn the nearest town, so they might have some idea of how to stop this hideous parasite from feeding and breeding and sucking the souls out of every pony in Equestria. He needs to send a message to Ponyville.

Sunlit Shadows

Chapter 2

In one of the more serene parts of the Everfree forest, the abundant plant life is still gnarled and overgrown, but it's less dense than the surrounding thicket. In the centre of a clearing, there's a peculiarly twisted tree, with dimensions so massive it seems to stretch towards the sky. Anypony can see this tree is special, not least because it has a door in it, and a strange mask glaring out at any would-be trespassers.

Zecora is in her herb garden, tending to the mysterious and dangerous flowers and leaves with which she concocts her potions. She is entirely focused on her work, pruning errant leaves and clipping back roots. Even as absorbed as she is, no animal or monster dares enter her territory, as if she has some unknown protection from unwanted visitors. Who knows, maybe she does.

Whatever it is that stops the fauna, there's one wary observer, high in the branches of a tree, who has no concept of fear or boundaries. Oblivious of rules and restrictions and anything but the strange, savage hunger which riddles whatever it calls a brain, it silently waits. It is lurking, flawlessly camouflaged in the shadow of the canopy, and not once do it's deeply purple, softly glowing eyes ever leave it's prey.

Zecora straightens up, and wipes the sweat off her brow. ''Just far too exhausted I am, to continue with my gardening plan. A short recline I have to take, if magical brews I am to make.'' With this, she picks up her equipment and walks inside. The ominous creature is absolutely motionless for a few minutes, then meticulously winds its way back down the trunk with a ferocious, single minded purpose to it's movements.

Inside the tree, Zecora is recumbent on a sofa, sipping something hot and green from a wooden cup. Lying back with her eyes closed and savouring the bittersweet scent of her tea, she is thinking about her depleted stock of potions and elixirs, planning out which she needs to make next. But something isn't quite right in her home, something in the air (a scent, maybe?) is stopping her from thinking clearly. Just on the very edge of hearing, there is the faintest of noises, a high-pitched wineglass ringing. Even now, she isn't sure she can hear it, and tries to shake her head clear.

She gets up, thoughtful, to pour another cup of her tea, and mutters to herself ''There is something here amiss, which makes the very softest hiss.''

The shadow-creature strikes from the rafters, leaping for the back of her head just as she bends to pick up her teapot. The half-ethereal thing lands claws-first on the wall, then drops onto the table, upside-down beside the pot. Zecora lets loose a yelp of shock, but recovers quickly and scrambles away from it. ''What manner of hungry beast are you? I fear you wish to hurt me, too! But Zecora is no frail pony, as I will shortly make you see!''

She hurls the pot at the shadow with everything she has, and hits the advancing monster dead-centre. But the hardwood teapot goes straight through the squirming creature as if it wasn't there, and splits against the wall, spilling its boiling contents over the attacker. It doesn't seem to notice the scalding hot liquid, but the shadows swathing it reduce a little, revealing a swirling midnight-blue chitinous hide. Zecora looks confused and terrified as she backs away to the door, as quickly as she can.

The thing pauses for a moment, to finally struggle back upright, and scuttles in a beeline for the frightened zebra almost too quick to follow. But it's moment of hesitation was just barely enough time to let Zecora rip open her door and slam it behind her, leaving the insect to pounce into the door half a heartbeat too late. Through all this, not a single sound has come from the creature. Landing on a table, covered in boiling tea, slamming against a door, it is deathly, unnaturally silent.

''Run to Ponyville I must, and hope that all my friends will trust, my words of warning and take heed, of what even I can scarce believe.''

As the frantic plan spills from her mouth, she is already halfway towards the opening in the wall of trees which will lead her to the path to Ponyville. Even in her agitated state, as she rushes into the undergrowth she slows. All around her are countless animals, large and small, predator and prey, and all with one thing in common. They are all lying on their sides, mouth and limbs limp as if paralysed but still alive. And all with a vacant, dead stare. Zecora's mouth droops open as she is appalled and nauseated to her soul.

''Vile demons and their filthy tricks, no animal deserves a fate like this.'' As the full weight of what she sees hits her and she sees the dream-lice for what they really are, she is overcome with revulsion and terror. She vomits on the ground and collapses, all the fight leaving her as dozens of faintly glowing, purple eyes open hungrily in the gloom.

They descend on her, and rip her mind apart for the nourishment of her dreams.

Twilight Sparkle is more agitated than Starswirl in a submarine! She has been working and researching, collating notes and notifying colts for two days non-stop, and she cannot even build up the faintest idea of how the huge and utterly unexpected discharge of magic she had felt a scant forty-eight hours before had happened...

She had been quietly enjoying some much-needed downtime from the work she had been doing on a new spell, one which would alphabetize her books. She was relaxing with an evening daffodil-and-daisy sandwich at the Hay-Day Cafe, while Spike was having a well-deserved day off (most likely spent hunting for gemstones with Rarity, if Twilight knew her assistant).

Just as she is about to ask the still-snooty waiter for the bill, she is aware of a muted ringing in her ears, as if she had spent too long at one of Pinkie's overly loud parties. Gradually, the ringing pressure becomes more insistent, and somehow she finds herself with a vague but definite sense of foreboding, coming from somewhere primal and bone-deep.

As the tinnitus-ringing reaches its peak and she is almost unable to think, the piercing noise and pressure abruptly stop. Only to be replaced by an equally unsettling see-saw in her sense of balance: the table she is staring blankly at seems to be tipping to one side, but everything on it is staying exactly where it was. She could swear she felt the magic in her horn resonating with something she couldn't quite place, but was inexplicably afraid of...

''AHEM! If madame is quite finished admiring the tablecloth, I see you have concluded your meal, and we need this table. We are absurdly busy, if you don't mind.''

Twilight tried to shake her head clear of the disquieting sensation, and took a quick look around the café. It was populated, but hardly busy. The waiter didn't even have the decency to look embarrassed.

''Well, I'm sorry if I caused offence, but I also think you might get a few more tips if you were a bit more friendly. Just a suggestion.'' said Twilight. She paid her bill and rushed off to the library, a little unsteadily.

Spike had walked happily in the door that evening with a basket of shining rubies and a happy yawn, only to find the hallway, living room and library he kept so assiduously assembled once again in utter (but organised) chaos. He shook his head in exasperation. He carefully set his basket of rubies to one side for breakfast (and a midnight snack), and ventured into the library to try and find his loving but eccentric boss.

''Twilight? Twiiilight? Have you gone on another crazy book rampage? I just cleaned up this place yesterday!''

''I'm in here Spike, and this isn't a crazy book rampage! This is, this is a focused and structured and elucidated book rampage! Now come in here and help me! I'm trying to find all the information I can on random bursts of quasi-thaumaturgy throughout the history of Equestria!''

''Who's random outbursts of thermo-what now? Has Pinkie been making chilli cupcakes again?''

''MAGIC, Spike. I sensed a huge buildup of magic at the café tonight, and I didn't like how it felt. So, I'm doing all the research I can to try and figure out where it came from and what it did.''

''Oh. Well, what do you mean it felt bad? You mean, like when we had to fight off Discord, and he kept making all that crazy stuff happen, and we didn't know how to stop it? Is Discord back?! Should we tell the princess?! I can't take another round of you six bickering like that again! Unless he makes it rain sapphires this time...''

''Calm down, Spike! It didn't feel anything like Discord. This magic didn't feel inherently evil, no magic is. I just...I got the impression that there was a massive power surge, far beyond anything I've heard of before. Whatever it did to Equestria, I don't think it can be anything good.''

''Oh. Okay. Well, I guess I should help for a while before I go to-'' THUD.

The baby dragon is fast asleep before he hits the floor. Twilight smiles to herself before putting him to bed and continuing with her research.

Two days later and Twilight's house was, if possible, in a worse state than before. And for all that effort, she has only been able to dredge up the vaguest of references, in the most obscure tomes, to some 'great influx of Aethyric energies, making the substance of dreams and nightmares a harsh reality'.

''Spiiike!''

''Yeah Twilight? Have you finally found everything you were looking for?''

''Well, no, but I've read through every book that even comes close to the subject at least 3 times! There's nothing else in here! The library has never failed me before!''

''Calm down, Twilight! Why don't you just write to the princess, and see if the Canterlot library has any books that might help?''

Twilight facehoofed so hard she was actually dizzy for a moment. ''OF COURSE! Why didn't I think of this before? Spike, you start drafting a letter right away! Find a quill and paper, and come with me, please. We're going out!''

''Uh, where are we going to go?''

''To go round up the girls of course! Something tells me Celestia will want to see all of us for this.''

''Jeez, how could I have possibly guessed that one?''

The first of her friends that Twilight comes across is Rarity, who is trotting up the road to the library.

''TWILIGHT! I was just on my way to see you! Where in Equestria have you been the past two days? I was starting to think you had forgotten all about little old me...''

''Of course not Rarity, I've just been doing some important research, which has been eating into all my free time. Can I ask you something? Did you feel something odd happening, about two days ago in the evening?''

''Well, at the time I thought nothing of it, but now you mention it I did find myself feeling a little, well, strange. I just put it down to spending all day in the simply sweltering heat with Spike, when we were hunting for gemstones.''

Twilight gave a short giggle. ''Well, I can certainly understand that: Spike was absolutely exhausted when he came back. But I had the same sort of feeling in the Café, at about the same time. That's what I've been researching, and I think what it was is the biggest buildup of magic potential I've ever heard of. I think it might have somehow found a way to ground itself, but I don't know where. Which might be VERY bad news for Equestria.''

''Good heavens! I didn't realise magic could just appear like that! Well, have you notified the princess?''

''Spike sent the letter just before we ran into you.''

''Well then, I'm sure everything will be absolutely fine. But do you perhaps think we should round up the others? Just in case?''

''I certainly do Rarity, we were on our way just now. Would you like to come with us?''

''But of course! I think I last saw Pinkie Pie in the park, pulling some preposterous prank on a perfectly innocent pony...''

A little later...

''BUUUUUURP!''

''Wow, Spike, that almost sounded like it hurt! Like when I eat candy too fast! But I don't think you can ever eat candy too fast! Or cakes! Or anything that's superty-duper-looper sweet and tasty!''

''Well, Pinkie, not everypony has such a voracious appetite as you. I for one find my sweet tooth amply sated by an occasional French Fancy.''

''Now, why don't that surprise me? Y'all can keep yer fancy little one-bite frenchies, I say you cain't go wrong with good old apple pie!''

''EVERYPONY, PLEASE JUST BE QUIET! I know I haven't had much much time to explain, but this is much too important to be arguing over food! Spike, can you please read out the letter before we all get distracted again?''

''Yeah! I want to get this over with quickly, Twilight. I've got way too much stuff to do today.''

''RAINBOW!''

''Sorry.''

Spike cleared his throat. ''AHEM. Dear Twilight, I am glad that you also recognised the strange burst of magic a few days ago. I am sure you have been researching it as much as I. Which is why I would like you to gather your friends, and meet me at the Ponyville library, where I will share with you what I have uncovered.''

''Wow, the princess really does want to see all of us? You were right, Twilight, this is more important than we thought.''

''Um, do you think one of us could stay behind, maybe? It's nearly feeding time for Angel, and he gets ever so cranky if he misses a meal...''

''Fluttershy, the princess specifically asked to see all of us. I have no idea what she knows, but it's important we all hear what she has to say. I'm sure Angel will understand, just this once?''

''Oh, um, okay then, I guess if it's the princess...''

Back at Twilight’s house...

The six friends bicker and speculate their way back to the library. It doesn't take long for Twilight to tell them all she knows (which is precious little), so they are all mystified by the time they get there. Is the problem caused by the burst really so bad as to make Celestia herself descend from Canterlot? What far-fetched disaster will they be staving off this time? Is it already in Ponyville? Will they have time to make some cupcakes before they go? They all turn round and stare at Pinkie, who just plasters a hugely innocent grin across her face.

When they finally get to the library, they find the princess already there, waiting for them with Philomena elegantly perching on her shoulder. There's something off about her: she seems disconcerted, even worried. Given her usual calm and serene temperament, this puts them all on edge even more.

''Hello girls. I wish we had more time for greetings. It's been too long since I've seen all of you, especially Twilight, but this matter is urgent.''

''Princess, we understand. We know you have little free time as it is, and we know you wouldn't be here unless it was truly important.''

''Thank you, Twilight. Now as I'm sure you all know, two days ago there was some kind of magical leak, or explosion. From what I can tell, it originated very deeply in the Everfree forest, which is why only the most powerful unicorns and myself were able to feel the effects. I have been locating all the information I can find, but unfortunately I was able to learn only a little more than you, Twilight.''

''You mean even the library in Canterlot doesn't have anything? What's going wrong with the world?!''

''I was surprised myself. But I did manage to locate a few scraps of information. A similar event happened many centuries ago, in a village located on the opposite side of the Everfree forest.''

''There's another village near us?! I'd love to go visit and make some new friends! Do I have time to bake some welcome cakes before we go there?''

''I'm afraid there are no ponies to visit any more, Pinkie. This village existed long ago, but from what I can tell it was completely destroyed, and the population wiped out by the explosion of magic. Or, at least, by the effects of it.''

''You what? Beggin' your pardon, your majesty, but how in tarnation could a whole village be destroyed, just like that? We six've seen Ponyville through dragons, Nightmare Moon and Discord, even, but we ain't never heard of anything that powerful!''

''I would be shocked if you had, Applejack. You see, Discord did in fact possess enough energy to cause destruction on such a scale. But even he, with thousands of years of hatred in his heart, could see that it would serve him no purpose. No creature with the capacity for reason or empathy could do such a thing. Only something completely mindless, incapable of thought or logic, could cause such wanton destruction.''

''Oh no! Does that mean the magic destroyed part of the Everfree forest this time? Think of all those poor woodland creatures, caught in it! They wouldn't stand a chance!'' Fluttershy starts to tear up at the thought.

''No, Fluttershy, the magic itself would not have destroyed the forest. Magic is not a destructive force. It is inside all of us whether we can use it or not, and gifts us with life and death, joy and sorrow, and countless other precious things. It is a force for change. Which means that no matter what we find out about the previous event, we cannot predict what has happened this time.''

''But whatever does that imply? How on earth shall we know what we are facing?''

''I'm afraid we cannot, Rarity. All we know for certain is that wherever the magic took place, the fundamental laws that govern the physical world of Equestria will have been warped. Which is why I need you all to gather your things, prepare yourselves, and in the morning leave for the Everfree Forest to find out exactly what has happened. It will be dangerous, but you are the only ponies I can trust with this.''

''Princess, what you're saying is we're gonna be going into the Everfree forest, into a place where literally anything can happen, with no idea what we're up against?''

''I know it sounds absurd, Rainbow Dash, but-''

''I LOVE IT! Cloudsdale's been too boring lately anyway!''

The princess smiles, with genuine warmth. ''I knew I could rely on you all to help Ponyville in it's time of need. I am proud of you all, and honoured to count you as my friends.''

Pinkie almost explodes with excitement, and starts bouncing around the room. ''We made friends with the princess! We made friends with the princess!''

''I'm glad you're all so enthusiastic, and I wish you all the best of luck. Now, I will be staying in Ponyville until we know exactly what we are facing. But I will need an assistant, to help me with trying to unravel this mystery. Twilight, would you mind if I borrowed Spike until you came back?''

''Of course, princess, I'm sure Spike will be happy to help. Come to think of it, where is he? SPIKE? SPIIIKE?''

Spike walks in through from the library. ''Yeah Twilight, what is it this time?''

''Spike, what were you doing in there?''

''Well, I was trying to clear up all the mess that you made looking for that magical doohickey!''

Celestia and the others just burst out laughing.

After Spike left with the princess to help her get settled, Twilight takes a minute to relax, gather her thoughts, and think about the task ahead they all face. It's dark outside now, and as the kettle is boiling for some tea, she is packing all the books on magic she can, along with some food and a few of her smaller instruments for measuring and studying magic. As she relaxes and sips her tea, she can't help but feel an excitement like she never has before, alongside the nervousness and trepidation. A magical outburst that's only happened once before in Equestrian history? Dangerous, maybe, but she's never had such an opportunity to learn about the deepest and most fundamental workings of magic. She levitates a few more quills, ink and rolls of parchment into her saddlebags.

All of a sudden (or maybe it has been here the entire time?), she feels the same pressured, insistent ringing in her ears she felt only two nights before. Only this time, it's somehow more...focused. Not louder, just clearer and more insistent, as if coming from much closer at hand. She abandons her drink and gets up, pensive and trying to pinpoint the source of her discomfort...

One of the creatures has somehow found its way to Ponyville, perhaps using some shred of thought gleaned from its meal in the forest. Although it has passed many succulent minds on its way, one in particular has caught it's attention, drawing the creature towards it like a lighthouse beacon. It sits in the shadows of Twilights house, patiently waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Now that all the other confusing minds have left it can focus on it's true prey. Selicious as it sensed the others were, it is still drawn to this one treat, saturated with intoxicating scents of curiosity, intelligence, compassion, and above all the heady, tangy aroma of magical power.

Twilight is leaning on a table with her eyes closed, trying to explore this strange feeling as much as she can, and perhaps learn some vital scrap of intelligence regarding her mission. As she concentrates with all her might, her horn is visibly shaking and vibrating. She begins to become aware of a strange presence, with a mind like winter: not evil, but cold, self-serving, and viciously uncaring. This presence, whatever it is, has no concept of thought or emotion except as a food source, has no concern for anything except itself, and given the chance will consume it's way through every living thing in Equestria to slake the hunger that drives it.

Twilight is reeling, stunned at the sheer emotionless brutality of what she has found. A magical explosion was a frightening thought in itself, but for it to have unleashed this vapid and uncaring force of nature upon Equestria was almost more than she could take. She draws in a deep breath, and tries to stop herself from breaking down out of sheer terror for herself and her friends, her teachers and her family and every pony in Equestria if they could not stop this tornado of destruction.

But still the ringing pressure does not abate. Twilight finally realises that this could only mean one of the unthinkable monsters is close at hand, and with a gargantuan effort pulls herself together. If she cannot warn the others before this vile presence makes itself felt in Ponyville, everypony will have their fate sealed by this remorseless entity. Swallowing her fear, she once more enters the trance-like state of concentration, this time to locate the bestial creature...

Legs and nebulous body tensed and coiled to spring, the dream-louse has been on the edge of attacking for hours, nacreous strands of drool dripping from its ferocious maw and dissipating a few inches below. It can sense Twilight searching for it, and it can feel her drawing closer and closer to finding it. It's two-day-old instincts are nevertheless polished and flawless, and it knows it must strike before she finds it, and bolts. It leaps with a fluid grace, and with the speed and precision of a viper. But even insects can make mistakes, and it seems to have underestimated its prey. Almost before the dream-louse decided to strike, Twilight has finally pinpointed the abhorrent presence. With the icy-cold calm of pure and unadulterated terror, she spins faster than she ever has before, and performs the first spell she can think of: telekinesis. The dream-louse is caught by the full effects of the spell, and is slowed to a stop in mid-air.

But Twilight can see something is wrong-she has the most powerful magic in Ponyville and maybe Equestria, save for the princesses. The creature should be frozen solid, paralysed by the enchantment. But it is moving, and struggling to break the bonds which hold it. Even at this distance, staring the sickening beast in the face, Twilight cannot make out any of its features save for those maliciously glowing eyes.

The longer Twilight holds the spell, the harder she has to concentrate to keep the monstrosity bound. She knows she cannot hold it forever, and even now it is a constant battle of wills she cannot afford to divert any attention from. She backs away to the door, fumbling for the handle. She realises she will have to drop the spell if she wants to open the door. Reaching the very limits of her concentration, she magically hurls the repulsive intruder against the furthest of her walls, opens the door as fast as she can, and canters into the streets screaming for her mentor.

''PRINCESS CELESTIA! CELESTIA! HELP! FOR CELESTIA'S SAKE, HELP ME!!!''

The princess is preparing for bed in a nearby inn, whose owner was sent into nervous paroxysms by the sudden arrival of her goddess. She hears Twilights plea, and is puzzled by it, but none the less can sense the hysterical tone in her friend's voice. She canters down the stairs, past the stammering proprietor and out the door of the inn.

The dream-louse was thrown back by the force of Twilights spell, but despite smashing into the wall was on its too-many legs in a heartbeat. Drunk with the anticipation of the confection of a mind it has been stalking for hours, it is oblivious of the half- and fully asleep thoughts of the dozens of ponies near it, and sprints with unnerving speed after it's quarry. Twilight is still running down the street, but she is exhausted from the monumental effort needed to repulse the horrific attacker, and is near collapse on shaking legs. The dream-louse is far too fast to outrun, and even though Twilight can see it advancing with a terrifying purpose in its eyes, she is powerless to stop it from closing the distance between them and leaping onto her defenceless neck.

Even though Twilight knew the creature was coming, nothing in Equestria could have prepared her for this. The sharp and bone-deep pain of the creature's proboscis piercing her neck deep down into her brain is quickly eclipsed by nauseating shock, as her mind is invaded by this unholy creature. She can physically feel the good and bad memories unravelling and swirling into a thick, cloying grey soup as the dream-louse invades the corners of her mind. All the secrets she has, all the shameful acts and proud moments, every mental wall she has constructed over a lifetime are all ripped apart, recombined into a slurry and sucked down to feed the monsters insatiable appetite.

She collapses on the ground, twitching, with the monster still greedily drinking her dry. Her cutie mark has been sliding up her flank, all the brilliant stars winking out one by one as they slide into the aberration's maw. Her final thought before it too is consumed, is of her friends, and how she has let them down by breaking to the power of this repulsive demon. The last star, the largest one, breaks down and creeps up into the dream-louse. And now Twilight lies still, vacant and drooling into the choking dust beneath.

Finally, the dream-louse removes its needle-like proboscis, sated, and crawls off her warm-but-still body.

A blinding light fills the air, as the creature is catapulted backwards by a bolt of pure, white magic. Celestia canters up to Twilight's body and rears up on her hind legs, blasting the monster once again. The princess lowers her head as tendrils of a softly-glowing blue light wend their way out of her horn, and encase the creature in a gilded prison of magic, where it lurches and scratches against the light, but cannot break free.

Celestia whispers something into Philomena's ear, and the brilliant red-gold bird flies off almost too quickly to track. With an aura of blue magic still coruscating around her horn, the princess bows her head and nuzzles against Twilight, trying to wake her. But Twilights mind has been broken and absorbed, and she may never speak again. Celestia closes her eyes, tears flowing silently into the fallen unicorns mane as the princess grieves and weeps for the most talented and promising pony she had ever met. She closes Twilights eyes, and gently picks her up and lays her on a nearby pallet.

A spark of magic leaves her horn, and the brilliant electric-blue cage the monster is still struggling to get out of wavers for a heartbeat, before Celestia focuses her power onto it once again. The orb of magic splits into five glowing, multicoloured balls, before each one speeds off.

Tears still spilling into the ground, the princess waits, her mind filled to bursting point with grief and sorrow and remorse. After a few minutes, five ponies come galloping as hard as they can up the street. They slow when they see Celestia's tear-streaked face, and are almost afraid at seeing their princess and goddess in such obvious pain.

Applejack is the first to speak. ''Beggin yer pardon, your majesty, but what's got y'all worked up? Where's Twilight? Is there anything we can do to help?''

With a visible effort, the princess says ''Twilight... was attacked by something. I heard her crying for help in the street, but I couldn't get to her in time. I couldn't do anything.''

Rainbow Dash is the first one to catch sight of Twilight, and gasps in horror as she sees her friend lying deathly still, with no cutie mark. They all gather around Twilight, trying to see if she is still alive.

In a voice choked with emotion, the princess quietly says ''I got here just in time to see a shadowy creature on the back of Twilights neck. I could barely believe what I saw, but it was...eating her cutie mark. I saw the last of it break down, and I witnessed it slide into the monsters throat. I think it sucked out not only her cutie mark, but her entire mind. I cannot sense any spark of thought in her, just a blank greyness.''

Fluttershy is the first one to break down into tears, but the rest start soon after. For a short while, there is nothing but the sounds of sorrow and grief as they all mourn the loss of their friend.

After what seems like an age, it is Applejack who puts aside the awful sensation in her stomach, and asks the princess ''You said Twilight was attacked by some kinda monster. Please tell me it isn't still runnin' around, lookin' for the next poor pony it can suck dry?''

''No Applejack. Although I arrived too late to save Twilight, I managed to capture the creature, alive. Please, you have to believe me when I say I had no idea what would happen. I couldn't know...I couldn't know about this.''

This time, it's Fluttershy who breaks the silence. ''Princess, we know you loved Twilight deeply. You wouldn't want this to happen to anypony, especially her. But it did, and all we can do is treasure the memories we have of her, and make sure that nopony else is hurt. I know that's what Twilight would have wanted.''

''And we all agree.'' the rest of the ponies chime in.

''The compassion and understanding of all of you humbles me, and I thank you for it. And you are right, Fluttershy, the first thing we need to do is find out how we can get rid of these unholy invaders. Though we are stricken by the loss of the best friend of everypony here, we have to save our grief for when Ponyville is safe again.''

''So how in the hay do we beat these things, princess? I want some REVENGE!'' Rainbow says. Having a goal, a means by which to make Twilights fall mean something, has galvanised the prism-coloured pony into action.

''I don't know, Rainbow Dash. The creature doesn't seem to be affected by magic like anything else I've seen. Even I am having to concentrate to keep it contained. When I blasted it against a wall, it did not seem injured or even troubled. I simply do not know what we can do to fight it, or even if this is the only one of its kind.''

They all look shocked and appalled at the suggestion that there might be more than one of these awful parasites, and even more so at seeing the princess so confused and upset.

''But princess, there has to be some way we can find out! I just can't bear the thought of these mean old soul-sucking friend-killing gribbly-wibblies across all of Equestria, sucking the life out of everypony! That means no more friendship, forever!'' Pinkie looks about ready to burst into tears again.

''I know Pinkie Pie, and neither can I. But there is a single spell I can try. It is similar to the one I used to find out what happened to Twilight. I can use it to try and read a part of the creatures mind, and hopefully find out its weaknesses. But it is a complex spell, and I cannot afford to lose my concentration, so I must ask you all to stand back a little.''

The five ponies retreat a few feet. Applejack and Rainbow Dash look determined, Fluttershy and Rarity look petrified, and Pinkie is still sniffling into a hanky she conjured from nowhere. But they all fall silent as the princess begins to cast another spell, this one with a golden aura. Intertwining and mixing with the aura from the cage, the two spells combine around her horn to form a scintillating, coruscating halo of energy. The raw power emanating from her is awe-inspiring, and even Pinkie stops crying and gazes on in slack-jawed amazement.

''The first one came through from- I don't understand, from a different dimension, from the source of our magic. It appeared in a cottage in the Everfree forest, about a mile south-west of Zecora's house. It fed on one pony, before being chased off into the forest by another.''

The princess is starting to strain with the effort of keeping both spells at full power, and it is clear she will not be able to keep this level of concentration up for much longer.

''They are formed entirely from raw magic, which is why they cannot be harmed by physical means. It is also why they are so resistant to magic, and why...they cannot be destroyed in this world.''

The five onlookers are almost broken by this news, with grim expressions and terror frozen on their faces. The princess is groaning with the concentration, and Applejack is the first one to call out with a warning. ''Princess! Look out! Don't let the darn thing escape!''

But the princess either cannot hear her, chooses not to, or is so stricken by grief she will sacrifice anything to learn how to defeat these aberrations.

''There is only one way to get rid of them...by travelling back to the cottage in the forest, and reopening the rift between the dimensions. Only there will the dream-lice be sucked back into their home. Only there can we hope to stop this plague.''

But this has pushed even Celestia beyond her limits, and the bars of magic the dream-louse has been hammering against waver and fade. The monstrosity leaps free of its erstwhile prison and leaps with deadly purpose onto the princesses back. With the five friends watching in utter horror, the enraged parasite's proboscis extends once more, and this time digs far too deeply into their ruler, their sun and peace and light. Celestia spasms in pain and revulsion as her magic flickers and fades from her horn, and completely loses control as her wealth of knowledge and wisdom is depleted by the unfeeling insect. The five watchers can do nothing but scream and panic as the light is sucked out of their world, and the life is sucked out of another friend.

Celestia's cutie mark is now running out of shape and up her flank, and her eyes are rolling back in their sockets as she succumbs to the terrible, numbing grey emptiness which is all her life has become.

As the last droplets of the golden sun on her flank are drawn into the dream-louse's insatiable gullet, Celestia too collapses into vapid indifference, seeing but unknowing and uncaring of the world she once guided and loved as her child.

The fattened monster rolls off her like a spent rapist rolling off his latest victim, which in a far more profound way it is. Bloated like a rotting corpse with magic and emotions and thoughts, the creature can no longer move, but rolls smugly onto its back, as if to taunt them with its invulnerability.

Suddenly, the night air turns a mottled shade of midnight-blue-purple, and princess Luna gracefully touches down, Philomena fluttering off her back and immediately nuzzling up to the comatose Celestia, trying to snuggle and comfort her.

Luna's turns to the dream-louse with recogniton in her eyes as her fiery rage is unleashed. ''Abomination! Thou Had No Victory On The Moon, And I Shall Spare Thee No Quarter Here!''

Luna lowers her head, and casts a form of the cage-spell her sister had performed. Only, the bars of this spell are better-defined, and look stronger. Once the spell is cast, Luna's horn stops glowing. Clearly, she knows how to imprison these beasts for good.

''Princess Luna! How are you here? How did you meet these things before?!'' Rainbow Dash is the first one to speak out.

Now speaking in her normal voice, the princess replies ''I was taking repose in my chambers, whilst mine sister attended to some task unbeknownst to me. I was asleep, ere I was woken by Philomena in the grips of a powerful panic. I flew as fast as my wings would carry me, but still I have failed to protect my sister.'' With this, Luna bows her head and sheds a single tear for the loss of her only family. They had had their differences, but Celestia was still the only pony to which Luna could truly relate.

The others gather round and once more, grieve for the loss of a friend.

An hour later, they are sitting on the crest of a hill, side by side. Luna still has an occasional tear running down her face. As she remembers her sister, who was always there for her, and Twilight, who was the first pony in a thousand years aside from Celestia to show her kindness, she cannot help but feel despair. As they all grieve, they have been quietly talking over what now has to be done more than ever.

''So, Luna, if I am to understand you correctly, you know how to fight these horrid creatures, and hold them off, but you cannot open up the rift between the... dimensions, did you call them?''

''This is true, friend Rarity''

''Well, if you do not mind my asking, how did you escape from them on the moon?''

''I know only a little more than my sister, if she had only but asked. During mine banishment on the moon, I discovered the wall between the worlds is worn thin, and the terrible rift opened by itself. By staving them off for long enough, the rift opened once again, sucking the dream-lice back to the magical dimension. My magic was sufficient to reinforce the rift area once it had closed, but I cannot open one myself.''

''Oh. Then how, may I ask, will we be able to open the rift in Equestria?''

''The princess of the night does not know, Rarity. But we must try. After all that has passed today, we cannot not try. Either we will save Equestria, or give our souls in the attempt.''

Everypony looks at once scared and strengthened by this. They have faced doom before, and they will again. There's a brief but transcendental peace, as the six friends gaze wistfully at the horizon, waiting for a sunrise that will never come.

Hard Choices

It's raining in Ponyville. The sadistic beads of water relentlessly slice through the unending night, as seven friends mournfully carry two sad and unmoving shapes through the darkness. They don't seem to notice the rain, even as it soaks them to the very marrow. Tears are running down the muzzles of three of them, mingling with the stinging droplets and being scoured away. As they slowly trudge through the endless dirt and mud, lights are flicking on in the surrounding houses, and pastel-coloured ponies stare at the ragtag group. Until they realise what has happened, and then they break down in disbelief, horror, and grief.

As the seven friends walk through the town, they accrue followers and mourners until it seems like the entire population of Ponyville walks alongside them. Eventually, they reach the Library. They slowly walk inside, and with the utmost care place their burdens on the bed, and with that it seems each of them gains a measure of resolve. They stand up a little taller, a little bit straighter, take a deep breath and turn to face each other.

''Well, I guess there ain't much more to be done, 'cept get on with the task in hoof. Spike, we're gonna need you to stay here and look after the Princess and Twilight. I know there ain't much left of them to look after, but we sure as shoot ain't gonna give up on them till this mess is ironed out.'' Applejack's voice is cracked with sadness, but firm.

''Of course I'll look after them, but I don't even understand what's happened! They just lie there, they can't even talk!''

''Spike, we know it's hard. Even we don't understand quite what has happened, but that is why we need you to stay strong until we come back, with some answers.''

''I will, Rarity. Are you going to get help from Zecora? Maybe she knows what's wrong?''

''We are going into the forest, Spike. We shall certainly see if Zecora can lend some assistance, but our goal lies a little deeper in than that.''

''Deeper in? I hope you guys are going to be careful. Just, promise me you'll be back as quick as you can?''

''Of course, Spike. We will be fine. Don't forget, we have the esteemed princess with us. Speaking of whom, Your Majesty, I do think we should inform the residents of what has transpired, if you would be kind enough to entertain the suggestion.''

''With respect, Rarity, the citizens of Ponyville are already indisposed to my presence, and will not trust my word without Celestia. They will want answers unknown to me, and speculation will abound. We do not have time to waste if we are to stop the dream-lice from attacking another resident.''

''Now, beggin' your pardon, Your Highness, but that don't seem right to me at all. Celestia is the princess of everypony here, and they deserve to know what's going on. I can't see how I'm gonna be any use to you on this one, 'cause we can't touch these critters. No buckin' them, no corrallin', no reasoning with them neither. And all that magic stuff ain't my area at all. Now, I'm no coward, but I reckon the best thing I can do right now is to stay behind and tell everypony what's what, and try to restore some order to the place. Once that's done, I know where to catch up with y'all.''

There's silence for a moment while everypony takes this in. Most everypony looks hopelessly torn between staying together and keeping the town safe from itself. Except Luna, who is slowly nodding to herself, but eventually it's Rainbow Dash who speaks up.

''Applejack, that's a load of horseapples. I'm in the same boat as you, and so is Pinkie Pie, AND Fluttershy, but we're going along all the same! We need you with us! It's not just the lice, what about all the other dangerous stuff in there? This isn't the brave pony I know!''

''Now hold your damn hooves there, Rainbow! This ain't me chickenin' out! I just think it'd be nice if Ponyville didn't get destroyed by panic while we're gone! I already said I'll catch up with you once I know things are squared away in Ponyville! So stop thinking of yourself for once, and look at the big picture here!''

''Big picture?! The big picture is that-''

''QUIEEEET!''

Even Fluttershy herself looks shocked when she pauses for breath.

''Um, sorry I shouted, everypony. But arguing like this isn't getting us anywhere. Rainbow, Applejack is only looking out for the rest of the town. I know it will be scary in the forest, especially with these horrible parasites trying to eat us, but we don't have a choice. I'm sure she will catch up with us soon. But how on earth will you be safe in the forest without Luna, Applejack?''

Applejack just looks dumbfounded. ''Shoot, t'be honest I hadn't considered that...''

Luna's powerful voice takes hold of the conversation effortlessly, and nopony is left in doubt as to who is in charge. ''The Princess of the Night can offer a solution, Applejack. And I thank you for volunteering to help the rest of the town. Now, I shall cast on you the same spell I used to keep the vile louse imprisoned. They can only feed if they can reach the head, so it need not enclose you entirely. And once thou reaches us, I shall remove it.''

''Well, I'm not exactly happy with that idea, but ah guess it's the only way. Now, if you all packed everything you need, we best get this show on the road. Time's a-wastin.''

''Indeed, Applejack. I shall cast the spell, and we should then begin our journey.''

Blue, incandescent serpents of light emanate from Luna's horn, and gently slide into place around Applejacks mane and head. They feel a little warm against her, and the tingling of magical power sets her teeth on edge.

''Well, this feels kinda weird, but it'll do. You guys ready to go?''

''Actually, everypony, I'd kinda like to say goodbye to Twilight and Celestia. With all those meanie parasites out there, and we don't even know if we're coming back, ever ever ever. I know we have to hope for the best, but I'd hate it if I never got to even say goodbye to the two bestest ponies I know.''

This brings everypony back down to earth, and they realise once more the gravity of what they have to do, and who they have lost already. They all gather round their stricken friends, and say what has to be said.

Dr. Brainymane is walking through the jungle, trying to keep the the pathway from his home to the main route clear. As he's viciously hacking away at the creepers and tendrils with a small axe from his woodshed, his mighty brain dwells on just what has been unleashed unto Equestria. It's not my fault, he thinks. Of course it's not my damn fault if damn creatures from the bucking netherworld invade just as I'm in the middle of an experiment. If anything, it was that damn FOOL Derpy, crash landing just as I was at a critical stage. If I didn’t have to take care of her, none of this would have happened.

But he knows that's not fair before he thinks it. He takes another swing at a particularly irksome root...

~~~~~~~~

''Derpy? Can you hear me? Please, just nod, or say something.''

''Mmm...muh, muh. Mmmm. Muh...''

Derpy tries to speak, but all that comes out is a tortuously slow stammer. Mane quiets her down, stroking her mane and nuzzling her ear and surrounding her with kindness and warmth and love that comes so unnaturally to him. Her eyes fill up with tears and spill over onto him, but he can't care. Isn't allowed to care. No matter how awkward he finds this, Mane has to look after her as best he can.

''It's okay Derpy, don't try to speak. Lets just get you up to bed. Come on now, try and move with me.''

Derpy is trying to move, her legs twitching like a dreaming dog's, but she can't summon up the control to walk. Eventually Dr. Mane has to lift her gently up the stairs with his magic, and he puts her into his bed and wraps the covers around her. He hugs her once more, and what's left of her settles down into bed. She's asleep within a minute.

~~~~~~~~~

There's a barely perceptible rustle emanating from the trees which snaps Mane out of his reverie. Instantly on edge and gripping his axe a little tighter, he tries to pinpoint where it came from. Mane starts to feel a bead of sweat gently run down his forehead into his eye, and he frantically blinks it away as quickly as he can.

The sound of a twig snapping directly behind him makes him spin round, axe at the ready. What the hell is this thing? It can’t be a dream louse, they shouldn't come anywhere near me... The tension in the air is so thick he can almost taste it, can feel the lurker in the trees breathing deeply, inhaling his scent, waiting for the perfect moment. He glances this way and that, trying to see everywhere at once like a shrew sensing a viper coiling to strike...

WHAM! Something huge and blurred swipes with unnatural speed from the darkness, slamming into his side with ferocious claws, catapulting him into the shadows. As Mane picks himself off the floor, a surge of gut-twisting panic envelops him. A pair of dusky-coloured paws thud into the ground in front of him, gleaming claws carving furrows in the earth. Mane struggles to his feet, and the manticore bellows with a force almost physical, and makes moves to attack again.

Mane backs up the path, weaving this way and that around those glittering, deadly claws. A chitinous tail, dripping with smoking venom slams into the ground in front of him, dissolving the very earth beneath it. It rears up like a whip ready to strike again. Mane's horn glows, as he tries with all his mental majesty to get a single message through the layers of primal, white-hot instinctive rage and aggression.

''NOT ENEMY! NO KILL!'' He can feel the shape of the creature's mind with his spell, feel the sharp-purple-keen-wary-acid-edge of the predatory instinct driving this hungry behemoth to attacking. The spell gets through, in part, as the creature seems to do a double take, unused to doubt, unused to hesitating. It's confused, and it doesn't like it. ''I know, hungry. I know, tired. But pony not prey. Prey in forest. Leave path.''

Hoping the beast will hear the primitive, uncluttered words, Mane withdraws the spell, stopping the intrusion. The manticore falls back down to all fours, growling and rumbling deep within it's chest, conflicting instincts tearing it's mind down the middle. At once it attacks, the hunger within it too great for words to stop, and it pounces in a rushing tirade of claws and four-inch fangs, intent on it's meal.

I tried. No other choices. Mane ducks the clumsy charge, brings his mouth and axe up at precisely the right moment, and hews the blade deeply into the monsters thigh, cutting its vein and slicing through its connection to life. The manticore flies past him, roaring loudly enough to shake the tree's surrounding him, and collapses in a heap a handful of metres down the pathway. The roar weakens and trails off into a mewling of pain and anguish as thick, viscous blood pools around it, matting and tangling its fur and soaking into the ground beneath. Mane trots up with a strange look on his face, stony-but-sad, and almost regretfully pulls his tool free. He makes sure he is once again alone in the clearing, and starts to bury the poor, crazed thing, scooping up great clumps of earth with his magic as the cloying, coppery reek of blood fills his nose and makes him gag.

~~~~~~~~~~

''Derpy, are you awake?'' The misty-grey mare opens her mismatched eyes, blinking away the sleepy fog in her brain. She tries again, and again, but the fog won't go away. She's getting more and more worked up, starting to thrash against the bedsheets coiled around her legs from night-terror. What's her name? Where is she? Who this? She can't even speak to ask these questions, doesn't even know what these questions are, cannot properly move or focus or even think. Her mind is filled with nothing but grey mist and fear, and a vague longing she can't place.

''Derpy, it's okay, I'm not going to hurt you. Calm down, you're safe.'' Mane is sitting next to her with a glass of water, which he holds to her lips as she tries to drink. Half of it spills down her coat, making her shiver as she nearly chokes on the liquid. The glass is taken away before she can inhale any, and is replaced with a soothing cool dampness on her forehead as Mane helps her lie back, and softly wipes her forehead with a flannel. Some of the fear recedes, but it's still there, bubbling and writhing beneath the surface. Nothing floods in to replace it, no realisations or clarity, just more of the numbing fog. But maybe that's enough, for now. She lies back, and lets Mane take care of her. This place is warm, and nice, and that is all she needs to be content. No more dreams, no more thoughts, just a skeleton of vague emotions that are like a flower in the sunlight, opening to kindness and care.

''I don't know if you can understand me, and I don't know if I would want you to. But that thing, whatever it was, sucked out your soul like shucking a clam. But not all of it. I've been thinking, about how you didn't deserve this and how I could have stopped it earlier if I had the wits. I know this makes no difference now, but I'm sorry, Derpy, for whatever I could have done but didn't. I've also been thinking about where these things come from, and how the buck we can fight them. They can't be touched, and only the strongest magic affects them. Only one thing I know acts like that, and that's magic itself. So maybe, somehow, these things are from some different dimension, where magic has a will of it's own, or maybe they are a manifestation of some ethereal presence, given form. But that's irrelevant right now. I'm going to see the only person I know who might know anything. If Celestia has no answers, then I don't know what to do.''

As he is saying all this, more to himself than to Derpy, he's ferrying tiny bites of muffin from a plate on the side to Derpy's mouth. She can barely chew, and each mouthful is tortuous and laborious to swallow. But each bite is also a little easier than the last, as Derpy re-learns how to eat. There's a chance, with love and patience, that she might learn how to feed and drink for herself. Mane is counting on this, as it's the only way he can leave her alone, and travel to Ponyville.

''So, I've been trying to figure out how the horseapples I'm going to get to Ponyville safely. There's no way I can fight more than one of these things, and no matter what else life does it reproduces. So the only way to get past, is to make them think I'm one of them. These things aren't clever, nothing which does that to ponies has a mind to speak of. They are insects, acting on dumb and brutal instinct. So, I need to smell like one of them. Recreate the smell and feel of raw magic, not as we use it but untamed and wild. I think I have what I need to make enough for the trip, except for one thing. One more ingredient, to bring it all together.

Mane, gingerly, almost tenderly, reaches out and brushes Derpy's mane aside. And right there, where the louse was torn off, is a small shard of smoking chitin, broken off when Mane ripped the insect bodily from her. Even the one solid part of the louse it uses to shatter the bone between the brain and the skin has an ethereal, intangible air about it. Mane doesn't dare to remove it, for he has no idea what damage it will do to a mind with so little left to lose. He brushes it, very lightly, seeing if it is solid. Derpy goes berserk at feeling that bone-deep pain once more, bucking and kicking and screaming with that animal, lowing sound which is all that is left of her power for speech. Mane quickly whips his hoof away from it, immediately stroking and hugging Derpy, trying to calm her down. It takes long, far too long, before the memory of that cataclysmic moment fades into the fog again. But Mane knows what he needs to know. That one half-second of contact was all he needed to know that the alien, horrifying object left in Derpy is solid.

It's several days later. Mane has spent them with Derpy, teaching her how to eat, how to drink, how to use the toilet. It is like bringing a foal into the world, teaching them how to keep themselves alive. He has kept water and muffins in the same place in the room, hoping Derpy will be able to remember where they are.

He has tried to help her learn to control her movements, exercising her legs every day, trying to teach her how to walk once more. On the second day, they try to move a few steps, Derpy stumbling and tripping. Mane supports her, is patient and caring with her. But when he has delayed leaving for as long as he can, all she can do is crawl. He sighs to himself, and hopes this will be enough. His guilt has already kept him from his mission for longer than he knows is wise, but he cannot abandon her with no way to feed herself.

On the fourth day, he knows he can't put it off any longer. The rest of Equestria needs his help, for no-one will be able to defend themselves against the lice as he did. He knows, without arrogance or doubt, that he is the most magically gifted unicorn in Equestria. It's part of why he chooses to live alone, his mind going mad at having to deal with the mindless banal day to day dullardry of everypony he met.

He goes up to Derpy's room, where she is trying again to walk, dragging herself across the room with a determined expression. Mane helps her up, supporting her as she climbs back into bed. He hops onto the soft sheets with her, the material whispering accusations against his legs as he steels himself. He looks Derpy deeply in the eyes, and tells her that it's going to be okay. He takes her deep in his arms, letting her know she is safe and warm and surrounded by love.

The spell doesn't work the first time. The needle sharp shard of chitin stands strong and doesn't break, but Derpy's head is yanked forwards by the force and she spasms and heaves and screams as loudly as she can.

''MMMMUUHMMMMMOAAAAAAHHHHH! '' She still can't make a single word, even as the torrid torrent of broken memories of pain and anguish flood back to her in a moment, as the miasma of pain and terror sweeps over her and she gags, spilling her stomach over Mane's back. But he doesn't let go, keeps the spell on her head, knows that the quicker he can do this the better it will be for her. Tears burst out of Derpy's eyes as the wrenching pains digs deeper, and suddenly her stomach is empty and she cannot do anything but dry-heave and cry and moan and shiver with revulsion. Finally, the very end of the nightmare proboscis snaps off with a wet and organic noise, like gristle being pulled apart. Still Mane holds her in the embrace, comforting her and pouring empathy into her. But she is too shaken to be still, is still bucking and kicking, hitting Mane from all angles and nearly breaking his bones with the force of her anguish.

It takes Mane half an hour to calm her down, and even then she is twitching and sobbing into the sheets. He holds her until she falls into an exhausted sleep, never letting her feel alone for a moment.

With his hateful prize held in his magic, he quietly walks down to his lab, and finishes what he has to.

~~~~~~~~~~

With the torrent of painful memories ripping through him as he buries the manticore, Mane thinks to himself not for nothing. All the pain these creatures have caused, disturbing my peace, all the bucked-up things I've had to do will not be for nothing. I will find a way to beat these creatures, send them back to whatever cesspit they came from. Not for nothing.

Broken Innocence

The pathway through the forest is narrow, barely wide enough for four ponies to comfortably walk along. Luna, Pinkie Pie and Rarity are cutting forward, making the path clear, whilst Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy bring up the rear, constantly darting gazes scrutinizing the untrustworthy treeline. Compared to the other times the ponies have dared venture into the forest, it is disturbingly quiet. An entire day has crawled by, a days worth of being whipped by willowy branches guarding the pathway, of keeping on tiptoe-teeth-edge-tenterhooks alert for the slightest sign of shadows with a life of their own. Here and there, Fluttershy might recognise a badger's footprints while gazing morosely at the ground in front of her, but they have encountered nothing that breathes except each other.

''Hey, Fluttershy, don't ya think it's weird that none of us has seen an animal all day? Usually you can't stretch a wing in here without something trying to bite it off. C'mon, this is your department: what gives?'' Rainbow swoops down to the ground and it's a moment or two before Fluttershy looks up, but she doesn't meet Rainbow's gaze.

''I don't know.''

''Well, what do you think? I know you're torn up about all of this, but you heard what Luna said. We gotta be strong until this is over! Now come on, lets have some ideas, I'm starting to get creeped out with all this quiet.'' Rainbows attempt to kickstart Fluttershy out of her introspection just makes her gingerly paw the ground, and look away.

''I told you Rainbow, I don't know.''

''Look, you can't fool me, okay? I've known you longer than anypony, and I know when you're hiding something. This isn't just about Twilight and Celestia, is it?''

''...I don't wanna talk about it...''

''Why not? I mean, if you can't tell me, who can you tell? I've never judged you before, and I'm not gonna start now!''

''Please, Rainbow. I'm not telling anyone right now. Can we please just not talk about it?''

''Alright, fine. If you want to be that way, I can't stop you.'' Rainbow zooms back up into patrolling the area, leaving Fluttershy even more torn and guilty than she was before. She feels like crying, but it seems she is too forlorn even for that. All that's left is a numbing pit of depression, sucking any optimism she had straight out through her stomach. But no matter how bad she feels, she won't let her gaze be drawn to the perfect, alabaster-coated vision in front of her. She knows that gate has swung shut, no matter how much she hopes. She has handed her heart to her friend on a platter, only to have it gently tipped onto the ground, and now it feels like it is rotting. A single soft moan of self-pity passes her lips, barely audible, before she trudges on, matching the hoofsteps of her hopeless infatuation.

Later...

After what seems like an age, the pathway is getting incrementally easier to traverse, the foliage fanning out and dispersing a begrudging leaf at a time. The sense of tunnelled claustrophobia lifts a little, but the aura of tense, waiting silence remains. The only one who remains unaffected is, of course, Pinkie Pie, who is her usual bouncy self (which serves to disperse some of the tension; it's hard to feel scared when a neon jester is investigating the scenery with eager enthusiasm). Luna is constantly on the alert, her horn barely ever losing the aura of intense magical power associated with high spellcasting.

Rarity is diligently lighting the way, carefully moving branches aside before they have a chance to besmirch her ivory coat. She has been breathing somewhat more heavily than she normally would since the liger attack, but she's careful not to let it show from under her carefully composed expression. Yet beneath it all, there is a great emotional turmoil taking place, conflicting emotions and repressed feelings slowly eroding the cast-iron social laws she imposes upon herself. And insinuating itself through all of these is a terrible sense of guilt for having snubbed Fluttershy so carelessy. Would it really be so bad to give in for a moment, to test these rediscovered feelings?

When the path finally widens into a copse, it is Rainbow Dash, scouting ahead, who first notices that something is amiss. ''Uh, you guys? Princess Luna? I think I just found out what happened to the animals...''

There is a bear lying on the ground, motionless except for the too-subtle rise and fall of its chest. It's covered in mildew, moss growing over it's back. Staring blankly ahead with familiar, lifeless eyes, it doesn't notice any of them. Is beyond noticing anything. They all crowd round, knowing what has happened and still utterly repulsed by it. The harsh reality of the unworldly presence they are dealing with is indelibly etched even further into their brains as they look up and realise they are surrounded by living corpses, the area littered with foxes and wolves and a menagerie of animals discarded like empty bottles. And still the deathly quiet, the forest itself awed into silence by the scale of perverted atrocity.

Fluttershy feels another shard of her being slip away, feels herself drop another few feet into the chasm of callous indifference. She turns away, unable to deal with what has transpired, her worst fears abruptly realised in the cold light provided by Luna and Rarity's magic. She feels a hoof on her shoulder, and flinches away from it.

''Fluttershy? Those meanie dream-eating bugs have been here. These poor little cutie's never had a chance, and now we can't do anything for them. Can I have a hug?'' Pinkie's mane lost it's characteristic bounce the moment she saw the sad, staring shapes prostrate on the ground, and she puts her arms around Fluttershy and bawls into her shoulder. Fluttershy rests her head against Pinkie, but she doesn't cry. There's nothing marring her face except a dull, nauseated expression, too tired of this constant mental torment to do anything but dumbly and numbly pray for it to stop.

Whilst Pinkie and Fluttershy are locked together, the others have discovered the very worst of the news. They stand over Zecora's unmoving body, shocked into silence. Zecora had always had a strange aura about her, of mysterious wisdom and ancient earthly magics unknown even to the princesses, but despite all this she has fallen prey to the unholy attentions of the dream-lice. They shed no tears, for they know this is not the time, but the sense of awed terror building inside them all grows a few more fangs, bites deeper into their collective subconscious. No words need to be said, as they all try to steel their resolve against the grief welling up inside them.

They band together once more. Pinkie Pie's mane is still flat and her lip is still trembling, dwelling upon the horrors she has witnessed as she walks. Zecora's house appears disturbingly normal, giving no clues or signs of the horrific events which transpired scant days ago. The herbs and flowers are blooming in her garden, and the iridescent colours tranquilly swaying with the soft and warm breeze wafting through the copse are only slightly faded from lack of light. The leaves bedecking the branches of her erstwhile home are tinged with the rich browns and golds that indicate a fine autumn, and her front door is firmly closed. It looks for all the world as though the zebra could be inside, attending to a fresh pot of tea with which to welcome them.

''I don't have to tell you how wary we must be. One louse alone could not have...eaten this many animals, and they may be inside. But it is only right that we take Zecora back into her abode, where we will do what we can for her. She deserves as much.'' Luna speaks quietly, so as not to alert any unseen beasts lurking in wait.

''It just doesn't seem right, entering her house without permission, and especially when she is in such condition. But I suppose you are right, your majesty. We shall have to simply swallow our unease.'' Rarity whispers, barely loud enough to be heard.

They cautiously walk up to the front door, having laid Zecora's un-corpse tenderly among the flowers she used to care for so assiduously. Rainbow Dash is the one ready to open the door at Luna's cue, the alicorn's horn sparking with the now-familiar blue light, ready to cast at the slightest hint of movement from inside. They all wait with bated breath, poised on the knife-edge of their nerves.

Luna finally gives the nod to Rainbow, who grabs the handle and wrenches the door wide open, letting the light from Rarity's illumination spell penetrate the gloomy interior, eyes wide open for a skittering shape to come flying towards them at head-height...

''BOO!'' Pinkie makes them all jump out of their skins, and falls over backwards giggling and snorting. Luna rears up, and a bolt of incandescent magic flies from her horn and starts ricocheting around the inside of the room.

''PINKIE PIE! What in the name of Celestia made you do that?''

''I just couldn't resist! The looks on your faces! You really thought I was a gribbly-wibbly insect!'' Pinkie manages to choke out between guffaws of mirth.

''Pinkie, you idiot, Luna had a spell ready to fire right off! What if it'd hit one of us? What if there actually was a louse in there? Wouldn't you care if one of us got our brains sucked out?'' Rainbow Dash can hardly believe that Pinkie is still rolling around on the ground.

''Oh, Dashie, don't you see? It doesn't matter if there was a louse in there!''

''And why, pray tell, is that?'' Luna's voice is harsh, cold and stern as she remonstrates.

''You mean you don't know? None of what we do matters! You saw what they did to Celestia! The big bad insect shoved a straw riiight through her head! Slurped out her soul and sucked it down like a milkshake! We can't stop these things, and you can't cage them all! No matter what we do, these dreamy-weamy milkshake-makers are gonna find everypony we know, and KILL THEM! And what makes it super-doubly hilarious is that you guys don't even know it yet!! It's like the whole world is pulling a prank on EVERYPONY!!!!''

Pinkie Pie's mane is still flat and lifeless. Everypony takes a step back, shaken to the core by what Pinkie is saying. Every single one of them has a twisted, shocked expression on their face, never thinking that Pinkie would be the one to give up. But it seems like she has finally snapped under the weight of the world-changing situation they were thrust into so quickly, and now lies giggling on the floor.

They are all still gobsmacked by Pinkie's outburst when she is hit by a bolt of grey magic, and goes limp. They all spin around as fast as they can towards the newcomer. Dr Brainymane is standing about thirty feet behind them, and is covered in twigs and mud and bark and...is that blood?

''Who the hay are you? And what've ya done to Pinkie! Undo it right now, or else you're gonna get a pounding!'' Rainbow flies right up to the doctor, glaring directly into his eyes.

''I'm Dr Brainymane, and if you'll back the buck off for a minute, I'll tell you why I just did you a favour.''

''Woah! Nopony swears at me and gets away with it! I'm gonna wash-''

''Rainbow? Please let him speak. Pinkie needs help.'' It's the first word Fluttershy has said since they left the path, and Rainbow notices. She backs down a little, but still looks pretty mad at Mane.

''Good, I'm glad you can see sense. Now, I got here a few minutes ago, and it's pretty clear to me that your friend has suffered a psychotic episode. All I've done is put her to sleep, before she got any worse. And considering that before that happened, you were carrying what looks like a dead zebra, I'm guessing that you are here because of the insects.''

''How does thy know of the dream-lice? Most pony's who have encountered them are in no state to regale the story to others.'' Luna fixes him with the full weight of her royal stare. Brainymane just stares back, cool and collected and disdainful.

''You must be Luna. You're not quite as, well, as imposing as the other one. And if I had to hazard a guess as to why I'm straining to see at four in the afternoon, it would be that the, dream-lice did you call them? Have somehow gotten to miss love-and-tolerate. Which also means that she never did trust you with the power to raise the sun by yourself. There a reason for that, or are you just not able to perform up to scratch?'' Mane says, with an ugly sneer across his lips.

''YOU-!!'' Princess Luna momentarily loses control before she remembers her responsibilities. ''Those are quite the questions. But usually a stallion has to buy me dinner before he gets to know me that well. And you never answered my question: how do you know about the dream-lice?''

Mane caught the slip, knows he got to her for a moment. Satisfied, he has decided to be civil for the time being. ''A mare crashed in my garden about a week ago. I took her in, treated her. When she woke up, she caught me in the middle of my work. I checked up on her, and when I came back there was a louse in my workshop. It attacked the mare I was trying to heal. I managed to drag it off her and chase it off, but not before it sucked most of her mind out.''

''Thou managed to fend off a louse? Impressive. Go on. Who was the mare?''

''That means a lot coming from the lesser princess. I spent the next few days trying to make sure she could fend for herself before I started travelling to Ponyville to warn you people. Not soon enough, obviously...And her name is Derpy, by the way.''

''Wait, not Derpy Hooves? Blond mane, mismatched eyes, a little clumsy?'' Rainbow blurts out.

''That's her, except for the 'little' part.''

''Damn it all, not Derpy too. She was a friend of mine. I always felt kinda sorry for her. Hey, what's that supposed to mean?!''

''Nevermind. Now that I'm here, and I've found the remaining alicorn, we should get started. First things first, we need to check that house out properly. Those things can hide like nothing else I've heard of.''

Even though they're all a bit peeved with the attitude of this new arrival, begrudgingly they concede that he's right. The air is still placid as ever, as they walk once more up to the doorway. It's Mane who walks through first, brazenly brushing straight past Luna and into the house, magic lighting his way. Cobwebs adorn the corners of the huge room, and a layer of choking dust is kicked up by their arrival. Mane is immediately checking the nooks and cranny's of the room, calmly gazing into each corner, missing nothing. When he is certain it is safe, he beckons the others inside.

''Looks like the shadows are staying where they are. Bring them inside, and put the zebra on the bed.''

''Pardon me, sir, but by what right are you taking charge? I for one would much rather put my trust in the princess of the night, as opposed to an extremely uncouth colt, covered in mud and with a bad attitude. And her name is Zecora.''

Mane's eyes narrow at the subtle condescension. ''Well, if you want to leave your friends out there to die, be my guest. After all, I'm just a 'colt' who fought off a creature that took down your ruler without batting a purple eye.'' Mane walks off, arrogance and wounded pride in his every step, and sets to boiling the kettle.

''HOW DARE YOU! We were perfectly fine with taking care of Zecora ourselves without an arrogant and frankly rude colt purporting to give us orders not five minutes after we met him!''

''I'm curt because time is a factor here, and we have a lot to talk about. So get your head out of your plot, please, and answer me this: Have any of you come across these things before? Maybe know one of their weaknesses? Anything that'll help us send them packing, doesn't matter how small.''

Rarity is absolutely seething, but before she can think of a reply Luna butts in. ''I can clearly see that thou art angry, perhaps through guilt of some kind. But the why is irrelevant. You have no reason to vent your frustrations on us: we have a common goal.'' Luna attempts to assuage the situation because the rest of the ponies, Rainbow and Rarity in particular, look like they are gearing up for a full-on shouting match. But the doctor is as cold, as clinically unemotional as ever.

''I'm not angry. This is me being patient. If you want to try for angry, that's fine with me. Now, I'll ask again: what do you know about the dream-lice?''

Luna gives him a cool look that goes on a bit longer than it should. Eventually, she says ''They are creatures composed of pure, unadulterated magic in it's most unrefined and chaotic form. They cannot be physically harmed, and are impervious to most magic. Only through mine long banishment and meditation on the moon was I able to devise a spell to imprison them when they invaded. But they cannot be destroyed in this world. We seek to reopen the portal which spawned them, and so suck them back to the dimension from whence they came. And allow me to offer some friendly advice: if you seek to aid us, then you would do well to improve your attitude, whether thou art angry or not.''

''Hmm. That's pretty much as I'd figured. I'm gonna need to you to show me how you did that spell. And I'm guessing that the portal needs to be reopened where it originally was, yes? Which means my house. Perfect.''

''Now, hang on just one moment!'' Rarity interjects with a suspicious tone in her voice. ''These frightful creatures arrived through your doing?! What manner of 'work' were you doing? How do we know you didn't want to bring them here? Princess Luna, with respect, we cannot trust him.''

''I must say, the situation does seem peculiar, to say the least. But perhaps we should give him a chance to explain himself? What say you, Dr Mane?'' Luna is still fixing him with her poker-faced gaze, scrutinizing him for the slightest hint of emotion. And finally, she is rewarded with a crack in his demeanour.''

''You think I wanted these things here? I'm the one who had to deal with them, firsthand, when one of them was sucking the life out of a defenceless, simple pony who I was trying to save! I watched as it broke through her skull, watched as she cried and bucked around the room begging me to help her! I had to nurse her for four days, feed her and clean her up and take all her pain and confusion and damn nearly got eaten myself as I dragged it off her! That poor mare relied on me for everything, and no matter how guilty I felt for letting it happen I stayed by her side! And you're accusing me of wanting this to happen to every other pony in Equestria? Buck you, buck you all five ways from Sunday! And by the way, your highness, you can drop the royal canterlot speech. You might fool these hicks, but I've got more than two brain cells to rub together and that accent annoys me.''

Luna narrows her eyes, but she seems to know that this is a situation where diplomacy might be a good idea. ''As you wish. This situation has us all on edge, so maybe the formalities can be loosened for a while. But speak to me like that again, and I'll see to it that you regret it.'' Brainymane nods his thanks, and acknowledgement of the veiled threat.

''Doctor Mane, that is all we wanted to hear. That you care about somepony else besides yourself. And I am sorry for accusing you.'' Mane is stunned by Rarity's apology, but in the end takes it with good grace.

''Thanks. And you asked what I was doing when it happened. I have two great loves in my life: the first, you might have guessed from my cutie mark, is psychology. The intricacies of how the mind works have ever held a fascination for me, far more so than the ponies themselves. The second is alchemy. When it happened, I was conducting an extremely complex experiment. I won't confuse you with the details, but I was attempting to construct an elixir with the same effects as meditation, but with no need for hours of preparation. It was going to clear the mind of all concerns, leaving you free to contemplate whatever mysteries you saw fit without the perpetual distraction of day-to-day worries. It was beautiful. I almost had the mixture working when Derpy arrived. You know the rest.''

''Ah. I see. Fortunately, that fits with the last pieces of the puzzle vexing us. Your experiment was the conduit for a surge of magic that had been building up. They aren't uncommon in the Everfree forest, but every so often there's a massive one, which grounds itself to whatever is nearby, and appropriating it's properties. That's how I returned from the moon, by manipulating the energy to cause a rift in the spatial lateracy of the world. I never thought we would see another one so soon, but it is the only logical explanation.'' Luna says.

''So if I hadn't been performing my experiment when I was, none of this would have happened. Typical. I try to live a quiet life, but no. Somehow, the world sees fit to intervene. CELESTIA BUCKING DAMMIT!!''

The kettle is boiling, and Mane attends to the teapot, rifling through Zecora's possessions with no restraint. The largest teapot lies in shards next to the kettle, a poignant relic of the terrible struggle unseen. Mane ignores the reminder, taking the next pot down from the mahogany shelf as though he was in his own house. His teeth are gritted, and the tension in his face is palpable, but his movements are calm and collected.

The unseen louse strikes from the shadows, drawn by some unknown force to the well of emotion that resides in the yellow pony. It launches itself with such speed that no one notices until Fluttershy empties her lungs, screaming with the knowledge of what has befallen her. Her already trembling knee's buckle with the terror of sudden realisation. But all the fight has been sapped out of her. She has no will left to resist, can only collapse in subjugation. Her friends aren't willing to give up so easily, as Luna and Rarity instinctively light up their horns with telekinesis.

The louse's claws clamp down across her neck, digging in deeply into her subconscious as all the memories and emotions are brought to the surface by the obscene predator. A moment later, Mane light up his horn as well, trying to drag the unfeeling shadow from her. The three spells contrast, dragging the demon in different directions. In the end, it is Luna's magic who proves the strongest, throwing the abomination towards Dr Mane.

Rarity is acting on instinct, all the constraints of sociality thrown aside as she fights for her friend. She sees the abominable thing thrown towards the newcomer, but doesn't relinquish her hold. The louse stops half a moment before digging it's unnatural proboscis into the doctor, held fast as the conflicting forces act on it. But it's legs are still scuttling, still pulling the very air aside as it tries to feed. It hasn't quite gotten a hold yet, the momentum sending it's needle-like mouth scraping down the side of Mane's neck, leaving a deep trail of crimson in its wake.

Mane is bug-eyed, fraught with panic, a grunt of terror slipping from his mouth as he tries to light his horn once again, but the magic flickers and fades as the sharp legs tear and scratch at him. Luna is trying to get a clear shot at it, but even in the open it is difficult to see. The louse lunges forward again, venomous eyes intent on the prey in front of it. Mane staggers to one side, falls against the table as his legs lose their strength to the sapping fear overwhelming him. The teapot full of scalding fluid rocks at the impact, falls and disgorges its contents over the louse and him. Mane shouts in pain as the liquid sears into him, raising blisters and leaving burns on his skin. The tea splashes across his face, and into one eye open wide and staring with terror. Blinded, he drops to the ground, passing out from the pain and shock. But the burning liquid also spilled over the louse, forcing it to pause for a moment as though collecting itself.

The moment is just long enough for Luna to finally draw a bead, and blast the wretched thing off the doctor. Even before it slams against the wall, Luna is casting the spell to imprison the accursed creature, and the tendrils of blue light reach out to encase another of the monstrosities.

The group let loose a collective breath none of them realised they had been holding. Rarity rushes over to Fluttershy's side, nuzzling and comforting her. The rest of them attend to Mane, Luna trying to stop the worst of the bleeding. But Mane is in a sorry state, left eye blistered and ugly, small pools of rich, red blood collecting under his wounds. Luna glances at the others, and each and every one of them has a worried expression across their features, and an unspoken question hangs over the group like a stormy sky...

Danger Awaits

The town clock looks over a scene of frantic panic and discord. The square is a heaving, roiling mass of ponies with wild-eyed, distraught expressions, shunting through each other and trampling those too weak to stand underfoot. Some cry, some are caught in the confines of denial, some are saturated with rage and terror but all are running, running away from the horrible truth or running to save their loved ones or running for the sake of running, trying to get away from the heavy weight of dread enveloping the town. But the clock implacably ticks on regardless. It's now ten in the morning, but for the first time the sun is absent, the darkness never burning away to the life giving rays that can never shine through again.

Amidst the chaos, there's an orange eye to the storm of panic, fighting her way through to the podium in the town centre. Buffeted by petrified and oblivious brownian motion, Applejack makes her way to the stage by sheer willpower and brawn. But the torrent of frightened flesh is too much even for her, and she's bowled over by a red blur.

''APPLEJACK! Where in the hay've ya been? Why's it so dark at ten in the hoofin' morning? What's happenin'?''

''Big Macintosh?! Boy, am I ever glad to see you! Look here, I'll explain everythin' once we've calmed everypony down, but first y'all gotta help me get everypony's attention. Think ya can push through to that stage there?''

''Who're you talkin' to? Git behind me, and stay close.''

Big Mac easily barges his way through the chaos, and Applejack mounts the stage with her brother, and they both scream at the tops of their voices, trying to rein in the madness. They may as well have tried hailing a hydra with a horsefly. How in tarnation are we gonna get everypony to listen? We need somethin nice and loud....aha. ''Big Mac, I hope you're feeling strong, 'cos I'm gonna be back in a jiffy and you're gonna buck with all your might, got it?''

''Eeyup''

Applejack disappears below the stage for a few minutes, and comes out dragging the gigantic gong the orchestra uses for the most climactic of scenes. She drags the heavy brass instrument to centre stage, and Big Mac gets into position and braces himself.

BOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNNGGG

The iron chains holding the gong in place jerk and recoil, and the disc loops over the bar holding it. Two neat brass horseshoes ricochet off the wall behind him. Once Applejack and Big Mac pick themselves up and can hear again, the entire crowd is looking their way, except for a brown stallion at the back, who is still jumping and yelling.

''Well, I think that did it, big brother. Nicely done.'' says Applejack, shaking the last of the ringing noise out of her ears. ''Good job I found a megaphone down there too, else we'd really be in a pickle.''

Big Mac stands in the background, back to his shy self, while Applejack talks to the town.

''Now look here everypony, I know y'all are scared, and frightened, and angry but all this millin' around is getting us nowhere, and damagin' the town to boot. I know a lotta ya saw us carryin' Celestia and Twilight through the town, but it ain't what it seems. They're alive, and stable, but some creature from the forest attacked them both and it looks like they're laid out for the time being. Now, we need to get this place in some kinda order, so if Mayor Mare is in there I'd be obliged if you could come on up and help us.''

The middle-aged mare extricates herself from the rabble, and jumps up on stage to address the crowd. ''I'm sure we are all grateful for Applejack's words, and I know we are all distraught, but she is right. There will be time to mourn and grieve later, but until we can fix this tragedy, we need to be practical. Applejack, I think there are a few more things we need to know. Is the princess going to be okay? How are we going to cope with no sunlight? And what kind of creature could possibly do this to the princess? Is it likely to come back?''

''Thankyou kindly, for seeing what needs to be settled. My heart's in just as much torment as the rest of y'all, maybe even more so: Twilight was one of my closest friends, and I surely do miss her at a time like this. But as the Mayor said, we gotta be practical. Now, as for your questions, here's the answers as well as I know them. Princess Celestia and Twilight're unconscious, but they're breathin' and being looked after by the best of us. Hopefully we won't have to cope without sunlight for much longer, 'cos Princess Luna and the rest of the Elements are out in the forest right this second, lookin' for some way to put things right. Till then, we get on as best we can. I don't rightly know what kinda creature can do this, but Princess Luna imprisoned it for good. I've seen what that thing can do, so there's gonna be a guard around it all the hours of the day, which should answer the last question to boot.''

The crowd and Mayor Mare digest this for a while, and it seems like the worst of the panic is over as the prominent practicality of Ponyville's population prevails. But just as it seems as though everything has calmed for the time being, a brown and intelligent looking stallion canters through the last of the crowd up to the stage, with a complicated expression marring his blue eyes.

''Applejack! I tried to get your attention! Something terrible happened in the panic!''

As he's saying this, there's a slowly building commotion from the back of the crowd, and distant shouts of concern echo across the plaza.

''Consarn it all, Doctor, I guess it had to happen. What's occurrin', and who'se hurt?''

''It's your sister! And her friends! They were trying to calm everypony down, but they must have been overrun, and they were trampled by the crowd! They're hurt...hurt badly. I've stopped some of the blood, but they need attention, NOW.''

''Celestia have mercy, not the girls! WHERE ARE THEY?!''

~~~~~~~~~~

Legs rush past at eye-height, moving too quickly to track. Sweetie Belle, Applebloom and Scootaloo jink and weave through the forest of fetlocks trying to find anypony that would listen to reason. But the normally calm and placid townsfolk are wild-eyed, frothing at the mouth and subsumed with terror, skittering and sprinting in every direction. The foal's pleading, almost supplicatory cries are ignored and unheard; it's like they aren't even there. But they fight their way through the crowd as best as they can, rammed on all sides by hooves almost as big as their heads. Bruised and battered, they try to make their way to safe ground, but each time they are shunted in another direction, almost losing track of each other more times than they can count.

''Scootaloo! Can you try'n hover? We ain't gettin' nowhere unless we can find our way out!''

''I'm trying, Applebloom! But I can't hover, especially when these grownups keep bumping into me! What's wrong with them, it's like everypony just drank a load of crazy juice! Why won't they listen to us?''

''I don't know! Maybe if we can find a bucket of cold water or somethin' we can snap somepony out of it so they can tell us what the hayseed's is goin' on!''

''Well then, what're we waiting for? Lets go find one! I'll stand on your back and try and see where to go.''

Scootaloo hops up onto Appleblooms back, and jumps up, trying to see above the crowd. ''Allright, I think the edge of the crowd is that way. C'mon, help me push through.''

''You're so heavy I don't know why you need help.'' Applebloom grumbles, rubbing her back. It's only then that they realise they don't know where Sweetie Belle is. Calling out to her, trying to raise their voices above the baying cacophony of the crowd, they frantically retrace their steps, looking for a flash of cream amongst the endless mass of pummelling legs.

When they find her, she is lying unconscious on the unforgiving ground. Heavy hooves rain down upon her fragile body, and there is a huge bruise just to the left of her horn. One of her legs is twisted at an odd angle, and there are unsettling dents and impressions marring her side. Desperately they rush to her, ignoring the flailing stampede around them, shaking and nuzzling their friend, trying to wake her up. Applebloom attempts to buck the onrushing ponies to the side, trying to protect Sweetie Belle even as she is trodden on again. But she is not her sister, and only succeeds in tripping up a heavyset colt, who lands on her only to trample her into the ground as he tries to get back to his feet. She is lying on the earth, unable to dodge the hail of punishing blows that force the wind out of her and crush her chest. Scootaloo is trying to help her up now, but in taking her eyes off the crowd she too is dashed to the ground and buried in unknowing blows from the unfeeling masses.

~~~~~~~~~~

The forest is gloomy even in clear noonlight, but without the sun the shadows are impenetrable. Strangely shaped trees give the deep darkness texture, making nebulous and threatening shapes of the air like perverse playdough. Amongst the myriad of looming spectres one detaches itself, and slinks a few fractions further to a ragtag group of grim-faced friends...

''If we are to prevail on our quest my friends, we must be constantly aware of our surroundings. The Everfree forest is not to be trifled with at the best of times. And now...''

''We understand, princess! Any tricksy wicksy super slicksy insect is gonna have to be on their...their claws? Yeah, their claws, if they wanna get one over on Pinkie Pie the super spy!''

Pinkie Pie narrows her eyes and zips around the area, sniffing suspiciously at subliminal shadows. Luna just looks nonplussed.

''Well, yes. I am glad thou has grasped the idea, if not the subtleties.''

''Luna's right, Pinkie, quiet down and get serious about this. It's so dark we don't know what's more than 6 feet in front of us. Even with my awesome aerial abilities, we gotta be careful!'' Rainbow Dash is on edge, wings and feathers erect in full fight-or-flight mode.

''Okay, Rainbow! I'll be as quiet as a shrew hidden from view behind a slew of shampoo!'' Pinkie says, and bounces along regardless.

Rarity and Fluttershy are huddling close together, wide eyed and obviously afraid. Fluttershy is leaning maybe a little bit closer, but Rarity isn't complaining.

''This is all just so awful. All of those poor animals, at the mercy of such a heartless monster. We have to save them! I mean, I hope we can...''

''I quite agree, Fluttershy. I don't think I've ever been quite so shaken, even during that first dreadful visit when I had to cut my tail off for that charming dragon. Though I have to say, if this, well, this little excursion will truly spell the end of us, I am glad I can spend it with you. Oh my, that came out a little more rashly than I expected...''

Rarity looks embarrassed, and slightly scandalized. Fluttershy quickens her pace a little, so that Rarity has to keep up, and suddenly they are out of earshot. Fluttershy faces Rarity, and turns that timid gaze so full of emotion onto her best friend. ''Um, I know that took courage to say. I've been trying for years to say the same. But we've always been so close, I was terrified of ruining what we already had, and so I never took the chance. It seems silly, now that the world seems to be ending. But I love you, Rarity, and I always will do.''

Rarity freezes, stock still, and a confused expression flits across her face. ''Fluttershy, I...I had no idea you felt that way. But I think you may have misunderstood me.''

The graceful yellow pony is instantly mortified, and cringes so much she looks like she's trying to hide behind her own mane. ''Oh my gosh, Rarity, I am so sorry, I just thought, and you blushed, and, oh. You must think I'm so awful, I never wanted to make you uncomfortable. I'll go now...''

Fluttershy walks off, head hung low in embarrassment and despair and shame for having been so stupid. But she feels a gentle hoof on her shoulder, and when she turns round Rarity is gazing into her eyes, on the verge of tears. ''Fluttershy, please don't feel bad. It isn't as though I never contemplated it, you are the kindest and most loving pony I know. But. But it would not feel right, we have been friends for so long, I don't know if I could live any other way.''

''You really have thought about it? I was so afraid that you'd think less of me for falling in love with you, that I was weak or foolish...but it's all the same now. You don't love me, and I love you, and now I've changed everything by telling you. You honestly don't think you could ever see me in that way?''

Their eyes are locked now, a lifetime of connection speaking volumes outside of the simple words, both of them hoping and pleading but for different things. ''Fluttershy, I love you like a sister. I will never stop loving you as a friend. But romance, between the two of us? I cannot bring myself to raise your hopes. Maybe if we were younger, or...I don't know. I am so, so sorry. I will never leave your side, but I don't think we can ever be together as you want us to. I'm sorry.''

Fluttershy's eyes have been slowly brimming as she realises what Rarity is saying. No matter how much she tries to hold them back, the heartbreak is too much, and Rarity hugs her and lets her cry and shares all the pain pulsing through the fragile heartbeat so close to hers.

When there are no more tears to be shed, the pair trudge back to the clearing that's glistening with shadows, where the others are preparing to move once more.

''You guys! Where've you been? We were starting to wonder if you'd been taken! Don't ever do that again!''

''Rainbow Dash, leave them be. None of us can be blamed for letting our emotions best us in this place, and at this time. I'm sure Rarity was merely comforting Fluttershy. Am I not right?'' Luna says, with a subtle glance at the pair.

Rarity quickly stares at the ground, a frisson of colour marring her cheeks. ''Yes, you are quite right as ever, your Highness. We just needed a moment to gather our resolve.''

''Some moment, we were looki-''

''Rainbow Dash, be silent.''

''What? All I'm saying is-''

''Rainbow Dash, be silent! We are not alone!''

She instantly falls quiet, as Luna concentrates, pinpointing the disturbance. Her brow furrows, and her horn pulses with a soft light which matches her tail.

The slinking shadow has been stalking the sombre ponies for some time, weighing instinct against caution, picking it's prey, waiting for the only moment it knows will stave off hunger for a few more hours...

The purple-maned pony is it's prize. The luscious hair, the delicate bouquet of her scent spiked with the tang of emotional upheaval, the quaking neck promising delectable satisfaction. The Liger springs from the trees, majestic mane and taut muscles and blade-like teeth and brutal instinct all melding together seamlessly into a blurred, tooth-tipped missile hellbent on filling it's ravenous belly. It hits Rarity in the midsection. The pristine white mare is only saved by her knee-jerk reaction of rearing up in terror, sending the gigantic feline's aim off by a few crucial inches. As it is, she is sent flying several metres through the air, all elegance lost as she collapses in a forlorn heap on the dank mossy floor of the forest.

Fluttershy goes absolutely berserk, screaming with incoherent rage and flying pell-mell at the creature ready to stamp with both hooves on it's head, ready to kill it for trying to take away her forlorn hope for love and companionship. It's only when she sees the skin hanging off it's skeleton, barely attached, that she realises this creature is at the end of it's life. Starved for days on end, unable to find food, it attacked out of desperation. She pulls out of the attack just in time to let the crazed, deadly paw-swipes miss, and she lands in front of it, fixing it with a Stare.

The battle of wills rages inside the Liger, but eventually there is only one way it can go. It slumps off into the forest, cheated out of it's energy. The moment it has left, Fluttershy rushes over to Rarity, instantly nuzzling her and fussing over her, making sure she is okay.

''Fluttershy, dear, I assure you I am fine. It may have caught me a nasty blow, but it shall take more than that at the finish, I can assure you.'' She leans in closer, so that only her beautiful friend can hear her. ''Thankyou for saving my life, Fluttershy. I can never repay you. When I see what you will do for me, I am ashamed that I cannot bring myself to feel about you as you clearly do about me. But this doesn't change things between us. I cannot do that to you, not when we are so close. I'm sorry.''

Fluttershy just looks sadly at her, but with the underlying understanding and compassion she always has in her eyes.

''I believe we would wise to take that as our cue to move on once more. If Rarity is ready to move, then we cannot waste any time.'' Luna says, ever the pragmatist.

Fluttershy holds Rarity's gaze a little longer, then turns away and follows Luna, leaving Rarity with a great wrenching well of dejection in her heart, but not quite understanding why...