The Shadow Pony

I: The Living Nightmare

Twilight's carriage flew across the air as two stallions pulled it through the dense fog. Twilight was actually fond of the fog; it soothed her as the wind bellowed at her face. She stared at Spike just beside her, looking tired and dreary-eyed. It made sense; Twilight and Spike were returning from a meeting in Canterlot, and the meetings tended to be boring, especially for Spike's young age.

"Why did I have to be at that boring old meeting? I could have spent the entire time sleeping in my own little bed," Spike complained.

"How many times do I have to tell you, Spike? You were there to keep track of the minutes. You still have a job, you know. You have to be mature and responsible."

"I know, but maybe sometime I could get a break. It seems lately all I've been doing was work. When can a baby dragon squeeze in a little time to nap?"

Twilight yawned. She felt a little sleepy herself. Maybe I might take a nap once I return as well, she thought to herself. Soon, Ponyville came into view, even with the dense fog in the way. The carriage made a smooth landing, and finally stopped. Twilight jumped out of the carriage and nodded at the two stallions. The stallions beamed proudly as Twilight and Spike walked past them.

Ponyville was empty, not a living soul to be seen. Twilight smiled at her thought, realizing that she couldn't see anything. Twilight and Spike strutted through the empty streets, and passing the market square. Twilight felt a little uncomfortable about the town. Where is everypony? Eventually, they found their destination: the Sugarcube Corner. Spike opens the door for Twilight. Twilight smiled and nods at Spike, and lets herself in. Spike closed the door behind him.

The Sugarcube Corner was just like the square: lifeless. Mr. and Mrs. Cake were no where to be seen, and Pinkie Pie had also disappeared. Twilight frowned. Nopony in here too?, she thought. It seemed a little odd that everypony was gone. Was everypony away for something? Was I missing something that I didn't know about?

Twilight walked to the counter and yelled, "Hello! Is anypony here?" Nopony answered. Twilight tried again.

"Mr and Mrs. Cake? Pinkie Pie? Where are you guys?" Again, no answer.

Twilight was starting to be annoyed. It wasn't like Pinkie Pie to be missing all of a sudden. She always pops out of no where and greets whoever walks in. Today didn't seem to be the case, as Pinkie Pie was absent from the store.

Twilight looked around the store. Something seemed off about the store to her. The colors were a little bit gray, and light black liquids appeared to be slowly dripping down the walls. Twilight started to become a little uneasy with the place. Twilight turned around to find that Spike was no where to be seen.

Twilight gasped. She glanced around the room worriedly. Where did Spike go? she thought to herself worriedly. Twilight knew that Spike would never leave her sight, so this action was completely unrealistic.

"Spike! Spike! Where did you go?" Just like previous attempts, Spike didn't answer. Twilight stomped her hoof to the ground, frustrated.

"Spike! I really don't like this place. We better go."

Twilight started to breath a little heavier and faster. Nothing seemed right about this place. It was too quiet. The floor boards let out a small creeking sound. Sweat started to appear on her face. She started breathing faster. She almost felt as if someone was watching her. The only thing Twilight could hear was her own breath, and the slow breathing behind her neck. Twilight stopped breathing completely, her eyes wide open. She slowly turned her head, to find a cloaked pony with a steak knife in his hoof, ready to strike.

Twilight screamed.

Twilight awoke with a burst of sweat advancing down her forehead. She breathed heavily, shocked at the sudden awakening. She glanced around the room. Nothing appeared to be out of place. It was still the middle of night, possibly around 2:00 AM in the morning. Twilight swept away the sweat from her face.

It was only a dream, Twilight reassured herself.

Just a dream.

Twilight didn't sleep at all that night. She was too worried about the dream. Did it even mean anything? Twilight shrugged that thought off when she put the bits on to the counter of the Apple's counter. Big Mac gave her the three apples that Twilight ordered. Twilight thanked him and grabbed the bag by her mouth. She then walked away from the stand.

Unlike the dream, the market square was busy, with ponies buying goods and fillys playing with each other. Twilight found a table with Rarity eating a scone. Rarity looked up from the scone, and smiled at Twilight.

"Hello, Twilight!" Rarity greeted Twilight.

"Hi."

Twilight plunked the apples on the table and sat herself into the chair. Rarity's smile faded as she noticed Twilight's tired face.

"My, Twilight. You look like you didn't get in any sleep at all!"

"I didn't, really. I had a very weird nightmare. I dreamed I was arriving in Ponyville. When I went to the Sugarcube Corner, there was this pony with a cloak, ready to stab me with a steak knife!"

Rarity widened her eyes. Then she took another bite, obviously waiting for more.

"What happened then?"

"I woke up. It was so strange. I don't even know if it means anything."

Rarity's interest peaked, widening her eyes slightly more with her scone resting on her hoof. Twilight shaked her head, disappointed with the lack of reason for the dream.

"There's not much else to tell you. That was all that really happened. I can't make heads or tails out of it."

"Well, you know, whenever I am faced with something I don't really understand, I sit down and think about it very hard. I don't think about anything else unless it is very indeed important."

Twilight rested her head on her hoof and thought for a moment. There was almost no connection between anything that happened in the past few weeks, and Twilight certainly did not remember a cloaked pony with a steak knife threatening her life. Twilight shrugged her shoulders. Rarity's face drooped.

"Well, it works for me, anyways."

Suddenly, a light pink invaded Twilight's face. Big, beady eyes stared back at her. Twilight screamed and fell out of her seat and slammed into the ground. She groaned. Twilight looked up to see Pinkie Pie bouncing on top of the table. Rarity looked very annoyed.

"Pinkie Pie! Why did you jump me?" Twilight asked, getting herself up. Pinkie Pie was smiling at Twilight as she bounced up and down.

"I'm sorry, but there is an emergency right now! At first, I thought it was because of a fire or something, but it's actually something really bad! I don't know who did it or why, but maybe it could be Applejack, or someone else. I really don't understa-" Pinkie Pie talked hastily, before being interrupted by Rarity.

"Pinkie!! Calm down. What is going on that is so important?"

"It's Fluttershy! She's been foalnapped!"

Rarity dropped her scone that she was about to eat. Twilight's eyes widened at Pinkie Pie. Twilight turned around and broke into a trot, leaving Rarity and Pinkie Pie behind. As Twilight ran, thoughts flooded her mind. Fluttershy has been foalnapped? Who could have done it? And does this mean something about the cloaked pony from my dream?