Ponyville Shimmers

Chapter 8:

Twilight was flying overhead Improv. They were moving quickly through the orchard. She looked left and right scanning the rows of apple trees. She knew they’d better hurry, it was getting late and the sun was setting. There was no possible way they could find Gemini in the dark. For all they knew she could have went back to Ponyville and changed into another pony. They might never find her… Twilight looked down at Improv, and began to think of the odd magic he had displayed earlier. As well as the unusual anger. Improv had never been like this before.

“Improv!” Twilight swooped down in front of him.

He stopped, “Did you see it?” He looked around. “Why are we stopping?”

“No. Earlier, when we were in the barn, what was the strange magic you used? It wasn’t… you…” Twilight looked him in the eye.

“Strange magic?”

“Yes! Your eyes glowed green and you went crazy. What was that about? Have you been practicing dark magic?!”

Improv looked down at the ground before him and sighed. “It’s a condition…”

Twilight’s questioning look had now subsided. “What kind of condition is that?”

“I don’t know. When I’m under a lot of stress I… lose control over my magic… I don’t know what it is, or why I’m this way.” Improv looked back at her. “It hasn’t happened for a long time. I don’t think I can remember the last time, it’s been so long. Nothing has upset me enough to have any problems with it. That’s partially why I moved here, since it’s so quiet and peaceful. Keeping me… relaxed”

There was a brief moment of silence between the two of them, until Twilight spoke.

“Have you tried doing anything about it? How come I’ve never read or heard of anything like this?”

“When I was a filly I had to get treatments for it. Doctors had never seen anything like it. A condition such as mine is unheard of…”

Twilight thought for a moment. “Does anypony else know about this? Does Pinkie-”

“No” Improv interrupted her. “I haven’t told anypony”

“Why not? I think some of our friends deserve to know. Don’t you think Pinkie Pie does? I certainly do…” Twilight said with a concerned look.

Improv was silent.

Twilight began flapping her wings and ascending. “We need to continue our search. We’re losing daylight and can’t let her get away.” She then flew back into the direction they were going before.

Improv stood still, thinking for a moment. He didn’t know what to think. His head was clouded. Improv didn’t know what he could do. He wished that he could control his “condition” but he didn’t know how, if even possible. What will others think?

He whipped his head around quickly. There was someone coming. Cracking sticks and rustling bushes was all he could hear. He looked back to see if Twilight was anywhere to be seen, but she was gone. Improv quickly jumped back, lowering his horn, and waited for whatever it was to come out. He began to charge his magic, until a head poked out of the bushes.

“Fluttershy?” Improv said, “What are you doing here?”

She looked worried. “Improv! Come quick! We found AppleJack!” She walked closer to him.

“Really!? How did you catch up to us so fast?” He held his hoof up in question.

“I flew?” She said innocently sketching one wing out.

“Oh, right. Well we need to tell Twilight then!” Improv turned around and yelled. “Twilight come back!” His voice echoed off in the distance.

“Improv, I forgot to tell you something?”

He turned around and before he could say anything something hit him in the face sending him backward.

“I lied”

He put his hoof over his nose as his eyes began to water. He could feel blood begin to come out. He looked up and saw Gemini standing in front of him. His eyes widened.

She jumped into the air flapping her wings and shot toward him. He jumped out of the way before she could get to him. Gemini bounced back to strike again but was blocked by his magic. She then repeatedly took swings at him as he blocked every hit with a magic barrier. Improv took steps back as she was rushing him. He kept himself from being hit until he backed up into a tree and lost concentration. Her final hit shattered the barrier hitting him once more in the face.

Improv rolled onto the ground. Before he could try to get up she kicked him again leaving him unconscious. Gemini stood up straight and walked around his body until she could see his throat. She knelt down to his ear.

“Don’t worry your friends won’t miss you, I’ll keep them company… for now”

She smiled revealing her fangs. Before she could do anything she heard flapping wings and quickly looked up.

BANG!

She was knocked onto her back. Gemini sprung back up to her feet. On the ground ahead of her, Gray landed.

“You? I remember you from that stupid party.” She said rubbing her cheek. “I should have dealt with you when I had the chance, I guess there’s no better time than now”

Rainbow Dash came flying up behind him. “What’s going on?!” she said.

“Oh you brought a friend? How delightful! Two birds with one stone I suppose.” Gemini smiled, “Hey! I have an idea! Let’s be friends! Come on! We can hug it out!” She changed into Pinkie Pie and giggled innocently, “Heehee, I love hugs!”

Rainbow pointed her hoof at Gemini, “You’re sick!!” She began to bolt toward her but Storm jumped into the air grabbing her tail with his mouth, bringing her to a dead stop.

“Wait! That’s just what she wants, to get us apart and single us out.” She looked at him, said nothing, and then looked back at Gemini who was chuckling.

“Well then. What’s it going to be? You just going to stand there?”

Storm sprinted toward her. Right before he could reach her she leapt into the air preparing to strike. He rolled onto his back sliding underneath her and kicked his hind legs up as hard as he could. Before his hoofs pressed into her torso she managed to sink one of her fangs into his front leg. His hoofs jammed into her stomach forcing her fang to drag through his skin, slicing it open.

“ahh,” Storm winced in pain.

Gemini flew into the air and was caught by a flying kick from Rainbow Dash. Shooting her into the trunk an apple tree. She slammed against it and fell straight down to the base.

She got up slowly and hissed at Rainbow. Gray rolled back over to his hoofs and struggled to get up. Dash looked over at him and noticed the wound on his leg. Blood was running down it quickly. He forced himself to stand straight up almost falling. She hastily flew over to him to keep him from falling.

“ahh. dam this hurts.” He said looking at her with an odd grin and snicker.

Gemini began to charge towards them. They didn’t know what to do. Storm could hardly move. She made it about half way to them before a bright light shot out of the sky striking and stopping her in her tracks. She was instantly frozen. Rainbow Dash and Gray Storm looked at her then up into the air.

“Twilight!” Rainbow yelled.

“Thank Celestia you’re here…” Gray could barely utter the words. He began to fade… He was losing alot of blood.

“Storm? Are you ok?” Twilight landed in front of them.

“He was cut pretty badly by her.” Rainbow said. She was now holding him up, keeping him from falling to the ground.

“I’ll be fine heh, I’m ok I swear. Help Improv he’s not looking so good.” Gray smiled. They both looked at Improv laying on the ground, and he began moving. Twilight ran over to him

“Improv! Are you ok?!” He rubbed his head.

“Ugh, yeah I think so, but my head hurts like no other.” She helped him up.

Gray became heavier. His legs were becoming limp. “You alright there?” Raibow said to him.

“Yeah…” Storm began to close his eyes.

“We need to get him to the hospital or he’s going to bleed out… and die.” Twilight said.

Gray was trying to use every ounce of energy he had left, but it wasn’t enough to get a single word out. He opened his eyes and everything became blurry and distorted. He closed his eyes and the last thing her heard was Rainbow’s voice, “Hurry! We don’t have much time!”