Cast into Twilight

“A-are you sure it's after Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, worry showing clearly in her expression and tone.

“You haven't seen the library,” Rainbow Dash said, pacing the floor impatiently as she waited for Applejack to finish.

The orange farmpony was busily darting about her home, grabbing several different things she figured they would need. Supplies of all sorts were quickly taken from their proper places and placed in her saddlebag, not paying much attention to her friends as the multi-colored pegasus clued the others in on what they were planning.

Not another soul was within the farmhouse, Granny Smith and Applebloom having left to see the injured Big Macintosh. It made the simple abode feel all the more abandoned, especially as Applejack was readying to leave it as well. Nearly finished, she made sure to grab one of her trust ropes as well, certain she'd want it if they came across the very monster that had caused such a mess.

“The place was a wreck,” Pinkie Pie said, a deep frown evaporating away any amount of bubbly joy she usually carried. “All those poor books... and Spike works so hard in keeping them neat and tidy too...”

Rainbow Dash nodded her head, having seen the destruction wrought within their friend's home. “It was obviously the same monster that did it. And with what happened to Twilight's dress, I'd say that pretty much clenches it.”

With her preparations done, Applejack returned to her friends. “Even if it isn't after Twilight, we still need to see the princesses,” she explained. “Maybe they can help Rarity, even figure out what this monster is. Since Spike's not here to send a letter for us, we've gotta get to Canterlot ourselves.”

“Me and Flutters here can stay then!” Pinkie Pie then said, pulling her pegasus friend toward her. “We'll watch over Rarity and Big Mac, make sure that meanie monster doesn't come back.”

“I-I suppose I could do that,” Fluttershy nodded, perhaps not liking the idea of the creature returning, but still wanting to do her part.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack looked to one another and wordlessly agreed, figuring it was for the best as well. “You two should probably talk to the mayor too,” the rainbow-maned flier thought aloud. “It'd probably be for the best if Ponyville knows what's going on. In case that monster's still around and they don't go into any kind of panic.”

“We all know what would happen then...” Applejack murmured, her and her friends remembering several times the ponies of Ponyville ran amok through the town in terror.

“That sounds like a plan then!” Pinkie Pie shouted determinedly.

“Well, the train for Canterlot doesn't come back for another few hours,” the farmpony pointed out. “We should probably try and fix Rarity and Twilight's places, or go see the mayor now.” A slight frown crossed her face. “Ah just hope we can get to the castle before somethin' bad happens.”

Nightfall was still fresh in the sky as much of Canterlot turned in to rest and relax. Despite being such a bustling city during the day, much of it almost felt abandoned after the sun was down, and shadows turned to darkness. Only a small portion of the capital remained awake for the nightlife, the elite still entertaining their peers as was the norm for their social standing.

Only a few ponies besides the occasional royal guard on patrol ever trotted through the streets at that time, having pressing matters that needed attending to. But the city was even less alive now as a shadowy beast roamed the desolate civilization. It had taken all the time between sunrise and sunset for it to find the city, scaling the rocky mountain it was perched on, and breaching the outer walls. Now, the mighty castle of the princess Celestia and Luna loomed over it, its instinctive needs drawing it ever closer to the royal home.

Though there were many distracting sensations surrounding it, the creature's goal was too close for it to be ignored. Only the unlucky few who were still out, unknowingly in its path, were sought out by it. Be they citizen or guard, none of them stood a chance as the beast emerged from the shadows, melding within the darkness as if they were one and the same.

The unicorns were all left in the same state as the ones before it, while those who didn't have the magical appendage jutting from their foreheads were left battered and beaten into unconsciousness. Not a soul would find the injured ponies in time to raise an alarm of warning, giving the dark creature ample time to clear the distance between it and its target. Its long tongue slithered from its mouth repeatedly, almost able to taste it in the air. If it had the sense or reason to notice, it would also feel its heart pounding in its chest with anticipation.

With every magical pony it had encountered, subtle changes had occurred. Its deep, growling voice was far less guttural, less beastly. Even the object of its desires held far more clarity to its disjointed thoughts, propelling it even further as the shadow of the beautiful castle fell atop it. There was nothing that could stop it now, be it peasant or princess.

Celestia calmly opened the doors to the throne room, having just woken up at the behest of the guard sent for her. It was supposed to be an early night for her, having spent much of the day busily doing her royal business, as well as discussing several things with Twilight. Now, it looked like sleep would have to wait.

Inside the large chamber, Princess Luna frantically paced the floor. Back and forth she went, eyes distant and mumbling to herself. The princess of daylight could even see noticeable scrapes running across the stone tile, left by the metal shoes on the azure pony's hooves. It wouldn't be long before she began digging a rut into the ground.

“What's wrong, sister?” she asked, approaching Luna with a look of concern about her. Had she thought things were this bad for her little sibling, she would have come sooner.

It took a long moment for Luna to even realize that she had arrived, head tilting in her direction as she developed a slight look of surprise. “I-I-I think something's wrong...” she quickly said, her words nearly garbled by how fast she was speaking them. “I-I know something's wrong but... I also don't... I just-”

Celestia was quick to step toward the frazzled princess, wrapping a hoof around her to stop her in her tracks. Pulling her close, the elder sister held the mare in a warm hug, keeping her there with a surprising amount strength. “Shh...” she cooed softly. “Everything will be alright.” They stayed like that for what felt like minutes before she finally released the nightly princess. “Now, stay calm, and try to explain what you think is going on.”

Several deep breaths came from Luna first, doing little to stop her rapid breathing, but allow her a moment to settle down. “Okay,” she began, pausing for another moment to center herself. “As I've said before, I've been sensing something strange happening, then it suddenly vanished. Now, as night has fallen, I'm starting to feel something again. It's faint, very very faint, but I'm certain that it's something I just don't know what...”

It wasn't very convincing, but Celestia did give her sister the benefit of the doubt. After all, it wasn't as though the lunar mare was one to imagine such important things. “Alright then,” she said, tone growing serious. “If something is wrong, we can have the guards be prepared for it. A few teams of Wonderbolts can be sent out to the other towns as well, make sure everything is fine. Are you certain you're unable to focus on what's causing this distress?”

Luna merely shook her head, turning away from her sister as she slowly began pacing again. “N-no, I can not,” she said, sounding more unsure of herself by the second. She brought a hoof to the side of her head and rubbed it tenderly. “I feel as though I should know... it's so very familiar, but...” Her mane began swaying back and forth as she gave her head a good shake. “I just can't stand this! My heart flutters in my chest, my mouth feels as though cotton has been stuffed into it, and I've felt so queasy in my stomach, I feel as if I might be sick!”She growled in frustration. “I haven't felt like this since...” Her voice came to an abrupt stop, silenced by the sudden gasp escaping her. Eyes growing wide, all the princess did was stand there, wearing a look of complete and utter shock.

“What is it?” Celestia asked, becoming worried now. “Luna. What's happening?” But there was no time for an answer as the doors to the throne room came bursting open.

A royal guard came galloping into the room, a look of relief washing over him as he spotted the princesses. “Your Highnesses,” he said, stopping in his tracks as he bowed to them. “Applejack and Rainbow Dash of Ponyville have come seeking an audience with you. They say it's urgent... and that it regards Princess Twilight.”

Celestia's unblinking gaze shifted between her little sister and the guard, finally falling on the stallion as she addressed him. “Send them in,” she said, her tone brimming with authority. “Then find Twilight and bring her straight to me.”

The guard nodded his head and bowed once more as he backed away from them, saying, “As you command,” before departing the chamber.

Spike's groans grew ever louder as he lied across Twilight's back, the scholarly mare slowly trotting down one of the many hallways that littered the castle. Massive, towering windows dotted the right wall, giving a fantastic view to the world just outside, from the open night sky to the expanding surface below. On the left, many different kinds of decorations hung against it, from beautiful tapestries to old weaponry.

The little dragon payed little attention to the scenery however as he continued to voice his complaints through childish noises. “Why do we have to go to the library?” he moaned out. “We've spent all day cooped up in the most boring of places, doing nothing but talking to the princesses.... Why can't we spend a bit of time to relax now?”

“But reading is relaxing,” Twilight noted happily.

“Not the stuff you read,” Spike remarked, swaying his tail and arms back and forth in the air.

Twilight merely rolled her eyes as she continued on her path to the royal library, where she was certain she'd find what she sought. “And besides, I'm sure I've already told you,” she explained. “After we're done in Canterlot, we're going to Professor Archae's excavation in the Everfree forest. I'd like to brush up on the old ruins of the area, so we have an idea of what we're looking at while we're helping.”

“Right...” Spike sighed, “more work...”

The lavender princess simply ignored the scaly assistant, keeping her eyes ahead as she followed the same path she had taken all the many times before. Knowing the way by heart, there wasn't a chance of her getting lost in the big castle, making the trip all the easier.

“Princess Twilight!” a frantic voice echoed down the hall, halting the mare's steps. Twilight turned toward the source to see a guard running toward her, looking exhausted and out of breath. “P-princess... I need to take you... to the throne room at once.”

“What?” Twilight questioned. “What's going on?”

The two began going in the other direction, the guard leading the way as his eyes began shifting back and forth suspiciously. “Forgive me, but I'm not sure,” he finally said. “Two of your friends have arrived with urgent news, and the princesses seem worried by something.”

“That doesn't sound good,” Spike murmured, earning a look from the guard, ready to say something himself, just as a loud and bone-chilling roar erupted outside.

They barely had a moment to react as the window nearest to them shattered. The unicorn guard was quick on his hooves however, creating a simple barrier around himself and Twilight, preventing the flying shards of glass from slicing them to ribbons. There wasn't a moment of rest as a large shape came barreling toward them, clawed hand poised to strike.

As the creature swung down at them, the two ponies jumped out of the way, dodging the attack as the hand smashed into the floor where they stood. The monstrous thing growled angrily as it wheeled about, swinging wildly at them both. Twilight managed to jump far enough away from the thing, but the royal guard stood his ground.

Horn glowing brightly, he tried firing a blast of magic at the creature. The spell found its target and struck into its chest, fizzling out and having no effect on the beastly thing. As it charged at him, the guard stood there dumbstruck, unable to react fast enough as a clawed hand shot forward and grabbed him by the throat.

Choked, gargled breaths came from him as the creature's grip tightened, holding him up in the air. The guard's eyes darted to Twilight as she watched, horrified by the scene. “R-run...” he managed to gasp out. But the princess did no such thing, her entire body trembling as the stallion's struggling body became still, going limp in the creature's grasp.

She continued to stare at the scene as the guard's body began to look frail and weak, the creature hissing in satisfaction as it tossed him aside carelessly. Soon after, it turned to face the young princess, moving toward her and ready to charge again. But again, Twilight could barely move or react, having never seen such a terrifying creature before in all her life, even Spike remained still, practically hiding behind her head as he too shook with soul-quaking fear.

The creature reached out to grab her, to do to her what it had done to the guard. But then, its hand retracted back, reaching up to clutch at its own head.

Thrashing about, loud roars and shrieks of pain crackled from it, as though it were in extreme agony. Twilight knew it was the perfect time to run, to flee from the awful sight and find help, but her hooves were rooted to the ground, not responding to her or anything else. All she did was play spectator as the creature's actions played out in front of her.

Just as soon as it had begun, the dark beast's roars were silenced. Other than its heavy, snarling breaths, it made no sound at all. Then, it began to move once again. The creature's feet became planted firmly on the ground, its legs bent until they were straight, back bending until it was no longer hunched over. Sounds of old joints snapping and taut muscles stretching filled the little portion of hallway they were in. Eventually, the once crouching monster stood fully upright before them.

Rolling its shoulders and cracking its neck, a loud, long sigh of relief flowed from the creature's jagged maw. “Ah... finally...” it breathed, its voice clearly masculine, “that dark haze has lifted...” Opening his eyes, the blank, milky-white nothingness was gone. Now, sparkling blue irises and jet-black pupils remained, slowly shifting about the room and taking in their surroundings.

It only took a matter of seconds before the creature's attention fell onto Twilight, making her blood freeze in her veins. As he looked at her, a large, wicked grin of fangs stretched out across his face.