Miasma

I will admit, killing Derpy was hard, but then again, I've killed off Twilight Sparkle before, and she's my favorite. That should tell you that I take no prisoners whenever I want to make the fic harsh or sad. I'll cut my hands off for it later. Anyway... the show must go on...

The characters that make a brief appearance here are my OCs. Just to clarify, but they won't be having any major point in this story.

MIASMA
BY THE YOUNG AND FREE DRAGON

CHAPTER TWO

When asked why she wanted to stay for Spike so badly, Rarity had merely shaken her head and said she owed him. Twilight Sparkle lifted Rainbow Dash with magic and placed one of her forehooves over her shoulder, and the other over Applejack's, easily suspending the pegasus to be carried. However, while carrying her with magic would be easier, if she lost concentration for a even a second she would risk dropping her.

Twilight had filled her saddle bag with a mixture of powders that she knew could blind if thrown into the eyes. It was the best defense she could carry, and she could only hope they didn't run into anything, and if they did, that it had eyes to blind. Giving their parting wishes to Rarity and exchanging hugs with her, they prepared to enter the mist.

Twilight mustered a ball of magical light and made it hover a few feet above them. It didn't take much effort, and it could easily be snuffed out if they need to go without being seen. She glanced sadly at the torn down mailbox, reminding her of Derpy before she and Applejack continued on their way and penetrated the dense fog.

The light didn't help at all, but it provided some comfort as they walked. Everything was obscured, even the light of the sun-- if there was any. And yet the mist seemed to produce its own light, only enough for them to see each other. It seemed that they could only see what the mist wanted them to see. It was almost like drowning, the way it chocked the air and clung to their throats and lungs.

After what was probably only a few minutes of walking (it certainly seemed longer) Twilight had an idea.

“Stop Applejack,” She whispered.

The country pony complied and Twilight focused her energy, willing the ball of light in front of them to become much brighter and to propel off into the miasma. It worked to some degree. The ball illuminated objects as shadows for about twenty feet in front of them. She saw familiar trees and buildings which mean that they were getting close to the hospital.

Twilight motioned for them to keep walking but her hooves felt like lead. Where was everypony? It was deserted completely. Well...maybe...she didn't want to stop and scan the sidewalk with light in case there was something she didn't want to see. But Twilight couldn't stop her wandering eyes for long and she she looked down at the road as they went along. The road was clean, aside from a few dark stains that she didn't care to identify. But it seemed as soon as her fears that the ponies in town could have been slaughtered were dimmed more was placed into her heart. They stopped as something loomed out of the mist. One of the royal chariots.

She and Applejack shared a look of anxiety as they approached. Why would one of the royal chariots be here? Surely Celestia would have told them if she was coming.... Unless it had been sudden. Unless she had come to warn them of the mist... Twilight's thoughts were cut off when they heard a groan and they looked in front of the overturned chariot to find one of the stallions that pulled it still alive. Twilight and Applejack moved closer to him, unable to help him because they still had Rainbow Dash, and he looked far beyond help anyway. They cringed as they looked at him.

His helmet was lying a few feet away from him, and his forehead was dark crimson over a large gash that split his mane to reveal some of his white skull. His throat was torn open above his shoulder and further down, a large slash across his stomach had spilled his intestines on the ground. Twilight avoided the stinking entrails as best she could and got as close as possible. But she wasn't sure what to say. “Are you alright?” would be a stupid question.

His eyes were wide with pain and fear and he was heaving heavily, unable to breath very well because of the tear through his throat. Asking for information about Celestia seemed like the best idea, and the guard's dedication would hopefully prompt him to see it their way.

“Who were you carrying?” Twilight asked.

His wide eye rolled over to stare at her in a way that made her uncomfortable but she met the gaze.
“L-Luna...” he croaked. “Princess Luna....”

Twilight would not admit it in mixed company, but she was relieved a bit. At least it wasn't Celestia.
“Why were you bringing her here?”

He let out a sigh that caused wind to whistle through the slash in his throat.

“She...wanted to...warn...” he choked but spat blood and shook violently, his eyes bulging out more and he grit his teeth in pain. “Please...take my...helmet to...Celestia....”

“Warn who?” Twilight prompted gingerly.

He shook his head and coughed again. “Sugar Cube...corner...take it....”

He stiffened and then fell limp, his eyes still wide open and fresh blood dribbling out of his mouth. Twilight wanted to close his eyes, but left them open for she couldn't maneuver to touch him. Instead, she lifted his helmet magically and continued on.

[][][]

The ball of light that Twilight propelled forward reflected off familiar windows and she and Applejack rushed to the bakery, knocking at the door and looking inside. Cheerilee approached the door and quickly began pulling a bar from the door that had kept it closed, but was stopped when some pony yelled, “Don't let them in!”

“It's Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash,” Cheerilee protested. “They need help.”

An unrecognizable pony grabbed the bar and held it in place with her forehooves.

“No way! We're the ones who need help!” She said.

“They're the Elements of Harmony! If anypony can help us, they can!”

The pony was about to say something more when Big Macintosh pushed through the crowd of ponies, obviously hearing his sister's name and frowning upon the pony. She slowly let go let go of the bar, cowering in fear of the sturdy stallion. He took the bar in his mouth and tossed it down.

Twilight Sparkle and Applejack pushed through the door and looked upon the mass of ponies. Some looked scared, and others looked skeptical. Twilight could tell not all of them believed in what was in the mist. Big Mac put the bar back and after Nurse Redheart had taken Rainbow Dash for examination, he shared a tight hug with Applejack.

Twilight, in the meantime, looked to the ponies who all seemed to be expect her to deny danger or to confirm it. She sighed as they looked on her. Why were they counting on her? Because she was Celestia's student. That didn't mean she had all of the answers.

“What the buck is going on?!” somepony shouted.

“Why is Celestia letting this happen!”

“There aren't any monsters!”

“Then what happened to Twist?”

“Where's Derpy?”

At the mention of Derpy, Twilight decided to speak up, though she was it wasn't a good idea to do so.

“Derpy's gone...” She said, solemnly.

“Gone where?”

She was silent for a moment before answering; “She's...most likely dead...something in the mist...it took her.”

The crowd gasped and whispering began, though it was not all out of fear. This situation was not good. Everypony was too divided. Not all of them believed anything was out there, and those that did were in disagreement on how to handle the threat. But before she could handle that, she had to find out all the details.

“What happened to Twist?” She asked the crowd.

“It took her!” Snails said, pushing through the crowd. “The thing in the mist did!”

“What did it look like?”

“It was really tall and had these huge claws!” Snips cut in.

Twilight prayed to Celestia that they were exaggerating. If they weren't, that meant there was more than one species of creature out there, as she had feared.

“There's no proof of that,” Octavia spat, sourly. “Is anypony here still in touch with logic?”

“We saw it take her!” the two colts insisted. “And we heard her screaming!”

“I must agree with Miss Octavia,” Dr. Whooves said, stepping out of the crowd. “She probably simply got lost in the mist and started crying and screaming out of hysteria.”

“But we saw the claw!”

“Really? Who is everypony going to believe? A pair of colts who've been known to cause trouble before?” Octavia asked.

“Stop it!” Twilight shouted, silencing the crowd. “Arguing over this gets us nowhere!”

Before she could continue, a familiar face stepped out of the crowd. She was dressed in a sparkling cape and wizard's cap, and her face was solemn, though her eyes betrayed her arrogance.

“For once, I -The Great and Powerful Trixie- must agree with Twilight Sparkle,” She said in a powerfully firm voice. “For arguing over this is futile. Our end is here. These colts did see a monster out there. And there are many more. Hell has opened up on Equestria.”

Snips and Snails went to her side, drawn to her not just out of admiration, but because she said they were right.

“There's no Hell on Equestria,” Dr. Whooves scoffed. “Strictly speaking, there's no Hell at all--...”

“That's enough, sinner!” Trixie shouted, silencing him. “You and your science have doomed all these ponies. Science has failed our world, and this only goes to show! We must repent. Get down on your knees and ask for forgiveness for your evil ways!”

“You're one to talk!” Cheerilee snapped and then let some of her rage dissipate before speaking again. “After all, it was you who brought the Ursa Minor here.”

“You teach the fillies and colts, do you not?” Trixie asked, venomously as she walked toward Cheerilee. “You feed them lies and your vain and blasphemous ideas. You scar their minds in an attempt to give yourself satisfaction. To sate yourself! You're nothing more than a filthy--...”

“That's enough!” Twilight shouted, silencing them again. “Everypony needs to just calm down and listen up!”

“Who died and put you in charge?!” somepony shouted.

“Celestia!” Twilight bluffed. “She appointed me to take care of you and that's what I'm going to do. If you want to argue with her I can get Spike to send a letter right away.”

They all fell silent at her threat. Thankfully, no pony was willing to defy Celestia, at least not yet... She would have to watch her step to make sure she could keep this facade alive.

“Now, before we do anything else, I need to make something clear! There is something in the mist and it is dangerous. From now on, nopony is to go into the mist without permission from Celestia!”

Muttering began again and it was obvious that some were still doubtful. She wondered what it would take to get them to believe her. But a mare stepping out of the crowd caught her attention, and everypony else's.

“But my little filly,” She said, her lips trembling. “She's at home, alone.”

Twilight stared at her, not knowing what comfort she could provide-- if any. She couldn't tell a mother not to search for her filly but...if she went out there, it seemed there would be a good chance she would die.

“Let me just...get a head count...and we'll talk...” Twilight said as soothingly as she could. The mother seemed dissatisfied, but nodded. Twilight turned back to the crowd. “Now, I need to know who is here and who might still be out there. I'm going to come around with my...” Her plan broke short. She didn't have Spike to take a list for her. She might never see him again, actually. “... and take a mental note.”

“Twilight Sparkle, please!” The mother cried. “I have to find my daughter.”

“Miss, please...” Twilight pleaded. “I understand. My...my little brother is gone too. But killing ourselves won't help them.”

While they were talking, doubtful whispering began again behind them, and the mare turned to them suddenly.

“Will all of you just shut up?” She cried, her eyes ringed with red and shining with tears. “If Twilight said she saw something, then she did.”

Twilight took this moment to noticed the coloration of the mare. She was ashamed to say she hadn't paid much attention to anything but her words until now, but she now observed the beautiful azure and light sea blue that made up her coat and mane. But before she could take a look at her Cutie Mark, she turned back to Twilight.

“I don't care if I die. We need to get out of here.” Before Twilight could question who “we” was, the mare looked to the crowd. “Herr Desher?”

A black stallion with dazzling red eyes and a bright crimson mane stepped out of the crowd and began removing the bar from the door. Twilight Sparkle could see there was nothing she could say to stop them. So she simply approached the mare, placing a hoof on her shoulder.

“Can I ask your name?” Twilight asked.

“Morning Star,” The mare replied, shakily.

“And... Herr Desher is your...?”

“Brother,” She said, before looking back at her sibling who had opened the door and was stepping out into the mist. “I have to go.”

Twilight nodded and watched her as she rushed to her brother's side. A pony quickly closed the door and barred it behind them. Herr Desher disappeared, while Morning Star glanced back once before following him. The purple unicorn wished them a farewell under her breath and then sighed and turned away from the door, looking at the ponies who had grown silent. But even in the silence, the ponies were clustered in groups and Twilight could define each one; the skeptics, the believers, and the followers of Trixie (only Snips and Snails right now). Applejack stepped up beside Twilight and watched Trixie preach to the colts.

“Don't worry, hun,” Applejack said. “No one will believe her....”