Twilight Sparkle was running harder then she had ever run before. The blood was pounding in her ears, and the only thought going through her head was escape. A terrible feeling sat in the pit of her stomach. What had she just seen? She couldn’t remember. The clopping of her hooves on the cobblestone path beneath her combined with her labored breathing was driving her brain further into a panic. Exhausted from her mad dash, she collapsed underneath the soothing glow of a streetlight. Panting heavily, she looked around in fright. She had never been in this part of Ponyville before, if this place could even be called Ponyville. It was dark, to dark to see properly. The alleyways were pitch-black. The only light came from the sporadic placement of the street lights, casting their rings of light into the bleak and foreboding darkness. It was then she saw it, on the outskirts of the farthest halo: a stirring in the shadows, and a glint of steel. Another shot of adrenaline went through Twilight’s body, and without another pause she began recklessly charging down the street, trying to get away from the evil shadow. The world around her seemed to be filled with countless horrors. The wind rushing past seemed to be cackling at her. The windows seemed to be filled with faceless ponies staring at her, laughing at her predicament. She had run out of Ponyville now, into the closest meadow. The blades of grass cut at her legs when she collapsed for the second time. The silence surrounding her was palpable. Her mind was no longer thinking rationally; she had succumbed to panic. Hearing the gentle shh of a blade parting the grass, she lost it completely.
“WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?” She yelled. “JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!”
“Why, Twilight, can’t you see?” responded a lilting voice. “I only want to play.”
Twilight looked in the direction of the source for the voice. Her eyes still hadn’t adapted fully to the twilight of the evening, but she saw a pony shaped image emerge from the brush, wielding a long blade, sharpened to a lethal edge. The razor-sharp glint of the blade made Twilight wince in fright.
“Don’t you want to play with me?” The shadow asked sweetly.
The blade sliced down. Twilight blinked her eyes open rapidly. She was in her bed, in her room, and the sun had just risen on a foggy morning. Princess Celestia stood next to her, having a worried look on her face. Twilight threw the covers off and hugged her furiously.
“I just had the worst dream!” Sobbed Twilight. “I was being chased and-”
“Hush, Twilight, it’s all over now,” said Princess Celestia soothingly. “You were having a nightmare.”
Twilight looked up into her mentor’s caring face. The sights outside reassured her that she had simply experienced a nightmare. Pinkie Pie was doing her rounds, cheering everyone up with her laughter in the gloom of the morning. Rainbow Dash was with the other pegasi organizing today's storm. Rarity was outside the window arguing about cleanliness with Applejack, who had just finished mud wrestling with Applebloom. Fluttershy, however, was nowhere to be seen.
"I'll watch over you," said the princess. "Go back to sleep..."
Twilight watched as Princess Celestia walked outside into the mist. Closing the curtains over the windows, she snuggled back down under her blankets. Twilight blinked. She was back in the meadow, with the insane shadow looming over her.
“Not this time,” it said, with a manic grin just barely visible on its face.
Her last moments were spent, and she had made peace with herself. The cold, merciless blade came down upon Twilight, quickly and effortlessly separating her from the bonds that chained the living.
Twilight Sparkle woke up in her bed for the second time. That had been one of the worst nightmare's she had ever experienced. She got out of her bed and walked into her bathroom, feeling a sense of deja vu. Looking in the mirror above her sink, she started brushing the knots out of her hair. A crash sounded from the kitchen.
"Spike, was that you?" Twilight yelled. No response.
Now feeling distinctly uneasy, Twilight looked around the edge of the bathroom door. Spike was nowhere to be seen. An unnatural silence had fallen. Twilight was beginning to feel uneasy. She walked out of the bathroom. As she reached the stairs, a shadow flickered behind her for the smallest of seconds and the bathroom door closed behind her.
"Hello? Spike, this isn't funny!" Said Twilight indignantly. "You really have me spooked!"
Spike still didn't answer. Twilight walked back to the bathroom. All she heard was the steady drip from the water faucet. Twilight eased open the door and screamed. There, lying in the bathtub, was Spike, dripping blood from a stab wound in his chest. The door closed shut behind her and Twilight heard a voice whisper in her ear.
"No one escapes from me," said Fluttershy.
Twilight Sparkle went mad with panic. Running straight at Fluttershy she burst threw her bathroom door, down the stairs, and out through the front door. All Twilight could think about was getting away from the mare who killed Spike. She ran until she couldn't run anymore. She didn't know where she was. Twilight had gotten herself lost in the midst of Ponyville in her panic. It was dark, and Twilight could not see very far, but she could barely make out the form of Fluttershy not twenty feet behind her. Twilight had another burst of adrenaline. She ran without direction, stopping only when she tripped in a meadow just outside of Ponyville. Fluttershy emerged from the bushes wearing an insane smile.
"It's ok, Twilight. I don't want to hurt you. I just want to play with you."
Twilight woke up for the third time. She couldn't see anything but a bright light shining directly into her eyes. Her front legs were pinned to her chest. As her eyes adjusted to the light, Twilight saw Fluttershy standing over her.
"Twilight, are you alright? I only wanted to play with you..."
"NO!! GET HER AWAY FROM ME!!!" Screamed Twilight Sparkle. She tried to swing at Fluttershy, but the straight jacket kept her legs tightly pressed against her chest. Fluttershy backed away in fright, tears streaming from her eyes. Fluttershy could not stand seeing Twilight in so much pain. The nurses ran in and gave Twilight a sedative. Twilight started to get drowsy. Her struggles died away, and soon she was passed out peacefully on the floor. Fluttershy walked out of the padded room and towards Twilight's psychiatrist.
"Will she ever be the same?" Sobbed Fluttershy.
"I'm afraid not," he replied. "The stress from her self-imposed deadline overwhelmed her brain. She couldn't take it anymore, and descended into madness."
"Are my visit's helping at all, doctor?"
"We can only get a response from her when you are here, Fluttershy. I'd say you're helping her out tremendously."
"Thank you..."
"Same time, next week then, Fluttershy? You are her only visitor now," asked the doctor.
"I'll be here," she responded.