The Assistant: Release

(Thanks to The First for proofreading this and the last chapter!)

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The party was finally coming to a close. The food was mostly gone, the ponies were leaving, and it was getting late. Twilight and I were about ready to head out, but I needed to thank Pinkie first. She was busy taking down decorations and clearing tables.
“Thanks for the party Pinkie! It was really fun!”
She stopped putting plates in a bag and looked over to me. She wore a large smile across her face.
“It wasn’t a problem Assistant! I love throwing parties!”
“Do you want any help before I go?”
She laughed a little at that.
“You shouldn’t help clean up your own party silly!”
I laugh with her.
“I guess you’re right. Well, see you tomorrow Pinkie!”
“You too Assistant!”

Twilight and I were walking through the small light of the moon back to the library. Twilight seemed to be looking at me really suspiciously.
“Is there a problem Twilight?”
She blinked to regain her focus and looked up to me.
“Huh!? Oh, it’s just…”
She paused.
“Yes?”
She tilted her head and looked my body over like before.
“Something feels… different about you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You are emitting some sort of… weird magic.”
My eyes grew in shock at what she said.
“What!? When!?”
She changed her focus to the library in the distance.
“Back at the party. When you were telling the story... your left hand… It… I can’t explain it that well. It sort of... pulsed a red energy.”
I become confused. I stare up to the sky to think.
“Why would I pulse a red energy? How would I even do that? Could it be…”
My thoughts escape me as notice we arrive at the library. Twilight walks in and I follow behind. The giant room of books was a drastic change from the confetti covered bakery.
“I’ll figure out what caused the red energy. You just go to your studies or sleep.”
She went over to a pile of books on the table as I started up the stairs.
“Yeah, sleep.”
I chuckle. She would always choose studying over anything.

I stepped out to the balcony. It looked the same as always. I walked to the edge. Ponyville was winding down. The ponies were heading into their homes and closing their shops. I can’t believe I have seen this same sight almost every night for a year. I fling back my trench coat and sit on the wooden deck. I cross my legs and begin my meditation.

The night was as peaceful as ever. Luna always impressed me with her nights. I swear she made them just for me. But even with such a beautiful night, something was distracting me. I tried to clear my mind, but every time my mind went black, it was interrupted by a red flash. Something was happening to me, and I was afraid of the results.

I gave up on meditating. I just stared at the sky the entire night. The stars and moon complimented each with a beautiful glow. I needed to do something to pass the time. I needed to walk.

The roads were empty and the lights were out. The moon was my only source of light. It seemed to shine brighter as I walked. I felt as though I was being watched.

I reached the end of town. A long road leads into the forest from the edge of town. I was told it is bad to go there at night. I wanted to turn back, but something was drawing me towards it. I entered through the only visible entrance.

The forest was dark. I could not see a thing, but I somehow was able to maneuver through the trees. The further I got into the forest, the more numb my body felt. I had no control over where I was going. Just as the last of the light escaped my eyes, a flash of red entered in.

As the red light began to dim, Luna was standing in front of me. We were in the middle of what looked to be a small clearing in the middle of the woods. My eyes were focused entirely on Luna, and I couldn’t move. She had a look of fear and confusion.
“Assistant?”
I tried to move my mouth, but I couldn’t move.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
I couldn’t understand what she was saying.
“What is wrong with your eyes?”
Her words confused me and I began to feel worried. I feel a strange feeling in my back and Luna began to scream. I saw a large black appendage reach out towards her. She attempted to fly away, but the arm grabbed her before she could. It grabbed her by the neck and pulled her towards me. She was now to petrified to scream. I tried to move, but to no avail. She was now a few feet from my face. Another appendage appeared from behind my vision and grabbed her from another side. Luna was struggling to break from the large arms. She was looking me in the eye with a look of absolute terror. I wanted to scream and tell her this is not of my doing.

Her face began to show she was in agonizing pain. I was terrified of what was happening. I could only watch as Luna was being strangled in front of me. She let out a last gasp of breath as the appendages pulled her in half. Blood and guts were being spread over the ground in front of me. I was beyond terrified and in tremendous shock. I tried to yell, but my mouth refused to cooperate. Just then, my head looked down at the dead remains of the once great princess. Her body was torn straight down the middle, head to flank. Her blood and organs were spread in the middle of her halves. I then noticed where I was looking. The blood seemed to reflect my face. A wide smile was on my face and my eyes were spread wide. My eyes… they were completely red. Everything suddenly went black and I began to feel my body again.

My eyes shot open and I was breathing heavily. I was staring at the night sky above. I shot up to see where I was. I was lying on the balcony of the library. A dream… a terrible dream.

“Are you okay Assistant?”
I turned to see Twilight looking out the doors. She wore a worried expression.
“I’m fine. Just had a bad dream.”
She lost her worried expression for one of questioning.
“You were sleeping?”
I look up to the moon. Luckily I see it is still in motion. Luna was okay.
“I guess I was.”