Shadow Ponies

The sun was setting on the horizon, as another day was slowly coming to an end in Ponyville. Every pony was heading home and soon there was no pony left outside. No pony, except one.

Quiet and empty, a single mare stood alone, it was Pinkie Pie. She was always so cheerful, yet something was different. Her usual fluffy mane hung low and straight, instead of smile, there was a look of seriousness, worry and most importantly, the look of fear.

Pinkie began slowly pacing her way down the empty street. She was quiet, and all that could be heard, was the sound of her hooves after each step. She continued for a while before freezing under a light. Pinkie stared down, till her eyes came upon a shadow. It was her own shadow that had been cast upon be the light. "Hello, is, is that you?" she asked with a whimper in her voice. There was no response only a gentle breeze that passed through her mane. The silence was broken by an owl nearby that let out a hoot. It startled Pinkie and with a loud "Eeeeekkkk!" she ran off, with everything she's got.

Twilight was laying in her library, reading and studying as she usually did during the evening. Reading books she already read a hundred times before. Twighlight let out a soft yawn while stretching out. She didn't say a word as she was too into her studies.

Spike was wandering around behind her cleaning and picking up the books that Twilight had left all over the library floor. He let out a sigh "Do you think you could put at least one book away after you're done reading it?" Spike asked. He looked over at Twilight but got no response, then let out a frustrated "Hmph" and continued cleaning.

Twilight was just about done her book, when Pinkie came bursting through the door. Twilight kept reading, she had become use to Pinkies crazy antics, so she wasn't too surprised by her anymore. She closed her book and stood up "Hey Pinkie, is something wrong?" Twilight asked.

Pinkie slammed the door behind her and leaned back against it, breathing heavily. "Twilight, I need your help. I can't get rid of them, they just won't leave me alone" tears began streaming down her face. She fell to the floor and hid under her own hooves, sobbing. After a while she looked up at Twilight "Please just make them go" She said frantically.

Twilight watched her with a concerned look. She walked over to Pinkie and placed a hoof on her shoulder, trying to calm her friend. She leaned in "Tell me what's going, on and I will do my best to help" Twilight responded with comfort in her voice.

Pinkie looked up at Twilight and with a glimmer of hope, gave a smile, something she had not done in days. She picked herself up off the floor and wiped her tears. Walking to the middle of the room she began to speak. "It was only a few nights ago, I was just closing up the bakery, when I noticed it. I didn't know what it was at first, it looked like some ponies shadow, but I was the only pony in the shop at the time.

"I thought it was kind of funny, a shadow on the wall without a pony there, how could I not be excited. I hopped over to the wall, but when I got close, it ran away. I thought it was some kind of fun game, like tag, and I was it. So I went after it.

"We were having so much fun, we played most of the night. Eventually I got tired, so I said nighty, night, and went off to bed, but, the shadow. It followed me to my room, stayed with me in my room. It was really hard for me to sleep, being watched like that. I asked it to leave but. It just wouldn't go.

"Then, more of them showed up. I don't know how, but soon, my walls were covered. I figured since we had so much fun, he invited all his friends to come play with us. It was nice but, I needed sleep. I kept asking them to go, but they." Pinkie hugged herself. Shaking she continued "They just wouldn't go, and now they follow me everywhere. I'm, I'm just not having fun anymore!" she finished, bursting into tears again.

Twilight listened carefully "A shadow not cast by a pony. That just doesn't make any sense." She walked over and placed a hoof on Pinkies head "are you sure your feeling alright" she asked.

Pinkie smacked Twilights hoof away "Duh, I wouldn't be making this stuff up" she leaned in close to Twilight and whispered "There probably even in this very room. Right. Now." She looked around the room cautiously.

Twilight laughed "Oh, Pinkie there's nothing to be afraid of. Look, I'll show you" she said as her horn lit up. She cast a quick spell, and in an instant, every light went out. It was now total darkness. Twilight clumsily tried to find her way through the dark "See, Pinkie. Nothing to worr-" she was cut off.

Pinkie screamed, she could no longer see, sending her into a panic. "No, what did you do?. The light, they will come, they will take me" Pinkie said, huddling on the floor of the dark room.

Twilight shook her head, becoming a little annoyed. "Pinkie you're acting crazy. There is nothing here." She said, her horn lit up the room faintly. That's when she noticed something on the wall behind Pinkie. A flickering shadow. "What is that?" she asked trying to get a better look, but her eyes were still adjusting to the dark. Suddenly, as quick as she spotted it, it ran off into a darker part of the room. "Woh!" she shouted, quickly casting another spell. Every light came back. She could see Pinkie curled in a ball on the floor, but when her eyes drifted up, she let out a gasp, and they scattered. Running to the nearest possible shadows, to hide. They were everywhere. Twilights heart sank into her chest, she began backing up frantically, tripping over some of the left over books on the floor "Oh, Celestia, they are real." Twilight said as she scanned the room.

Spike yelled loudly, which startled the entities. They quickly shuffled positions. Spike watched, staring up into the big room "Twilight, what are they?" he asked frightened.

Twilight looked back at Spike, then back into the room "I, I don't know." Her gaze came down to Pinkie. Who was muttering softly to her self.

"They hide in the shadows, they hide in the shadows." Pinkie repeated over and over.