A cool blue light peered from the windows above. A full moon shone above the capital tonight, and its reflections danced upon stained glass on the walls of the royal library. Its towering shelves a labyrinth lined with walls of wood and leather. Here must have been everything, all the knowledge the world held gathered into a single spot. Its sole visitor this night was convinced of as much. Orange flickered in-between the blue moonlight as a hovering candle intruded upon the library, followed by a single figure. Draped in a heavy cloak it came, wide eyes beholding the scene, enraptured in its beauty. Never before had the figure set foot in the library, and it surpassed all his wildest dreams. A tentative step was taken, legs shaking. So close now. The figure glanced behind to the ones in lockstep behind. Two royal guards, clad in the heraldry of their lord, Luna. Their eyes were wide as well, but ignorant of the wonder they stood before. The leader spoke to his followers soothingly, “You have done all I require. You may pass.”
As if by magic, the life of the night guards dissipated. Their eyes lolled toward the backs of their skulls as they collapsed against one another, then to the floor. With a tilt of his head, the intruder urged them aside, and their bodies were cast to the far wall; there they would remain, out of sight and unnoticed until his task here was complete. Soft hoofbeats echoed as work began. The figure chose a slow gait, head bowed as each shelf was passed in turn. A methodical approach was key. Any impatience could lead blindly past his goal. Beneath the hood of his cloak a horn twinkled, a shimmering light nearly imperceptible as the moon sat in the sky above. Many secrets were stored in this treasury of knowledge. All that was to be known about the world might be found in this library, if one knew where to look. Or perhaps how to look. Under his breath, the figure chanted the words of a short-range scrying spell. A novice’s trick that even an apprentice would ignore for its simplicity, yet its base sensations were precisely the tool he needed. Magic permeated the city of Canterlot, down to the very stones upon which it was founded. But it was magic of similar roots. Hours passed by, the hours of twilight further from him now than the coming dawn. His time was short, and the library so vast it seemed no progress had been made at all. But he could not stop, nor could he increase his speed. Patience was key, the figure repeated. He had waited years for this chance. He could wait a little more.
The magic of Equestrians tickled his skin in familiar, soothing waves with every step taken. Simple, pure energy like warm water. This was disappointing to the intruder; this magic was not what he sought. He ascended a flight of stairs, and then another, then struck down an aisle in the furthest corners of the library. The blue light was changing. The moon was setting, and the sun was almost on the horizon. The sweat poured down his face faster; the guards’ shifts would change soon, and his intrusion would be known. If he wasn’t successful here…
Something cold wiped past his flank. Something unfamiliar. All the hair on his body stood on end, and his pace quickened so slightly. Success. As he neared the end of the aisle, and the far corner’s darkness enveloped him, the figure felt awash with a sensation unlike any he’d felt before. This alien feeling was what he’d sought. This was magic from another world. Before him stood a bookcase not unlike any other. Tall and proud, carved of a solid material and adorned with etchings of ancient Equestrian figures. The books along its shelves were of no particular note; indeed, they were almost offensively dull, composed of medical texts pertaining to the various fluids one might find in cattle. A concealment spell; its purpose he understood, but its nature… He stepped closer and felt the magic’s pressure on the tip of his horn. Something hung over this nook, tucked so far from prying eyes. A chill of enthused delight slithered down his spine. If this was what he hoped…
The figure’s magic enveloped a small trinket around his neck, a vial full of a viscous red liquid. Carefully uncorking the vial, he tipped it over, and allowed its contents to spill. The fluids splattered to the floor, dotting his hooves in their crimson hue. A dark, awful-smelling smoke arose from the stuff, such that his nostrils seemed to singe from whiffing it. The magic was working, and he saw a kaleidoscope of colors flash across his vision. The magic was weakened, such that one who knew the right word might pass unhindered; and he knew.
“Schweinorg.”
Like a popping bubble, the field of magical energy disappeared, and with it the impressive collection of tomes regarding cow humours. In its place stood shelves nigh empty, save for the very top row. No trouble for him. His magic scooped up the contents of this hidden little treasury and carefully lowered them to their new owner. A great, bound book along with several dozen missives, letters and documents. A few scrolls, a few boxes filled with mysterious baubles. He’d hit the motherlode. The other items were dropped gingerly to the floor, leaving only the book aloft. With grace and tenderness, the figure lifted a hoof and let it glide along the item’s surface. He admired the small adornment on its front cover, the gold-foiled cup of which he’d heard only the faintest rumors. The godly treasure of another world.
“Holy… Grail…”
…
One Year Later
“Ow, ow, ow!”
There are certain hazards one comes to expect with a position of royalty. Long hours, overwhelming responsibilities, the harsh and unending judgment of your peers. Normal things. But in the opinion of Twilight Sparkle this particular hazard was not on that list, and it was definitely not normal. She sat in her bathroom in front of a large mirror, staring at and trying desperately not to scratch an unsightly mark on her flank. A blotchy red bit of inflamed flesh was wreaking havoc her left side, right on top of her cutie mark. Even looking at it seemed to make it itchier. She couldn’t take it anymore.
“SPIKE!” Twilight hollered. “Hurry up with that ointment!”
“Coming, coming!” replied the faint voice of the princess’s number one assistant. The tiny purple dragon scooted through the door with a tub of some unknown remedy, nearly slipping on the crystal tiles as he came. “I ran as fast as I could Twi, but this stuff’s –oof—real heavy! Would’ve been a lot easier if you just asked Rainbow Dash to get it for you.”
“And let her see me like this? No way, it’s undignified.” Twilight gave a cursory look over the medicine her assistant had retrieved only moments before. It smelled of pungent berries, and a few herbs she couldn’t place. “Did, um, did Zecora say what this stuff actually was, Spike?”
The little dragon stuck up a finger, and he recited in his best imitation of the apothecary: “It is a natural remedy and a sure-fire cure. But if you wish to keep your lunch down you will ask for no more.”
Twilight cringed a little, thoughts running wild at just what could have gone into this “natural” cure. “Well, so long as it doesn’t have any, I dunno, lizard spit in it, I’m game to try anything.”
“Oh no,” Spike assured. “I don’t do that to people I like.”
“Har-dee-har,” laughed the purple pony, taking the tub and using her magic to scoop out a bit of the ointment. Careful, she placed the treatment on the afflicted region and began to rub it in.
“Ever find out what this rash is about?” Spike asked. Twilight shook her head between little yips of discomfort.
“I feel like—yowch!—like I’m going crazy, Spike. I’ve gone through every piece of—owchie!ouch—every piece of medical literature in Ponyville, and I’ve still got nothing.” She stopped rubbing for a bit, to let the cold treatment work its magic. Standing up, she made her way out of the bathroom with Spike in tow, heading downstairs. Her brow knit in frustration, she made passing glares at the various books strewn about her home, eyes filled with betrayal. “It’s not an allergic reaction that I can seem to replicate, it’s definitely not cutie pox, and I know it’s not a normal rash either or it would have faded after a day or two. I thought I detected something magical about it, but nothing in my spellbooks matches it. No records I’ve found match my symptoms at all.”
“That seems a little drastic,” Spike suggested. “Maybe you’re overreacting.”
Twilight’s eye twitched. “Overre—overreacting? Spike—“ She teleported herself to the nearest window and shut the blinds. In the darkness, Spike’s jaw dropped as he watched the pony’s “rash” emanate a dim red light into the room. “It’s been doing that since last night. Do you still think I’m overreacting?”
“Uh, no, that’s pretty creepy.”
They continued into the kitchen, where tea was brewing for the both of them. Twilight poured the piping hot beverage into a pair of crystal cups. It briefly occurred to her that she missed her treehouse. The pair sipped their tea; rather, Twilight sipped her tea and Spike tried to so he could look mature. He even managed to stomach a gulp or two. Twilight bit her lip and pondered her ever-growing problem. “It’s stumping me, Spike. I wrote to Celestia, but she hasn’t responded yet.”
“She’s probably busy,” the ever-casual dragon shrugged, and Twilight found herself agreeing. There were more important matters in Equestria than the panicking of an itchy former student. “Besides, you lost a lot of books when our old house burned down. Maybe whatever this is just isn’t in what we saved.”
“Maybe. Doesn’t do us a lot of good if you’re right, though.” The princess sighed and stooped a little. “It would be a big help if I at least had an idea of what it was. Some kinda parasite, or bacteria or… or anything!”
“Well, what if it’s not any of that stuff?” Spike asked. “Maybe it could be something that’s sorta good?”
“Spike, that doesn’t—“ A lightbulb went off. “Actually, maybe you are onto something!” Twilight Sparkle hopped out of her seat, the possibility of a breakthrough at the front of her mind. “This itching was driving me so crazy, I hadn’t even considered it might be something intended as beneficial. Celestia kept all sorts of books on enchantments back in—Ooh,” She conjured a suitcase and tossed it at her assistant, who barely stuck the landing after he was knocked from his chair. “Spike, pack my bags!” She spun on her hooves and bolted for the door, barely remembering to grab a coat for the chilly weather. And to cover her rash.
“W-wait, Twi, where’re you going?” Spike shouted after her.
“Hitching a ride to Canterlot!” she called back, disappearing into the snowy blur of Ponyville in winter.
Spike groaned as he wriggled his way out from beneath the suitcase, and shook his head. “Aw, nuts. Why do I have that sinking feeling I’m getting left behind on this one?”
Some ways away, Twilight trotted through the midday streets of her town. The first snowfalls of the season had only come recently, and Ponyville was abuzz. Townsponies were shoveling the powdery piles from their porches and visiting neighbors, anticipating the coming holidays. Twilight stopped and said hello to nearly everyone she passed, the people greeting her all by name and as a friend. It happened almost every day, but the hospitality never stopped being novel to her. She could still remember just how recently the princess of friendship was a shut-in little bookworm too obsessed with her work to even step outside most days. As she exchanged pleasantries with the Cake family, or tossed a few bits into the caroler on the corner’s bucket she always felt just a little giddy.
“Howdy, Twilight!” a familiar voice called from across the road. Twilight turned her head and smiled at her close friend Applejack, heading the opposite way with her brother, Big MacIntosh, pulling a cart of jars behind them. Just who she wanted to see. Twilight called them over, and the Apple family siblings darted across the road to greet her.
“It’s great to see you guys,” Twilight said with a smile. “Seems like we haven’t really talked in months. Out enjoying the weather?”
“Heh, somethin’ like that,” replied her earth pony friend, breath forming fog around her face in the frigid air. “We’ve been makin’ trips down to the train station all mornin’; got a shipment of apple butter goin’ up to Canterlot tonight. Big sales pitch ‘n’ all, if we get lucky we might start sellin’ product up there. Show her, Big Mac!”
“Eeyup.” The red stallion took a jar out of the cart and showed its smooth contents to Twilight. The stuff was as high quality as anything to come out of their farm, Sweet Apple Acres. That is to say, Twilight resisted the urge to try and nab a jar for herself.
“That’s fantastic,” Twilight said. “Hope it goes well. In fact, I was actually hoping to talk to you two about your trip. You wouldn’t happen to have a spare ticket for tonight’s train to Canterlot, would you?”
“Canterlot?” AJ asked. “Whatcha need up there?”
“The royal library,” Twi told her. “It’s a long story. Well, not long, just… unpleasant. I mean, I’d try flying, but with the weather like it is…”
“Naw, I get it,” her friend assured. “Big Mac, we got a third ticket?” Her brother shook his head morosely. “Nnnnope.” Applejack frowned.
“Well, shucks, that ain’t good. Can’t ya get her a ticket?”Big Mac scratched behind his ear, and after a moment of contemplation nodded.
“Eeyup.” He reached under his coat and removed his own pass onto the train, holding it out to Twilight. The princess blushed and shook her head.
“Oh, no, I couldn’t! You’ve got business up there, I couldn’t take your ticket just for this!” Big Mac just smiled his simple smile and pushed the ticket into Twilight’s hoof, with a firm “Mm-hmm” to get the point home. He turned his head and nodded to his sister, who seemed to catch his drift.
“Ya sure ya want me handlin’ this by myself, MacIntosh? I mean, ya think I’m ready?”
With a chuckle and another “Eeyup,” the big horse took his leave, giving a friendly wave to Applejack and Twilight as he made his way back to Sweet Apple Acres. AJ clicked her tongue in disbelief at what just happened. “Shoot. Think I just promoted.”
“Applejack,” Twilight started. “I’m really sorry, I didn’t mean to screw up your trip—“
She was shut up by a hoof to the snout. “Twi, I don’t wanna hear none of that. Ya didn’t screw up nothin’. In fact, it’ll be great havin’ ya along for the trip.” The earth pony hesitated. “Just, uh, do me one teensy favor?”
“Sure, what’s that?”
She nodded to the huge cart of apple butter behind her. “Help me pull this thing to the station?”
…
The hills of Equestria rolled along the horizon as the train out of Ponyville made the journey up to the mountainside city of Canterlot. Just ere the witching hour, all of Equestria was under the calm light of Luna’s moon, the stars shrouded behind clouds and the ground all coated in fresh snow. Twlight was lounging in her seat, face pressed up against the glass to better enjoy the view. Beside her was a curled up, snoring little dragon. Spike was able to hide himself inside of Twilight’s luggage to avoid the ticket check, and got to come along on her little excursion after all. Twilight was pretty sure she could have convinced the conductor to let it slide, but she knew her assistant would rather play secret agent. Applejack was snoozing on the seats opposite the pair, bushed after a long evening of catching up with Twilight. Between work during the harvest season and Twilight’s duties as princess, it had been some time since the two could just sit and chat. Twilight liked chatting. Even if she didn’t really understand what exactly went into making apple butter, and Applejack didn’t have a clue what Twilight was babbling about over her latest spells, sharing a quiet night like this in each other’s company was wonderful. Now, the lavender alicorn was content to watch the country grow smaller and smaller below them as their train began to ascend the mountain. To tell the truth, she was beginning to feel the old call of dreamland herself. It was such a charming scene, it was lulling her to sleep. Her eyes fluttered, and consciousness rescinded. Once… twice…
Motion. Twilight’s eyes shot open as a shadow darted across her field of vision. A sharp intake of breath almost turned into a yelp, but she quieted herself so as not to wake Applejack. Something had just moved out there in the night, she was certain of it. But what? She was fairly certain, what with just how much apple butter had been loaded onto this contraption, that she, the train workers and her friends were the only actual passengers tonight. None of that group would be zipping around outside. And no winter bird should have been moving like that, whatever that was, exactly. For a time she was completely still, ears perked up and listening for the slightest sound to confirm her sudden growing fear. She dared not even breathe as she waited for a sound. It came from somewhere in front of her, a tap somewhere in the next car over, she was certain of it somehow. Small, but enough. Something she didn’t understand put shivers in her legs, and she steeled her nerves in response. She was a princess, and the only authority on the train. I can’t just huddle up like a little filly and wait for it to go away! What if it’s something dangerous? Or somebody’s in trouble?
That was all she needed to hear from herself for courage to win out. Twilight shimmied past her sleeping dragon into the aisle and moved to the car exit, which she opened and shut behind her as carefully as possible, so as not to wake her friends. She found herself at the joint connecting both train cars, and all at once the freezing air slammed her; she could have sworn on her life that her wings shrunk a size or two. Shivering out of chill more than fear now, she hopped over to the next platform, and the door to the next car. Settling shakily onto the metal surface she tried to look through the keyhole and see just what was going on in there. The wind whipped her eyes and made it hard to breathe, and for all her effort she only saw darkness on the other side of this door. How strange, she thought. Aren’t they supposed to keep the lights on in these things? Cautiously, she opened the door and stepped into the darkness. “Is anybody there?” she called between gasping coughs for air, lungs grateful for the sudden reprieve. As she should have expected, nothing responded. Total darkness. Even the blinds were pulled here, and the moonlight was denied entry. Not much investigating could be done in such an environment. After a moment of hesitation, she felt a sudden pain in her flank; her rash was acting up. A faint red shine flowed from her side. She grinned. “Oh, duh! I’m a unicorn! I come with a built-in flashlight!”
Her horn lit up with a brilliant, violet light. Streams of illumination splashed across the bouncing car. Purple color tinted the empty seats, the old stained carpets lining the aisle, and the
the
the
DIE.
A horrible scream caught in Twilight’s throat as reflex took over her body. She backed as far away from the far side of the car as she could, back pressed airtight against the door. Directly in front of her, no more than thirty feet away a terrible figure was hunched. Wrapped in black, its spindly frame was unlike anything the alicorn had seen in her life.
RUN. HIDE. DIE.
The words repeated in her mind over and over again, the killing intent of this thing overwhelming her. She couldn’t even make out its true shape. But then it moved. The thing stood on its hind legs, and its head nearly scraped the ceiling from the difference in height to a pony. It was human in shape, but only barely, with one long and gangly arm twisting down to its knees, pulsating with a soft red light. Its frame was wiry and unpleasant to behold, like a starved creature ready to kill. And on its face rested a mask, as white as the surface of the moon, in the shape of a human skull.
RUN. HIDE. DIE. DIE. DIE.
No purchase. The words couldn’t budge Twilight, and fear had her in its vice. All she could do was stare at the horrible thing in front of her. And watch as it stared back.
Oh no. Twilight realized, horrified, her horn was still glowing. It could see her clearly as day. She struggled to open her mouth, to turn and flee, to cast a spell, anything at all. But nothing could budge her.
DIE.
The creature took a single step forward—
Gone. That instant was all it took, between one step and the next, for the thing to disappear entirely. Twilight’s eyes defied themselves and managed to open even wider as the hold on her finally seemed to release. She screamed. As loudly as her lungs could possibly permit Twilight screamed, and her horn flared to life as dozens of blasts filled the car, trying to vaporize whatever that thing had been. Walls were blown wide open, and the howling wind of the night swept into the car. And as suddenly as she had begun to retaliate Twilight felt a terrible weight on her forehead. Something snuffed out the light of her horn in an instant.
A white mask hovered but an inch from her face, a silhouette against the moonlight. An awful laugh scraped against her ears…
…
“AAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEE—”
“Waaah!” Applejack screamed in surprise, jolting from her sleep. Her head snapped from left to right, trying to figure out the source of that bloodcurdling shriek. She saw Spike doing the same, and immediately saw who was missing. “Twi! Where’s Twilight?!”
“I-I don’t know!” Spike fretted. “I was just sleeping, but then I heard that awful scream. What was that?”
“I dunno either, we gotta find her!”
That same moment the door to their car slammed open, and none other than Twilight came careening through, kicking it closed behind her. “It’s coming!” was all she said, using her magic to begin ripping seats out from their place and press them up against the door. “Help me bar the door! HELP!” Applejack and Spike were on her in an instant, trying to pull her away from the rapidly expanding pile of scrap. She pulled away from them as frantically as she could, still screaming. “Get off get off get off! Gotta lock it out, it’s coming for me!”
“You’re not talking sense, sugarcube!” AJ insisted, keeping her hold on her friend too firm to break. “What’s comin’?!”
“I don’t—I don’t know!” the terrified pony said, still trying to rearrange the furniture with her horn. Her movements finally began to slow, until finally she was left trembling but still, breathing fast and heavy. “It was awful,” she said quietly. “Like some kind of walking corpse. It was—just looking at it made me feel like I was about to die.”
“Twilight,” Spike said, “You’re still not making sense. You, me, and Applejack are the only ones riding the train tonight. There’s no one that coulda been there.”
“I’m not lying,” the pony whined in a daze. “It was real, I swear. I swear…”
“Hush, hon, I know.” AJ patted her friend on the back. “I know you’re not lyin’. But ya need to calm down. Nothin’s getting’ in here, honest. So just calm down, okay?” Twilight’s breathing slowed over the course of a few minutes before she was calm again, and Applejack convinced her to lay down in one of the intact seats and get some rest. Twilight settled herself in, and AJ saw a hint of blush on her cheeks.
“Applejack, I’m sorry, but… do you mind staying up while I sleep?”
“’Course, sugarcube. It’s no sweat. You just get some shuteye.”
She seemed content to hear that, and finally let sleep take her. Applejack sighed and sat down, Spike quickly joining her. The little dragon twiddled his thumbs, seeming unsure of what to say. “What, uh… what do you think got into her?”
“I dunno, Spike,” AJ replied. “But it got her spooked. Spooked bad. I don’t think I’ve ever seen ‘er like that before.” She kept her eyes on the sleeping pony, trying real hard not to let her mind drift back to the way she described the thing she claimed to have seen. The thing that could be somewhere on the train even at that moment.
NO. Nope, ain’t doin’ it, not thinkin’ bout it.
“It’s, ah, prolly nothin’ anyhow, Spike.” Applejack shook her head and declared her mind void of all thoughts related to this incident. “Y’all shouldn’t fret too much over it. It’s gonna be a few hours yet ‘fore we reach Canterlot, so maybe you should get some rest too.” The little dragon yawned and stretched out his limbs.
“Yeah, that seems like a good idea.” Spike wished his pony friend a good night’s rest and found a comfy spot beside Twilight to nap on.
“But, er…” Applejack’s voice lowered as she glanced out the windows. The night was growing darker as the evening pushed into its latest hours. She could just make out the swirling winds over the shaking of the train as she watched the moon slip behind cloud cover, turning all the world a shade darker. “Don’t get too close to the windows.”
…
Just one car over from the sleeping ponies, snow was piling up inside a ruined passenger car. The roar of blustery winds mixed with the sound of flapping cloth as a lone figure stood in the wreckage. His body gaunt and long, wrapped in fabrics of the darkest colors. He stared at the door, motionless, for quite some time as the train chugged along, unaware of his presence and the terror he’d just inflicted on that strange, winged creature. Just a little, his head jerked to the side. “Come out,” came a voice from behind his white mask. Old, and sharp. A figure moved from beneath the wreckage, another individual squirming out into the open. The newcomer couldn’t seem not to beam as he looked the first figure up and down. “That was—gotta say, that was incredible.”
“Scaring children is nothing of note,” the masked man said tersely. “I followed your orders. This one bore the mark. Our master’s suspicions were right."
"Then..?" the other trailed off.
"She will be the seventh Master.”
