Moonlight Terror

Twilight woke up from a nice long lay in, it was the day after Pinkie’s weekly Friday party and it had been as crazy as ever. However the thought of Doctor Whooves plagued her mind, not knowing what exactly to think of it all. “Who could do something like this?” Twilight whispered under her breath, she had never known any pony to commit such atrocities to one another. Or even that another pony could attempt anything like this.

She remembered that she had hidden the feather she had found on that night. She pulled it out of her messy mane and looked at it closely.

Twilight sat there for a full 10 minutes staring at the lone feather, not sure what to make of it nor what it could have come from. The colour of the feather looked so familiar, but Twilight failed to recognize the colour at all.

It was a cold and wet day in Ponyville, the pegasi had made it a wonderful two weeks of sunshine and the town needed a large dose of rain. Every pony was indoors, trying their best not to get drenched by the spring downpour.

“Surely the girls noticed something odd last night.” Twilight thought to herself, wanting to find out exactly what happened. Twilight grabbed her coat and began to make her way to the front door, thinking what she was going to do and how she was going to do it.

As Twilight stepped outside of the library she pulled her hood up, ready to get to work. She mapped out what she was going to do in her head. Visit Sugar Cube Corner, then it’s off to Carousel Boutique and then branch outwards from there, finishing with Rainbow Dash.

As Twilight trotted through the market centre she wondered why every pony was hiding away from the rain, a little rain never hurt any pony. It must be due to the fear of catching the pony pox, it is usually at its height this time of year, especially when it rains like this.

As Twilight approached Sugar Cube corner she could not help but notice the lack of ponies queuing up, even for a rainy day such as this. As she entered Mrs. Cake was standing at the till looking bored out of her mind. “Oh hello Twilight,” a sudden look of happiness spread across her face like wildfire, “What would you like to buy?”

“Actually I’m not here to buy anything.” Mrs. Cake’s face lost some of its happiness, but still glad to see Twilight. “I came to see Pinkie Pie, is she in?” Twilight already knew the answer, but she just wanted confirmation.

“Yes, she is up stairs as usual.” Mrs. Cake pointed a hoof towards a stairwell that led up stairs towards Pinkie Pie’s room.

“Thanks.” Twilight said enthusiastically as she nodded politely. She turned and walked towards the stairwell, wondering if Pinkie Pie had cleaned up since the Party.

As Twilight reached the top of the stairwell leading into Pinkie Pie’s bedroom the smell of cake frosting caught her nose, almost sending her into a trance of happiness as she remembered eating that wonderful chocolate cake the night before. The thought of what else happened that night snapped Twilight to attention as she continued going upwards.

“Pinkie Pie?” Twilight asked in a raised voice, hoping to catch Pinkie’s attention as she spotted her tidying up the party décor from the night before. Pinkie Pie turned to face Twilight, greeting her with a big smile.

“Well hello Twilight Sparkle!” Pinkie yelled in her usual up beat voice. She jumped at Twilight and tackled her to the ground in one big hug.

“Whoa settle down Pinkie!” Twilight laughed as Pinkie got back up, helping Twilight to her hooves. “I’m only here to ask you something.”

“You can ask me anything Twi!” Pinkie still in her exuberant mood, she sat down in front of Twilight, preparing for any question Twilight had planned.

“Did you notice anything strange last night during the party?” Twilight asked in a serious manner, seeming to have no immediate effect on Pinkie.

“Hmmmmm…” Pinkie suddenly seemed to be lost in her thoughts, she rubbed her hoof on her chin as she recalled the night. “Well Rainbow Dash hit the cider harder than usual, but nothing too peculiar.” Pinkie said, she knew it’s not what Twilight wanted to hear but it was better than nothing.

“Thanks.” Twilight said with a nervous smile, looking disappointed but she was not surprised that Pinkie gave the answer she did.

“Although,” Pinkie extended, a smile shot up all over Twilight’s face, “My Pinkie sense told me there was going to be a doozy on that night, I thought it was just telling me it was going to be a super fun party!” Pinkie’s voice lit up with excitement yet again.

Twilight was much happier with that, no matter how small it was. “And they stopped about the same time you left strangely enough,” Pinkie Pie suddenly lost her trail of thought, “Did something happen to you when you and Celestia left?” Pinkie looked deep into Twilight’s eyes to try and read what she’s thinking.

“Oh nothing, just needed some… fresh air.” Twilight smiled at Pinkie nervously, she never was a good liar, let alone lying to Pinkie Pie. “Well I best be moving on.” Twilight smiled nervously as she quickly ran out.

Twilight let out a sigh of relief as she left Sugar Cube Corner, thankful to get away from Pinkie before she managed to get the truth out of her. “Now to Carousel Boutique.” Twilight mumbled to herself whilst she put her hood up over her head as the rain pelted her head.

Twilight knocked on the entrance to Carousel Boutique, Rarity was often busy on a Saturday so she did not want to intrude on anything. “Oh hello Twilight dear,” Rarity said surprised, keeping her head indoors to avoid getting her mane wet.

“Hey Rarity,” Twilight said with a smile on her face, “Did you notice anything strange last night?” Twilight wanted to get straight to the point so she could get out of the rain.

“Not to my recollection, now please excuse me I must attend to Sweety Belle, she’s come down with a positively awful case of pony pox.” Rarity slammed the door in Twilight’s face.

“Nice to see you too?” Twilight mumbled as she made her way to Fluttershy’s cottage.

Twilight trotted through Fluttershy’s front garden, it looked beautiful even though it was a rainy day. The rain was getting trapped in the moss and grass that covered the cottage. Twilight quietly walked to the door and nocked gently.

Fluttershy opened the door timidly, poking her head out, peaking at the unicorn that was in front of her. “Oh… It’s you… Hey Twilight.” Fluttershy looked at Twilight timidly.

“Hey Fluttershy,” Twilight let herself into the cottage, eager to get out of the rain, “Did you notice anything out of the ordinary yesterday?” Twilight wanted to move on, she did not expect much from Fluttershy.

“Well, nothing really, my animals were acting a little bizarre but they usually get like that when it’s a full moon lately.” This piqued Twilight’s interest, although it was nothing for her to go on.

“Oh before I go,” Twilight remembered something, “Is this from any of your animals?” Twilight pulled out the feather she had gotten the night before.

Fluttershy examined the dark blue feather, “It’s certainly not from any animal I have, maybe it was something from the Everfree Forest?” Fluttershy scared herself thinking about the forest, that place always gave her the creeps. “I’m sorry I can’t help you much.” Fluttershy looked at the floor, almost as if she were ashamed of not being able to help Twilight.

Twilight put the feather back in her mane so it would not get lost. “That’s alright,” Twilight giggled, “I’ll see you around.” Twilight smiled at Fluttershy as she waved a hoof.

It was still raining heavily in Ponyville, and the water was starting to get through Twilight’s coat which began to frustrate the violet unicorn.

Twilight saw the big red barn of Sweet Apple Acres in the distance gradually get closer, “Surely Applejack knew what was going on? She always did.” Twilight thought to herself, the thought of what happened that night constantly bugging her.

Twilight looked over the apple orchard, even on a rainy day such as this Applejack would work hard to ensure that Ponyville would be able to get there apples on time, as to avoid the same events as the previous apple famine.

Twilight spotted Applejack taking refuge underneath an apple tree at the far end of the orchard, Twilight sighed as she did not want to walk that far in this weather, at least she has the trees to keep her from getting wet.

Applejack sat underneath a tree tapping a hoof against the floor impatiently, wanting the rain to stop. “Confound these Pegasus ponies an’ their rain.” Applejack grumbled, looking up at the sky. Applejack spotted Twilight and started to smile at the thought of having company.

“Heya Applejack.” Twilight said enthusiastically; glad that she would be talking to Applejack under the shelter of a tree.

“Well heya Twi’!” Applejack greeted Twilight eagerly, “So what brings y’all to the farm?” Applejack doesn’t see Twilight around the farm often.

“Did you see anything strange last night?” Twilight asked, hoping Applejack could shed some light on all of this.

“Hmmm now let me see,” Applejack did not want to disappoint Twilight, “Nothin’ out of the usual durin’ the night,” Twilight looked down in disappointment, “Although before all this cloud kicked in ah did see Luna flyin’ away from the farm with Winona barkin’ at the Princess.”

Twilight looked confused, “Why would Luna be at the farm?” Twilight wanted to get to the bottom of this.

Applejack shrugged her shoulders, she didn’t have the slightest clue.

“Ah really hope that helped Twi’.” Applejack commented, “But ah can’t stay and chitter chatter for any longer, rain or no rain ah gotta harvest these apples, ah’ll catch up with y’all later.” Applejack went on her way to start harvesting the apples.

Twilight simply waved a hoof and went on her way. She thought it was strange of Luna to be visiting the farm, perhaps she was just exploring Equestria and happened to be passing by at such an odd time.

Twilight dismissed it as a coincidence and decided to get moving towards Rainbow Dash’s house in the clouds.

Rainbow Dash’s home was in the middle of a field, so Twilight wasn’t getting any dryer as she approached the pegasus’ home. “RAINBOW DASH!” Twilight yelled to get the attention of Rainbow Dash, after the party she wouldn’t be surprised if she was still in bed hung-over.

Twilight picked up a small stone and catapulted it at Dash’s window, hoping not to break anything but at the same time get the rainbow coloured pegasus’ attention.

Rainbow Dash slowly arose from her bed, her head feeling like it was shattered into pieces. She dragged her hooves across the floor as she slowly made her way to the window where Twilight threw the small stone.

“I’m trying to get to sleep here!” Rainbow Dash yelled out of the window, trying to find the perpetrator who dared to wake her up. “When I get my hands on I’m gonna…” Rainbow Dash was stopped as she saw who it was. “Twilight?!?!” Dash was surprised to see her.

“Could you come down here for a second?” Twilight was yelling to overpower the noise of the heavy rainfall that surrounded her.

“What?!?!” Rainbow Dash was struggling to hear Twilight, every noise blended into one in her current state.

Twilight sighed as she quickly cast a spell upon herself that would allow her to walk on the clouds, a moment later she teleported up to where Rainbow Dash was standing. Rainbow Dash fell to the floor as Twilight unexpectedly appeared next to her.

“Could you make this quick, my head is killing me!” Rainbow Dash was in no mood to fool around, not even if it meant spending time with the Wonderbolts.

“Did you notice anything strange yesterday?” Twilight cut to the chase, she did not want to get on Dash’s bad side.

“Nope, although apparently there was some sort of attack in Cloudsdale, but I don’t know, now lemme get back to sleep!” Rainbow Dash stomped into her room, leaving Twilight to find her own way out. She was now lost in her own thoughts.
“Could this all be a coincidence? Or is this all linked?” Twilight thought to herself. She wanted to know more but it would have to wait. She may as well enjoy the weekend instead of wasting it away asking questions where she shouldn’t be.

***

Luna snuck into her room through her window, dripping wet with rain. She walked into her personal bathroom and grabbed a towel to dry herself off. She franticly dried her mane, it looked extremely messy, even more so than when she just wakes up.

As Luna lifted her head up, she noticed the medicine cabinet was open, she looked at herself in the mirror, “Grrrr. Roar.” She said mockingly into the mirror, showing off her teeth as though she was about to bite into something.

Luna closed the Cabinet, then showing Celestia in the reflection, “EEEK!” The sight of her older sister frightened her. Celestia had one eyebrow cocked up, showing that she was not impressed.

“And where were you exactly?” Celestia asked, “You were not at the party nor did the guards notice you in your room.” Celestia wanted answers.

“I was er… Taking a midnight stroll, that’s all.” Luna let off a nervous smile, knowing full well that she was lying and the kind of thing that would happen to her if Celestia knew it.

“Then would you mind telling me what your garments were doing laying on the floor? In Pieces?” Celestia was not impressed at all.

“It was hot, I just wanted to cool off, and I did not want any other pony to recognize me in my stroll.” Luna said, feeling much more confident about her lying than she already had.

“Okay then,” Celestia looked at her with a hint of suspicion, but then dismissed it as nothing, “You enjoy the rest of the day Lulu.” Celestia left with her usual prowess, smiling as she did so.

Luna let out a big sigh as she sat at her desk, looking into the mirror. She picked up the torn garments that Celestia had placed on her desk. Looking at the garments, she kept switching her looks between herself in the mirror and the torn garments, wondering what exactly happened the night before.