Chapters Stories, they make up a lot of plenty of small town's myths and folklore. But most of the time, that's all they are really. Just stories. But there is one exception to the rule. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and the Headless Horse. You know the one, the tale of a horse who roams the moors every Nightmare Night looking for his lost head. And if he doesn't find it, he'll take yours just to substitute. He's not picky. But like I said before, most don't believe in him and think he's just a tale to scare foals into doing what they're told.
"Eat your dinner or the Headless Horse will take your head!" They say. But tonight, on that very special night known as Nightmare Night when myths and horrific gothic legends are celebrated the Headless Horse will come alive once more. And this time around, a certain group of ponies will be caught in the thick of it...
The train whistle of the Friendship Express cut through the evening sky like a banshee's wail as the train trundled down the tracks with it's passengers sitting comfortably inside the cars.
"Well, I must admit when your Aunt Cherry, the mayor of Sleepy Hollow asked you to come to her town just to join in the fun and you asked me to come along I was... skeptical to say the least. Let's face it, Nightmare Night is about getting scared and after the things I've seen kids in costumes and a few bad props won't work on me." The Doctor said as he sat in a chair with Twilight and Shining across from him. Cadence sat next to the Doctor, across from Shining. For Cadence, it had only been three days and three nights since the Windego Invasion, though thanks to time travel for everypony else it had been a bit longer.
"So, what changed your mind?" Cadence asked curiously.
"...The candy." The Doctor admitted with a flush. "Hey, where's Rainbow?"
"I don't know... Last I checked she'd gone to the bathroom." Shining remembered.
"Got to be one long line then." The Doctor joked and Cadence and Twilight stared at him in disgust. It was then Rainbow returned carrying a bunch of candy.
"Eh, dare I ask?" Twilight said, not really wanting to know.
"There was this trolley mare going around offering free candy. So I took some." Rainbow replied, looking rather unashamed of herself.
Cadence raised a eyebrow.
"Some? You look like you took the whole trolley supply." She said, and Rainbow flushed red knowing she'd been caught as she sat down with Twilight moving over to make room for her. The candy went on the table separating the two seats.
"Rainbow, you do realize there will be plenty of candy when we get to Sleepy Hollow right?" Twilight deadpanned.
"Hey, it was free candy! So sue me." Rainbow retorted. Twilight sighed while Shining muttered "Just one more hour of this... Just one more hour and I'll be free."
Sleepy Hollow, around the exact same time...
Meanwhile, in Sleepy Hollow some final preparations for what the town considered the biggest night of the year were well underway. Tents had been set up a few days before for a festival celebrating the legend that put the town on the map. In one particular tent, a blue unicorn with a very light blue, almost white mane got ready for her contribution that was part of a play on the Headless Horse.
"Oi! Hurry up in there you dratted mare! The last of the rehearsals is about to go on! And we need you!" A male stallion's voice called into the tent. Another voice, angry as well called back at it.
"Don't get your fur in a twist! The Great and Powerful Trixie must not be rushed!" The titular mare yelled before stepping out of the tent in a starry cape and witch's hat.
"There, you see? If you let me, I can come out looking quite sexy. Don't you think?" Trixie asked seductively as she glanced at the stallion who's fur was stone grey. The stallion had a grape colored mane as well. His name was Written Script, and he wasn't pleased with Trixie's arrogance in the slightest.
"Be lucky you're the only mare with a talent for special effects we could find, otherwise if I had my way I would have replaced you long ago in this whole... fiasco!" Script snapped and Trixie huffed as she walked right by him.
"You just don't understand Trixie's art form." She said.
Written muttered "Oh, I'll give her art form all right..." under his breath.
Soon, they were at the stage, and by now the moon had fully risen casting it's moonlight on the town square where the stage itself had been constructed. The wind from a nearby storm that was coming in blew through tree branches, and they swung and swayed from the gusts. The whole thing added all up to a rather eerie effect.
"Well, I'd say we are ready." Written said as he looked around the area. "Yeesh though, if I were more superstitious I'd say in weather like this it would be a bad night to put on a play. But as they say, the show must go on!"
Suddenly, everypony who was there heard the loud rumble of thunder and lightning flashed. And in that brief moment, on the stage a dark figure, one who looked to be missing a head was visible. But it was soon gone. Script turned to Trixie.
"Please tell me that was one of yours..." He hissed.
"No, though Trixie must give props to whoever did it." Trixie said in confusion.
"...Gotta be somepony playing a prank. It's just got to be... It can't really be him." Script whispered in denial. But inwardly, he didn't believe his own words and was mentally thinking about going home and grabbing his black cat for a good luck charm. Script took a few quick calming breaths, before regaining his composure.
"Alright ponies, just forget about what we saw and think nothing of it! Somepony is just pulling our legs!" Script ordered. "Now, let's take this thing from the top!"
As the first few lines were recited, Trixie frowned. She knew exactly what she saw, and she knew it looked far too real and had too much mass for it to be more then just a prank by somepony skilled in special effects and illusions. Plus, that would require somepony to be as skilled as her and nopony was. Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by Written Script's voice.
"Alright Trixie, are you ready?"
"Y-Yes." Trixie stammered. "Trixie was born ready!"
An hour later...
About a hour later, the Friendship Express was pulling into Sleepy Hollow Station and already the passengers were beginning to disembark. The autumn air was cold and crisp, even as more thunder rumbled in the distance. All around the station, jack-o-lanterns had been set up, their interiors lit up by candlelight.
"Ooh! I'm in the spirit of Nightmare Night already, aren't you Shiny?" Cadence said in glee as she nuzzled up against Shining, making him blush and stutter out "Y-Yeah. I'm with you there, huh?"
The Doctor rolled his eyes in mock disgust and said "Ponies..." although it was clear by his tone he didn't mean it in any insulting way.
"Oh yeah, this is going to so awesome!" Rainbow Dash whooped. "If only I'd brought a costume then I'd be all set!"
"Maybe there's a costume shop in town for those who need one at the last minute." Twilight suggested with a smile. "Oh, I can't wait to see what my Aunt Cherry Berry's got planned for this year! I wanted to go last year, but I was so absorbed in my books it... It may have slipped my mind." Twilight admitted with a blush.
"Well, I intend to play pranks! This is THE night of the year for them." Rainbow Dash said with a grin. "I'll just grab myself a super-scary costume and frighten the fur off anypony I choose!"
Twilight chuckled and rolled her eyes good-naturely as she was used to Rainbow's antics. Suddenly there was a loud scream and she and the Doctor shared a look, with the Doctor breaking out in a smile.
"Now that's the kind of thing I like to hear!" The Doctor laughed before galloping off in the direction of the scream with Twilight running after him calling "Hey, wait for me! Just slow down! DOCTOR!"
Rainbow, after seeing this, leaned over to Shining and muttered "That stallion has issues." Shining could only nod in agreement.
When Twilight finally caught up with the Doctor, she found him (Along with several other ponies) standing outside a tent near the town square. Inside the tent, was the body of a stagehand who was missing something rather... important. Twilight glanced at the body and looked rather green.
"Well... I don't think this is what they meant by fun frights." The Doctor said, referring to a nearby poster for the play. "This isn't fun at all."
"Tell me about it." Twilight agreed. Then Trixie's mocking voice came from behind her.
"Aw, does Twilight Sparkle not have the ability to handle the sight of a headless pony?" Trixie mocked, though she inwardly was rather disgusted herself. She just wouldn't admit it in front of Twilight, who right now was grinding her teeth at the sound of Trixie's voice.
"What are you doing here Trixie?" Twilight asked in annoyance.
"Trixie's business is Trixie's own. So never you mind!" Trixie snapped. "Never thought I would see you again Twilight Sparkle."
"Believe me, I'm overjoyed at the prospect." Twilight deadpanned and Trixie faked being hurt as the Doctor watched the whole thing like a tennis match.
"So, you two... Uh, know each other?" The Doctor asked nervously. He got conflicting answers.
"Yes." Trixie said while Twilight said "No." It was then Cherry Berry, who was a mare with deep red hair and a matching coat walked up. She began shooing everypony off and attempting to reassure them by saying. "Now now, I'm sure this is a one time incident. Nothing to worry about."
"Nothing to worry about?" The Doctor exclaimed. "He's missing his HEAD!"
Written leaned over and whispered "Cherry, earlier I thought I saw-" but Cherry hushed him and hissed "Say nothing!" before she quickly changed the subject by walking over to Twilight and hugging her. Twilight returned the hug.
"So nice to see you again. Tell me, is your brother here?" Cherry asked.
"Yes, but shouldn't we be worried about...?" Twilight trailed off but Cherry waved a hoof dismissively.
"Hardly. The police will catch whoever did this. So, a hero of Equestria now are we?" Cherry began. "Tell me more."
"Believe me, I've got a lot to tell you." Twilight replied in a excited tone of voice. "There was this one thing me and my friends did the other day..."
"You can tell me more back at the house. Believe me, you will want to see what I've done this year!" Cherry said excitedily, and although Twilight looked curious she took one last look at the dead body behind her. Trixie stuck out her tongue, which Twilight responded to in kind. The Doctor sighed, it looked like tonight was going to be very interesting indeed...
"And just when I thought there would be nothing for me to worry about tonight..." He muttered before letting out a long sigh.
Author's Note
Well, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter to what's the start to a new adventure for the Doctor and the whole gang, plus Cadence and Rainbow to boot. Like I told Gallent, this will just be to tide you over until I get to work on the real sequel to Once a Time Lord. Anyways, what do you think?
As Twilight chattered away with her aunt on what had been going on in their lives, Rainbow and Cadence began to walk off.
"Hey, where are you going?" Shining called.
"We're going shopping!" Cadence squealed in that tone all men knew to fear the Doctor included. To him, a mare who wanted to shop till she dropped was infinitely more frightening then anything he'd ever faced. Give him a Dalek anyday, the Doctor thought.
"You might not want to dress up, but I on the other hand intend to fully embrace Nightmare Night!" The Princess of Love laughed.
"After all..." Rainbow began. "You can't go trick or treating without a cool costume! Who knows, maybe I can find one of Daring Do!"
"Come on Doctor, you did say you wanted some candy and you won't get any without a good costume!" Cadence put in as the Doctor looked unsure.
"I... I don't know. I think I look just fine the way I am." The Doctor replied nervously but Cadence wasn't having any of it as she dragged him off. The Doctor, as he was dragged let out a call of "Help me! Don't leave me to this crazy mare's mercy Shining!"
Shining however did nothing, he wasn't stupid enough to get between a mare who wanted to shop. The Doctor shot him a look of betrayal as he was dragged into the town's only costume shop.
"Er... Do you think he'll be alright?" Twilight asked. Shining could only shrug.
"Come on you two slowpokes! there's a whole festival to enjoy and Trixie doesn't intend to miss any of it! I, after all am queen of bobbing for apples!" Trixie challenged, which Twilight accepted with all the grace of a student of Princess Celestia.
"We'll have to see about that! Oh, its on!" Twilight exclaimed. Maybe I should have corrected myself. She accepted the challenge with no grace at all.
"Oh, this cannot end well..." Shining muttered as he trotted off after them.
Shining watched nervously as both Trixie and Twilight tried to bob for apples, with each shoving the other out of the way in order to get to the barrel first.
"I knew it, this could only end this way." Shining muttered, wondering if he should step in anytime soon.
"Hey, I'm going first!" Twilight yelled as she once again shoved her rival out of the way but got shoved back in return.
"Nuh-uh! Trixie goes first, and so Trixie says!" The magician mare retorted.
"You know, I could lecture you on the improper use of third person you're using right now!" Twilight snapped as she shoved Trixie away.
"Oh, look at you Miss Smartyhooves!" Trixie scoffed. "You think you know everything!"
Shining finally chose that moment to speak up.
"Uh girls, shouldn't you let some other ponies have a turn?" He asked nervously only to receive a shout of "NO!" from both mares. Shining sighed, why did he even bother? Thankfully, his attentions were drawn from this scene that was rapidly unfolding when the Doctor walked up dressed as a sheriff, complete with cowboy hat and chaps.
"Er... I hate to ask Doc but what's with the cowboy outfit?" Shining asked. The Doctor grinned. It seemed he'd warmed up to the costume idea after all.
"I wanted to wear a Stetson now. Stetsons are cool." The Doctor said matter-of-factly making Shining sigh and facehoof. He shouldn't have asked. Shining then heard his marefriend's voice call out to him in a seductive, flirty tone.
"Oh Shiny... Do you want me to suck your blood...?" Cadence said, and Shining turned to face her only to have his jaw drop. His marefriend was dressed as a rather attractive looking vampire, complete with fake fangs in her mouth and her wings made up to look like bat wings thanks to a magical illusion.
"A-Anytime..." Shining stuttered in his shock. He was lucky to even say one word. Cadence smiled at how befuddled her coltfriend was and took advantage of his shock to give him a long kiss which lasted for a good while. The Doctor groaned and turned his head.
"Don't they ever come up for air?" He wondered to nopony in particular. Twilight meanwhile was blushing, thankfully her attention was drawn to Rainbow Dash when she came in. The sight of her made Twilight gape in complete shock, though not because of how attractive the costume looked on Rainbow, more due to the fact that Rainbow's costume which was a pink medieval princess costume simply just looked wrong on her. Trixie tried to stifle her laughter, but was mostly failing.
"So, I'm guessing they were out of Daring Do costumes then?" Twilight asked dryly. Rainbow gave her a Class-A type death glare.
"What? They were all out of costumes except this, the cowboy outfit and what Cadence is wearing." Rainbow said in disgust. "Now nopony laughs, and nopony gets bucked through the nearest window understand?" Rainbow grumbled as she walked off a mix of embarrassed and furious. Once Rainbow was out of earshot, Trixie finally gave up and burst out laughing as she walked off towards the direction of the Town Square. In her mind, she had more important things to do then hang around here.
Next, practically everypony went Trick or Treating through the town's streets. And Rainbow Dash, despite the prospect of free candy wasn't enjoying this one bit because of her costume.
"Man, I can't be seen like this! I have a reputation to uphold!" Rainbow complained. If she could have made herself invisible she would have.
"I think you look rather cute." Twilight said with a smile, as the whole group walked up to a house.
"R-Really?" Rainbow asked happily before she realized what she was saying. "A-And that's just the damn problem. I don't do cute!" Rainbow corrected herself. The Doctor knocked on the door and it was opened by a older mare.
"Nightmare Night, what a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!" The group chanted, and candy landed in their bags. Rainbow looked in her own and sighed.
"...You didn't get a rock did you?" The Doctor asked.
"...No, just candy corn. I hate candy corn." Rainbow muttered.
Town Square
Later that night, it was time at last for the play. Twilight had to admit she was very excited for this, even if her arch-rival had some part in it.
"Hello everyone, I just want to welcome you all to our little performance." Cherry began, saying this through a microphone. "We do this every year, on this exact night and on this exact time to teach a bit of history on our town and celebrate it's most famous legend."
As everypony sat down in the stands which had been constructed earlier in the month and got settled Cherry then stepped off the stage, and Trixie's contribution to the play soon became clear. A thick dry ice based fog began to roll in and cover the stage as fake lightning flashed and prerecorded thunder rumbled.
"Well, even if I don't like Trixie I got to admit she does have style." Twilight admitted, with the Doctor nodding to her statement.
"She does have a certain... dramatic flair doesn't she?" He said. Nearby Cadence was snuggling up to Shining, making him blush once more. Trixie herself then stepped out onto the stage.
"Ladies and Gentlecolts, tonight you are in for a special treat of absolutely dazzling proportions. This is a story, a story of broken hearts and a frightening curse that gave birth to a legend. And it'll be narrated by yours truly... The Grrrreeeaaatt and Powwweerrrful Trrrixiie!" Trixie exclaimed in a dramatic tone of voice.
"Well, at least she's not letting her ego go and run wild." Rainbow said sarcastically and Shining suppressed a snort at Rainbow's remark as Cadence glared at them both and hissed "Be nice! I want to listen to this!"
Trixie continued.
"Now, our story begins almost 150 years ago, on this EXACT date Trixie tell you if your minds can comprehend that. It was a dark and chilly night as one Ichabod Crane came to see his lover, one Black Berry. But while he intended to propose to her, fate had other plans..."
Suddenly there was a loud gasp as a distinctive form fell from the rafters, minus it's head. It was Written Script. There was silence, as the occurrence took a moment to sink in. Then, it happened. The crowd gave a collective gasp of horror at once before ponies began to jump out of the seats and run in every direction they could think up.
"By Celestia..." Twilight whispered. "What happened?"
"I... I don't know sis." Shining replied, stunned as much as his sister. His Royal Guard instincts were running haywire. This couldn't have been a concidence. It had to have been related to the dead stagehand from earlier that night.
"C'mon, we're going up there." Twilight said as her eyes narrowed. She and Shining ran up the stage with Rainbow and the Doctor following them as Cadence, in full Alicorn Princess mode tried to keep everypony calm.
"Hey, you can't go up there!" A security guard shouted, but to no avail.
"Out of my way!" Twilight shouted as she ran past them.
"...I'm so getting fired after tonight, aren't I?" The security guard muttered, and his partner nodded and the first guard hung his head and sighed in resignation.
As Twilight and Shining made it up to the stage with Rainbow and the Doctor following, Cherry arrived as well and she choked back a sob as she saw Written's dead body. He was one of the main ponies in the play and even had the starring role as Crane, without him the show would not be able to go on. Twilight pulled her aunt into a hug as the Doctor gave Cherry a serious look.
"Two ponies are dead, in the exact same way! Now will you admit something is wrong?" He asked in fury.
Cherry, despite her sobs, managed to let out a soft "Y-Yes..."
"Good." The Doctor stated. "Now, I want to know everything about what's going on right now. Anything your townspeople have seen, anything out of the ordinary even if it's just the smallest thing."
Cherry blew her nose and regained some of her composure.
"First things first, I think you'll need a bit of history if you want to understand anything that's going on right now." Cherry began. "Right, well it started almost 150 years ago, about a few years after Sleepy Hollow was founded..."
Author's Note
Poor poor Shining in this chapter huh? Now, before you tell me I've updated twice this week just wait a tick as the Doctor would say. I think this because the first chapter was just the publishing of the story itself and this one is a actual update. Loopholes are such fun, don't you think? Anyways, we get quite a few lighthearted moments in the first half of the chapter with Twilight and Trixie trying to outdo the other at apple bobbing and everypony else going Trick or Treating until the mood whiplash sets in in true Doctor Who fashion for the chapter's second half. And yeah, I killed off Written Script, who in another one of my stories sat in another universe is a main character. Next time around, we get to have a plot-advancing flashback chapter and learn the origins of the Headless Horse...
Part 3: The Legend of the Headless Horse
About 150 years Ago, Sleepy Hallow was just a small town, not really worthy of being put on any sort of map. To be perfectly honest, that's just the way the townspeople liked it and wanted it to stay that way. The populace was quite small, about only one hundred ponies or so, and everypony knew each other quite well. Most ponies lived ordinary lives, with ordinary jobs not better then anypony else. But there was one, a exception. This one was named Blue Berry, and oh he was a rich pony beyond belief, with his own personal manor house on a hill that overlooked the town.
He was a cruel and nasty sort, and a pony nopony liked. Believe me, the feeling was quite mutual. Quite mutual indeed. They all thought he lived up there, alone with his money and with nothing to do but count it. Greystark Hall, it (The manor) was called although some called it Berry's Folly when they thought Blue Berry couldn't overhear them. He did hear, but ignored the nickname as he didn't care one jot what others thought. He never did.
However, some say his only saving grace was his daughter, a fair and elegant pony named Black Berry, whose fur and mane earned her that name she was given. Black Berry shared none of her father's traits, and was well liked by all.
But there was one pony who liked Black Berry more then anypony else, a simple beet farmer named Ichabod Crane. He was rather poor, and lived on a farm, with only the beets he gave to Sleepy Hollow's towns people to keep him afloat. He wasn't handsome either, so no one would expect anypony to actually take a liking beyond friendship to him.
But beyond all expectations, it happened. Black Berry did just exactly that. She fell head over heels for Crane, and her feelings were quickly returned, but that was where the trouble began...
Greystark Hall, library:
Blue Berry was in a unhappy mood, he'd heard all of the rumors going around town, about how his daughter was cavorting with a simple farmer. Something had to be done about it, but what?
Krack-Koom! The thunder went.
"That farmer, Icha-What's his name is ruining my family's hard earned reputation!" Blue growled to himself as he paced back and forth. "We've been around since for decades, and now look what's happening!"
"I've warned him time and time again to stay away from my daughter and look what's happening!" Blue snapped, thought obviously nopony heard him.
"He goes and ignores me! Why, I bet all of my money that they're..." Here he gave a shudder. "Having sex in a shed! Yeah, that's exactly what they are doing I bet!"
"I'll have no more of it, no sir!" Blue Berry snapped before a thought struck him, a absolutely downright evil thought. He now knew exactly what to do as he rubbed his hooves together and cackled as lightning flashed outside.
Back in the present time...
Everypony present took in Cherry Berry's story so far, each with varying reactions.
"Geez, this Blue Berry guy sounds like a real Grade-A jerk." Rainbow huffed as she crossed her forelegs. "If I ever meet him, I'm bucking him into the next century."
"You do realize he's probably long dead by this point, right?" Twilight deadpanned. Rainbow looked embarrassed as she rubbed her head in embarrassment. "Oh, right... But the point still stands!" Rainbow declared.
"Oh, how'd I'd like to give him the worse punishment I could think up!" Cadence snarled. She, as the Princess of Love found this Blue Berry fellow quite distasteful, to say the least. "Disrupting love, like that!"
"Trixie says she thinks she hates Blue Berry right now." Trixie commented as her horn sparked magic in anger. Twilight's and her brother's was doing the exact same. By now, everypony had cleared away from the stage as a hard rain came down. The storm that had been threatening the town for the past few hours had finally arrived and had broke wide open.
"Oh, I can see where this is going... I don't even need my Tardis to tell the ending here." The Doctor muttered sadly as he shook his head. Cherry nodded sadly, before she gave her reply.
"And you'd be right on the money with that one, trust me. It only gets worse from here..." She trailed off.
"How can it get any worse then this!?!" Rainbow interrupted and everypony glared at her. Cherry smiled sadly.
"Trust me, it can..."
Sleepy Hollow: 150 years ago, Nightmare Night...
Blue Berry made his way through the streets of Sleepy Hollow. Even if it was about to rain, colts and fillies still ran from house to house in various costumes, in order to please the Nightmare Goddess and hide from her gaze. Even now, through a hole in the clouds the shadow of the Mare in the Moon was visible awaiting it's time to return down to Equus.
But Blue Berry had a different purpose then everypony else as he made his way to Ichabod's farm house outside of town. In his saddlebags, Blue carried a meat cleaver grabbed from his kitchens. He crossed the fields of Ichabod's farm and entered the home. As he made his way through the home, he accidently bumped up against a cabinet and knocked over a vase which shattered when it hit the floor.
In paranoia, Blue looked around to see if Ichabod would come to investigate. He never did, and so Blue made his way to the bedroom. Sure enough, there was Ichabod sleeping in the bed, next to... At the sight of who Ichabod was sleeping next to, Blue's rage boiled over and he pulled out his cleaver and brought it down. Blood spattered the walls. The job was done, and no one would be the wiser on who did it. Blue smiled in a sick manner and left as quickly as he'd came. But he had forgotten one simple fact.
Love was one of the most important facets and laws of Equus. You break that law in some manner, and you bring grave consequences on you and your town. And Blue Berry had just done exactly that. Later that night, everypony would swear they would see storm clouds building right over Ichabod's home and the form of a headless horse appearing within them and rearing up on it's hind legs and whinnying. A curse had been created, and now it would bring it's power to the town of Sleepy Hollow for the next one hundred and fifty years on this very night exactly.
Present Time:
The story was done, and everypony present took it in.
"By Celestia..." Twilight whispered. "That's horrible. And you ACTUALLY celebrate this... This tragedy?" She roared and Cherry looked ashamed of herself.
"Yes, it was." Cherry Berry replied sadly. " And it's not a celebration, not really. It's a memorial. Ponies have just forgotten that. I'm ashamed to admit I, and by extension you and your family are related to that monster of a father. This whole town is cursed, and if history holds the Horse will appear again tonight. I'd hoped it wouldn't, but it probably will. I'd advise you to clear out now before things get any worse. And believe me, they will."
"No, we're not leaving. This monster has to be stopped, you've been afraid long enough." Twilight said defiantly as Shining looked at Cherry nervously while Cherry smiled at Twilight gratefully and whispered "Thank you..."
"S-So, you think it's entirely possible the Headless Horse will skip tonight?" Shining asked nervously, though he didn't believe his own words. The Doctor shook his head to answer Shining's question before replying.
"Hardly, there have already been murders tonight, both fitting the Hor-No, Crane's stropping mad style. He's very regimented, if history is correct. It's not a question of if he'll show up, but WHEN..." The Doctor trailed off ominously. In the distance, as he looked towards a group of trees he thought he saw a headless figure appear for just a brief moment, before vanishing into the shadows...
"So what do we do?" Twilight asked, genuinely terrified for her life although she wasn't showing it in front of Cherry. The Doctor smirked and gave her his answer, one that truly surprised her.
"For now, we enjoy the festival, and wait."
Author's Note
Okay, so now you know the truly tragic legend of the Headless Horse. I admit, I may have took a few liberties, but this is the way I wanted to tell the tale. Anyways, what'd you think of the chapter, which I believe to be one of the most wordy things I've ever written for Once a Time Lord's canon. Any comments or questions?
Edit: Added the italics to indicate the flashback moments.
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Part 4: The Monster Mash (In more ways then one)
Despite the ever looming threat of the Headless Horse, Cherry Berry found it best to continue with the festivities to keep the rest of the town's moral up and so she did just exactly that all the while keeping a false smile to make the townsponies see she was not scared of the Headless Horse.
Now both Twilight and the Doctor could see where she was coming from, but that didn't mean they had to like it. In the Town Hall's Ball Room, a party was held, complete with food, drinks (Including a punch bowl full of imported Apple Family-created Cider much to Rainbow Dash's pleasure) and even a local band called the Crypt-Kickers playing Nightmare Night themed songs.
Even as Twilight and Rainbow ate and drank from the snack table, they along with the Doctor, plus Shining and Cadence who were dancing to the song being played by the band kept a wary eye out as they scanned the crowd. The Headless Horse could show up at any time, and they knew it.
Twilight sighed even as she turned to Rainbow.
"You know, as much as I'd like to enjoy this party... I... I just can't, not with..." Twilight trailed off, and Rainbow finished for her as she knew exactly what she was thinking.
"The Horse? Yeah, I know what you mean." Rainbow admitted. She wasn't going to admit out loud as she considered herself far too awesome for it, but she was nervous as well. Suddenly, Rainbow got a idea her Element showing itself in concern for Twilight.
"Hey, I got a idea that should help you get your mind off things." Rainbow suddenly exclaimed as she pulled Twilight onto the dance floor making her friend yelp even as Rainbow shouted "Hey Crypt-Kickers, give us something to dance to! Something real slow!"
The Crypt-Kickers all shared a shrug before they started up another song, and a saxophone began to play setting a romantic mood as a female singer with tan fur and a bucket of white liquid, whose name was White Wash began to croon out a tune.
Rainbow began to slow dance with Twilight as the song progressed, and to Twilight's shock as they twirled on the dance floor she found herself enjoying it.
"W-Where did you learn to dance like this?" Twilight asked, her face quite flushed from being so close to Rainbow however her lavender fur made it barely visible unless you looked closely enough. Rainbow too was blushing , though thanks to her blue fur it was MUCH more obvious.
In the background, Cadence had stopped dancing with Shining and whispered to herself "Just a little closer, please!" in a almost pleading manner. Shining sighed in embarrassment, his marefriend loved shipping ponies a little too much.
"Eh, my dad wanted me to become a Class-A dancer instead of a radio DJ." Rainbow admitted before laughing. "You can see how well THAT turned out huh?"
Twilight let out a small giggle, before she found herself moving her muzzle closer to Rainbow and Rainbow found herself doing the same. But just as they were about to meet, there was a loud crashing sound from the breaking of glass along with a whinny as the Headless Horse crashed in through a window. This time, there were no brief glimpses, and the Horse was in full view of everypony as it reared up on it's hind legs and whinnied once more.
The Doctor let out a sigh of resignation as he muttered "Well, there goes the party. Time to greet the crasher."
In his mind, the Doctor was quite a mix of conflicting feelings. He was happy about being proven right that the Headless Horse would come back, but he was also nervous for anypony that was inside the building. So many targets, so many ponies for the Headless Horse to behead and live up to it's reputation as it already had twice tonight. The Doctor growled to himself, he was not going to let that happen, one was one too many in terms of death, and tonight that number was already twice that amount. This was going to end now, if the Time Lord had anything to say about it.
The Doctor then adjusted his sheriff's badge as he walked up to the Headless Horse. Even now, he could tell something was off from the get-go. The stance, the form, it did not look like a stallion as Ichabod Crane was supposed to have been. Something was very wrong here indeed.
"Well hello there Horsey!" The Doctor exclaimed. "Might I say, YOU look absolutely beautiful tonight. What, are you trying to get a-HEAD in life with the socialites?"
The Headless Horse, if it had a head would had glared at him. Twilight and her aunt shared a look, with Cherry looking very confused and shocked at the Doctor's behavior while Twilight was sighing and about to facehoof at the Doctor's poor joke. Shining meanwhile already had.
"Is he crazy? Is he trying to get himself killed?" Cherry hissed to Twilight, who shook her head and whispered back "No, he's doing two things. One, try and study the creature and second try to get us time to leave and run for it."
Cherry growled to herself bitterly.
"Not tonight, he's not stopping this thing. I am, this is my town and I'm going to deal with it!" Cherry said before she pulled out a pistol from her vest. Twilight and her friends gaped while the Doctor's jaw dropped.
"No... Not guns! I hate those things..." He muttered even as Cherry aimed her weapon and her eyes narrowed.
"This pistol contains rock salt, great for dealing with spirits. You see, I've been prepared for this night if it ever came and you threatened my town and it's citizens directly. But no more, time for you to die... permanently!" Cherry said, determination alight in her eyes and her hoof on the trigger ready to pull it and fire. And it wasn't long before she did exactly that.
KA-BLAM!
Cherry's gunshot was dead on it's target and the noise of it was like a small explosion, and the Horse reeled back in pain as the Doctor jumped to the left to avoid the shot. Several more bullets were fired, and the Headless Horse was again hit before it vanished in a cloud of night black smoke and the cloud flew right back out through the window from where it had come in from.
"You see? I know what I'm doing Doctor." Cherry stated smugly to the Time Lord/Pony, who looked at her with a expression of anger. Twilight and Shining winced, they'd seen this expression before and it never meant anything good as it could mean the Doctor was about to start not thinking straight and that never ended well.
"No, you don't!" The Doctor roared, and Cherry took a step back. "All you did was make it angry, and now it'll come back. Before, it was just picking off random townsponies, but now you've probably gone and set it on your whole town! Are you happy now?"
As soon as Cherry realized what she'd done, she whispered "Oh dear Celestia... What have I done?" as the Doctor stomped off and muttered to himself "Ponies... Always take the violent way out. Never diplomacy!"
Cadence ran after him before he even reached the front doors.
"Where are you going?" She asked in concern. She could tell the Doctor's temper was at a all time high, and she too could tell he might do something reckless. Cadence also knew he needed somepony to stop him, and if that pony was her, then so be it.
"Besides be with the only person who is intelligent around here, meaning me?" He asked sarcastically. "I have a theory I've got to confirm, but I need time travel to do it."
The Doctor then frowned to himself, trouble was his Tardis was back in Ponyville. Cadence knew what his problem was and got a idea.
"Come with me, there's a way we can do this. One question though... When do you need to go?" She asked, and the Doctor smiled. Nearby, Trixie was in quite a state after being in the middle of all this.
"What... What does Trixie do? She cannot stop a ghost!" She whispered to herself hoping nopony heard her before she saw Twilight heading out a doorway and ran towards her.
"Trixie asks, where do you think you are going Twilight Sparkle? To run and hide? Some hero YOU are!" Trixie mocked, and Twilight glared at her before sighing and grumbling something under her breath along the lines of "Celestia give me strength..."
"No, I'm going to do things my own way. We don't need guns to stop the Horse. There's a library in town, and there we can find the greatest weapon of all!" Twilight exclaimed and Trixie looked confused at her statement. Twilight smirked at that.
"Books! Now are you coming or not? I need somepony to help me search."
Author's Note
Well, that party sure went bad fast didn't it? So the Doctor and Twilight both have separate plans to try and learn about the Horse enough to stop it, even as it now closes in on Sleepy Hollow thanks to Cherry's foolhardiness. Now, credit to the artists whose songs I used in this chapter: Bobby Boris Picket for Monster Mash and Queen/Foxes for "Don't stop me now".
And yes, the gun with rock salt bullets in it used to stop a spirit and the black smoke cloud was totally inspired by Supernatural. Here, have this video I found that is a tribute to this absolutely great show!
(Credit to Stacy Patterson for the video and of course AC/DC for the song.)
View Online
Part 5: Twilight, Trixie, Memories and Revelations
Sleepy Hollow: 9:35 PM
The storm was raging, lightning flashed and thunder boomed as rain pattered down on the cobblestone streets of Sleepy Hollow and drenched Trixie's and Twilight's fur as they ran towards the town's sole library. Twilight ignored it all, her mind was focused on one thing, and one thing alone, the Headless Horse. She didn't like her companion in her endeavor to find out some information on stopping the angry, almost Hellish spirit but she could tolerate her for the time being. After all, the more help she had in finding the information she needed, the quicker this Tirek be damned night could be over with.
"We've... We've got to hurry, before that thing shows up again!" Twilight yelled back to Trixie, whose wizard's hats and robes were soaked by the rain.
"And how do you know it will, Twilight Sparkle?" Trixie demanded. She was tired, soaked to the bone, afraid and above all else extremely ticked off at how her night had gone. She was hoping to have put on a show to entertain the masses, but instead got dragged into something involving a stallion that should have been dead and staying that way completely. Personally, she didn't know who to blame, whether it be Twilight or the Doctor for getting her involved in this crap or the Headless Horse from returning from the grave or even the guy who offed him the first place and created the whole problem in the first place.
"Call it... experience." Twilight grumbled, remembering how many times the late Captain Boltstrike seemed to come back despite being dealt with time and time again. Mind you, that was somewhat different as he was never killed and revived but he did keep escaping whatever prison he got thrown into, so the point still stood right? Twilight smiled in relief however, when she remembered how the mad stallion was finally stopped. She wasn't there for it personally, but Cadence did tell her the story.
...Boltstrike was currently running for his life across the Canterlot rooftops with one very angry Princess of Love on his tail alongside Lightning Dust who was flinging bolts fast and hard enough to make Zeus himself proud. One hit the roof shingles below Boltstrike sending him flying but he quickly landed on another rooftop of somepony's house and pulled out his sword just in time to block another bolt. What he wasn't so successful in was blocking a magic blast from Cadence which made him tumble off the rooftop down into the street below thanks to the resulting explosion.
"Does it really matter if you kill me?" Boltstrike snarled as Lightning and Cadence landed nearby with passersby clearing out as they knew this wasn't a safe spot to be. "Your boyfriend's pushing up the daisies ma'am. Sorry to say."
Cadence snarled.
"That's where you're wrong. I just got word, Shining AND Celestia are going to be fine. You however, that's a different story."
Boltstrike reeled back in shock. He hadn't even considered the possibility that the plan would fail so badly. He quickly recomposed himself and put on a serious face.
"Ah well, least we all know nothing's infallible anymore do we? Not even the Royal Guard."
This time Lightning was the one to snarl.
"Have you no loyalty left? You were respected in your position, and now you threw it all away and for what? Are you really this psycho?" She yelled in rage, and just for a moment if only for a brief one her words reached Boltstrike. Little did she know it, but Boltstrike did have some small amount of loyalty and respect for his princess left, but all of the rest of it had been torn away by those years in the dungeons. But that small amount of loyalty still wasn't enough. Whatever goodness Boltstrike may have once had, it was long gone. He snarled one small phrase as one last act of defiance.
"Go to Tartarus."
And then it was all over in a instant as Cadence charged forwards and her horn went right for it's target. Next thing anypony knew, Boltstrike lay dead at her hooves.
"The only one who's going there is you." The Princess of Love snarled before a very familiar sound filled the air.
Sleepy Hollow Library: 9:55 PM
Twilight flashed back to the present with a rumble of thunder bringing her there. Twilight didn't remember how they got there, but they were now in the library, a few open old books lying on a table in front of them. Trixie was looking directly at Twilight, and if she didn't know better she'd dare say it was a look of worry.
"You alright?" Trixie inquired, as Twilight shook away her thoughts. She didn't have time to dwell on that story, not now. There was too much at stake, too many lives.
"I'm... I'm fine." Twilight lied, although Trixie could see right through her.
"No, you're not. Trixie can see you're scared Twilight Sparkle." Trixie replied, although this time she wasn't mocking in tone. She wouldn't admit it to Twilight, but she was scared of the Horse as well. It's power and rage, and what it could do. Trixie thought of Script, and that poor stagehand with their bodies lying headless in full view of her eyes. She'd never forget the sight, not as long as she lived.
"No, I'm COMPLETELY DAMN FINE TRIXIE, SO DON'T ASK AGAIN!" Twilight snapped, the stress of everything finally getting to her. Trixie reeled back in shock and fear. Seeing this, a expression of guilt came to Twilight's face at once. She hadn't meant for her temper to flare up like that.
I'm... I'm sorry Trixie, I didn't mean... It's just everything about tonight... The Horse, and the dead ponies..." Twilight whispered nervously in a almost unheard tone. Key word, almost.
"I... I understand Twilight Sparkle." Trixie said, dropping her usual third person tone of voice. "The personality I've been putting up, being rude to you... I... I just don't have the confidence to face this thing head on, like you are. I'm not brave nor am I great or powerful, not at all." She admitted, hanging her head in shame. Trixie however was surprised to have a hoof laid on her shoulder by Twilight, who was smiling.
"Trixie, you may not believe this, but I'm scared as well. I want to run and hide as far as I can, but I won't." Twilight told Trixie, who had her jaw drop in shock for a moment. She could hardly believe Twilight's words.
"But how do you find the ability to do it?" Trixie asked, and Twilight smiled once more. She remembered when she faced Nightmare Moon, and how she put aside her fear if only to save her friends and teacher.
"Do you really think you can stop me, Twilight Sparkle? You're just a simple unicorn, while I am a goddess! I am the night itself, and I WILL make it last forever!" A pure black pony with a mane of stars and wearing blue armor yelled at her foe. "And don't get me started on those friends of yours. Newsflash for you. Friendship is. A. LIE!"
Twilight glared harshly at her foe, while they stood in the ruins of a old and crumbling castle. Nearby, her newfound friends from Ponyville watched in shock and fear.
"No, that's not true. Friendship exists and you know, deep down Princess!" She pleaded, but the incarnation of nightmares and the shadows themselves were not willing to listen.
"DO NOT CALL ME THAT! I am not Princess Luna, there is only Nightmare Moon!" The being who was once Celestia's sister roared in rage. The shadows themselves seemed to grow colder and darker, as if they had minds of their own. But that wasn't possible, was it? Twilight ignored them even as they reached for her and charged at her opponent. Nightmare burst out laughing at the sight.
"You seriously think that'll work?"
Twilight came closer. Nightmare gaped for a second.
"...Wow, guess she is serious." She said, stunned.
She readied herself but Twilight didn't attack. Instead she slid right under the dark Alicorn goddess and to the chest beyond pulling out it's contents with her magic.
"Here, catch!"
With that, Twilight tossed the items known in legend as the Elements of Harmony to her friends.
"You want a demonstration of friendship, Nightmare? Here, I've got one JUST for you!" Twilight shouted as the Elements charged up and a golden crown with the final element, Magic appeared on her head. Then, six bright beams of light came out and fired, directing themselves towards the Nightmare spirit...
"The Doctor told me something once soon after our first adventure together in the Griffin Kingdom, something I take by heart to this very day. You want to know what that is?" Twilight asked, and Trixie nodded.
"He said to me, "Fear makes Companions of us all." So it's okay to be afraid, as that's what drives us to stop those we are afraid of in the first place." Twilight said, and Trixie smiled before embracing Twilight in a hug.
"You're braver then I am Twilight Sparkle. I'm sorry I called you a coward, and doubted your abilities." Trixie said with true honesty in her voice. Suddenly, there was a loud whinny and there stood the Headless Horse...
Nightmare Night, almost 150 years before...
The Doctor groaned and muttered "Geronimo..." as he hit the floor of a small shack. Unlike before, a storm was not raging. It was calm, and when the Doctor looked out a window he could see the glow of Jack-O-Lanterns from Sleepy Hollow, but it was smaller now. Cadence's time travel spell had worked as he and her were in the past, the night the Headless Horse came to be and right before it happened.
"Tell me Doctor, where are we going this time...?" The Doctor muttered to himself, still whoozy. Cadence was in a similar state, as she looked at him in concern even as she stumbled trying to get up. Eventually she managed to do so.
"You alright?" The Princess of Love asked, and the Doctor was about to answer when he heard hoofsteps. He knew who they must have belonged to, it was Blue Berry and he was about to commit the murders that kickstarted this whole thing.
"He's here." The Doctor murmured, and Cadence stared at him in shock.
"Can't we stop him Blue, I mean?" She asked in concern, if they could stop the murders from being committed now they would stop the Headless Horse's future killings. The Doctor knew where her thoughts were heading, and cut them off at once.
"No, we can't interfere with the timeline. We're just visiting." He told Cadence, as she frowned but used a spell that made them unnoticeable to anyone who could have seen them before. After all, a Alicorn and a strange stallion weren't exactly hard to explain away if caught now were they?
Then, it happened. Blue brought the meat cleaver down, and blood spattered the walls. But it was who that was rendered headless that shocked the Doctor and Cadence.
"The Headless Horse... It's not Ichabod..." Cadence began, shocked as the Doctor finished for her.
"It's his marefriend." He growled.
Author's Note
Wow, bet you weren't expecting that were you? So the Headless Horse's true identity is revealed in the past, while in the present Twilight and Trixie after having a heart to heart come face to face with Her. Seriously though, you have no idea how long it took me to come up with a good chapter title for this. To understand that, you have to understand that I usually come up with the title for the chapter and work with the plot for it from there, but not always. I've had the Library scene between Trixie and Twilight in my head since at least Part 2 I think...
Anyways, I'm a bit sad that you guys haven't left a comment since chapter two... It's beginning to make me wonder if anyone is even interested enough in this story anymore... Should I have released it closer to Halloween or something?
Also, do you think the flashbacks to Once a Time Lord were okay, or were they not needed for this chapter?
Author's Note
And now, the conclusion to that cliffhanger I left you on last week...
Part 6: Grave Tidings
Sleepy Hollow Town Library
"I'm going to die, aren't I?" was the thought running through Twilight's mind at the moment as the Headless Horse stood in their midst. Trixie's thoughts she didn't know, but from the way she was trembling it could be safely assumed that her thoughts were running along similar lines.
"I'm sorry Celestia, but I failed you..." Twilight whispered with tears running down her face. "You wanted me to become a good student and friend to anypony but now I'm going to die."
Twilight braced for death, and in those moments she thought of her teacher, her brother, her friends and Spike. But nothing occurred, and the Headless Horse was tilting it's neck in such a way that Twilight guess if it still had it's head it would be tilted in a curious manner. But why, it was almost like it was studying them. But whatever was to happen next in this brief shared moment of quietness between the Horse and Twilight, she never found out as with a mighty CRASH! both Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash burst in through the window, with glass shards ripping into Rainbow's costume. Shining stood firm against the Horse, his horn glowing with a magical aura and all of his training as Captain of the Royal Guard forces on display.
"Get away from my sister you piece of filth." He snarled and the Horse let out an ear piercing shriek before galloping forwards towards Shining who blasted it out of existence and into a cloud of black smoke with a shot of magic from his horn. It was gone, at least for the time being.
Twilight rushed forwards and hugged her brother, who whispered "It's okay Twily, I'm here."
Their moment of brother sister bonding was broken by the sound of Rainbow Dash groaning as she tossed off her costume. Twilight quirked an eyebrow in confusion. She thought Rainbow hated that thing.
"Man, it's ruined!" Rainbow complained and Trixie gaped.
"Trixie says she thought you hated that thing with a passion." The showmare stated in disbelief. Rainbow was then blushing in embarrassment.
"Well, to be fair it was getting me a lot of... Er, let's say interesting looks from both stallions and mares. I'm not picky." Rainbow replied with a flirty grin on her face, looking quite unashamed of herself. Twilight facehoofed in disbelief before throwing up a foreleg in frustration.
"So first, you hated the thing and now you claim you love it? Could you at least make up your mind?" Twilight exclaimed before she ground her teeth together in frustration.
"What? It's a free kingdom. Mind changing is allowed." Rainbow retorted. Twilight groaned, she'd never understand her friends sometimes. Now that she thought of it, Rainbow was pretty high up there on the list of friends she never completely understood.
Trixie meanwhile was snuggling up to a certain Captain of the Royal Guard and saying "You are Trixie's hero, c'mon give me a kiss!" and trying to get just exactly that.
Shining on the other hoof was blushing in embarrassment and praying to Celestia or any other deity that Cadence never learned of this little incident, if not for his safety then for Trixie's. Cadence was the jealous type after all, and pretty much everypony back in Canterlot heard of the many humiliating things she'd done to anypony who tried to flirt with her coltfriend. Speaking of which, Trixie was nowhere near done with her flirtations.
"Y'know, Trixie hears things about colts with big horns. I want to be all sciencey and test that theory..." Trixie trailed off seductively while Twilight looked disgusted at Trixie's audacity and Rainbow just burst out laughing. Twilight, blushing quickly found it best to just change the subject.
"S-So, while I was reading... T-This was of course b-before we got attacked by the Horse but I think I found a way to get rid of ghosts." Twilight stammered out, still blushing and quite embarrassed by seeing Trixie's behavior. Rainbow raised an eyebrow inquisitively and looked at her.
"Oh yeah, and how do we do that?" She asked, and Twilight simply smirked.
"Burn the bones."
Sleepy Hollow Graveyard: 10:15 PM
It was cold and dark, and the wind was still blowing through the bare branched trees making them sway, but Twilight and company were thankful for at least one thing. The rain had finally stopped and the clouds were beginning to clear making the task of burning the bones of the Headless Horse all that much easier and along with that they had Luna's moonlight to light their way along the path through the graveyard.
"So, I assume we'll just know the Horse's grave when we see it?" Rainbow asked, and Twilight nodded. As she looked around and glanced at the names on the tombstones her eyes spied a distinct statue, a pony with wings and hooves covering it's face almost as if it were weeping. She turned her head back, but what nopony saw was that the statue was gone almost as if it were never there in the first place.
Finally, she saw it. A name on a headstone. Ichabod Crane , it read. Interestingly, while most of the headstones around here seemed to be well cared for this one was falling apart almost as if anypony never wanted to be near it. It made sense, Twilight mused. After all, Ichabod was supposedly the Headless Horse and nopony wanted to anger his spirit.
The hole to expose the casket was quickly dug, and the casket was ripped open exposing the bones of Ichabod Crane. To everypony's shock, the head was still there. Then again, he'd probably been buried with his head anyway. But the odd thing was, it was almost as if the head... was still attached.
Trixie's horn glowed with a magical flame and she commented "Well, time for the old stallion to finally be laid to rest!" even as Twilight's eyes widened as she realized the truth and cried out a warning.
"Trixie, wait! We've got the wrong-"
But it was too late, as the bones were already aflame and burning quickly their dryness helping them along. Trixie smirked and turned to Twilight.
"You were about to say something Twilight Spark-"
Suddenly, Trixie felt her neck pressed to cold hard stone as a Weeping Angel appeared and grabbed her in such a way that it was obvious it was about to break her neck and snap it in two. Shining flashed back to a conversation he and the Doctor had soon after when they first met.
"Wait a moment, you said ones. Does that mean there are more?"
The Doctor looked sheepish.
"Ah, I did think there might be a slight chance more then one Angel might have landed here. I just didn't mention it before."
"And you failed to mention this to us before because...?"
"Didn't want to alarm you, that's all."
"Well congrats, you failed on that front." Shining snapped at him.
"Looks like the Doctor wasn't kidding when he said more might have fallen through the cracks." Shining muttered, and Twilight and Rainbow stared at him in confusion before they put that question to the back of their minds. Right now, they had bigger things to worry about. But then, there was a storm of pink magical energy appearing around the Angel and a cry of "Geronimo!" was let out as Cadence and the Doctor appeared and as for the Angel... It was gone.
"Well, talk about a Doubleback of a trip..." The Doctor muttered before he realized what he'd just done even as Cadence regained her strength from the trip and Twilight helped her up. She frowned at this, Twilight knew the signs of a powerful time travel spell from her books and last she checked her old foalsitter didn't know about these types of spells. This was a question she'd have to get answers for later, that was for sure.
"So... Uh, where's the Angel?" Trixie asked, rubbing her neck glad to have it in one piece.
"It uh... Dispersed into the atmosphere." The Doctor admitted with a blush as he rubbed his head. Twilight, being the smartest of the group gaped and made a small squeak of shock as she figured out what had happened. Trixie, on the other hoof hadn't quite caught up to her train of thought and was confused.
"And that means...?" She asked and the Doctor sighed and rubbed his temples before he muttered "Ponies, oh why can't you all be as smart as Twilight over there...?"
Trixie heard him and glared at the Doctor for the insult.
"Can you just put it in normal Equestrian please?" She demanded. She quickly learned she probably shouldn't have asked, as evidenced by the Doctor's answer.
"I mean you're breathing it." He stated flatly and Trixie, along with pretty much everyone else began making loud noises of disgust as they realized they were breathing what was left of the Weeping Angel.
"...Well, at least that Horse is finally gone." Rainbow said at last, letting out a loud sigh of relief. But then there came a loud shout from Trixie as she pointed with a hoof to a nearby hilltop.
"Oh yeah, then what do you call THAT!?!" She yelled, as on that hilltop standing between two trees was the Headless Horse...
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Part 7: Debates, and a new Sheriff in town...
Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter. Then:
The Doctor gathered all of his companions that had been with him throughout the night along with Cherry to explain his plan. He smiled at all of then before he began with a nervous look around the room and he swallowed hard. Nobody was exactly calmed by this, and the Doctor's next statement didn't exactly help matters much.
"Okay Twilight, Shining... You know usually how I have great plans, and brilliant ideas to stop whatever we're facing?" He asked, and Shining and Twilight nodded politely although inwardly they were thinking "No, not really."
"Well..." The Doctor began before with manic frenzy he threw on his Stetson and cried "Look at me Horsey, I'm a target!"
Trixie gaped in shock as Twilight and Shining collectively facehoofed. They knew exactly what the Doctor was thinking, luring the Horse out into the open while they went and burned the bones but this was still a risky plan if either of the two were to be honest. Nopony still knew the limits of the Horse's abilities in single combat and what she could do yet. All they'd seen was just mere teleportation and sword swinging, and one lucky swing of that sword and they'd be out one Time Lord for all they knew. After all, they still didn't know just how many regenerations the Doctor was allowed access to. Hell, even the Time Lord himself didn't know. Technically, this was supposed to be his last body, and he didn't know if going into a different dimension rendered the laws of a Time Lord's Regeneration ability moot.
"So, this is your plan Doctor?" Trixie asked in disbelief. "Face down the Horse in single combat, mano-a-mano? Trixie says, no she asks have you ever heard of the concept of SUICIDE!?! Because that's exactly what this is!" She roared in the Doctor's face, making him wince a bit and take a step back.
"Now now, no need to get your horn in a twist, and believe me as I know it can happen seeing as how I've seen it, but I'm not going to face Horsey mano-a-mano. I'm going into battle with another ally by my side."
"Who, us?" Trixie asked. The Doctor smiled and booped her on the nose making Trixie's jaw drop.
"Nope, my wits." He laughed and Twilight facehoofed as the Doctor muttered to himself under his breath which went something along of the lines of "Ponies and humans, you're all the same, you don't think. Besides, didn't you hear the words "I'm a target?" Listen before you speak."
This was the best that could be understood of the Doctor's chastising. Trixie looked understandably insulted and harrumphed to herself before she muttered "Trixie is smarter then she looks." before turning to Twilight and hissing in her ear "Is he always like this?"
Twilight groaned before she responded "Pretty much. But don't worry, I'm sure the Doctor has a plan here, a good one that's better then he makes it sound."
Trixie crossed her front forelegs and said "Trixie is not exactly reassured. How certain are you? 100%?"
Twilight nodded before Trixie raised a eyebrow and the lavender unicorn quickly corrected herself with a "Okay, 65% sure."
Now:
The Doctor and the Headless Horse/Black Berry stared each other down, before it happened. Each drew their chosen weapon and the Horse struck first swinging it's sword but the Doctor managed to knock it out of the air and onto the ground with a sonic blast from his Screwdriver.
The Doctor looked incredibly pleased with himself, this could be easier then he thought it would be but his smirk soon vanished when the Horse regained it's sword and took a swing with this time the Doctor being too surprised to react as he was split right down the middle. But that was the odd thing, there was not a drop of blood, nor guts spilling out onto the street and no gore whatsoever. And then it got really odd, as the Doctor's body just flickered and vanished.
It was then the Doctor, the real one for all the Horse knew stepped out from a home's front doors.
"Well, you know what they say. No guts, no glory eh? Not in this case Horsey!" The Time Lord mocked. The reaction this comment generated was exactly the one the Doctor expected and the one he'd been wanting.
The Horse screeched in rage, she'd been tricked by a mere illusion! She swung her sword once more at the Doctor and he ducked his head to avoid it being lopped right off.
"Woah nelly, this is not how a second date is supposed to go!" The Doctor teased, and only succeeded in making the Horse madder then ever.
"Of course, I don't know how you'd be able to enjoy me on a second date considering how you have no... well, head, and plus I don't date dead ponies who also happen to be stropping maniacs. That's even below Jack's standards I think." The Doctor mused to himself as the Time Lord dodged another sword swing which tore apart his hat and cut some of his mane off his scalp as he let out a small yelp.
"That was my favorite hat..." The Doctor thought to himself. "Plus, I like my hair the way it is!"
"Rainbow, some help may be required here!" He yelled, and sure enough Rainbow Dash appeared and flew in only to kick the Horse into the town's well but soon as she did so black smoke clambered out of the well's pit and reformed into the Headless Horse, who reared up on her hind legs and whinnied in rage before bringing out her sword again and swinging it in a fanciful manner. "It's kinda elegant, in a I'm going to decapitate you and all your relatives and relations way." The Doctor mused to himself.
"Great, now we'll both die a horrible bloody and headless death." Rainbow said dryly. The Doctor ignored her.
"You know, if I liked to kill... and was partial to guns I'd just shoot her dead now, just like in that movie I watched once." The Doctor commented cheerfully before he straightened up his vest and his expression became grim.
"You know, this has been fun and all but now we really have got to have a serious talk. You were once a good pony Berry, until that prat of a father of yours messed you up and killed your coltfriend. I get it, you wanted revenge, but this has to stop now! You seem determined to play your role as a monster so you know what I'll have to do? Yeah, that's right. Play my role, as the pony who stops the monsters!" The Doctor began before with the final words his speech turned vicious and cold with Rainbow feeling a chill run down her spine at the words spoken. This was the Oncoming Storm, the Predator and now the Headless Horse was about to meet him. With a smirk, he pulled out a small walkie talkie and yelled into it.
"Trixie, Twilight, Shining, NOW!"
Sleepy Hollow Graveyard, a few moments before...
In the Graveyard, a hole had been dug, right in front of Black Berry's grave and inside lay dried up bones with the threesome standing above them all of their horns alight and glowing with magical auras, each in their own color with the magic still waiting to be used for it's purpose.
"So, you think the Doctor can handle her? T-The Headless Horse I mean?" Trixie asked nervously, while looking around her every so often just to make sure there were no more Weeping Angels in the area or anything that could even resemble one. She was still shook up quite a bit from her last encounter and near death from one and wasn't even bothering to hide her fear behind arrogance and bravado.
"I wish I knew Trixie, I really wish I did." Twilight murmured to herself. "I'd like to say he knows what he's doing but... well, he's the Doctor."
Then a thought struck Twilight, she'd just noticed somepony who could and should have probably been with them or the Doctor was missing and it wasn't Rainbow Dash or Cherry Berry.
"Hey Shining, where's Cadence? Shouldn't she be helping here?" Twilight inquired curiously and Shining frowned to himself.
"I have my reasons for keeping her out of this, Twily." He answered grimly and before Twilight could ask again he repeated himself with a "Just... reasons."
Twilight then got the sense that if Shining wanted his reasons kept private and didn't want anypony to inquire into them, they'd be that way... For now at least. She sent her brother a "We will talk about this someday" look which he caught. Then, before any more words could be said between the two, they heard the Doctor's voice come from a walkie-talkie resting on the ground nearby.
"Trixie, Twilight, Shining, NOW!" The Doctor's voice roared over the walkie-talkie, and all three ponies shared a look before with a flash and a small poof of a magical explosion the flames were lit and the bones were burning nicely. Twilight and her two compatriots let out identical sighs of relief, that should stop the Horse for good...
Or at least that's what they thought...
Back in town, the Doctor awaited for what he expected to come, the flaming of the Horse's spirit as it was finally laid to rest. But that's exactly what DIDN'T happen, much to Rainbow's and the Doctor's shock and horror. The Horse was still there, and madder then ever. it had felt what the Doctor's friends had tried to do, and it didn't like it.
"Aw come on, you gotta be kidding me!" Rainbow exclaimed at the sight of the still-there Headless Horse.
"Twilight..." The Doctor began nervously as he and Rainbow began to slowly back away from the Horse. "Please tell me you burned the bones."
His voice came out in a squeak, and the Doctor felt no shame in admitting he was afraid. He didn't know why the plan failed like it did, but he doubted he'd have time to wonder much longer.
"Yeah, we did! Is something wrong?" Twilight asked nervously only for the Doctor to swallow hard.
"Is some-" He began before snapping "OF COURSE SOMETHING'S WRONG! The Horse is still alive, well not alive but kicking and really rather hacked off!"
Back in the Graveyard, all three ponies shared a look. That wasn't good, not at all. Twilight began to panic as she paced back and forth muttering how the plan should have worked, before a thought struck her. She thought she may have just figured it out, even if the solution chilled her to her core.
"Doctor, it's the Horse's spirit! It's too angry now at everypony even slightly related to her father for even burning bones to work! I... I don't know how, but that's the truth!" Twilight yelled in fear for the Doctor's life. And then the Doctor realized it too. Of course, it made sense! There was only one way for the Horse to be defeated now, he just didn't know if it would ever happen. And yet he was about to be shocked, as striding out of the Town Hall was Cherry Berry.
"What do you want?" The Horse hissed in it's raspy voice.
"To say something that should have been said a long time ago. To say... I'm sorry." Cherry whispered, but the Horse still heard her.
"SORRY!?!" She roared. "Sorry can't make up for what's been done to me!"
With that, she plunged her sword into Cherry's chest as the Doctor let out a shout of "NO!" and Twilight heard him and exclaimed "What's happening? DOCTOR!" but Cherry still somehow found the strength to talk even as she coughed up blood.
"Maybe it can't, but maybe it can. There's something that should have been done long ago, something that should have been done on the night you first rose from the after-worlds to haunt this town with your curse. You had family, and you still do in me. What your father did was horrible, and a unforgivable act but I still want to make things right. M-My family, your family, forgives you and yet we u-understand you as well. You and I-Ichabod should have had a h-happy life, and i-it was taken from you. For that, me and all those who are descended from your father are very, truly sorry." Cherry coughed up before her eyes closed for the last time but her words had reached the Horse. It felt very, very ashamed of itself, and if it had a head would have been sobbing for all the meaningless deaths it had inflicted, either related to her father by blood somehow or not. And then, with a flash of flame and a final screech it was gone leaving only ashes in it's wake with Cherry's body crumpling to the ground no trace of the sword which had pierced her.
"Doctor, what's happening?" Twilight asked again, her mind considering the worst possibilities imaginable. The Doctor closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
"It's over, it's finally over. The Horse, along... Along with your aunt are gone. I'm sorry Twilight." He whispered in sorrow. This whole night, it had been meaningless, hadn't it? Had he really achieved anything besides getting somepony very close to one of his friends killed? Twilight knew where his thoughts were heading, and even as she sobbed in mourning for her aunt reassured him.
"It wasn't meaningless Doctor, not really. You stopped a curse, and laid a pony to rest." She said and the Doctor chuckled sadly.
"No, it wasn't me who did this, it was Cherry. Your aunt, she may have had her faults but in the end she proved to be a pony to be admired... In the end." The Doctor said sadly, and for that Twilight had nothing to respond to.
Sleepy Hollow Train Station
The train whistle blew sharply that very next morning, it was almost time to go back home. Twilight took one last long look at Sleepy Hollow and sighed. With her aunt gone, there was nothing left for her here. In her mind, this had been the worst Nightmare Night ever. When she got back, all she wanted to do was just curl up in her bed and sleep the day away, this whole venture had exhausted her. Suddenly she felt a hoof on her shoulder. It belonged to Trixie.
"Listen, Trixie just wants to say she is sorry... For about what happened to Cherry. She was a real hero, although she never deserved what she got."
Twilight sniffed as she wiped away her tears as Trixie continued.
"You're a tough pony Twilight Sparkle, and you will recover... Although you will never be as Great and Powerful as the mighty Trrrriiiixxxxie!" The Showmare cried before with a explosion of magical smoke she was gone having vanished to parts unknown.
"Think she'll ever change?" The Doctor asked, having only caught the last bit and the explosion. Twilight looked up at him and smiled.
"You know, I think she already has..."
END
Author's Note
Well, that's the end of this little jaunt with the Doctor and his friends. I bet you weren't expecting not for the Doctor or Twilight to be the hero of this piece, but Cherry herself who went out like a good Mayor protecting her town should. Next, I just want to thank you all who've stuck with me through this story, as you guys took the time out of your lives to read this story out of the many others out here on Fimfic and for that I really thank you, and will leave you with this message just before I go.
THE DOCTOR, TWILIGHT AND SHINING WILL RETURN IN "NOW A PONY, ONCE A TIME LORD"...
