Hours Loom 2: Electric Boogaloo

Twilight Velvet watched as her daughter cut the rope. Limestone and Zephyr caught the maintenance worker’s body and rested it on the outside wall. Igneous took the flashlight that had been lodged in the victim’s throat, whether by accident or on purpose nopony could say. They all stood around the lifeless corpse, unsure of what to say or do now. “Twilight,” Velvet turned to her daughter. “We need to find your father. He’s down there, somewhere, with that monster.”

The alicorn didn’t know how to respond. Instead, Igneous spoke up. “We also need to grab Marble and Big Mac, not to mention the Shy’s and the two Wonderbolts. I haven’t seen Hondo Flanks or his wife since this morn.”

“I need to find Big Mac. I’ll give that there charlatan a proper beatin’ if she so much touches one of his red hairs!” Granny Smith added.

“Well, Granny could join me and Limestone in grabbing Big M and Marble. Gale could go with Igneous and Cloudy to find Hondo and Cookie. Though I suppose that leaves an odd number for the two Twilight’s, but that’s the best I could come up with,” Zephyr said.

Velvet shook her head. “It’s fine. Night Light shouldn’t have left the radio bay. We’ll go straight for it.”

Limestone tapped Zephyr on the shoulder. “For once, you’ve actually come up with something helpful. Good job.”

He gave a slight blush. “I come up with them every once in a while.”

The three groups separated. Twilight Velvet traveled down the steps with her daughter, the maid, and the Pie parents before splitting off at the third floor. The alicorn was quiet the entire walk and her mother noticed. She didn’t need to talk though, as they reached the radio bay quickly enough. Their horns lit up the room like a beacon of light in the heart of the ship. An empty heart. The radio bay was devoid of their husband and father.

“Where do you think they went?” Velvet asked.

“They couldn’t have gotten far, I hope.” Twilight Sparkle trotted back out into the hall and down the next corridor.

Light shined at the end of this corridor. Twilight Sparkle rushed ahead, thinking it could be her father. She got to the light and was immediately disappointed, it was just a reflection of glass from her own horn’s glow. The glass was from the door to the gym. It was open into the hall as if someone had rushed out and forgot to shut it. When Twilight turned to call to her mother, hoping to explain what it was, her mother interrupted with a shout. “Behind you!” echoed from down the hall.

Twilight turned and saw the knife-wielding maniac sprinting towards her from beyond the door. As she ran back down the hall, her mother came at her and faced the killer head on. “Mom!? What are you doing, we have to go!” she yelled as she passed the unicorn.

In an instant, the killer was upon the two mares but Velvet refused to be taken down so easily. She slammed a hoof into the mask just as the knife swung up, slicing at her cheek. The elder mare pushed the killer to the floor and yelled for her daughter to split up. She ran down one path while Twilight ran the other, confusing the masked pony as it stood up.

Her mother’s light had turned down a corner and she could see the killer chasing after her. But as it reached the corner it stopped. She too stopped and turned back, wanting to chase the chaser and save her mother. But the silhouette hadn’t moved beyond the corner and eventually faded when Velvet’s light faded. It was then she realized the silhouette was moving but not around the corner, instead, it was coming for her.

She turned to flee once more, not realizing she had been so close to the steps of the staircase. Toppling down the set of stairs, she reached the fourth floor, though, not the way she had been expecting. She dimmed her light and bolted down the second set of stairs onto the fifth floor. Another light, much brighter than her own, moved around in the laundry area. She couldn’t tell who the pony was but as she drew closer, she whispered loudly, “It’s me, Twilight. Hide now!”

The mare turned her flashlight on herself, showing it to be Maud. As Twilight hurried over, Maud flipped her flashlight off and pointed the mare to the dirty sheet baskets. Twilight levitated them out and wrapped them around both her and Maud. They slunk to the ground and she covered them with even more before going silent. The silence of the room was eventually cut short as somepony entered the laundry area and trotted in place for a moment. The mares could hear heavy breathing and then the sound of galloping hooves. As they thought they were free of whatever pony had come, the sound of a crate opening rang out. A moment later and there was a smash of something, crashing into metal and destroying whatever it had been on impact.

After the pony ran off and they waited for a long while, the two mares removed the sheets and stood up. Twilight rushed out into the storage area and lit her horn, bearing witness to a substantial amount of broken crates, crushed food, and torn clothing. “What in Equestria happened?” she mumbled.

“It seems someone lost their toys.” Maud stepped next to the alicorn. “I believe Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles allowed Rarity to get aboard the ship.”

“Why do you think that?” Twilight whispered.

Maud motioned her over to a crate in the corner. She lifted the lid off and the alicorn peered in. “I don’t know why Rarity would need multiple sets of clothes but I can only speculate, and the speculations aren’t good.”

Twilight was baffled by the sight. “Why would there be more costumes for just one pony?” Then it hit her. “Hondo and Cookie! They must also be parading around in the same costume with her!”

“I haven’t seen multiple ponies in that costume though, so as I said, speculation.”

There was a hole in the theory, but Twilight understood that if the costumes had not been removed yet then perhaps Rarity’s parents had just been waiting for an opportunity to join in. “We should find the others and tell them to avoid Hondo and Cookie until the masked marauder has been captured or vanquished.”

Maud nodded and followed the alicorn up the steps. They went a different way than how Twilight had come, past the boiler room and engine room, up a mini staircase, and onto the third floor. It was becoming less of a maze for the two mares. Twilight wished she had spent more time looking at the map rather than the hours of restless sleep she had gotten. As they reached the third floor they came into a much larger corridor. Sounds echoed from down the hall and lights flickered within the gaps of the two sets of double doors. The earth pony looked to the alicorn, waiting for her to make a move.

They stepped next to a double door set, one mare on each side. Slowly, they pushed open the doors and the lights filled the hall. It was the theater. The movie lit the screen from the projector above, between both sets of double doors. During their stay, the theater was meant to be closed unless the entire group wanted to watch something, as it was more meant for a bustling ship. Now, it was being used for something far more demented. The only sound they had been hearing was that of the projector clicking as it ran the film rolls.

It wasn’t a normal movie, as normal movies have music or sound effects. This had neither. No, this movie was just a series of zooms and focuses on still pictures. Twilight stepped into the room and watched it for a moment, realizing what it was that it was showing. Maud shut the doors and stared with her, watching as the photos were thrown one at a time into an open fire. The photo melted and another was shown, then it too was thrown in and burned.

Every photo was different but all contained the same pony. Rarity. Photo after photo were of Rarity at different stages in her life. One with her and Sweetie Belle. One with her and Opal. One of the day she moved to Ponyville. One as Pinkie Pie smashed her face into her cake, followed with Rarity’s cake covered face grown angry at the party pony. It would have been sweet if they hadn’t all been of the monster that later murdered all of her friends. It was then Twilight felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked to Maud who pointed down at the front row. Two ponies sat staring up at the screen.

One final photo was thrown into the fire, the photo of Twilight and all her friends sitting together happily. The film sat on the open flames, watching the destruction of the photos. Twilight couldn’t bear to watch the photo of her friends burning. She marched down the steps of the theater and came to the bottom, hoping to angrily yell at whoever had been watching this sick movie.

Her heart sunk and she fell on her rump, covering her mouth to prevent herself from screaming. She would need to rethink her theory. The two who sat in the chairs were Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles. Blood covered their torsos and their cheeks had been cut into, making red smiles on both their faces. As she came closer she could tell their eyelids had been removed. She wondered if that had been before or after they died. Maud had followed her down and glanced over the bodies, looking to make sure they had truly kicked the bucket and weren’t faking.

The slits in their necks were proof enough to her. “What are you thinking?” Maud asked, trying to understand the events.

“Rarity killed them, there’s no deniability. They may have gotten her on board they may have not, but she is on board and this is the proof I needed to believe.” Twilight shook her head and turned to the earth pony. “We need to-” As she began to speak the movie shut off, darkening the theater. She lit her horn just as the doors they had entered from were shoved open. A glow emitted from behind the masked pony.

“Look who it is, Twilight Sparkle and Maud Pie,” the smoothly mechanical voice said. “Did you save any popcorn for me? You better have, because if you didn’t…” The masked murderer ran down the steps towards the screen. “I’ll gut you and pour your blood like butter!”

The two mares ran up the other aisle and out of the theater. They didn’t look back but could hear the killer yell, “Where you going? The movies just about to start!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

“I thought you said seventy-five?”

Zephyr held the flashlight on the open doorway. The room was barren of life. They had gotten the room number wrong after a slow walk with Granny Smith. They’d have to walk another hall over to get to the room they needed. Limestone groaned and took the flashlight from the pegasus, leading the two down the hall and around to the next aisle of rooms. It took them a long while, waiting for the earth pony to walk, but they eventually made it.

Limestone knocked on the door and it swayed open. “I thought I told them to lock up tight,” she mumbled. She flipped the switch to light the lights but had forgotten they had been out. “Marble? McIntosh?” she called out to no response. The flashlight showed nopony was dead or alive in the room.

“So, they’re not here, and now we have to go find them don’t we?” Zephyr complained, his eyes leaning towards the old mare.

“I suppose it could have been another room,” Limestone replied as she noticed the resentment in his eyes. “We’ll have to search.”

The stallion groaned. But he then got an idea. “Hey, Granny Smith. I’ll bet they probably went to the captain’s quarters since that room is bigger. Big M’s probably already there, waiting for you. Why don’t you go check and we’ll make sure we’ve got the right room.”

Granny Smith raised an eyebrow. Her mouth hummed and sloshed around as she thought about it. “Well, if you say so,” she finally replied and then turned away.

As she walked down the hall Limestone gave Zephyr a smack in the shoulder. “Why’d you do that? She could run into that masked freak and die!”

“Well, if she gets stabbed I’m sure she’ll bleed as slow as she walks,” he replied, rolling his eyes.

“That’s not funny, Zephyr. Crew members have died, our families could be next.” Limestone closed room ninety-five’s door and pointed the flashlight at him.

“Hey I’m worried about my parents and all but I’m pretty sure the killer is targeting Twilight Sparkle.” He gave a shrug. “I’m more worried about dying a virgin.”

She groaned for a moment and turned away. “You and me both.” As the words left her mouth she realized what she had said, slapping her forehead. “I-I mean, I’m worried about my parents. That’s all!”

When she turned back to the pegasus she could see the hugest grin on his face. “You know-”

“No!”

“Aw c’mon. You’re here, I’m here. We’re alone. Maybe might die. It’s the perfect opportunity.” Zephyr slinked around to her side and caressed her cheek. “What’s wrong with just having some fun?”

Her face was fully blushed as she tried to hide it from the pegasus’s view. “You’re really getting on my nerves!” She threw open a door and shoved Zephyr inside, knocking him all the way to the edge of the bed. “Fine. You want to do it? Let’s do it!” She threw the flashlight to the side and pushed him once more onto the bed. The light shined over them, barely illuminating their field of view.

Limestone lifted her body onto the pegasus as he lay on his back, staring up at the earth pony and grinning. She wanted to wipe the smug look off his face but didn’t know how, that is, until he pulled her down and kissed her. They were entangled in each other’s mouths for quite a bit, their muzzles pressed hard against one another. Limestone eventually felt tapping between her legs. His stallionhood was fully erect and throbbing, wanting to be let in. She broke muzzles with him and leaned back, rubbing her wetness against his mass. She took a moment to look down to see how big he was in the dim light. He was bigger than she had expected.

Rainbow must have been a fillyfooler to pass up something like this, she thought as she bit her lip. Her whole body pressed down on him and he entered her. She couldn’t contain her moaning as she sat down on him, feeling the entire rod inside of her.

Zephyr could feel himself throbbing and he purposefully wiggled inside her, inciting her to moan more. She hadn’t started to move and so he pressed his rump against the bed and then pushed up, sending his cock all the way in once more. He did this several times and then stopped, teasing her with slow movements. She finally took it upon herself to start riding him, placing a hoof on his chest and throwing her head back in excitement. He could feel her squeezing on him as she did. It was then he realized she must have orgasmed, as she slowed and her squeezing let up. She took several pants before starting again, this time going faster and harder. Slapping echoed and the bed shook rapidly as she rode him.

He could feel himself getting closer and closer to climax. This is way better than using wings. His tongue escaped his mouth and he rolled his head back, closing his eyes. She wasn’t going to stop and he wasn’t going to make her. He let go. His cock pulsed as his seed flowed into her, filling her up. She had stopped moving and he held her back legs down, preventing her from trying to get up off of him. With his eyes still closed, he felt liquid warmth spreading onto his belly. I must have been more pent up than I thought, she couldn’t keep it all in her, he alleged as he grinned.

When he opened his eyes he saw blood pouring down onto him from her neck. Her throat had been slit and the red eyes of the killer were behind her head. The killer had held Limestone in place, preventing her from slumping over onto him. When it noticed he had seen the mask it let go and the fresh corpse fell onto him. He screamed and tried to push her off but his cock was still stuck inside her. The killer stepped around the bed and lifted the knife, plunging it down at him. He twisted and turned and moved out of the way of the blade. As the killer stabbed into the bedding, sending fluff everywhere, Zephyr managed to break free and roll off the bed. Blood and semen trailed out the door as he ran into the hall.

The killer chased after him but he was too quick. Zephyr opened doors, blocking the killer’s path. He managed to reach the staircase with the killer right on his tail. As he climbed the steps he saw the open night air. Once he stepped out onto the deck he spread his wings to fly, but it was too late. The masked pony plunged a knife into an open wing, preventing Zephyr from flying. He slammed his chin onto the railing as he fell, blood spewing from both his wing and muzzle as he landed on the wooden deck. His body flopped and turned. The killer stood above him, staring down with those bright red eyes. Zephyr looked up and asked, “W-Why?”

“Well, at least you didn’t die a virgin.”

The knife slid in-between Zephyr’s ribs, straight into his heart.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Thanks for getting us out of there. I don’t know how long we were trapped,” Soarin said as the trio walked the dark hall. Spitfire led the way with Mrs. Shy’s flashlight. The pegasus had found them locked in the gym after running from a masked pony.

“I’m just glad I found you two. It’s been crazy and I lost m-my husband. I need t-to find him and Zephyr.”

“I’ll help you look for him once we get to the deck. Soarin here is going to fly back to shore and get help, then you and I can go look for your husband and son. Hopefully we’ll run into Twilight Sparkle along the way,” Spitfire replied as they reached an intersection. She shined the light down both side paths, making sure no one was waiting or hiding.

They continued on past the radio bay and around the corner. Soarin trotted up closer to Spitfire, leaving Mrs. Shy in the back. He then asked, “Are you sure it’s smart for me to leave you behind? I know you have your reasons but I can’t feel like I’d be more helpful here.”

Spitfire shook her head. “Princess Celestia needs to be told immediately. She will raise an army and navy just to find the killer. You know what she told us in our acceptance on this cruise.”

He sighed. “Yeah, we’re to protect Princess Twilight at all costs. Still, I don’t see how me running off is protecting her. That sounds more like leaving her to die, and worse, you as well.”

She stopped and smiled, then turned to look at him. “You know Soarin, you’re a real sweetheart. Once we get home you and I should-”

Screams interrupted the two’s conversation. It was coming from behind them. Spitfire turned and shined the flashlight down the hall. Mrs. Shy was being dragged by her back legs at an incredibly rapid pace. She was pulled around the corner and out of their sight. The screams increased as the two Wonderbolts rushed down the hall after her. She was nowhere to be seen when they turned the corner and her screams had stopped. They dashed down to the intersection and Spitfire shined the light on each of the paths, revealing nothing.

A sound of trotting came from behind them but when she shined her light there was nothing. She quickly returned to the radio bay and flashed the light, finding a bloody trail on the floor that led to the yellow pegasus. Soarin rushed in behind her, hoping that she found the mare to be okay. Spitfire shined the light down, showing the mare lying face up and slumped against the desk. Her throat had been slit, an eye gouged out, and six or seven stab wounds had pierced her torso and belly.

As Spitfire glanced over the corpse, grimacing in both horror and fear, a noise spooked her. She turned to shine the light on the door but saw nothing. It was then she realized what the noise was and shined over Soarin and the floor below him. He had pissed himself and still was, pouring urine onto the floor. She glanced up at his face and saw the pure terror in his expression. “Soarin!”

The yell had jolted him from his pissing stupor. He looked over to her, his eyes were almost bulging from his skull. He didn’t respond. She grabbed him by the hair and dragged him away, forcing him to step in more of his own pee. She pulled him out the door and began running. He followed after her and they rushed up the steps into the second-floor guestrooms. They ran down the hall and turned for another, reaching another set of stairs.

Once they came up from that staircase, they found the body of Zephyr lying in front of them, slumping against the railing with a pool of blood around him. “W-Wha.” Soarin tried to speak but he couldn’t get the words out. His throat had closed up as if he was choking on fear itself. “I-I” Spitfire placed a hoof over his mouth, shushing him.

“Fly in the direction the boat is heading. Fly as quickly as you can. Get help, tell Celestia, and keep safe.” Spitfire planted a kiss on his lips and then pointed to the sky. “Go!” she yelled. He hesitated, looking to her and then Zephyr’s corpse. “As your superior, I command you to go!”

He finally did as he was told, taking a running start and spreading his wings. He flew up high, glancing down every so often at the mare he loved. She watched him go, waiting for him to completely vanish into the night sky before finally shedding tears. She could only cry for a moment before she heard tapping. The moonlight lit up the white shirt and the black mask. The killer had been waiting against the wall, tapping a hoof impatiently. “Well, that poses a problem,” the smooth, ambiguous voice said.

Spitfire frowned and gritted her teeth. Her muzzle scrunched at the sight of the killer. She knew what she had to do. The killer rubbed a blood coated knife on Zephyr’s corpse, cleaning it off before turning back to Spitfire, pointing the blade at her. As they stood facing each other, they waited for the other to make a move. Eventually, they both did. They ran straight for each other, hoping to be the one to land the first of several blows.