Alan Mane

A thin fog lay about, accompanied by low temperature, along with the work of Princess Luna. The moon lit the night, as Alan descended down the woods which  resided right along a mountain side road, so carriages usually passed by, giving the area a sign of life. There has been no sign of any carriages though. This fact did not help ease Alan’s tensions. His instincts told him to turn back for it was dangerous for a lone pony to walk into the woods alone but he felt like there was a reason he was here. Plus, he did not know where to turn back to, and with no carriages passing by he felt turning back would be just as worse.  He did not know exactly where he was, but he had a strange feeling in his gut that he has been here before.

But how? It looked just like any other road that had a couple of trees next to it, it probably was just a case of déjà vu, He thought to himself.  “That still wouldn’t explain how I can’t recall me getting here”.

Cautiously analyzing his surroundings, he trudged onwards through the woods, his hooves stepping on the dry leaves below him, feeling the perspiration of the grass, and leaving a crunching sound whenever he moved. As Alan descended further he began to notice an odd event. He would feel a cold rush of wind gust past him every so often, but oddly enough the tree’s leaves or branches did not rustle any time. He would stop at times, examining that event, trying to find a reasonable explanation for why it would happen. He couldn’t though; it just defied the laws of science and nature.

Alan kept walking through the woods, keeping his guard up in case anypony around tried to sneak up on him, but then again, in this silence, surrounded by dead leaves, he was sure he’ll hear someone coming. He tried to reassure himself by thinking it was highly unlikely for a lone pony to be out here in the woo-

Suddenly, Alan felt something seize the side of his flank. With a yelp, Alan spun around to see who his attacker. Nothing.  Alan was heavily breathing; the sudden grasp of his flank left him on surveillance (just in case there was a perverse pony following him), and began to trot backwards, not willing to leave what was his backside unguarded.  He was scared now. If there was anyone out there he would’ve been able to outline the retreating figure, if not that, would have heard them coming from a good three yards away. No one was out there though, just him and the woods. Along with my paranoia, he noted to himself.

He finally turned his body around, still looking to his backside. He decided to examine his flank for he started to feel a tingling sensation around the affected region. He glanced at it, trying to find any abnormalities amongst his sides and found only one oddity. It turns out there was a cut along his cutie mark, consisting of a quill on top of a paper. The wound lay on the portion of the cutie mark, particularly on the paper. It wasn’t bleeding a lot, so Alan did not think much of the wound, except for the fact that his wound was inflicted by an unknown assailant. Alan also found the fact of the wound leaving blood on the paper, a little bit ominous, but he tried not to think of it. This place was starting to get to his head and the last thing he needed to do was panic. He left the cut unattended since he had nothing to patch it up with, and spun his head to the front of his body which he left unattended. Alan gasped and took a step back defensively as he found himself staring into a Dark Figure, which stared back at him with blood red eyes. Its eyes were slanted and stared at him with an immensely heavy gaze.

Alan turned abruptly and ran back out the way he came. What the buck was that? He thought to himself as he ran past trees, his hooves heavily thumping on the ground below him. He couldn’t get the horrific image of the creature he saw out of his head even though he only saw what he believed to be its face. He wanted to look back and catch a glimpse of the creature one more time, but he didn’t want to risk another spook if he saw the figure following him, or worse, right in front of his path if he turned back around. His lungs were burning in his chest now but he refused to falter.

“ I’ll be out in a bit just a little while longer”…Alan was passing by tree after tree, which only added to his panic. “What if I’ve been running in circles, it seems as if this forest repeats itself”, he remarked, panting heavily as his eyes began to sting from carried dirt. His flank burned for his wound on his flank was widening with every stride he took, which only added pressure to his body.

When Alan felt like giving up and collapsing, that’s when he caught a glimpse of the open region ahead of him. He saw no trees outlined in the fog, so he knew that’s where he started. With another burst of energy he quickly rushed to the end. As Alan vastly approached the exit, he got hit by a sudden sense of Déjà vu. He still didn’t stop, but his mind began to wonder. “Wait hasn’t this happen before in another…”. He stopped short as he saw the exit begin to seal itself with a dark wall.

“Crap, this is all a dream…”

No a nightmare more so. What the Buck? Alan thought to himself. The nightmares have stopped ever since the night he met his beloved marefriend Jane.  “This can’t be real, no it just can’t. I-it was over, that was it!”

“Did you really believe so?” retorted a sweet yet dreadful voice.

Alan spun around this time and saw the creature that surprised him once more, except this time, her appearance was more feminine and pony-ish, unlike before, where it was just a dark mist with glowing red eyes. The presence of the pony though, resembled the dark mist for she had a smoke black coat with terrifying red eyes, so Alan knew it was the same entity.  But the pony now had two new aspects: a pair of wings like a Pegasus and a horn like a Unicorn. By Celestia…

Alan opened his mouth, as he came to realize that this figure was an Alicorn!

Alan mustered up enough courage to respond to the being who simply glared at him hungrily, smiling at the same time. Smiling about the idea, Alan thought.

“Who are you?” Alan asked with authority.

The Alicorn laughed at Alan’s sudden act of bravado. “Alan I can sense your fear. You can’t hide it here. This dream is mine just as much as it is yours”.

“What do you mean!? Who are you!?” Yelled Alan, dropping his act of bravado, and beyond petrified.

The Alicorn approached Alan, walking slowly to him her eyes glinting under the moonlight. “. Oh Alan you ask a lot of questions. You sure had us scared though, I’ll give you that. We’ve been working hard on getting the plans back on track. But you just had to spoil the ride.” She said tilting her head side to side. “I told them you were different” she continued. “I told them they were making a mistake but they insisted, and after I think about it, I was wrong all along”.

Alan’s mind began to race with questions now. What is she?  What does she mean by ‘our’ dream? Who were ‘they’?

The Alicorn began to walk around Alan now, who stood focused on these new questions on his mind, not moving from his position, while the alicorn walked around him slowly. Alan quickly broke from the trance of these unanswered questions and began to follow the Alicorn her every movement giving him a sudden case of the chills.

“You aren’t the first to ask these questions Alan” the dark Alicorn said, almost as if she was reading his thoughts. “Although you are the first to carry on this plan for longer than we expected”

Alan glanced a brow at it in curiosity, almost as if to expect the mistress of darkness to continue on with her rambling. But she stopped. This was a chance to finally speak up.

“You’re not real” he muttered ignoring her previous statement.

The Alicorn passed by his left side when he said that, and she looked at him with a curious gaze.

“You are just a figment of my imagination. Pretty soon I’ll wake up once again taking another set of pills, drinking coffee, and continue on with the rest of my day” Alan stated, breathing heavily staring back at the Alicorn.

The Entity looked shocked, almost scared, at what Alan said. Alan gazed back triumphantly but this feeling was cut short as he saw the Alicorn stop circling him and collapse on the ground thrashing her hooves in the air. She was laughing

‘HAHAHAHAHAHA OW MY SIDES”

Alan looked at her with discomfort.  What was she laughing at?

She continued on until she couldn’t laugh anymore, rising from the ground and getting on her four legs, glaring at Alan with a smirk. “You are very funny. Ever thought about being a Comedian instead of a writer?”

Alan was furious now and felt a sudden burst of rage. He felt no urge to hold it in. “GET OUT OF MY DREAM!”

The dark figure was not scared by his outburst and walked towards the stallion from his left. Alan looked at her, his eyes like pointed daggers, following her every move. She came face to face with him and their eyes locked on one another.

“Maybe I was wrong, maybe you are a fighter” the Alicorn spat. “But to be truthful, I am not leaving anytime soon. I love a fighter and it would be good to finally have one. Besides after Jane I felt-“

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!” Alan shouted. His voice echoed through the trees in the woods but no soul would be able to hear it deep in these terrains. “WHAT DID YOU DO TO HER?”

“Well, I was just having fun with her, and she wasn’t too fond of my games. She was balling, crying like a little filly, begging me to stop but I couldn’t. I was just having too much fun!” the Alicorn said, smiling.

Alan couldn’t imagine what this creature did to her. It filled him with rage.  She took a liking to a pony’s pain, and she was so drawn to it she would do anything to get it. Anything.

“She was cute too” the Alicorn continued. “I thought a beauty like that couldn’t go to waste so I-“

Alan charged at the figure in front of him, fueled by rage, only to find himself slipping through it and stumbling to the ground. Alan regained his hooves, prancing up quickly and looking back at the Alicorn. She was grinning.

Without a second thought, Alan rushed the figure once again, hoping this time he’ll strike her to the ground. Instead he went straight through her once again, a rush of dread hitting him instantly, and smashed his head on the shadowed wall blocking his exit.

Before Alan can regain his wits, he felt himself being pulled up by some force and pinning him to the wall of shadows. He tried thrashing and struggling, using brute force to pull himself off the wall, but to no avail. He was not thinking though, for blind rage was controlling his mind.

“Alan stop struggling you’ll kill yourself before I even get a chance too” the Alicorn snickered. “You are a big stallion, but your strength is no match for that wall”.

Alan, finally regaining his senses, stopped moving. There was only the sound of panting which came from the drained stallion; his head pointed downwards looking at the ground which he was suspended from. He was too tired to try anything anymore. He just wanted to wake up from this dreaded nightmare.  But he couldn’t let that demon have the last word before he left.

“You can’t kill me. In this dream you can. But not in reality”

The Alicorn was no longer smiling and her voice was no longer ‘playful’. “We can’t kill you Alan, but we can sure break you. Even now this nightmare will lead you back to more restless nights, popping medications, and drive you closer to madness”. Her wings began to flutter as she flew upwards closer to Alan, still pinned on to the wall. He had the greatest urge to spit on her face, but he knew it will just pass right through her. She placed her face closer to Alan’s, her red eyes piercing into his.

“We can kill you physically Alan, but we can kill your sanity” she whispered, closing her eyes as if she were embracing a kiss. A kiss with his sorrows. She flew back a few paces, the grin returning to her face. “I still find it odd how you don’t recognize me from somewhere else”.

Alan looked at her, contemplating on her features, but could not see anything that would strike her familiar. She rolled her eyes and flew close to him once again.

“If you can recall some life events in this dream, shouldn’t you be able to recognize me?” she asked rhetorically.

“If I ever saw you out of here I’d probably hoof you in the face” Alan retorted. He knew this was not a pony or living thing of any kind. It was much more sinister. Something more…evil.

The Alicorn glared at him for a while, which was really uncomfortable for Alan.

Wait- Alan stared at her for a long time, glancing up and down. He has seen her before, but not in reality. He saw her from-

“You were in my last nightmare!” Alan exclaimed. At least he was assured that his is a dream but he was not hesitant to address the reoccuring figure of his dreams. “WHAT ARE YOU?”

The Alicorn simply smiled. “Well looks like you got the message. My job here is done”. “Shame, I was beginning to actual like this”.

Alan quickly shot the creature a curious look before he felt a sharp pain rupture through his chest. Alan winced, choking and grasping for air as he looked down at his upper torso. The Alicorn punctured his chest with her hoof and it stuck there gleaming with fresh blood. Alan looked up at his murderer who was smiling with delight.

“I may not be able to kill you” she chuckled, staring into his slowly dying eyes. He felt the walls unwrapping around his legs, the weight of his body slowly depending on the hoof through his chest. Copper tainted the taste buds in his mouth.

The Darkness continued speaking this time with a more demented and sinister voice. “But it’s a start” and with a wink, she pulled her hoof out of Alan’s chest, and his body dropped to the ground with a heavy thud. He felt the world go numb around him, his senses falling quickly. The last thought to enter his mind before he entered darkness, was Jane…

“NO”

Jane shot up from her bed, gasping and petrified from the sudden shriek. She looked to her side only to see Alan sitting upright from his side, sweating and eyes bulging.

Alan looked down at his chest, checking to see if the contents of his torso were still in place. When he assured himself they were all there, he put his hooves over his face.

It’s been five months since he’s had any unpleasant dreams wake him in the middle of the night. This new nightmare, though, was tremendously different than the others. This new entity had brought Alan many knew questions that for some reason he didn’t know. Shouldn’t he know the questions to his own answers?

Well then it seems as if the Alicorn wasn’t a part of his imagination. This only added to his theory that this force is not a part of him and is some foreign entity. It seemed as if it dwelled on pain for it seemed to go as far as to threaten-

“Alan?” Jane asked feebly, glancing at him from his left.

Alan dropped his hooves from his face and looked to his left. He saw Jane looking at him, with a worried yet humble expression. She was still tired, for it was two o’clock in the morning, but she managed to give him a smile that was certainly reassuring. Jane has had frequent nights where she’s stood over his house to attend to her new buckfriend and Alan always loved her company. He offered her the vacant room next to his, but she declined the offer, wishing to stay closer to the stallion. Alan was grateful for that. Today he wouldn’t regret her decision. Alan clasped his hooves around her neck, which startled Jane.

“Is everything okay Alan?” she asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

Alan closed his eyes not wanting to let go of her. He tried to clear his mind of the Alicorn but they kept creeping back into his mind. It knew Alan’s weakness was Jane and he didn’t feel any better with the enemy being in his mind.

“Everything’s okay” he said reassuringly.

Jane knew he was lying. She slowly pulled Alan from her grasp and stared at him, a smile on her face, which was another way of saying “Please” for Alan.

“It’s- It’s just...just a nightmare…” Alan said, shaking his head and lowering his gaze.

“There just nightmares Alan it’s okay”, Jane said, grooming Alan’s mane as if he were a little colt.

Alan knew it wasn’t just a normal nightmare. That feeling of dread could not be mistaken. He sensed it. The same presence that was responsible for all his restless nights.  If only she knew what was going on in his nightmares.

“Yeah I know, but-“. Alan stopped and turned away from Jane. He couldn’t look at her the same way. He felt that he was putting her in danger by staring at her.

“Alan, they’re just dreams. I understand why you’re afraid, I still remember about the nightmares you’ve told me about, so this is understandable”. She got up from where she was laying and posted herself next to Alan, who was facing his back to her. “Dreams and nightmares are just the result of our mind working ideas together, just like writing”.

Alan looked at her immediately and gave her a slight smile. She returned the smile to as well.

“Hmm, maybe you’re right. Nightmares are common and I just let this one spook me”. Even though it was quite real, he thought to himself.

“Funny, before it was ME doing the lecturing around here” Alan added chuckling.

Jane smiled playfully, lingering her head closer to his head. “Well sometimes people don’t always believe what they lecture, so it’s best to have someone else repeat it for them”. She winked playfully and Alan leaned in for a kiss. Jane did the same, but instead Alan tackled her and the two collapsed on the bed wrestling and laughing. The two were throwing up the sheets, dropping pillows, and laughing early in the morning. Alan was sure they were going to wake the neighbors but he didn’t care.

After tumbling back and forth for quite some time, it ended with Alan on top, clutching his hooves on her, the two still laughing over their ‘dispute’. After a while of laughing, the two stopped and stared into each other’s eyes. Jane’s green eyes gleamed into Alan’s chocolate brown eyes and the two gazed at each other enjoying every moment of it.

“So you got me pinned and I’m helpless” Jane stated playfully, breaking the silence. “What do you plan on doing next?”

Alan smiled. “Well missy, I’ve heard you’ve been robbing many stallions of their hearts”.

“Oh no, you’re mistaken. I have only stolen one poor stallion’s heart and I don’t plan on giving it back anytime soon”, she said gleaming at him.

“Poor?” Alan asked. Jane laughed. “My I say he is a very lucky stallion to have a mare like you take his heart”.

“Oh he doesn’t like to think so” Jane retorted.

“Then he’s a fool!” Alan exclaimed playfully. Jane laughed and tugged his neck closer to hers.

“Well if he won’t appreciate it, will you sheriff?” she asked flirtatiously, blinking her eyes.

Alan smiled and brought his lips closer to hers. The two laid in bed, expressing their romance in such a passion, and the two did not care about what others thought. They cared for each other too much. That morning, Alan expressed his feelings for her, for today was the last day he would be able to do so. Today was the day he was going to restart anew.

A Nice brewed cup of coffee sounded great for Alan in the morning. Today was the big day. He was moving. He looked around his apartment, and nothing was left, except everything that was property of the building. All his belongings were packed away, ready to be transferred out of Manehatten and straight to his new destination: Ponyville.

He poured the fresh coffee into a cup and offered it to Jane who was sitting by the table in the kitchen. She said her thanks and drank her cup of coffee, but avoided eye contact. Alan found her strange behavior a bit saddening. There was a reason she was like this. She didn’t want Alan to leave. Alan has repeatedly offered her to come stay with him but she always staved off the idea, telling him what will she do for a job, and other things like that.

It saddened Alan that he had to go alone. He knew that with her by his side, he’ll be able to overcome most situations, but the reason for him leaving was simply personal. She had her reasons to stay. She has maintained a good relationship with her friends and enjoyed what she did for a living. It was vice versa for Alan.

“Hey sweetie?” Alan asked Jane.

“Hmm?” Jane mumbled turning her face to Alan. He saw the sadness in her eyes.

“You-you sure you don’t want to come with me?” Alan asked. He knew it was a hopeless cause but he really wanted her to come. He couldn’t bear the thought of being away from her.

Jane looked at Alan for a while and turned her gaze slightly to the side. She closed her eyes and simply stated “No”.

“Please I want you to come with me” Alan protested.

“Alan even if I wanted to go, I can’t, I haven’t packed up any of my belongings” Jane retorted.  Her eyes were still closed.

“I’ll postpone the movers if I have too, please just come-". Alan was tensing up.

“No Alan!” Jane exclaimed. She was starting to tremble and her eyes were beginning to leak tears.

“Then I’m not moving!” Alan stated. Jane glanced up at him. Alan knew he couldn’t do that. He already signed the documents and paid for the house. It was a hopeless cause but he didn’t want to lose hope.

“Alan, don’t postpone your plans for me, please-“ jane said but was cut short.

“Our”

“What?”

Alan looked at her. “Our plans. Without you, I wouldn’t have the strength to continue on until this day. Sure I’ll still be doing this, but I’d be a depressed stallion, with no motivation to do anything. I may finish that book, but then what will I have to look forward to after. More fame and fortune?”

Jane stared at Alan.

“No, I would be dwindling back in my loneliness, looking for a mare, and trying to find happiness. But I would have passed up the chance to meet the most beautiful mare who I feel truly happy with” Alan said stomping his hoof.

Jane ran to him, grasping to him tightly, tears streaming like a river.

“Please Alan, don’t forget me. Please,Please,Please,Please-“

“I won’t. I promise, I won’t” assured Alan.

The two stood in the kitchen, holding on to one another, not wanting to let go, for fear that one might be let go for good. Jane’s tears started to dry on Alan’s shoulders, and she buried her head into the stallion’s chest. Their moment of silence was cut short when the phone rang. Alan glanced at jane who pulled her head out of his chest and she managed a weak smile. Her eyes were puffy but he still could not deny the beauty in her eyes. He slowly walked to the hallway of his apartment and found the phone perched up on the cabinet next to the kitchen. He slowly brought the phone to his head and answered.

“Hello?”

“Alan! It’s me Jerry!”

“Hey Jerry, how’s it going?”

“Well Alan after months of planning today is the day. In fact right now is the moment, the movers are outside your apartment and ready to pick up your things”

Alan glanced over the doorway of the kitchen to see Jane looking outside the kitchen window. He felt a little piece of him die slowly as the time to leave drew closer.

“Alright Jerry, thanks for everything.”

“Hey what are friends for buddy! Hold on, I’ll call you later”

“Always the busy pony aint you?” Alan chuckled.

“You know it man. Alright got to go, see you soon”

Alan hung up and placed the phone back on the cabinet. He walked into the kitchen and found Jane still staring out the window. He walked over to where she was standing and sat by her. He stood and stared out the window as well. He was watching the work of Princess Celestia this time, which felt peaceful.

“Once I’m done, I’ll come back, I promise” Alan said not lowering his eyes from the outside. He felt like crying, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want to end a time with her like that, even though it made him seem like a robot.

Jane said nothing to Alan. Alan stood there in silence. Then he felt something brush his side and that caused him to turn to his left. He saw Jane’s head perched on the side of his neck, her eyes still focused on the outside world. Alan didn’t want to say any words. Words will only ruin this moment. Instead he looked back outside to admire the scenery before him. In the mirror’s reflection, Alan saw what he believed to be a smile stretching across Jane’s face. The smile caused Alan to smile back, enjoying this moment with the one person he ever cared for, one last time.

Then there was a knock on the door. Alan turned his back and looked down at Jane. She looked at him and Alan saw that this time her eyes weren’t sorrowful. Instead she was happy now, and simply told him “I think that’s for you writer”. She was smiling. Alan kissed her and walked to the door. He opened the door to meet the movers, and pointed them in the direction of the room where all the boxes were. They walked into the vacant room next to Alan’s.

As Alan and the movers got the last of the boxes down from his apartment, Alan made his very last trip up to the apartment that was once his to attend to one last thing.

Alan opened the door to find Jane walking around the house, admiring the walls and the furniture. Alan knew she was reminiscing on memories the two had together. Alan walked up to Jane and followed what she was gazing at.

“So this is it?” Jane said sadly. She hasn’t spoken since her promise with Alan.

“No, I’ll come and visit, as often as I can” Alan said.

“In time, I’ll think about your offer of going with you. People do have a tendency to be mean around here” Jane giggled.

Alan chuckled and nodded. “I hope you don’t take long to think about my offer. I know why you don’t want to come Jane”.

Jane glanced over at Alan, her smile slowly fading.

“Jane, don’t feel guilty. I know it is too soon, we’ve only been together for five months.” Alan reassured. “But I hope, in the future, that you will still come to stay with me”.

Jane had a guilty expression plastered on her face. “Alan, you’re a caring guy and I am very happy around you. Almost too happy. I-I just don’t want to feel like rushing into anything”.

Alan nodded and placed his hoof on her shoulder. “I understand. No need to explain Jane. Even then though, I’m still going to come visit. Whether you like it or not”. Alan winked.

Jane began to smile now and hugged Alan. “Come visit anytime writer. I’m going to miss you”. Her grip was getting tighter.

Alan returned the hug, perching his head up and kissing her softly.

“I’m going to be the first to buy your book, and if it sucks, I’m going to beat you up for putting me through this for a story like that” Jane laughed. Alan laughed too and knew time was drawing closer to leaving. He let go of her and looked at her for a while. He just didn’t want to let her out of his sights.

“I’m going to miss you Jane. I promise” he crossed his hoof over his chest.  “I will never forget you”. With a smile and a slow walk to the door he walked out only to turn his gaze to the beautiful mare who supported him for so long in his tough times. He waved his hoof up in the air and walked to the elevator which he entered to take him to the bottom of the apartments. As the elevator doors slowly descended he could see Jane walk out of the apartment, staring in his direction and waving her hoof high in the air, smiling with tears in her eyes. Now it was Alan’s time to cry as he felt all his bottled in emotions poor out as he slowly descended to the bottom floor of the building.

Twilight Sparkle has stood up day and night studying in her library a particular spell that she has no clue about. She has spent countless hours nonstop, researching into the contents of the spell, its origin, and even its creator. Ponyville has even questioned if Twilight has disappeared but she didn’t. well not entirely.

And so far, she has come up with virtually nothing.

“You are one pain in the flank, you know that?” Twilight muttered to herself as she stayed on the page of the spell. “I’ve looked everywhere and nothing has come up under Mind Delve.”

The sky had a beautiful sunset, radiating its light darker than usual, leaving a luminous scenery. Twilight though, has not left her house for quite some time. In fact she hasn’t left her library for quite some time.

She jumped up from her desk, which contain stacks and stacks of spell books that she hoped will provide a lead for her on this mysterious spell. Nothing came up.

This spell is helpful yet harmful. Why? Twilight remarked in her head.

“The spell apparently helps cure nightmares but it has a side effect that none of my friends wish to talk about.”

Twilight remembers her friends coming to her about these frequent nightmares and how they left them in…an unpleasant state. The first to suffer from the nightmares was Pinkie Pie. The always joyous pony, which was vigilant and full of life, with her always poufy hair, came to her as a sad, broken, flat haired soul. The second account was Fluttershy. She came and told Fluttershy her experiences with the nightmares as well. In her case though, Pinkie Pie urged Twilight to warp both her and Rainbow Dash into Fluttershy’s mind. That necessity to bring many into that dream was a dead giveaway to her that something was wrong with this spell.

Also, when she ran her head through each of their minds to view these nightmares, they didn’t feel like nightmares. No, they felt much more evil and dreadful. Gruesome, sick, and twisted thoughts ran through her mind and on each account, they left her stunned. She promised her friends that she would never look differently at her friends but those nightmares really shook her.

Lastly, each of her friends experiencing these nightmares, turned out to have a dark past. Pinkie Pie told Twilight what happened with her younger sister (which shocked her tremendously) and Fluttershy who has not spoken about it with anyone other than her marefriend Rainbow Dash.

“Maybe I need to ask my friends what really happened in their mind.  I know they’ll be hesitant to tell me but, I need to know more” Twilight said to herself.

After contemplating the thoughts in her mind, levitating books in and out of the shelf, she decided to go with that plan. It was pretty late, but Twilight could not afford to risk anymore time. Being an apprentice of Celestia herself, she had to find a way to make this spell much safer.

Besides it has been a while since I’ve talked with any of my friends, I should go meet them she assured herself. She began to levitate the books back on the shelf and tidy up her library.

“Even though it’s mostly to bring up disaster”, Twilight muttered to herself.

She finished cleaning up the library (the best she could in such a short time span), dimmed the lights to her house, and left her house.

Next stop: Pinkie’s

Twilight approached the Cupcake Loving Mare’s bakery, slowly approaching it, hesitating to knock.

Maybe this was a bad idea, she thought to herself. I shouldn’t go-

“HEY TWI!”, shrieked a pink earth pony who barged tghe door open with open arms

“Sweet Celestia PINKIE!” Twilight shrieked

“Oh.my.” Pinkie uttered taking in a deep breath.

“Oh no” mumbled Twilight. She knew what that meant.

“Heytwihowareyouwhereveyoubeenivebeenworriedsickaboutyouwhydoyoulooksadcomeoninibetyourstarving!” the pink mare uttered so quickly, prancing up and down, her poufy hair bouncing up and down at the same time.

Twilight laughed dryly. “it’s good to see you too Pinkie”. She forced a smile.

“Are you okay Twi?” Pinkie asked her joy slowly faltering. She saw that twilight wasn't in the best mood.

“Well Pinkie I have to talk with you. About something…personal”

“Umm ok,  Make yourself comfortable.”

“Okay thanks Pink-“. Twilight’s voice slowly faded off as she glanced around Pinkie’s bakery.

There was flour, confetti and ballons everywhere! Pinkie loved to throw parties, even on such little occasions. But this, looked like she was creating a party FOR a party!

“What’s with all the party supplies Pinkie?” Twilight asked her mouth still agape.

Pinkie glanced at Twilight curiously. “Don’t you know?” Pinkie asked, looking at her friend like she was a ghost.

“Know what?” Twilight asked with a puzzled look. Twilight’s mind began to spread rumors. Did someone die? Wait, pinkie never threw parties this big for funerals. She only threw small ones to comfort and console the grieving family members.

“There’s a new pony moving into Ponyville!” Pinkie squeed jumping up and down. Twilight looked at her friend with a smile, being grateful that her friend still manages to be this happy, despite what she’s been through.

“That’s great!” Twilight said. “But why throw a party this big for this pony?” she ask quizzedly. This wasn’t new for her friend always threw parties for new neighbors.

“It’s someone famous!” exclaimed Pinkie. Twilight opened her eyes a little shocked to find that someone famous would want to live in Ponyville. Sure there have been visits, but for one to live here…

“Who is it?” Twilight asked, a hint of excitement in her voice. She was actually eager to know.

“Oh you’ll like him Twi he’s a writer!”

Twilight beamed her eyes and had a smile stretching on each side of her face. “What’s his name!?”

“His name is Alan Mane…” started Pinkie.

THUD!

Pinkie looked down at the floor only to see Twilight passed out on the floor. Pinkie was instantly worried and galloped to Twilight’s side.

“Twilight are you okay?” the pink pony asked worried.

Then Twilight’s eyes shot open and she began squeezing and hyperventilating like a little filly.

“Oh my, oh my, oh my Alan Mane is coming to Ponyville…EEEEEE!!!”. Twilight was pouncing up and down.

“You heard of him?”, Pinkie asked admiring Twilight’s joy. Twilight shot her a look like she was just slapped across the face.

“Heard of him? I love his novel, Shadows. It’s so sad and wonderful and…”

Pinkie Pie was expecting her friend to start drooling as she was rambling on about the plot of the story, its morals, and so much more.

“He’s also a handsome stallion, I mean for a writer…” Twilight sighed romantically.

“Aww that’s cute, I can see it now, two book lovers falling in love with one another” Pinkie giggled, winking.

Twilight shot her friend a glance, but was vaguely blushing.

She couldn’t believe it. A writer. And not just any writer. Alan Mane. Here. In Ponyville. With her.

Then reality smacked her in the side, as she shook her head of her fantasies.

She remembered why she really came. Her happiness quickly subdued.

“Uhh Pinkie I- I need to ask you for…a big favor”.

Pinkie studied her friend for her odd behavior. Nonetheless being the good friend, she happily nodded.

Twilight glanced at her. “Cross my heart, hope to die. Stick a cupcake in my eye?”

Pinkie looked at her friend reluctantly now, but she just agreed to her previous promise, so she imitated her friend in the same fashion, a smile plastered across her face.

Twilight sighed and nodded. “Okay you can do this” she grumbled to herself.

Pinkie stood there, her smile still set on her face.

“Pinkie do you remember that one particular spell that helped you with your nightmares?” Twilight blurted out, her eyes closed for fear of pinkie’s reaction.

Pinkie’s smile quickly melted.

“Yes, I do remember” Pinkie said, a little stern now. “Don’t tell me you plan on using it again Twilight?”

Twilight felt bad for her question, but she knew she couldn’t turn back now.

“No I don’t plan on using the spell, well not yet…”

“What do you mean?” Pinkie glared.

“Well the reason I’ve been ‘gone’ for a while is because I’ve been studying the spell and I haven’t found nothing”, Twilight said stomping her foot. “It’s weird. One spell found in only one copy of a widely distributed book it’s just…”

“Twilight”. Pinkie cut her off. “That spell is nothing but trouble. “True it does help stop the nightmares, but that spell is pure evil. In order to stop these nightmares you have to confront them yourself, and it does more harm than good.”

“Well, that’s why I’m here Pinkie. I came here to ask you…what did you witness during the Mind Delve spell. What did it put you through and why is it so dangerous?”

“Twilight I-“

“Pinkie Please,” Twilight protested. “I’m working really hard to unlock the secrets of these spells and I don’t got nothing. Please Pinkie I need to know the spell a little more so I can research more into the spell and help make it safe.”

Twilight was locking her eyes onto Pinkie’s. Pinkie looked at her friend, wishing her friend wasn’t pleading for this. But she couldn’t deny her friend something she should know. Technically Twilight was the one always casting the spell, and she is the only one who does not truly know of the effects.

With a sigh, Pinkie managed a stiff smile, and looked at her friend Twilight.

“Okay Twilight, because you have invested a lot of time onto this”

Twilight was beginning to smile, but Pinkie raised her hoof.

“BUT, I want you to promise me this Twi.”

Twilight nodded. She would do anything to gain extra knowledge on this spell.

“After I tell you this, I want you to put the Mind Delve research a break.”

Twilight shot Pinkie a look, but Pinkie beat her to it. She was frowning and her eyes were gleaming with innocence.

“Please?” Pinkie protested.

Twilight nodded her head, knowing she’ll give into Pinkie’s innocent face.

“Alright I will Pinkie, for you and my friends” Twilight said smiling.

Pinkie smiled back now. “Thanks Twilight. Now though, I recommend turning up all the lights and start batching up a nice plate of cupcakes. What I’m going to tell you is gonna keep you up all night…”

Twilight had to prepare for what was to come and she had to stay strong. Not only for her, but for her friend Pinkie too…