Twilight idly flipped to the next page, then took a sip of tea. She had been reading advanced textbooks on theoretical applications for magic, and how to combine certain spells to yield a new effect, and her eyes were rather sore. Her back ached from being hunched over for so long, and she yearned to go out and have fun with her friends, but she made an obligation as Celestias student to get her work done, and done in a timely manner.
Spike walked into the room with a fresh cup of tea, then placed it beside her. "Hey, uh... You deaf or something?" he asked, cupping his claw to his right ear. "I coulda sworn I heard somepony scream just now."
"Mhm..." Twilight murmured as she finished off her cup of tea. "That's nice, Spike."
Spike rolled his eyes, then poked Twilights flank with the tip of a sharp claw.
"Ow!" Twilight jumped up and glared at Spike. "What was that..." A piercing scream came from just down the road, making her eyes go wide. "Oh."
"Yeah."
"What is it now? Did Rainbow freak everypony out again by doing something dumb?"
Spike stacked some books up by the window and clambered up them, the tips of his claws just barely reaching the windowsill. With a little help from Twilights hoof, he managed to climb up. "Uh..." He opened the window and stuck his head out. "I dunno. Should we go investigate?"
Something bad seemed to happen every other week, that's true, but this time it seemed to be full of actual fear. Then again it might be just her. It occurred to Twilight living in town that was host to attacks every other week wasn't a health way to live.
Spike stuck his head out the window a little bit further to see a sight that sent a tremor down his spine. "I-It looks like another pony. And they... oh no."
"What is it?" Twilight pulled Spike away from the window in hopes of sparing him from a gruesome sight. She saw an armored pony, one who wasn't wearing the usual royal guard regalia. With magic, they ripped their blades from the body of a dead pony with a sickening sound. His leather armor was accentuated with a red cape that matched the blood that dripped from his blades.
"Oh sweet Celestia..." Twilights ears flopped down as her eyes widened. "Spike, go to the basement. I don't care what happens or what you hear, don't come out, no matter what!"
"But what about you?" Spike began to bite at his claws franticly.
"Do it now! Get to the basement right now!"
Spike ran to the basement as fast as he could. Twilight walked out of the library but stops a few yards from the other pony. She was out of reach of the blades, at the same time, giving herself plenty of space to react should the pony attack.
"Hey you!" The criminal faced Twilight. "You have a lot to answer for. Surrender now and I might go easy on you."
The creature moved into a challenging stance with both blades pointed at Twilight and one of their hooves crossing its chest. She noticed the blades consisted of a long sword and a curved dagger. She assumed the pony wasn't going to give up and charged her horn with magic.
In a split second the pony lunged forward at blinding speed. Twilight's fight or flight instincts kicked into overdrive just in time as she ducted to avoid the sword. The pony was poised to strike her again before something rammed into her from the side, pushing her away from her attacker. Before she knew it, Twilight found herself inside Sugarcube Corner.
"Twilight! Are you ok?" Pinkie asked as she skimmed Twilight for cuts or bruises.
"Pinkie? What's going on and what was that... that thing?" Twilight shook violently as her life flashed before her eyes. Her breathing had become quick and erratic.
"It's hard to explain but rest assured that everything's going to be ok."
"I just saw that monster kill a pony in front of my library!"
"Rephrasing!" Pinkie stepped away from Twilights glare. "It won't harm us as long as we stay away from it."
"Why did it try to kill me?"
"Twilight, stop asking questions you don't want the answers to."
"But-" Pinkie shoves her hoof into Twilights mouth.
"Just trust me on this one. You don't want to know." Twilight pushed the hoof away.
"If anything we have to tell the princess!"
"I already know, Twilight." Princess Celestia teleported into the room that the two mares were in. Pinkie bowed to the princess immediately while Twilight stared in awe for a moment.
"Princess if you know what's going on then why aren't you doing anything to stop it?"
"I could easily dispose of the swordsman but doing so would put the entirety of Equestria at risk."
"What are you talking about? It's one pony. Surely you can handle just one."
"Walk with me, Twilight." Celestia began towards to the front door as Twilight followed. "Pinkie Pie, will you be joining us?"
"No thanks, Princess. I don't ever want to relive that experience again."
"A wise choice."
Celestia led Twilight through town toward the screaming. Soon the two mares encountered the armored pony. The pony turned toward them and moved into the same pose Twilight saw last time. Celestia simply bows to the creature and motioned for Twilight to do the same. The creature in front of them relaxed and then proceeded down the street.
"What was that all about?" Twilight had an angry look directed at the princess with an equally irate tone.
"Calm yourself, Twilight." Her voice was soft compared to the Royal Canterlot tone, but it had been enough to quell the infuriating unicorn. "That thing is called an Abyss Watcher. They are a superior group of creatures that watch for signs of the abyss, seek them out and destroy them."
"An Abyss Watcher? The Abyss? Princess, I'm more confused than ever."
Before Celestia explained, the pony stopped in front of a door, stared at it for a moment, then burst through. Screaming was heard instantly making Twilight flinch. Limbs were audibly sliced off as blood coated the windows. Furniture, walls, and all manner of objects were smashed or cut, which the ponies outside assumed, were used to defend against the monster.
"Twilight, look at that door. What do you see?" Celestia pulled Twilight away from the gruesome scene with her calm voice.
Twilight reluctantly faced the door that was splintered and cracked from the current intruder. Nothing was obviously wrong with the door until she noticed something unusual. A pulsing black vein.
"What is that?"
"That is the mark of The Abyss. It's how the Abyss Watchers are able to find it's influence. Anything that is touched by the abyss is tainted by its darkness and made to serve the abyss in dark and mysterious ways. That's where the Abyss Watchers come in and eliminate the threat."
The Abyss Watcher finally walked out of the murder scene. Before it continued, it stopped in front of the two mares. Celestia bowed first and Twilight followed suit. As the watcher continued walking, Twilight spoke up.
"Princess, I never thought there'd come a day where you'd bow to anypony."
"I kneel for one reason, to protect Equestria and it's ponies. I've had to do so only twice in my life. Once to take the mantle as princess long ago...and right now."
The implication of what Celestia said hit Twilight like a charging manticore. Princess Celestia bowed to a creature that slays the darkness itself. This was an opportunity nopony ever had, and certainly one she never will again. Twilight swallowed her fear and glanced up at the Abyss Watcher as it walked by.
Blood dripped from the blades. The only part of its armor that didn't cover it were its eyes which were laden with sadness and exhaustion. It moved with an iron will and a heavy heart. There was one last thing Twilight noticed.
On the edge of the red cape was an almost unnoticeable, pulsing, black vein.
Author's Note
I'd like to write another DS3 crossover fic but what do you guys think? Do you want to see more?
