"There was once a crooked mare, who walked a crooked mile.
She found a crooked stallion, standing near a crooked stile.
They loved one another, and lived near a crooked ridge,
And then they hung themselves on Canterlot Bridge."

No one in Equestria ever knew why the Canterlot's longest bridge was ever built. There were two sides connected to the bridge; one was the border into Canterlot and the other was a dead end which never went anywhere, besides an empty and abandoned cottage. The bridge was lit up at night by candles and tiny lanterns, sometimes even using fireflies or glowworms. The bridge's body colour was dark green, with tiny yellow flowers as a pattern and for an extra decoration to it. Despite the bridge appearing to be stunning, no pony ever dared to cross it, especially at night.

In the darkest of hours, a thick fog would cover the centre of the bridge and block the view of those who would dare to cross it. And it wasn't like any other fog that you would bump into, oh no. There would be a foul smell at night which could never be described. It was so strong, that it would put anypony off from walking over the bridge at night, and no animal would crawl, trot or fly across. It was like a warning to those, but in a way all too disturbing. Also, during the day, you could lean over and look down to see the rushing water of the river below, but at night, all you could see was the thick fog that swallowed the whole bridge.

The construction of the bridge was under the orders of Celestia's niece, Princess Cadance, on her twenty-first birthday. The adopted alicorn had been creating a blueprint of the bridge from the day she had learnt how to create diagrams and measurements. Of course, as it was a special birthday for her niece, Celestia accepted the idea and put it into production. Only the best construction workers of Equestria got the job to build the bridge, however, they underestimated the timescale of how long it would take. It wasn't until her twenty-second birthday, that Cadance saw the completed project, and she accepted it with a whole heart.

However, of course, no pony dared to cross the bridge, for they feared for the worst to happen to them. There were many legends that those who attempted to cross were never seen again. Those who were seen again had terrible things happen to their bodies and minds. There wasn't really a certain possibility or known knowledge about why these things would happen, so almost every resident in Canterlot feared the legend of its famous bridge and for a long time, no pony dared to go anywhere near it. That was, until one day, when a purple alicorn and her friends went over to investigate.

***

It had just turned midnight in Equestria and everypony were in bed, sleeping and dreaming away quietly. Well, almost everypony. Inside the Friendship Castle, Twilight Sparkle was finishing reading one of her books that Princess Celestia had offered her earlier on that day. Next to her was a very tall and thin candle stand, which glowed dimly against the oncoming darkness. But however bright the candle may be, it was weak and dinky and would flicker each time Twilight would turn a page over in her book. It was the only sound in the castle and perhaps even the whole of Ponyville. Spike, who was also awake, was carrying sheets of paper for Twilight to write on. He waddled over to Twilight and dumped the papers next to her. The pieces of paper landed on the desk with a thump, causing yet again the single candle to flicker.

"Here're the papers you wanted, Twilight."

Spike smiled nervously at the purple alicorn, who looked over and picked the pieces of paper with her magic. One by one, Twilight looked through every sheet of paper that Spike had given her, flipping them over onto their other side silently as she could. Whilst watching, Spike noticed that Twilight was tired and was losing her concentration. She had been working hours on end trying to complete her students' forms about their progress at her friendship school and of course trying to think of ways of giving extra tuition for her ex-pupil Starlight Glimmer. In fact, Starlight was already preparing to leave the friendship castle in a couple of weeks to live with her old friend, Sunburst, to continue studying magic in the Crystal Empire. A farewell party was being planned by her friends before she would leave with Sunburst for the late night express train to the Crystal Empire, which would to the average pony a simple task, but to the troubled and fantastic mind of the Princess of Friendship, it was a complete challenge.

Twilight sighed loudly. Spike knew when Twilight had enough of what she was doing and this was indeed one of those moments.

"Thanks, Spike. Sorry about my attitude tonight. It's been a very busy and difficult day. The school paperwork itself is hard enough, and that isn't even including my princess duties! Oh, I just wish I had the magic to have somepony or something else do all of it for me. If only I read a book on it."

After he finished cleaning up the mess on Twilight's desk, Spike grabbed hold of a mop and bucket and started wiping the marble floor. He continued talking to Twilight whilst she was continuing to clean up her desk.

"So, Starlight's leaving, right?" Spike asked, "After everything she's been through? She's just going to leave with Sunburst?"

At first, Twilight ignored him. It was a question that she had been trying to avoid for as long as possible, but she knew that somepony, or some dragon, in this case, would eventually bring up the topic at some point.

"Yes, Spike, Starlight is moving into Sunburst's apartment in the Crystal Empire. She will, I'm sure, be doing many great things and become something positive that she wouldn't have thought of last year. Sunburst is the right pony for to continue teaching her until she is ready to work with the magic of friendship alone in the right way. I cannot afford to lose her to the dark magic that she was engulfed in for a second time, for she, as a pony, has come so far. But there is something doubting inside of me, that somehow regrets what I do."

Twilight leaned onto her desk, gazing off into space, whilst giving out another loud yawn, covering her mouth with her hoof in politeness towards her companion. Spike went up closer to Twilight and put his claw on her shoulder.

"I think that's enough reading for one night, Twilight," the baby dragon said, "you really should get some rest. I'm sure tomorrow will be fine. Besides, Starlight knows what she's doing. After all, she is currently staying with us in the friendship castle and had been for the past year or two, so she would understand what we're trying to do for her. Don't sweat the small stuff, Twi, it's just not worth it."

In response, Twilight put her head on her hooves and tried to cover up the tiny drops of tears that were appearing in her eyes. She was so tired, that she was crying at how much her eyes hurt from focusing on reading and writing sheet after sheet of paper.

"You're right, Spike," Twilight replied, "there's no point in me trying to write something when I can't even focus."

Spike started picking up the remaining sheets of paper and placing them into a large pile on another table, where he stapled the sheets into different groups and put a stamp on each pile to remember which one was which. They didn't realise at first, but soon Twilight and Spike noticed how large the piles were and gulped at how much there actually was. However, it was far too late to send it off to those who required the papers and so instead, they went upstairs to sleep for the remainder of the night.

***
The Friendship Castle was completely coated with banners, decorations and colourful fairy lights. It was the afternoon now and the farewell party was well underway for Twilight, her friends and most importantly their special guest.

Starlight was standing near the Host's table, talking of course to Twilight and Spike about her upcoming adventures with Sunburst and also what his apartment would be filled with for them to use whilst in the Crystal Empire. Many of those things would be books and magical artefacts, which were currently being held in the empire's museum. It would be very exciting for Starlight, as this would be the last time that she would be staying with Twilight, but yet it would be a scary thing to do. This would also be the first time since she was a filly that she would not be staying with Twilight and know the magic of friendship.

Her thoughts and worries, however, were interrupted when Twilight asked her something.

"So Starlight, you'll reply back to me when you arrive at Sunburst's place, right?"

For a moment, Starlight didn't respond but stared awkwardly into space. She was still thinking about her unnecessary worries. But after Spike waved an arm in front of her face, Starlight responded.

"Oh, huh? Oh yeah, of course! I'll tell you guys all about it when I get there. Trust me, it's about time that I get a paid job. It's not right for me to sit in your castle all day and do nothing but bum around until bed. It's unnecessary behaviour, I dare say, especially as you guys are solving friendship problems in Equestria. And you have your other apprentice, Tempest Shadow, to teach friendship to. I don't want to be in the way with that either!"

Twilight laughed, before patting Starlight on the back. Twilight still struggled to this day with her alicorn strength and so nearly knocked Starlight over with her arm when tapping her gently.

"That's not true, Starlight! I do wish that you could come back to Ponyville whenever. Just only come when you feel like you need me or the others again. Alright?"

Starlight nodded, beginning, at last, to smile and relax. Why should she be so worried at her own leaving party? All her friends were here and it was a time of celebration for her learning of magic. Wasn't that a positive thing? No? Why should she be worried? Must be catching onto Twilight's behaviour, Starlight thought, the constant worry of everything and having to think about it for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; it would be dissolving her health slowly, like acid on a pony's body, melting away everything until there was no flesh remaining. It was a thought that could kill, like a toxic drug that had entered the bloodstream. It seemed that nothing was safe anymore. But she was then distracted from her thinking after Spike waved a claw in her eye-view.

"Starlight? Are you okay?"

Starlight shook her head like a puppy shaking its body from water that had embedded itself into the creature's fur and then smiled nervously.

"Of course I'm okay, Spike! There's nothing wrong, I promise! Why... why should I be worried about anything. I know that everything's going to be fine whilst I'm heading over to the Crystal Empire. Thanks for checking on me, though."

Spike wasn't convinced. "Perhaps you should sit down or something."

"I don't need to sit down," Starlight replied, "do I, Twilight?"

Twilight didn't have time to reply, but instead gave a long "er", which was interrupted by her assistant.

"It's just that..." Spike whispered, in order for nopony to hear, "...you're acting a little strange-."

"Oh, will you look at that! It's the cinnamon rolls! I better grab some before they go, am I right?"

Before Spike could say anything else, Starlight trotted off to speak to another group of ponies somewhere else. The way she talked and walked made both Twilight and Spike become very curious about what Starlight was doing. They could only hope though, that it wasn't something wrong, or far worse than that.

***
The Next Day

"All aboard for the Crystal Empire!"

The Station Guard was giving off the last few calls for the 9:15 train to the Crystal Empire from Ponyville. Suddenly, the whole station burst into life, with ponies running around like headless chickens, trying to catch the train in question. Packages and luggage were carried and placed into the freight waggon at the end of the train and the passengers began embarking on the carriages, squeezing past one another in order to grab their booked seats. This was chaos, of course, so Starlight waited with her friends for it to all die down before getting on. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy, Rarity and Spike were there to support her on the beginning of her epic adventure, and to give her a box of cupcakes for the journey ahead, of course. It was also extremely hot and all the windows of the carriages were open for cool air to get in. There were even fans placed around the train, turned on to help cool the apartments down.

Twilight walked up to Starlight and gave her a hug.

"Are you sure that you're up to this, Starlight?" she asked. Starlight sighed, either in unsureness or annoyance, before answering back.

"I have to," she replied, "this is a job that I can finally get, Twilight. This means everything to me. Even if somepony gets in my way, I will simply push them out of my way and keep going. I promise you, that I will make it to Sunburst's place, even if it's the last thing I do."

Fluttershy gasped quietly, which managed to grab everypony's attention.

"Oh, don't say things like that, Starlight. It's a jinxed thing to say, you know."

Starlight rolled her eyes. Even though she had known her for months on end by this point, Starlight still envied Fluttershy's shyness and cowardliness. She was one of the few pegesi that wouldn't fight back or see the positive in darker situations but would hide away in the shadows in fear and disappear. Of course, she would never say that to her face, as it was something that Twilight had taught her since she became her pupil after she almost attempted to destroy the whole of Equestria.

"All passengers who are travelling to the Crystal Empire must board now. This train is ready to depart."

Starlight faced back to Twilight and her friends one last time.

"Well, that's me then," she said, "I guess this is goodbye for now."

Twilight smiled.

"Perhaps yes. Perhaps not."

Starlight then turned around and jumped into the nearest carriage. The station guard closed the door behind her, before blowing his whistle to alert the driver to leave. After giving off a loud whistle, the engine started to move forwards slowly, picking up speed as it started to travel.

The Mane Six and Spike waved Starlight goodbye, right until the train disappeared into the distance from view. Applejack stood next to Twilight. Unlike the others, she had an expression of worry on her freckled face.

"Are you sure that she's gonna be okay, Twi? She's leaving us now, ain't she?"

Applejack still continued looking at Twilight, until the purple alicorn eventually turned around.

"Of course she'll be alright!" Twilight replied, "Besides, what's the worst that could possibly happen?"

Author's Note

What's this? A story not related to the Armada universe? No. A horror story, eh? My, my!

Seriously, guys, I hope you enjoyed reading the first chapter. This will be an ongoing thing from now on, so feel free to leave any comments about anything that you want to see. Note: this is a horror story, so it will go into graphic content later on.

Stay awesome and thanks for all the support you've given me!