She wasn’t sure how long she had been waiting at the train station, but she was certain nothing was coming. The air was still, devoid of the hoof steps of passersby and announcements of delays. She shook her head, coming out of whatever trance had came over her, and stepped off the platform. She trotted purposefully through the darkened building, leaves swirled as they were disturbed by her hooves. The place looked abandoned. As she exited, she could hear the moans of the settling metallic structure, disturbed by the wind.
Outside the station wasn’t much better. Fog clouded her vision, but she could still tell she was alone, something she hadn’t been since she was born. “Any pony there?” She called, cautiously moving along. No response. Dilapidated buildings lined the road. The silence was oppressive, punctuated only by leaves caught in a gust. “Hello?” Again, no response. She reached the end of the road and a bubbling fountain stood too tall in the center. She could not see the top level of the layered structure. Bits littered the bottom of the water and leaves gathered on the surface.
She resigned herself to the now familiar queer chill tickling her spine. She attempted to use her magic to teleport, but found her mind cloudy when she attempted to focus on where to go. “Pull yourself together, Twilight.” She breathed, calming herself. She tried again. Same result. Getting out the magical way of wherever she found herself wasn’t an option.
She continued forward, recognizing the buildings were similar to those of a university. She saw signs indicating buildings as halls of science or math. She was careful where to step as while the road was raised and dry, everything else was muddy and swampy. “Twilight?” She jumped, swinging her head wildly. She took flight to find the source of the whisper. The fog was thicker in the air, forcing her to land. Upon touching down, she realized she was not where she had first taken off.
A building labeled library was now in front of her, a once proud now decayed wooden façade painted to look like marble and a door ajar. She was just happy for the chance to no longer be outside. She entered, hoping she could find someone.
Vines ensnared the inner halls, choking doors and windows that could have provided natural light. Twilight lit her horn as she looked around cautiously, ears flicking at any noise. Nothing but the creaks of an abandoned structure. “Can anyone hear me?” She called out.
She hadn’t expected an answer. “Twilight.” The whisper made every strand of hair stand on her body. She galloped down the hall in fear, vines growing thicker and thicker.
“Whoever you are, show yourself.” She had attempted a demand, but it was more a scared squeak.
Halls gave way to rows and rows of shelves. Featureless and empty books lined them and dotted the floor, pages moth eaten and tattered. She ran aimlessly through the winding and endless rows. Vines draped over the shelves the more she tried to make sense of where she was.
Everything converged suddenly at a fountain that was impossibly tall. “What?” She managed, recognizing the structure from outside. She blinked in disbelief, but no sooner had she opened her eyes again was she back outside. She heard a whisper again, but could make out no words. She was filled with dread as vines spilled from the top layer downward. They curled around each layer and as they hit the road, they made a beeline for her.
She jumped and galloped faster than she ever had before. Dread gripped her heart and clouded her mind. Every road led back to the fountain. She stopped short of the end of one road and turned to run back only to see the fountain and its vines. She stood rooted to the spot in horror as they reached her. She flew up as they converged, sprouting thorns where she once stood. They shuddered, turned brown, and withered away.
She landed cautiously. She kicked at the vines, but they were nothing more than dead plants. “What is going on!” She shouted, fear catching the edge of her words.
“Twilight.” The whisper. She turned toward the sound and hovered forward, not daring to touch the ground. The mudded edges of the road were now filled with vines barely touching the surface, waiting for a misstep. “Twilight.” She refused to become lost again as she strained everything to catch the voice.
The fog was lifting and a valley visible ahead. She channeled all the speed she could possess and darted forward on uncertain wings. She stopped short of a giant red flower in the middle of the clearing. Something didn’t feel right. The moment hooves touched the ground, there was a loud noise. The flower wilted, vines flashed in the dimming light, and Twilight felt a piercing sensation all over her body.
“Twilight.” It was no longer a whisper. She opened her eyes to see a creature winding its way toward her. The lower half was a series of vines coated with red flowers that twisted to form what looked like a dress. The top was equine. Hooves sprouted vines that tangled into the bottom dress. The body appeared to be the wood of a freshly cut tree and where eyes should have been, vines grew from the hollows and twisted into a rounded crown atop its head.
She couldn’t help but scream. The creature grinned, fog pouring from its mouth. She ebbed on the blurry line of consciousness as her anxiety attack led to loss of airflow. Each time her vision managed to focus, the creature grew closer.
She found herself and attempted to struggle. The vines drew blood as the pinned her painfully in the air. Determination born from adrenaline overcame her as she channeled all the alicorn magic inside her body. Her horn sparked and stars alighted in the shimmer of her mane as it flowed around her. Light spilled from horn tip to the vines, racing along them to the source of the creature before her. The creature’s face contorted into a scream as the light overtook it.
Twilight fell to the ground as the vines turned to glitter and sparkled in the air. The fog dissipated and she fell unconscious.
~~~
When she awoke, she struggled to her hooves, body feeling heavy. She saw a lot of other ponies struggling to their feet including her friends. “Girls!” She shouted elatedly, galloping toward them.
“What happened?” Rainbow Dash looked dazed, leaning against Applejack as she attempted to stand.
“Twilight, is everything okay?” Rarity asked, concern shining through her confusion as she doted on Pinkie Pie.
“I don’t know. There was some monster coating this town in fog and vines. I think?” She looked down at her hooves and dried vines still littered the ground.
Memories flooded back as the haze lifted from her mind. Her counsel of friendship was be present for and give a speech at the opening of a school of medicine in Mage Meadowbrook’s swamp. They had broke ground in a previously uninhabited area of the swamp.
Everyone looked alarm at the amount of vines hanging from the buildings and taking center stage at the fountain centerpiece of the courtyard. They seemed to tower impossibly high. “Twilight, what happened?” The head mare asked.
“Fluttershy, are you okay?” Mage Meadowbrook trotted over, inspecting the mare and offering her a hoof up.
“I don’t think this swamp was as empty as we first thought. For the safety of the students, we should consider relocating until we can assess if the threat has been dealt with. If you see any vines or fog, evacuate immediately from wherever you are.” Twilight’s command was absolute as the now ruler of Equestria. Students were ushered to the train as Twilight oversaw their transport.
Later her friends gathered with her for a late dinner back in Canterlot. Students had been transported to a temporary residence in Starlight’s old Village as it was the closest major settlement. Everything seemed like a distant nightmare over cider and a hearty meal. Twilight sighed, closing her eyes in contentment.
~~~
When she opened them again, she found herself standing on the edge of a train station platform. She wasn’t sure how long she had been waiting at the train station, but she was certain nothing was coming.