The Shadow Plague

It was late afternoon by the time the Friendship Express reached Ponyville, the loudspeaker alerted them that this would be the final stop and that everyone was to get off. Nightrider made her way off the train onto the station platform, then out the entrance, where two security guards were standing, both looked serious and seemed to be surveying the crowd. The train station exited into the main square, this was downtown Ponyville. Nightrider took it all in, closed her eyes and smiled.

“Its so much smaller than Manehattan, but theres an aura of friendliness in the air” she said to herself

“But no time for sights, I need to find Dr. Bigmane.” And she went off to look for the hospital.

She went up to a nearby flower stall “Excuse me, which way is the nearest hospital?”

The salespony looked up “Well honey, the only hospital in Ponyville is Ponyville General just up the street that way” and she pointed. “Thanks” Nightrider said and hurried off.

She made it to the hospital and went in, it was much smaller than the hospital in Manehattan, Nightrider tried to look for signs of the sickness. She saw 2 separate ponies who appeared in pain and one other was coughing, but none were discolored. Nightrider was almost pleased, until the front door burst open behind her and she heard the voice of a hysterical mare.

“Out of my way! I need a doctor now! Please help!!” a cream colored mare with a pink and dark blue mane was hurrying in supporting the weight of another pony, this one was a light green unicorn with turquoise and white in her mane and tail, they both looked about Nightrider’s age. The green unicorn looked very unwell, discoloration was rapidly spreading throughout her body. They hurried up to the counter and nurses quickly came out and took the unicorn into the emergency room, they told her partner to wait outside. “I need to see my Lyra, please let me in!” the cream coloured pony said to the nurse, but the nurse simply waved her off and went in after the unicorn. The cream colored pony sat down on a chair and began to sob. Nightrider wanted to know what was going on and this pony could have information, so she sat down beside her.

“Excuse me?” she said to the crying pony

*sniff* “Wha..?” she replied looking up at Nightrider.

“what happened to your friend?” she asked. For a second it appeared she would break into uncontrollable sob again, but instead she took a deep breath and spoke.

“She was fine yesterday, we got up together, made breakfast together, went about our day together just like always. But then, last night she began complaining about chest pain, and began to cough pretty badly. Then this morning she awoke with a terrible headache and said it was her horn. She couldn’t use any magic and that’s when her color started to fade. I got worried, she insisted that she was fine and that she only needs some medicine. We went to go see a friend for some, but on the way she collapsed. I panicked and brought her here.” The pony’s eyes filled with tears again, and she squeezed her eyes shut, she was obviously very troubled and was trying to stay calm and strong in the moment.

Nightrider felt compassion towards this pony; she felt empathy, something that she had not felt in a very long time.

“What’s your name?” she asked

“I’m Bonbon” she said. “and my best friend is Lyra” she said choking back a sob as she said her name. “Lyra is more than my friend, she is my world. I love her so much, and I am so scared for her. I hope nothing is wrong with her. I don’t think I could take it if something were to happen…” her voice trailed off and she began to cry again. Nightrider felt so empathetic to Bonbon, as if she felt every bit of her pain. Why was she feeling like this with this pony she barely knew? She put a hoof around Bonbon, and to her surprise, Bonbon buried herself into Nightrider’s embrace and began sobbing harder than ever. Nightrider had never had this happen to her, she had no idea what to say, so she just said nothing and held the distressed mare.

Eventually Bonbon stopped crying. *sniff* “thank you. I’m so sorry you had to see that” Bonbon began to blush

“Oh don’t worry” Nightrider said “I have seen much worse

Bonbon smiled “Thanks so much for hearing me out, but I don’t think I have ever met you, what’s your name? have I seen you around Ponyville before?”

Nightrider shifted “Actually, you don’t know me. I’m from Manehattan, and you can call me Nightrider”

Bonbon looked surprised “ooh Manehattan, impressive. And Nightrider is a pretty name”

Nightrider smiled, no one has ever called her name pretty, in fact no one even knew her name up to now. Nightrider wasn’t her real name, but Nightrider was the only name she had ever known. She lost her parents a long time ago and the orphanage from her first memories had no record of her name. After escaping the orphanage from the bullies and the mean foster mare, she gave herself the name Nightrider, for she rode in the night fending for herself and trusting nopony. Now here she was supporting a total stranger in a total strange part of Equestria, and instead of try to hurt her for caring, this pony returned her with affection. Nightrider was positively amazed.

“So what are you doing here in Ponyville from Manehattan?” Bonbon asked

‘”There have been many cases of a sickness there similar to what Lyra has” Nightrider noticed Bonbon grimace at the words “Lyra” and “sickness” in the same sentence, she made a note to tread more carefully. “I have seen a few more… interesting cases and I am here to investigate.” Bonbon seemed interested and confused “Why investigate here? Ponyville is tiny, there is nothing significant here, other than a strong presence of the magic of friendship of course” Bonbon seemed to glow when saying the word friendship.

“I’m looking for a pony called Dr. Bigmane, that’s actually why I’m here at this hospital”

Before Bonbon could answer a nurse walked in, “My name is Nurse Redheart” she looked at Bonbon then to Nightrider. “Is she with you?” the nurse asked Bonbon. “Uh, yes. Yes she is” said Bonbon “What’s wrong with my Lyra?”

The nurse sat down and began to explain “Ms. Heartstrings has contracted something, we have seen it only for our first time yesterday, and we have heard it being reported all around Equestria. Its an infection of some sort, but we still don’t know its nature. Ponyville General isn’t equipped for disease research, but we have a resident doctor from Canterlot who is in every week, he left yesterday back to Canterlot with a sample retrieved from a case. Ponyville has now 3 cases of whatever is going around. Our hope is Dr. Samson returns soon with information on how to treat this”

Nightrider jumped up suddenly “Nurse Redheart, was a Dr. Bigmane in here recently?”

Nurse Redheart looked perplexed “Dr. Bigmane? Here? He is Manehattan’s most celebrated surgeon and an expert on infectious disease, what would he want here? Surely I would know if he were coming, but I know nothing of that. Pity, he is quite the looker” Nurse Redheart blushed ever so slightly

Nightrider explained how Dr. Bigmane was here to see his brother Dr. Whooves and they would go to Canterlot escalate the matter.

I am sorry to disappoint you my dear, but Dr. Bigmane was never here, you could try to check in with his brother though” Nurse Redheart explained

“Where can I find him?” Nightrider asked

“His house is not far from here, just up the street and to the left, towards Sweet Apple Acres” Bonbon explained.

Nightrider got up to leave “Thank you both, you have been very helpful” she said to both of them

“We in Ponyville help our friends, always” Nurse Redheart said with a smile, and Bonbon came up to Nightrider and wrapped her hooves around her in a hug then looked into Nightrider’s eyes “Good luck, help me save my Lyra” she said

“I will try Bonbon” Nightrider replied with a smile, then she quickly left.

As she made her way towards Dr. Whooves’ house she kept thinking about how friendly Bonbon was, Nightrider had never experienced such compassion in her life. Then she thought about what Nurse Redheart said about how everyone in Ponyville helps their friends, always. “Am I a friend?” she asked herself. “who knows” she thought and kept going.

The sun was low in the sky by the time she reached what she thought had to be Dr. Whooves’ house. It was large and seemed slightly unkempt. Nightrider knocked, but there was no answer. “Uh, hello?” she called and knocked again. The door opened, but there wasn’t anyone there who would have opened it. Nightrider was anxious, she had been waiting for this moment, but was anyone even home? She needed to find what she came here for, so she went in, maybe somepony was home.

As Nightrider made her way through the house, she heard what sounded like a pony making rumbling sounds, like some engine. She went down some stairs toward the sound “Hello?” she called “Dr. Whooves? Are you here?” no answer.

At the bottom of the stairs she found a large laboratory with various object hanging from the ceiling, in one of the objects was a grey pegasus pony with a yellow mane, she appeared to be pretending to fly what looked like a giant flying machine.

“Excuse me?” she said and the pony immediately jumped out in surprise. She saw Nightrider and fluttered down to where she was standing and looked at her. “Hi” she said. She looked pretty badly crosseyed and had an unusually big smile on her face.

“Uhhh hi” Nightrider replied “I’m looking for Dr. Whooves, is he here?”

The pegasus pony shook her head “No he left earlier today, his brother from Manehattan was here, they said they were going away to Canterlot about some plague thingy going on, a lot of ponies have been hurt they said, I was told to stay here, protect the lab and not go outside or let anypony in.”

She then gasped “Oh no! you’re in here! I failed! I let somepony in”

“Oh I’m sorry for just barging in” Nightrider stepped back “but I really needed to speak to Dr. Whooves and his brother, I am also investigating the plague.” Nightrider said “I will leave if Dr. Whooves isn’t here, but I need some more information, is there anything more you could tell me?”

“The pegasus rubbed her head “No sorry, that’s all I know, but I can give you muffins, will that help?”

Nightrider frowned “Muffins? No those won’t help, I need actual information about what the hay is going on”

The pegasus looked hurt, and Nightrider sighed “Look, I’m sorry, but I’m here all the way from Manehattan investigating this thing, I need somepony to talk to, to help me understand more. Do you know anyone in town who can help?”

The pegasus rubbed her head again “Um, you could try talking to Princess Twilight and her friends, they always know everything. Twilight is here from Canterlot to see her friends, I saw them heading toward the Everfree Forest, probably going to Zecora’s”

Now Nightrider’s head was buzzing “Who is Zecora? And where is the Everfree Forest?”

“Zecora is a herbalist who lives in the Everfree Forest, she is very good with medicines and potions, Twilight and her friends frequently visit her for natural medical advice” said the pegasus “The forest is just beyond Ponyville, past Fluttershy’s cottage, but it can get kinda scary at night.

“Scary” Nightrider thought with a slight grin “Finally, something interesting”

“Thank you, you have been so helpful” Nightrider said “I will try to find all the information I can and hopefully I can meet Dr. Whooves too.”

“No problem” said the pony “Whats your name by the way?”

“I’m Nightrider” Nightrider Said with a half smile, then her hoof was being violently shaken by the pegasus “I’m Derpy” she said “Its so nice to meet you new friend, You sure you don’t want a muffin?”

Nightrider sighed then smiled “Actually, I would love a muffin”

On the way out of the house Nightrider thought about Derpy and her muffins.

“Those were so delicious” she thought “Why is everyone so friendly here? Is this really what a small town is like?” Nightrider felt she had much more questions, much deeper ones, but she tried to focus on the task at hand. “To Zecora’s” she thought. “With any luck the Princess might actually be there.”

Nightrider came up to a mossy, quaint little cottage. There were animals chasing eachother in the front yard and a large garden containing fruits and vegetables dominated the small field beside the cottage. “This must be the cottage of the Fluttershy that Derpy talked about” Nightrider thought, just beyond the cottage was the forest “Bingo” Nightrider said to herself. The sun was setting beyond the treetops, and the forest looked dark, but Nightrider was not afraid of the dark at all, she was always ready for an attack or ambush. Growing up on the streets teaches you to maintain constant vigilance, and Nightrider was a master of this. She effortlessly ducked under and hopped over the roots and branches that littered the forest floor, she thought she saw a light up ahead, so she moved a bit quicker. Then she heard a crunch, and then a howl. She picked up the pace moving toward the light, but a large dark figure suddenly blocked her path. As the creature moved closer, Nightrider saw it had a large mouth with sharp teeth and blazing eyes, it snarled at her and Nightider ran. She was being chased by some creature twice her size, she tried not to panic but instead to strategize. “Hes obviously big, and agile, but is he smart?” she thought. Nightrider feinted to one side and the creature chasing took the bait, it lunged in her direction, but Nightrider was faster, she ducked out of the way and countered the creature with a kick in what she thought was its face, and she heard a loud howl, then the sound of the creature tripping and falling. Another howl, and now it was as if the creature was trying to get away on its belly. Nightrider didn’t stop to investigate, she ran back towards the light and came across a small hut.

“this has to be it, who else would be crazy enough to live in this place?”

As Nightrider made her way closer she heard voices, a soft and dreamy female voice, and an equally dreamy yet harsher male voice. The male spoke in an accent Nightrider had never heard.

Nightrider knocked on the door, and she was greeted by a zebra.

“Um, hello, I’m looking for Zecora” she said uneasily

“If it is Zecora you seek, you are in luck, for you see, she is me” the zebra said with a smile in her dreamy rhyming voice Nightrider was not familiar with.

Nightrider was confused “So… you’re Zecora then?” she asked, even more uneasy. The zebra smiled and nodded, Nightrider had apparently found her.

“Ok then, I’m Nightrider, I’m looking for Twilight Sparkle and her friends, apparently they can answer some questions I have”

“Ah my child, don’t despair, Princess Twilight is no longer here, not long ago did you miss them, back to Ponyville did they leave when”

Nightrider frowned and rolled her eyes “Well that’s just bucking great” she said “I just left Ponyville, they said she would be here, but I just missed her, typical” Nightrider dropped herself on a chair nearby and Zecora came up beside her.

“I sense frustration in you my dear, tell me what it is you fear?”

Nightrider rolled her eyes again and explained to Zecora why she came to Ponyville to investigate some plague even she didn’t understand.

“But im getting very little information here, I want to get to the bottom of what the hay is going on, ponies are barely clinging to life here!”

Zecora looked at Nightrider “I see. Come in child” Zecora said dreamily.

Nightrider followed the zebra into the hut. She was instantly overwhelmed by the smells of various herbs and liquids in the small room.

“Waa gwaa me sistah, oo you zeen?” The male voice Nightrider had heard boomed behind her, She turned to see a stallion standing by a window, leaning and smiling at her.

“Uhh what?” Nightrider asked, very confused as to what the stallion said

“Waa gwaa?” He repeated “Ow you doing?” The stallion had a medium brown coat, and a red, yellow and green mane and tail, all braided into thick dreadlocks. He smiled warmly and his eyes drooped slightly.

“I’m fine” Nightrider said uneasily

“This is Nightrider, she seeks what the princess seeks” Zecora told the stallion. She then turned to Nightrider “This is my friend Jamal, he is a herbalist like myself.”

“Rasta” The stallion said in apparent greeting . He had something in his mouth that looked like a cigarette, but it smelled comepletely different. Nightrider recognized it immediately and rolled her eyes.

“Somepony likes to party” She thought. Nightrider was no stranger to drugs, growing up on Manehattan’s filthy streets she would see recreational pot smokers all the time, as well as those ruining their lives with more potent substance. Nightrider had a distaste for all substance, as she couldn’t escape the evils they created around her growing up.

Zecora interrupted her thoughts “What you and the Princess search for are one and the same. Come, let me show you whom she placed under my care.”

Zecora took Nightrider back into the bedroom of her hut, in the bed lay a creature that Nightrider had never seen before. It had the head of a goat, the body of a serpent and each limb was a different animal.

“This is Discord, the lord of chaos, a great ally to Princess Twilight during the Great Battle of Equestria, his magic is far more powerful than any you have ever seen, for he is a draconiquis.”

Nightrider looked at this so called “Powerful creature” she noticed a slight blue tinge to his body, she moved closer to him and heard that his breathing was slow and labored. She looked at Zecora “He’s barely alive” she said.

“He is unwell and has but little time, the treatment I have tried has yielded little hope. Brought him to me, Twilight did in hope that I could get him back up.” Zecora said “But it is little use, for even I do not know what is troubling his soul. Expert I am in magical ailment, but this is magic that is darker than even I can comprehend”

Nightrider looked at Discord lying motionless on the bed. “You said Twilight and her friends brought him to you? What did she say? How did she find him like this?”

“Princess Twilight asked me to tell no one, but child I sense you are a dependable young one determined to do the right thing.” And Zecora began to explain.

“All I know child is that when Discord presented himself in Canterlot to Twilight he was unwell, the item he was carrying was full of dark magic, our best guess is somehow this item attacked Discord and infected him with a magical plague, none of my herbs and potions have been effective so it must be the darkest of magic. Furthermore, other creatures have been acting out of ordinary. Timberwolves have been especially savage lately, that is not normal, and lest we forget the sick ponies throughout the land”

Nightrider's head was spinning. "Hold up" she said "you're saying that the thing this Discord was carrying caused this?"

"It appears so, young one" Zecora replied.

"But how the hay did everypony else get infected if Discord was the only one with the item?" Nightrider asked, perplexed.

"That is the question our fair Princess seeks the answer to, as she left Discord with me to be cared to" Zecora replied with an odd smile.

Nightrider felt a rush of more questions, none of this made any sense. "A dark magic item attacks this hybrid chaos abomination, and next thing you know the whole world spins out?" She thought to herself.

"When did Discord first feel sick? And where is this magical item?" She asked Zecora with more fury than she intended.

"That I cannot say, all I know is he was brought here just this morning, and his condition appears to be the cause of the darkest of magic" Zecora said in an almost mystifying voice. Nightrider was reluctant to trust this Zecora, she was suspicious of her and the way she talked, acted and lived. "Who the buck lives in a decaying hut in the middle of a forest full of homicidal wolf things?! With a carefree pothead like that for a roommate?" She thought to herself.

"If it is more answers you seek, I fear I cannot help, to the princess you must speak, if she has not already left."

"What do you mean left?" Nightrider asked, again with more fury than she intended.

"She is to return to Canterlot, running a kingdom is no easy task, especially in crisis."

Nightrider felt taken aback at how Princess Twilight was abruptly leaving, as if she had to wait for Nightrider to talk to, but Nightrider remembered the reason she came to Ponyville in the first place.

"Do you know where I can find a Dr. Whooves?" Nightrider asked Zecora.

"The good doctor and his brother are returning to Canterlot with the fair princess, young one. With this health crisis, the three of them have much to get done."

"But I thought you just said this plague was magical, so doctors are skilled in magic now?" Nightrider was feeling her temper flicker, she did her best to keep it contained. She did not want to lose it on this zebra, but she also felt a suspicion toward both her and the princess, ever so slight, she could not explain it.

"Dear child, it is time for you to go, for the answers to your questions I do not know, Princess Twilight Sparkle is an old friend, she confided in me a trust that I would do my best to look after Discord. If you want more help might I suggest speaking to one of her friends in Ponyville?"

Nightrider felt her suspicion rising, and that was also dragging her temper up. "What the hay is this freaky zebra hiding with her rhyming words and mysterious tone?" She thought to herself.

"I sense your frustration young one, I suggest you speak to one of the royal friends, perhaps they can help clear the confusion in you that I sense."

"She wants to send me away, she's hiding something, I know it" Nightrider tried to shift her thoughts "calm down girl, go quietly and sort it out, don't flip shit on this one, save it for someone who deserves it" she told herself trying to calm her rising anger.

"Who are these so-called royal friends?" Nightrider asked, trying very hard to keep sarcasm out of her voice.

"In Ponyville you seek the compassion of Fluttershy, the grace of Rarity, the passion of Rainbow Dash, the energy if Pinkie Pie and the strength of Applejack"

Nightrider's head pounded at what she had heard. "Are these ponies or desserts she just said?" Nightrider wondered "I’m sure those are their names, why not? They all live in that bubbly, friend-loving town that reeks of candy and roses" Nightrider could feel her frustration and anger mixing. She could not stand one more second in this hut with this zebra. She just knew there was something wrong here.

"Thanks for your help" Nightrider said to Zecora, trying not to grit her teeth as she said it.

"May I offer some spiced tea?" Zecora asked, but Nightrider just turned and left, she needed to get out of there, and at the mention of spiced tea she just wanted to kick something.

“Ow bout a joint, zeen?” the stallion offered. Nightrider just barged out of the hut.

Nightrider made her way back the way she came out of the forest. Despite never being in a forest she found where she had came in with ease. She was always a good navigator, a skill she developed while constantly staying on the move in order to survive, Nightrider had trained herself to examine every detail on her way so she would never get lost. On the way she tried to sort out her ever racing thoughts.

"So Discord over there gets sick from some dark magic artifact, Twilight brings him here to a weird zebra who is obsessed with chokers, not a doctor but a herbalist, because she knows its some magical something-or-other, all while being closely followed by her clique of friends. She then turns tail and leaves for the safety of home with the two best doctors in Equestria, with out her loyal friends? And where is this supposed magical item? Something stinks in all of this!"

Suddenly Nightrider was suspicious of everything that had happened so far in Ponyville. Bonbon in the hospital, Derpy at Dr. Whooves house, and Zecora in the forest. They all had a few things in common. "All were extremely open and friendly with me, all knew quite a bit of useful information, and all have a personal connection in some way or another with either Twilight or her friends." Nightrider said to herself, she felt her suspicion fuel her anger, but tried to be reasonable. "I'll find these friends, try to talk to them and get some info, surely they know something, running around with the princess so much, at the very least help me clear some suspicions."

Nightrider could see the outline of houses in the distance "where the buck am I going to find these friends?" She wondered. She then thought of the house she passed on the way to the forest, "Fluttershy's cottage" Bonbon had told her. "She must know where to find the rest of them" Nightrider thought.

As Nightrider got closer to the town she could make out ponies happily going about their business in Ponyville. "Why are they so damn happy all the time? Don't they know some plague thing is going on?" She thought "and why be so happy all the time anyway?" She thought of how depressing Manehattan was, and Nightrider thought that was the norm for all cities. All this friendliness made her uneasy and only fueled her suspicion. She tried to be rational, but it was all happening too fast, rationality only confused her.

At last she reached the entrance to Fluttershy’s front yard. There was a gate with a sign that read "Welcome! Friendship is Magic!" Nightrider grimaced "pshh" she snorted "friendship" she said rolling her eyes. She was beginning to hate the term more and more the more she spent in this town. "This Fluttershy better have answers for me, or I'll show her some friendship" Nightrider said as she made her way to the front door.