It was a cold night in Ponyville, the wind roared through the nippy air, and the crashing of rain filled the soaked ground as the scurrying of hasty hooves fell accompanied by vexed voices of the pony populace of Ponyville.
A weather team, comprised of Rainbow Dash and a few others, had to fill a quota much to the annoyance of others; Ponyville has usually been a sunny town, and seldom was it subject to any rainfall it didn't need. Regardless of what the townies felt, a little bit of rain was good for them, more importantly for their crops, but many would agree that, because Rainbow Dash headed the weather team stationed here, it was bound to be more of a downpour rather than a light shower.
There were many among the civilians that didn't expect any 'bad' weather but Rarity, who just so happened to be heading to Twilight's castle, would describe the sudden downpour as a "terrible, horrible, no-good thing," and she would be right, but what is she going to do? She had just done her mane just for this very event at Twilight's, but now it was ruined, and to say that the mare was up in a tizzy was an understatement. A very grave understatement.
Beside the distressed mare was the ever-kind Fluttershy consoling her friend. The poor pegasus was shivering as the two made the trek to Twilight's castle. They knocked on the large crystal door and heard a voice calling out from within. In a few moments, Twilight Sparkle appears before the two mares and the mares exchanged their usual greetings before Twilight led her friends inside.
The reason Rarity and Fluttershy were over Twilight's home was that the alicorn found a mysterious piece of history that was stored in between a few books in her private library while rummaging for something interesting to read. She suggested to all her friends to come over and listen to the words written in the book, but Applejack was busy with the farm, Rainbow Dash had a duty, and Pinkie Pie was visiting her family. The only ponies that showed, and were curious, were Rarity and Fluttershy.
Though the alicorn preferred to have all her friends here for this, Twilight was nonetheless happy at least two of her friends were available. She guided them to the library and pulled up three chairs before retrieving the piece of parchment from the shelf she found it in and placing it on a table for everypony to see.
"What you see before you is parchment, yes parchment, that through a brief study has been revealed to be an extremely old story possibly dating back to pre-equestrian times," Twilight said with excitement building with each word. "It's been preserved by invisible magic I cannot figure out. I haven't read the story yet, but since you two are here, we can get to reading."
Rarity, though somewhat interested, was currently tending to her ruined mane. "An invisible magic?" she asked, clearly confused. "You mean you can't determine what it is?"
Twilight nodded. "Before I thought of the sleepover, I have been attempting all day to figure out this magic, but it's too obscure and old, leaving my efforts fruitless." A small hair popped out of place in Twilight's mane. "It's maddening!"
"Is there any information about the pony who made it?" Fluttershy muttered, assisting Rarity to dry her mane.
"Unfortunately, no," Twilight answered with a tired sigh. "There seems to be no record, not a shred of information written. Again, I haven't read it, but I've noticed multiple scratches on the parchment, so I believe whoever wrote this, pony or not, didn't want any creature possessing information other than reading the story. Are you two ready?"
(The date and location have been mysteriously scratched out.)
Blackbird, Blackbird, haven't you heard? There's something down by the dale just for you. In the center of town, where all manner of things transpires, there's a parade in your honor. It's for you for being a good friend.
Blackbird, Blackbird, didn't you see? A show is performed in the outskirts with the title of your lovely name. It's a presentation of love and appreciation for all you do for us.
Blackbird, Blackbird, why must you worry? Your protection is all we people need. There's no trouble; no evil or malice, so please don't worry anymore. We know you will keep this town safe.
Blackbird, Blackbird, what seems to be the matter? Are you sick? Are you hurting deep inside? Have there been terrors? Were you crying at night? You have friends to talk to, don't bottle it up inside.
Blackbird, Blackbird, have you been eating? You're skinny. You don't look so well. Your eyes are darker than usual, and your wings are shuddering. Why are you ignoring me? Have I done something wrong? If you need to talk to me, I am here to help.
Blackbird, Blackbird, won't you at least answer your door? We miss you dearly. You haven't been outside in quite some time, everybody is worried. Please answer your door. Open up to your friends.
Blackbird, Blackbird, why aren't you home? Where have you gone? Perhaps by the strand of the ocean's sand? Further, it goes, seeing footsteps, yet my feathery friend is nowhere nearby.
Blackbird, Blackbird, the sky is dim and gray. What's happening? The air is smelly and the wind howls fearfully. I'm getting closer to where the footsteps end. I'll find you; I promise.
Blackbird, Blackbird, why are you in the ocean's waters? Can you hear me? Why are you so cold? Your wings are ruined and your face...it is damaged. You feel like a skeleton. I'm your friend, please talk to me. Look at me, my friend. What's the matter? Stop pushing me! Let me help you!
Blackbird, Blackbird, why are you now standing still? Move your arms, your body. Why aren't you breathing? Your eyes are weeping black tears and your mouth is flooded by icky sludge.
Blackbird, Blackbird, your time has come, or did you do something? You were tired? Was it all too much? Did we ask too much of you? Was it our fault you chose this path? Why didn't you say anything? Why did you push all of us away? We could have helped, didn't you want that? Maybe... you didn't.
Blackbird, Blackbird, I am sorry.
A wave of silence washed over the group. Twilight was quite perplexed and disgusted. Rarity shared the same reaction, and Fluttershy was shaken.
"That... didn't make any sense," the purple alicorn said aloud. "The bird just... dissociates with its friends and then dies? What... What is this mess? I-I don't understand."
Rarity rubbed the back of her mane. "Well, we know it's about a character called Blackbird, but we don't have any other names."
Twilight groaned and skimmed through the story numerous times. "Yeah... and that it had friends, yet a particular one seems to be the only other character. The friend began to notice slight changes in Blackbird's physical appearance but in the end... The end was so bizarre."
Fluttershy agreed with Twilight. "Blackbird was getting sick... so much that it seemed to appear like... a-a corpse or something. Then it was having nightmares so bad it couldn't sleep."
"That explained how dark the eyes were described," Twilight said. "Then it was getting worried for no reason? Blackbird is some type of hero in this story. The other character said everything was fine, so maybe Blackbird had a case of paranoia."
Fluttershy agreed. "And then it leaves without saying a single word to its friends, heading to a beach and standing in the water."
"This is creepy..." Rarity held her mane to comfort herself. "The parade and show... Do you think it went to them?"
Twilight took a second to answer, but then she shook her head. "I don't think so. We are told that Blackbird hasn't been outside in a long while, so why would it suddenly go outside now for some celebratory occasion? I think it refused its friend's invitation. Blackbird doesn't peg me for a character who would become involved in such things."
Fluttershy glanced at the parchment laying almost eerily on the table and flinched from it slightly. "What do you think happened to Blackbird? Do you think it did something to... end its life?"
Twilight began to deliberate Fluttershy's question. The alicorn thought about Blackbird and anything in the story that could've hinted at something, but the more she mused, the more troubling things became, and the more frustrated she got. All Twilight knew is that Blackbird stayed inside its home until one day it left to head down to some beach without saying a single word to anyone.
"Remember when the other character said something about it being their fault that Blackbird died or something?" she asked her friends.
Fluttershy slowly bobbed her head. "You believe it was because of Blackbird's friends that it... well, you know..."
A long sigh escaped Rarity's lips. "It might've been exaggerating because it was worried for Blackbird. The other character raised the question that Blackbird wanted this to happen. Twilight?"
Twilight scanned the story over and over again, and an idea struck her mind. "What if Blackbird was nearing the end of its life?"
"Explain," Rarity said.
Twilight clears her throat before saying, "Think about it. Blackbird was probably some old creature that once protected some village or town, or something, and over the years, it could've unfortunately gotten PTSD from whatever it went through to help others. This could be the answer to the night terrors the story tells. And the paranoia.
"It could be that the other character tried to de-stress Blackbird's worries by throwing a parade in its honor or having a show in love and dedication to its service, but Blackbird refused all invitations, opting to stay inside its home. As the days rolled by, Blackbird became skinny and frail on account of the shuddering wings, the dark eyes, and lack of eating.
"One day it decided to go outside and leave whatever town or village it was in, without telling any creature, and venture down to a beach where it proceeded to stand in the water for an unspecified amount of time, and then dying shortly after.
"I don't really have an explanation for the... icky black-like sludge that oozed out Blackbird but it could've been something that transpires at the end of its life. Maybe whatever species it belonged to experienced that type of death."
"What about the weather?" Fluttershy announced.
Twilight shrugged. "This piece of odd history might predate ponies, so maybe the weather had a mind of its own back then, like the Everfree Forest? I don't know. It could've just been a mere coincidence that the story concluded during bad weather.
"From everything we're able to take away from this odd piece of writing, it seems to present itself as a story about a hero who finally meets their end... sadly... and in the most disgusting way possible..."
Rarity stretches and gently stands up and began heading to the library's exit. "Though creepy and oddly interesting this little story is, how about we go and do something else? Perhaps get something to eat? I'm feeling a tad peckish."
"B-but Rarity," Twilight stammered, holding up the parchment with her magic. "But what about the story?! We can't just leave it!"
Fluttershy trotted over to Twilight and placed her hoof on her head. "We can do it later, but for now, let's do something else."
Twilight took another glance at the parchment and gave a defeated sigh, putting the story back on the table. "Alright, fine," she said getting up from her seat and joining Rarity with Fluttershy by her side.
The trio of friends left the library, leaving the parchment to collect dust on the vacant table. The words began to vibrate and move about in a daemonic manner before stopping abruptly and returning to their original state.
