Virus

Virus

Chapter 1: Vacation to Trottingham

Screech!

Go the brakes. The train halts a train station in Trottingham, busy ponies arguing with the ticket booth ponies about the prices. A young, purple mare gracefully sets her hooves on the cold, chewing gum covered ground. She looks around the busy station. Mares wore old, floral dresses. The colts wore dashing, black suits and bowler hats. The mare sniffs the gas filled air, getting a whiff of the new surroundings, her bag swayed in her mouth.

"Twilight Sparkle?" says a strapping young colt, wearing a bowler hat and a suit, holding a sign that read 'Twilight Sparkle'. Twilight smiled at the colt and set her bag down on the ground.

"Yes, sir. That is me." she responds. Twilight bends down her head and unzips her saddlebag. She rummages through the mess of books and clamps her teeth down on a hooded cape.

"It's cold here. Not really what I'm used to in Ponyville." says the magical mare. The colt rolls his blue eyes at the country-pony. He zips back up Twilight's bag and carries it in his mouth. He nudges his head towards an old twenties car. Twilight trots towards the shiny, black car. It was so shiny; it must have been waxed at least one hundred times a day. Twilight imagined an arrogant mare wearing a black dress, staring at the perfectly clean car and whining about how it wasn't clean enough. Twilight rolled her eyes at the thought.

The colt set the bag down and pulled the handle on the car. Twilight climbed inside, the cold, leather seats making Twilight shiver slightly. The colt threw the bag into the car, almost smacking Twilight in the face. Twilight frowned at the rude colt. Were ponies in Trottingham always this rude? Twilight thought.

"Your grandmother has ordered me to take you to the library before I bring you to her house, so you can pick out some new books to read." says the colt, bored.

"Okay." says Twilight Sparkle. The colt turns the key of the car, making the engine grumble, and the gas pipe sputter. They rolled through the dull, gray city. No light from the sun bothered to light up the gloomy town. Twilight felt depressed looking at the scenery of this ash colored city. It was as though Twilight had arrived in a black and white film. If only Pinkie Pie were here. She could bring joy to this town. No doubt about it. Twilight sighed. She thought about her friends back in Ponyville, and hoped that they were okay.

Twilight bounced out of her seat and her thoughts. She was now focused on what was happening ahead of them. After hearing a dozen loud booming sounds, Twilight saw a collision of twenties cars smashed and broken in the middle of the road. Smoke floated from the dying cars. An old colt blasted out of the dark, gray colored car. His half-moon spectacles dangled from one ear, his bowler hat with a large tear in the side, and his coat covered in filth, and soot.

Twilight imagined Rarity being with her, and how she would have acted if she saw the colt’s appearance. Twilight giggled a little bit.

"What is so funny?" asks the cab driver. Twilight stares at him wide eyed.

"Oh, I was just-"

"There is to be no laughing, or silly noises in this cab. Understood?" the rude driver snaps, cutting off Twilight.

No funny sounds? No laughing? What kind of town was this? Surely, Twilight's grandmother couldn't be this grumpy. It seemed like nopony in this city had a sense of humor.

The driver pulls up to a gray, dirty library. The title of the library read 'The Trottingham Library'. Very original. Twilight's eyes didn't sparkle, as they usually did when she caught her eye on a library. Twilight stared in disgust at the filthy building. No color or decorations even touched the boring old library.

"Here is the library. I will be waiting in the car for you. Please, take all the time you need." said the colt sarcastically. Twilight frowned, getting his hint of sarcasm, and exited the black car. She trotted across the street, avoiding the other cars. She safely made it across the road to the library. She pushed open the door; a little bell rang from the top of the door.

"Well, at least one thing makes a nice sound." Twilight said quietly. She stared up at the silver bell. She smirked a little bit, and began shaking the door back and forth, in a slow pace.

Ring...Ring...Ring

Twilight looked around the library, but saw nopony. She continued to shake the door, but this time in a faster pace.

Ringringringringring

"STOP THAT!"  A voice erupts from a wrinkly old mare from behind a bookshelf. "Don't you know better than to ring that blasted thing over and over?" Twilight blushes.

"Well, don't you hear it all the time?" Twilight asks.

"Of course not. Nopony ever comes to check out books. I'm almost going out of business!" says the mare. Twilight was flabbergasted. 'Nopony EVER comes to check out books.'? What kind of a town is this? Twilight thought. Twilight frowned. She trotted over to the far end of the library. She saw books like Pony History: The History of Trottingham, Unicorn Magic for Beginners. Twilight browses the boring old, tattered books. She finds nothing that she might like to read.  Although, she was thinking about the book about the history of Trottingham. But she had no use for the spell book. Twilight was definitely not a beginner. A large opening revealed more and more books. Twilight looked at a sign that hung above the opening.

'Keep Out' it read. Twilight could not resist. There were no books in this part of the library. Twilight turned her head, checking for the wrinkly hag. She was nowhere to be seen in the library. Twilight canters inside the room and starts to browse for books. More boring old books lined the shelves- except for one.

"What's this?" Twilight asks herself. She turns her head to the side trying to read the spine of the book. The letters were unreadable. They were covered in dust and dirt.

"HEY?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?!" the hag scolds. Twilight jumps back and stumbles over a pile of books with pages missing. "DIDN'T YOU READ THE BLOODY SIGN? IT SAYS 'KEEP OUT'. CAN'T YOU READ? GET OUT!" Twilight hops up and scrambles out of the room. She blasts open the door and rushes to the cab. She barges into the cab, Twilight positioning her rump onto a strange lump in her cape. The cab driver rolls his eyes and steps on the gas pedal.  When the driver turns around, Twilight stuffs something into her saddlebag. They roll past the same dull gray buildings and the same old dull gray ponies. Two colts are seen arguing about a flat tire. And two mares are seen arguing about a cape. It seems all this town can do is whine about how unfair life is. Well, that is just the way it is, I'm afraid.

After a few minutes, they arrived at a building in a wide field. The building was like a castle, it was large, and very old. It seemed to be the only source of color in this dying city. Twilight darted her eyes all around the area. They moved from the floral deck, to the forest behind the house.

"This is it. Your grandmother's house." he said, staring at the colorful home in disgust. Twilight grinned; she swept up her saddlebag in her mouth and jumped out the cab. She dashed through the prickly, brown colored field and approached the house. A large, brass knocker hung on the front of the door. An image of a female unicorn was carved into the brass. Twilight hooks her hoof around the knocker and bangs it against the large wooden door.

Moments later, a young, mare in a black and white maids dress answered the door.

"Well, 'ello there! You must be Miss Twilight Sparkle!" the mare foretells. Twilight smiles at the mare. She is actually surprised that she isn't wearing some fancy gown like the rest of the town’s ponies.

"Yes. Is my grandmother here?" Twilight asks. The mare tilts her head and paints a look of confusion on her face.

"What kind of a question is that? Didn't you read the letter?" the mare asks. Twilight unzips her bag again and takes out a piece of parchment.

The parchment read,

'Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I have not seen you since you were a foal, I'm very sorry about that. It's just; things have been very hectic here in Trottingham. There were many murders, and robberies taking place. I was one of the ones to be robbed, unfortunately... I would very much appreciate it if you would take some time out of your schedule (if you have a schedule. I always keep a dozen schedule's in my drawer), and come visit me here in Trottingham. I look forward to seeing you again!

Your grandmother,

Stardust'

"I don't understand." Twilight says. The mare takes the parchment out of Twilight's hoof. She quickly reads over the words. Her small smile fades away slowly.

"Oh... You don't know." she says. Twilight's face has a look of confusion. The mare leads Twilight into the mansion, taking her through the sitting room. Dark, leather couches sat in every corner. Instead of walls, the perimeter of the room was lined with bookcases. A large chandelier hung from the ceiling, the sparkly candles twinkled against the diamonds. The mare took her to a large bedroom (on the bottom floor, since Twilight’s grandmother is too old to go upstairs), that smelled of tea, and smoke, from the fireplace. Twilight saw a king-sized bed against the wall in the middle of the room. More bookcases stood against the walls. Twilight spotted a large lump in the bed. Twilight got closer and saw the outline of the lump. Unmistakably, this was Twilight's grandmother.

"Grandmother?!" Twilight said in shock. She lowered the hood of her cape and petted her grandmother.

"Ah, Twilight. My dear, I'm sorry I did not mention it in the letter, I didn't want you to come here knowing that you would be attending another funeral.

Twilight was reminded of her grandfather's funeral. It was the saddest day in the world for Twilight. Grandpa Starshine was the greatest of all grandfathers’. Twilight felt a small burning in her eye. She rubbed her eye with her hoof and removed a shiny teardrop. Twilight's brain sounded as though it was trapped in a thunderstorm, the sort of sound when you are trying to hold back tears.

"Would you like me to get you some cups of tea, ma'am?" the mare asks Twilight's grandmother.

"Twilight, dear, would you like some tea?" Stardust asks.

"Oh, yes please." Twilight replies. The mare nods and exits the bedroom. Stardust stares at Twilight Sparkle with shiny and wrinkly blue eyes. Twilight slowly droops down her head in sadness.

"Did you stop by the library for some books?" Stardust asked Twilight, breaking the awkward silence. Twilight stared at her saddlebag. She unzipped it and uncovered the book that she...stole, not taking it out of her bag. Twilight wondered why she stole it. She didn't even know what the book was about. She just got it for no reason. Sort of like it hypnotized her into grabbing it. Twilight took her hoof and wiped the dust off of the cover. The cover picture was of a unicorn with demon-red eyes, horn shining a black light. Twilight moved her eyes up the cover of the book until she they reached the title, Forbidden Magic by DevilHeart. Twilight’s iris shrank. If Twilight knew the title of the book, she never would have taken it! Forbidden magic? Well. I’m sure there isn’t anything too harsh in it. Maybe I could take peek? Twilight thinks, her grandmother staring at her with confusion.

“Erm… No…” Twilight says. Twilight’s grandmother frowns a little.

“Oh, no problem, there are plenty of books in the living room.” Stardust declares. Twilight nods and zips her bag up. The mare carefully sets her hoofs in front of the others as she carries in the tray of English tea and some biscuits with little heart shape cutouts in the middle of them filled with jelly.

“Some tea with jammy dodgers, miss!” says the Yorkshire pony. She sets the tray on the bedside table and smooth’s out her apron.

“Thank you, Flowermaid.” Says Twilight’s grandmother. The mare smiles slightly and trots out of the room. Stardust examines the cookies carefully.

“Ah, Jammy Dodgers. Probably the only thing in this dying city that is actually cheerful!” Twilight’s grandmother says with a smile. Twilight giggles a little bit.

“Grandmother, why did you stay here for so many years? Why didn’t you move when you had the chance?” Twilight asks.

“Vould ya vike shum?” Stardust asks with her mouth full of jammy. Twilight turns her head down a little to block out the disgusting image of her grandmother with a stuffed mouth.

“No thank you…” Twilight says, politely. Stardust continues to cram biscuits into her wrinkly mouth. To Twilight, it was like she was looking at her friend, Pinkie Pie. The way she slobbered like a beast.

Stardust gave Twilight a, you-don’t-know-what-you’re-missing-out-on face.  Twilight winced at every loud, slobbery munch her grandmother took. Never had Twilight thought she would be this sloppy. Twilight could imagine what Rarity would have to say.

“Oh, yuck, how revolting, that is the most disgusting thing I have ever laid eyes on, how sickening!”

Twilight giggled for a moment. Stardust looked up. She wiped her face clean with her tongue and patted it with a napkin. She then took a sip of tea. Twilight lifted her cup and sipped. It tasted like sweetness. Twilight’s grandmother smiled a sort of toothy smile. Some of her teeth were missing. This didn’t surprise Twilight, for she knew that her grandmother wasn’t very good at taking care of herself.

“Do you like the tea?” Stardust asked Twilight. Twilight took one more sip of tea and set the mug on the table.

“Oh, yes. It reminds me of my friend Fluttershy’s tea that she makes at tea parties!” Twilight choked. She could feel the tears rising. She knew that she was going to be with her grandmother, for a short time, but she still missed her home in Ponyville. And now the thought of her beloved grandmother dying burned in her large brain. The tears trickled down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away with her hoof, but more and more tears fell down her face, making it harder to wipe every single one away. She made a sound kind of like a goose. Twilight’s grandmother tried to lift herself up to reach her hoof over to Twilight’s face. But then all of a sudden…

“AGH!” Stardust yelps. Twilight jerks her head up and stares at her grandmother. Stardust rolls around on the bed, her hoofs pressing on her back.

“Grandmother, are you alright?” Twilight asks.

“My back! Please, fix my back!” Stardust moans. Twilight goes to the other side of the bed and softly punches her grandmother’s back.

“Oww!” Stardust shouts. She rolls onto her now fixed back and smiles at Twilight. “Thank you.” She mutters.  Twilight wiped her head and sat back in the chair on the other side of the bed. She took a few more sips of her tea.

The next day, Twilight sparkle was gathering firewood for her grandmother’s fireplace. She found some nice logs and levitated them back to the house. She placed them into the fireplace and lit a fire with her horn. Sparkly, orange flames danced about the fireplace.

“So, what kinds of magic are you learning?” Stardust asks.

“Oh, all kinds, the most recent spells that I have been working on are transfiguring ponies.” Twilight says, proud. Stardust looked impressed. She stuffed her face, once again, with Jammy Dodger’s. Twilight tucked in her grandmother and turned out the oil lamps for her grandmother’s nap. Twilight slowly closed the door and sat in one of the leather armchairs in the living room. She pulled out the book that she had taken from the bookstore and started to read it. Twilight knew that she shouldn’t practice black magic, but she couldn’t help it. Her main purpose is to learn new magic!

Forbidden Magic by DevilHeart

Chapter 1: Black Magic and its Uses.

Twilight skipped the first chapter and skimmed her way to chapter two.

Chapter 2: Murder Spells

Twilight’s eyes went wide. She immediately slammed the book shut and stuffed it into her bag. She thought about returning it tomorrow.  But wait. She thought. What if I can’t sneak it inside without that awful pony seeing me? She’ll know that I stole it! And I would definitely not want to go through her horrible temper once again. Twilight decided to keep the book instead. She can’t risk getting into trouble. Twilight saw, out of the corner of her eye, a blur moving quickly into the living room. Twilight turned her head to see Flowermaid slowly creaking open the door and going inside Stardust’s bedroom to check on her. Twilight got up from the chair and browsed the books on the shelves. She found a book called Transfiguring by Shapeshifter. Twilight thought she might find some information on transfiguring ponies. Twilight found a very good chapter that explained everything in organized steps on how to transfigure ponies.

Minutes later, Twilight heard loud, mumbling shouts from her grandmother’s bedroom. Twilight dashed up to the door and put her ear up to it.

“Ma’am?! MA’AM, please wake up! WAKE UP!” Twilight could hear muffled crying. She burst open the door and rushed to her grandmother.

“Grandmother? GRANDMOTHER?! PLEASE! DON’T BE GONE!  PLEASE DON’T LEAVE ME GRANDMOTHER, PLEASE! NO! NO! NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO!” Twilight shouted. She and Flowermaid cried together. Twilight seemed to cry for the rest of the long day. Flowermaid was kind enough to bring her some tea and jammies. Twilight kindly drank the tea and munched on the Jammy Dodger’s. Flowermaid also offered to read Twilight a book called The Earth Pony, about an earth pony, Bilbo, who goes on an adventure with a unicorn named Gandalf.

After many long, painful weeks, Twilight and Flowermaid prepare for Stardust’s funeral. Yes, it was a very sad few weeks. Unfortunately, Twilight had to stay longer than she had planned. And unfortunately, she didn’t have her number one assistant Spike the Dragon to help with writing a letter to her friends. So, she had to write them herself. But she didn’t mind. As long as her friends knew exactly where she was and why it was taking her longer than she had expected.

‘Dear Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, and Spike,

I will not be returning to Ponyville for a few more days due to a terrible loss in the family. Please excuse my further absences. I hope you all are doing okay.

Your friend,

Twilight Sparkle’

Twilight could feel tears burning her face as they dropped down her face. She missed her friends and most of all, her grandmother.

Many days after the funeral, Twilight Sparkle calls a cab to take her to the train station. She is taken back to the gloomy city where she is escorted onto the train to Ponyville.

She sat down in one of the purple leather seats and set her bag aside. She lowered the hood of her cape and positioned her head in a comfortable way. She closed her eyes and fell asleep…