Fight for Friendship

Everypony gone, everyone i know, my family, my friends. Several years ago, it was my sister who vanished without a trace the day i earned my mark. Just a few years ago, my parents had been reported missing, as well as several other pegasi in Cloudsdale. Last year, it was all three princesses. I didn't believe it was possible. Many other ponies in Canterlot had went missing as well, yet Spike managed to make it to Ponyville, hiding in the library. I began to worry, the mist appearing in every location. The mist, having appeared in Cloudsdale and Canterlot when the ponies disappeared, and now more were vanishing as it passed through each town.

The mist started to enter Ponyville, Applejack and her family going missing, Winona now curled up in Spike's bed, whimpering and whining about something unseen. Spike returned from Sugarcube Corner, carrying a depressed looking Gummy. What possible could be within this? What being could just take away ponies without leaving a trace, a clue to what happened. Angel just the other day came to the library, where i was quietly keeping watch over the other animals. Owlowicious came not long after, holding papers in his talons. His feathers were ruffled, and it looked as though a few had been plucked. Something in the mist didn't want him to leave Canterlot, but he managed to fight his way here. The poor owl looked exhausted, and seemed to be hurting in several places. I didn't want to see the papers, believing they might be notes. Just yesterday, Scootaloo vanished. My heart shattered at the thought, knowing that i didn't even have a chance to try to rescue her from whatever was traveling within the fog.

Today, the last of my friends soon ended up on my list of dissapearences. All that was left was myself, and I couldn't even begin to imagine what was creeping within this fog. All of their pets, hiding here in the library, relying on me to protect them. What could I do? Not even the princesses stood a chance, having been among the first to go, what could a simple pegasus such as myself do? I finally looked over the pages Twilight's bird had brought. I was shocked to read what was held inside the pages.

Magic. These were spells. Spells that I could use, that anypony could use. I can't believe it, these are spells! I knew Twilight was an egghead, but i didn't know she was smart enough to create such magic! There were two spells at least, but each took a few pages of instructions. As smart as she was, not even Twilight could make magic simple for pegasi and earth ponies. I pick up my saddle bag, shoving the pages inside. The two spells were a simple levitation, and an illumination spell. The levitation couldn't possibly lift a pony without a lot of struggle, but I am a pegasus, so i don't need to worry. The illumination spell simply meant i could create a ball of light, that's it. It would take a long while to master these, as simple as they are to Twilight, but that only i meant i can't rely on them.

"Dash, are you sure we should do this? I mean, isn't it dangerous enough with all this creepy fog, let alone going into the Everfree forest?" The small purple dragon shook at the thought of entering the dark forest, especially with all this unnatural mist everywhere.

"Zecora is there, and i believe this originates from the Everfree itself. Anyways, we don't have much of a choice. I'd rather get killed in the forest than face whatever is lurking in the mist," I sighed. It was true. I would prefer being torn apart by timberwolves than i would running face to face with the monster in the fog. This felt like a horror movie come to life, and that is what i believe it is. The only thing on my mind was keeping these animals protected and hope Zecora was safe. I allowed Spike, Opal, and Angel to climb on my back, Gummy finding a comfortable place in my mane. Tank hovered not far away with his propellers, Owlowicous directing him wherever he went, making sure he didn't crash. The poor bird was injured as it was, i didn't want to see him try flying again but he insisted. Winona stayed close to my side, still whimpering softy. I picked up a knife from the table, placing it into the empty saddlebag. I knew it wouldn't do much, but maybe i could possibly keep the animal distracted.

I opened the door slowly, a foul stench filling my nostrils. It reeked, like rot and decay. What could possibly be creating this fog? It was unnatural as it was, but it reeked like something long dead. Spike was mumbling, whispering about something i couldn't quite make out. I crept out the door, quietly making my way around the tall tree, heading in the direction of the forest. I felt like something was watching, waiting, hoping to catch me off guard and drag me to my fate. Swiftly and silently, a trotted straight forward, unable to see more than a foot in front of me. After some time, i could feel the ground beneath me soften into the thick grass that covered the forest floor. I wasn't going to make it to Zecora's with all this fog blocking my view. I pulled out a few pages of paper, reading the instructions to the illumination spell. I read through it several times over before a managed to create a small ball of light. The light hovered a foot in front of me, the fog retreating as though it was living. The owl found a place on my back to rest, shielding his face with one wing. He didn't like the light, being a nocturnal animal. It was daylight, but unless you were high up in the clouds, you wouldn't have guess it. Winona let out a high-pitched yelp and ran underneath me, tripping me.

"Winona!" I shouted out, my voice trailing off when i saw eyes. I felt like screaming when i heard a familiar tone.

"Such a fool you are to wander alone, any longer and you would be nothing but bone," The zebra stepped forwards, revealing herself within the glowing light. She waved a hoof, signalling us to follow her. I stood up, glad to know she was fine.

"Zecora! Thank Celestia you're alright! I was worried you vanished as well!" I laughed. A glimmer of hope, though i felt like it would vanish just as all my friends had. Zecora nodded, leading us to her hut. I noticed that the windows were sealed tightly, not a single crack exposed. We all swarmed into the small hut, tightly sealing the door behind us. Each animal found a safe spot while Spike and I spoke with Zecora.

"Do you have any idea why everypony is disappearing?" Spike was the first to ask, his cheeks stained with tears. He had been crying, from both fear and sorrow.

"I am sorry little dragon, but my knowledge on this is none," Zecora lowered her head, closing her eyes, the honesty in her tone. She knew nothing more than we did.

"What is with the fog? It's everywhere!" I wanted to know what it was, why everypony within it would seem to leave the face of the earth.

"This is not a mist that you see, but something few would believe to be," the zebra sighed, lifting her head. Even she was heartbroken from the disappearences.

"I think i know what they are, i saw one. The fog is like a ghost, and it follows what has been lurking within," Spike whispered. I turned towards him, shocked that he didn't mention it before.

"What?" I gasped.

"Twilight was muttering something, speaking like she was talking to somepony. There were eyes, hovering in front of her. There was mist all over the library!"  Spike side.

"What did she say it was?" Both Zecora and I were curious of this fact.

"I don't know what the creature is called, but I believed she called the mist, Spectars."