Fractum Speculum

Six

Twilight Sparkle stood on a crag, watching the waves crash all around her. Again? She peered across the familiar horizon, taking in the black clouds and the churning ocean. And then the presence. She turned ready to see Applejack... but instead she gazed upon the tall, dark figure of Princess Luna.

“Time to wake up Twilight Sparkle.” She said in her booming Canterlot voice. All around Twilight the dream began to dissolve, and she was lunged into the waking world.

She didn’t want to open her eyes yet. Wherever she was, it was so comfortable, she could lie here forever. But then a familiar voice caught her attention.

“How are you feeling Twilight?” her eyes shot open and she met the gaze of Princess Celestia, her younger sister standing at her side.

“You’re back!” she exclaimed forgetting all notion of politeness, “but I thought you were away on a royal visit.”

“Indeed we were, but as luck had it we made it back a day early,” she said giving her usual warm smile.

A day early. That meant she must have just arrived after Twilight passed out. Glancing out the window she saw it was night time, she must have been out for a few hours. Celestia leaned in closer, “tell me what happened Twilight, why are you here?”

“Because you summoned me your highness.” Twilight responded, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. But she saw the look of confusion on her face.

“Tell me everything,” said Celestia. Twilight did just that, explaining the letter, how she teleported to Canterlot, and how she passed out after discovering the princess was gone.

“Well that explains your condition. Overpowering like that can take its toll on your body when you haven’t grown accustomed to it. It’s similar to when you wield the elements of harmony, it’s only by dividing that power between you and your friends that you can handle it,” Celestia explained. “And I can assure you; no one in this court sent you that letter.”

“The onyx seems like a good place to start, we don’t use those sorts of enchantments here.” Princess Luna chipped in, then turning to Celestia she added, “I will investigate this, Sister.”

Celestia nodded once and in a flash of blue light, Luna was gone.

Twilight tried to sit up, but Celestia reached forward keeping her still. “You’re in no condition to be active just yet, sleep for a few days and then we’ll take you home.”

“Please I need to get to Ponyville now your highness.” She pleaded, “What ever’s going on I need to know my friends are safe.”

“I understand that, but you need time to recover,” she responded, sounding like a mother.

“With all due respect, ill recover better when I know they’re alright.” Celestia looked like she was fighting an internal battle, but eventually she sighed.

“Alright, I’ll take you back myself.” Using her magic she lifted Twilight from the bed rested her over her back, “we’ll get there faster flying.”

Seven

Applejack was woken by the sound of barking. Dragging herself out of bed she opened the curtains and looked out the window. It was morning but the sun wasn’t up yet, another hour and it would be light. Peering into the dark she saw Winona running back and forth the perimeter fence, barking frantically. Something was wrong; she only acted up like this when there was an intruder on the lot.

Hurrying out onto the landing she ran into Big Mac, clearly he was going to investigate the disturbance as well, and together they left the house. Winona saw them approaching and scampered to their hooves, indicating in the way only Applejack could understand, something was afoot. They set off down the road, Winona darting ahead, but occasionally running back to make sure they were still following.

After some time Applejack was beginning to wonder what in Tarnation had got Winona so worked up this far from home? But then they caught up to the dog, who was low to the ground, lips peeled back growling. Following his line of sight Applejack made out a silhouette of a house in the distance, Fluttershy’s house. Her brother glanced at her, clearly realising what she had just noticed.

“We gotta make sure she’s alright,” she began to say, but then a roar shook through the trees. A bear roar. At once all three charged at full pelt, whatever was going on they couldn’t delay... for Fluttershy’s sake.

Eight

“Some ponies are trying to get some shut eye!” Rainbow Dash shouted down to the earth. Why couldn’t Fluttershy keep those animals of hers quiet? Having enough Rainbow Dash leaned over the edge of her cloud trying to see what the fuss was about. The sun was beginning to breach the horizon so there was a little light available. At first nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and she was about ready to stick in ear plugs and try again for sleep, when she saw Applejack, Big Mac and Winona charging down the path towards Fluttershy’s house.

Swooping from her perch she sped down so she was gliding level with Applejack.

“Did those annoying animals wake you too?”

“Rainbow Dash, didn’t you hear that bear? Something is up and all you worry about is getting your beauty sleep.” She retorted.

“I didn’t hear a bear,” She replied shocked. Well she was awake now, may as well lend a hand. Though now after hearing the worry in Applejack’s voice, she couldn’t help but start to feel concerned as well.

Nine

Twilight could see Ponyville looming closer, the light of the rising sun revealing everything beneath her. She’d never cease to be amazed at how for such a regal being; Princess Celestia flew at a speed that would make Rainbow Dash blush. So far nothing had caught her attention, but she still couldn’t shake the feeling something very bad was going to happen... or was already happening.

As they flew over town hall, she was about ready to accept it was nothing more than paranoia. But then a scream ripped through the air. Both Twilight and Celestia snapped their heads around following the direction of the scream; it seemed to be coming from Fluttershy’s house. Without any hesitation Celestia changed direction and bolted towards the source of the sound.

What awaited them looked like it had been dragged out of a nightmare. The sun was now low in the sky, but as was as if natural light was unable to enter this area. All around plants were blackened and withered, trees stripped of leaves, fences and animal coops twisted and warped. Fluttershy’s house was writhing like some chaotic abomination, and all over was covered in a splattering of black goo... and animal remains.

Twilight dismounted from Celestia, both staring aghast at the scene in front of them. It was only then Twilight saw the source of the scream, when she first heard it she assumed it was somepony screaming out of pain. That was technically true... but the reality was so much worse than anything she could have predicted. The scream had come from Applejack, who was being held back by Rainbow Dash, tears flooding from her eyes. Following her gaze Twilight’s eyes came to rest upon the mutilated body... of Big McIntosh.

Applejack was screaming out of pain, but a pain far worse than anything physical. What had happened? The dead animals? This nightmarish environment? Big Mac? But then she got her answer. Slowly descending from the sky, barely recognisable as she was so covered in blood and guts, clutching half a chicken between her teeth... was Fluttershy.

“No, no, no,” Twilight begged. Then screamed, “No!”

Tears began welling in her eyes. It was only then that Fluttershy seemed to notice the newcomers.

“Well hello there Twilight,” Fluttershy said, her voice was neither soft nor quiet; it was harsh and echoed through Twilights bones.

“What have you done Fluttershy?” Twilight said through the tears.

“What have I done?” she repeated in a mocking tone, “I’ve finally stopped wasting my life away. Caring for pathetic parasites, it served only one purpose... it was like raising pigs for slaughter.”

“Twilight you mustn’t let your emotions take hold of you, you need to be focused if you’re to save your friends,” said Celestia, who Twilight forgot was standing behind her. At first she wondered why she hadn’t just taken her down, but then seeing the dead bodies of Big Mac and a bear lying several feet away, she realised it would be unwise to underestimate Fluttershy.

“Yes listen to your teacher Twilight, she’s smart, unlike Little Mackey over here.” At that Applejack snapped and broke free of Rainbow Dash’s grip charging at Fluttershy. Screaming she leapt into the air and brought Fluttershy crashing to the ground, but she had expected it, and kicked out at Applejack’s face.  Applejack collapsed, stunned. Fluttershy was clearly stronger than she looked. Fluttershy bore down upon her opening her jaws, strands of saliva dripping down onto Applejacks exposed throat. But all at once Rainbow Dash smashed into Fluttershy sending her flying into a tree, and Twilight and Celestia raised their horns and mustered all their energy which they  fired in unison, they’re beams merging together and hitting Fluttershy full force in head.

Immediately the world began changing, light spilled through, the black goo seeped away and the plants and buildings returned to their normal state. But the animals remained dead, Big Mac stayed dead. Celestia approached Fluttershy, who wasn’t moving, Rainbow Dash roused Applejack, and Twilight fell to the ground, letting her tears run free.

Ten

Spike crouched down picking up the limp, lifeless body of Angel in his claws. He clearly suffered. Looking up he watched Twilight pace the room of Fluttershy’s house, always returning to the mirror, staring intently as if wishing the answers would be reflected in it.

The news spread like wild fire across Ponyville, and as soon as Spike caught wind he wasted little more than a minute racing to Fluttershy’s cottage. Crowds of ponies had gathered around the perimeter demanding to know what was going on, but royal guards were holding them at bay, not uttering a word. Spike squeezed through the crowd and managed to see Rainbow Dash attempting to pacify the crowd.

“Please return home ponies,” she announced waving her hooves in the direction they’d come. “The news will be made public shortly; in the mean time let the guards do their work.”

“Rainbow Dash.” Looking down, Rainbow Dash saw Spike and signalled to the guards to let Spike past, ignoring the protests of the other ponies.

Rainbow Dash refused to explain what had happened, she just said Twilight was in the house and she could probably use his company. Walking along the path Spike’s stomach turned over as he saw splashes of blood and remains covering the yard. Guards placed dead animals into clinically clean body bags. Nobody paid him any notice, the mood was sombre, and presumably he had his own reasons for being there which they weren’t about to question. Approaching the front door, Spike gulped, and entered slowly, dreading what he’d find.

He was surprised however, after the massacre outside, he was expecting something catastrophic here, perhaps Fluttershy herself. But all that greeted him was a single dead rabbit and Twilight Sparkle staring into a broken mirror.

“Twilight, what happened?” She turned slowly, and Spike saw her eyes were puffy and bloodshot, her face tear streaked. They rushed towards each other and embraced, a fresh wave of tears falling down her face.

Twilight told Spike everything  they knew.

“And that’s it. The princess summoned the guards, and then she took Fluttershy away. Applejack had a cart collect Big Mac, and she took him back to Sweet Apple Acres.” She sounded empty, she couldn’t be sad anymore, it was all drained out. “The house hasn’t been entered by anyone else, Princess Celestia asked me to examine it before it was cleared up.”

“Have you found anything?” Spike asked tentatively. He’d been silent throughout the whole story; no words could describe what he was feeling.

“Nothing that makes any sense,” she replied, “not yet at least.”

As spike cradled Angel Twilight spoke up, “there’s something about this mirror. Spike could you look upstairs for me? I haven’t had a chance to look up there yet.”

Spike obeyed slowly ascending the stairs, taking each one with great care. As he entered Fluttershy’s bedroom he was first struck by how normal everything seemed. Nothing stood out, no dead animals, no broken objects. Not wanting to miss anything he began examining every square inch individually.

He was about ready to go down and tell Twilight there was nothing of any importance, when he saw it. Reaching into the fireplace, he rolled out a glass ball. He hadn’t noticed it at first as it was so covered in soot that it blended into the background. There was a delicate frame centred on the mantel which looked like it could hold the ball. Spike figured during the events of that morning it had fallen off and rolled into the fireplace.

“Twilight!” he shouted down the stairs, “I think I’ve found something.”

Twilight made her way up the stairs and came to stand next to Spike, joining him in staring at what he’d discovered.

“It was in the fireplace, I think it fell off here.” He explained pointing at the cradle.

Twilight waved her horn lazily, the ball lifted out of Spike’s grip and spun in the air, the soot falling away. They both saw the now clean, black orb pulsating in mid air.

“Well done Spike. We’ll take this for the princess to see.” Spike wasn’t sure. Once again he had a worrying feeling, like when Twilight received the letter. But he figured under the circumstances it was the right thing to do, so he conceded.

Twilight seemed satisfied with their investigation. Finally giving up on the mirror she announced they were leaving. Spike stayed close to her side, as they left he looked again at the bag Twilight was saddled with, the bag she was carrying the orb in.

“We’re all done in there, you can go ahead.” She informed a guard waiting by the entrance. As they were leaving Spike noticed the body bags were gone, and most of the evidence was cleaned up. Rainbow Dash met them as they walked down the path.

“Twilight, the princess sent you a message. She said Fluttershy is alive and being held at the hospital under heavy guard.” She announced, and without waiting for a response she said, “She had to leave to deal with bureaucratic stuff, you’re to hold onto any evidence you found and she’ll return as soon as she can.”

“Thank you Rainbow Dash,” Twilight responded. Then without hesitation she flew off. This had clearly shook Rainbow Dash, Spike thought. Straight and to the point with no egotistical remarks was not her style at all.

Spike watched Twilight place the orb in an ornate, metal chest, seal it with magic and slide it under her bed. He then let out a sigh of relief, that thing gave him a bad feeling, and knowing it was locked up put him at ease.

“So what do we do now Twilight?” but she didn’t answer, she just stared into space. Spike waited, not wanting to push her after all that had happened.

“I need to study.” She said eventually, and then added, “See if you can help out around town or something.”

Spike understood, she needed to be left alone. As he stepped outside he saw the sun sitting low in the sky, the day had come in very fast. Perhaps he should pay a visit to Rarity.