Chapter 2: The Truth

The royal chariot came to a halt and out stepped princess Celestia, she looked to sky and saw Rainbow Dash making a welcome sign out of the clouds. She smiled.

Twilight saw her smile, but looked into her eyes and saw a glimmer of something else. But she wasn't sure what.

"Hello citizens of Ponyville." The princess spoke. "I am so very grateful that you would allow me to visit. and such a warm greeting party. I am honored. She looked and spotted Twilight, and walked up to her. All the ponies started beginning festivities.

Twilight bowed to her teacher. "Princess, I am so happy to see you again."

"As am I, my faithful student." Celestia said to her. As she caught Twilight's eye, she spoke in a hushed tone. "I am grateful for the celebration, but we have matters to discuss soon."

Twilight was surprised by her words. she just nodded. Celestia then put her smile back on as Rarity stepped forward.

"Princess Celestia. In honor of your visit to Ponyville. I present you with this dress." Rarity unveiled a beautiful gown. It was light pink with golden trim and blue gems adorning it. The Princess's face lit up.

"Rarity, it is quite lovely!" Celestia said, putting it on immediately. it fit perfect. "I shall wear it the whole day of the celebration. Thank you so much."

Rarity bowed. "It is an honor, my princess."

The ponies went in and sat at the banquet table with Celestia. They began to eat and discuss things. After the feast, the real party began. And while everything was a ruckus, Princess Celestia took her chance. She pulled Twilight into a separate room and shut the door.

"I'm sorry to pull you in like this, Twilight Sparkle. But I must speak to you in private."

Twilight couldn't speak, she had never seen the Princess like this before.

"There's something going on out in Manehatten. I felt the need to tell you in person, that's the real reason why I am here." She spoke with great urgency. "I have only received letters, the guards have decided that it is too dangerous for me to go out there."

"What is it, Princess?" Twilight asked, now fearful.

Celestia sighed and sat down. "I'm not quite sure. The officials over there said there is some outbreak of disease that they can't seem to cure. Ponies all around the area are beginning to run high fevers and hallucinate. But that isn't the worst part."

Twilight saw how the princess furrowed her brow, trying to think of how to word her next sentence. This was the first time she had ever seen her quite so....scared.

"Some of the ponies are starting to...eat the flesh of other ponies." She forced the words out, she held her eyes shut tight, hating how her words were true.

"What do you mean? Like, just biting or what? I mean, eating other ponies? Isn't that what zombies do? Are they turning into zombies?" Twilight was beginning to get frantic. Celestia placed a hoof against her lips to quieten her.

"I'm not sure. All I know is that is spreading fast, and I need you and your friends to help. I don't want to put you in danger, but the elements of harmony should help, and you six are the only ones who have the power to use them."

Twilight shivered, she would do anything to help the princess, but this was all too surreal.

"I don't mean to frighten you. And I certainly don't want to send Ponyville into a frenzy. That's why I am asking you to keep this hushed, don't tell anyone but your closest friends and don't let it out of your circle. I need you to study as much as you can on this mysterious disease. Look up the symptoms, see if this has happened before. I am unsure myself."

Twilight nodded. "I will princess. but...what if I can't figure it out."

"we have to try." Celestia whispered. "We are all in this together, you are not alone. We will figure it out."

There was a knock at the door, it was a guard, looking for her.

"We have to go back out there as if nothing is happening." Celestia spoke. "I'm sorry to worry you and your friends, but this is something that can't be ignored. Now let's put on a smile and join the party."

They stood up and walked back into the crowd. Pinkie had cranked up the music and everyone was dancing. Consumed with worry, Twilight tried her best to keep up her happy facade. But her mind reeled.

How could any disease make ponies acquire a taste for flesh? They couldn't be zombies, these were live ponies they were talking about. How fast was this disease actually spreading. What if it reached ponyville before they could figure out what it was?

"Twilight!! YOOHOO!!" Pinkie snapped Twilight out of her thoughts. "Come on! don't just stand there, dance!"

Pinkie pulled her out to the middle of the dance floor and Twilight reluctantly began to dance. She tried to force out the thoughts, but they were too strong.

Fluttershy, standing near the punchbowl, could clearly see through Twilight's boundaries and knew something was wrong.

"Hey, Fluttershy, what's going on." rainbow Dash, who had been flying around, landed next to her.

"What? oh, hey Rainbow."

"Something wrong? I can read you like an open book." She spoke.

Fluttershy looked at the multi-colored pony. "Something is wrong with Twilight, look at her. Also, her and the princess disappeared a while ago and I'm worried that something bad is happening."

"Oh Fluttershy." Rainbow laughed "you worry too much! Come join the party. I'm sure nothing bad is going on, you're just looking to deep into the things."

"But...Rainbow..."

Rainbow Dash pulled Fluttershy up into the air and above the dance floor. Fluttershy couldn't find the strength to dance with her friend. But nonetheless, to not worry the others, she moved bit by bit.

The party lasted into the wee hours of the night. Princess Celestia announced that she had to make her way back to Canterlot and she would be in touch with Twilight shortly. With that, she thanked the community again and boarded her chariot, flying back home.

The clean up began, many of the ponies had already left. but a few faithful remained.

"Twilight." Fluttershy approached her. "Is something going on?"

Twilight acted surprised by her question. "N-no, why would you think that?"

Fluttershy was skeptical "Twilight, something IS wrong. I can tell."

She sighed and looked to the floor. "I have to talk to you and the others, there is something going on."

Twilight called her friends together into one of the rooms.

"There's something really important I need to talk to you about." She spoke, "After clean up, I need all of us to meet at my house."

"OOO! Are we planning an after party?!" Pinkie asked.

"Unfortunately, no." Twilight responded. "It's really important that no other pony knows about us meeting up, ok. It's a special request, from the princess."

"We'll be there, Twilight." Applejack nodded.

"You better believe we will. if it's from the princess it must be important!" Rainbow Dash chimed in.

They all agreed. and went back out to clean up the rest of the mess.