The sun peeked over the hills, Celestia’s ancient magicks doing as they had always done and for a moment I let the morning warmth wash over me, banishing the terrors of the previous night. The moment passed too quickly though and I opened my bloodshot eyes, I hadn’t slept a wink last night, not after…

I shook my head, it was no wonder I was a little unhinged after seeing something like that. Imagining her voice, her tone, the smell of… cupcakes… a shiver rolled down between my haunches that has nothing to do with the balmy morning. It was enough to put anypony a little on edge. Or a lot. Or go put them into a fit of break-down-gibbering-in-the-darkness crying. I looked back at the ceiling, it had seemed so terrifyingly real. The sound of the rope swinging with a pendulum’s efficiency holding the weight of a single pink-haired mare who had lost her mind entirely. The smell of viscera scattering the floor of the floor. Except… I hadn’t smelled anything last night, so why was that coming back now like it was a memory? I shook my head again to clear it before quietly tiphoofing across and out of the room into the hallway of the Ponyville Clinic and made my way to the washroom. I splashed some icy water into my face in an effort to banish last nights gruesome memories.

Creak…

I let out a yelp as I whirl around, a fierce light pouring from my horn to illuminate… One terrified nurse exiting a bathroom stall. One with an unfortuitously creaky door. After an awkward moment during which I closed my mouth, dimmed my horn, and coughed politely, I barricaded myself in the now-unoccupied stall, staring at the ground in silence.

“Twilight get your head back on, remember what Celestia said, ‘A smart pony’s mind is more powerful than all the unicorn magic in Equestria, be mindful of that Twilight’,” I whisper to myself as I smile softly at the remembered words of my mentor.

“That was one of my better lines I do agree,” a musical voice interrupted my reverie.

Slowly pushing open the door I was treated to a calming, if incredibly embarrassing, sight. A stately and regal alicorn with a pure white coat and a prismatic mane. My princesses eyes were generous and warm, and set above them was a conservatively beautiful golden crown. I coughed again before scooting out of the stall and bowing my head to my hooves. “Princess Celestia… how did you know I was here?”

“I saw a rather shell-shocked-looking young nurse leaving the lavatory and assumed the worst… now, raise your head.” One perfectly shaped hoof met my chin softly, lifting my gaze to hers, a gaze filled with sadness and a thousand years of sorrows. There are times, I think, we ponies forget that our Princess is ageless, timeless, and immortal. That she’s truly seen mountains rise and fall, but then and there I was reminded of how old she was as she comforted me, tears came spilling out hot and fast.

“Princess….” I wept openly against her leg as she nuzzled against my shoulder, the tears that shock and terror had temporarily driven away returned with a vengeance.

“There there dearie… I know… I know… let it out…” She whispered and her voice calmed me, releasing another flood of grief.

“I couldn’t save them… Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie… the other ponies in that… that…” I gulped for air, “I couldn’t save any of them…” I said between sobs and gasps.

“Oh Twi....” was all she said. The last time she’d used my nickname was when I found out a foalhood friend of mine, Twinkle Star, had died. We had become friends because our names were so similar, for a time we’d been inseparable, and after I heard the news I had been beside myself. The Princess had done then as she was doing now, she held me and let me cry my grief out, even though my tears sullied her mane and her perfect coat, she cared only for the pain I felt, and I knew she felt it in kind.

****

We returned to the hospital room, Rarity and Fluttershy were still sleeping but Applejack was awake, she had taken my place on the balcony looking out across the sky. Celestia and I join her, watching the sunlight play over the awakening village.

“Ah keep thinkin she’s gonna jus’ wing in ta the room laughin’ an’ hootin’ like she usually does when she an…” Her voice hitched on the name we’re both thinking, “…when she pulls a good prank on us… y’know?” Applejack said without turning her head. I knew what, or rather for whom, she was looking for in the blue skies. My heart ached again knowing that none of us would ever see that familiar streak of rainbow doing loops in the sky again.

“I…” I started before Applejack puts a hoof to my mouth.

“Nah, I know whatcher gonna say and don’ say ih’, t’weren’t yor fault an’ Dash wouldn’ look kindly on ya blamin yerself fer a deed weren’t none o’ yer own doin.”

I closed my mouth and nodded, I saw a small sad smile appear on Celestia’s face, Applejack had always been the strongest of us, and no one but Applejack could’ve been out here looking at the sky, knowing what she knew.

****

Dash’s service was lovely despite the rain, Celestia and Luna were both in attendance and the Wonderbolts even made an appearance, they had been so impressed with her flying during the Best Young Fliers Tournament that they had been intending to offer Rainbow Dash a position after the tour season ended. It was a hard pill to swallow, we all said our words, Applejack gave the eulogy, and I don’t think anyone else could’ve gotten all the way through it without breaking down, but Jack saved her tears for the end.

Of course there were two bodies to bury, but the second would have to wait. We talked to Luna after the funeral when we’d all returned to the Library.

****

“I’m sorry Twilight, I know this is difficult but there can be no service for Ms. Pie until we have finished the investigation, Celestia has left the Nightwatch to me,” Luna said, her words stern but kind. Still though, the Nightwatch… Celestia’s investigation and cleanup team. I was one of the only ponies who’d ever met a member of the Nightwatch properly besides Celestia and Luna herself, and only because of my position as Celestia’s protégé. They were the best investigation crew in Equestria, I nodded amidst my friends protests.

“Please your highness, there must be another explanation, we all knew Pinkie Pie. She wasn’t, and could never be, capable of what you say she’s done…” Rarity’s clipped Manehatten accent cutting through above the others.

“Ah agree princess, Pinkie was random but she weren’t no killer” Applejack chimed in, it was a testament to our bonds of friendship that she would speak up even knowing what might very well have happened to Rainbow Dash down there.

“I will find the answers, this happened in the Night, my time, but more ponies than Rainbow Dash were lost down there… So for now I can’t promise anything resembling a proper funeral like Dash had today for Pinkamena… besides the obvious disrespect it would show the victims, the other ponies of Ponyville simply wouldn’t stand for it,” she said with obvious discomfort. “I am sorry though, I will try my best to find a solution, til then I need to Twilight to come with me, you were the first on the scene, I’m sorry to have to make you remember but I need to know what it looked like before anypony else barged in.”
I nodded, I had been afraid of this, but I knew proper procedure, Celestia had drilled me in it as thoroughly as she had magic and etiquette.

“Of course Princess Luna, sorry girls, I… I’ll tell you all what happened eventually but right now I’d rather you not hear any of this…” I say to my friends, my best friends, I turned my gaze down guiltily.

I felt a hoof on my shoulder and smelled fresh flowers, “Don’t worry Twilight… we’ll be here for you when you’re ready” said Fluttershy, her voice was strong but quiet as a whisper like usual. Her face had its usual beatific smile that calmed me somewhat, I nodded, feeling a bit better about it.

“Thank you Fluttershy, thank you all of you…”

I looked up as Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy all filed out and, with some protests, manage to drag Spike with them only to catch a glimpse of something at the back window, somepony watching through it in the rain.

“HEY!” I yelled as I galloped to the window, using my magic to push it open with a creak.

“Hun, wha’s got yer tail in such a twist?” Applejack asked as she trotted over to me staring out into the emptiness behind the Library.

“I… I thought, no, I know I saw somepony watching through this window…” I said slowly, unwilling to simply dismiss it as a phantasm. I did’t say that whoever I saw had crystal-blue eyes, for a moment that nameless fear came back but it vanished quickly as Applejack stopped beside me, “Maybe it was nothing…”

Applejacks eyes narrow, “Well if that don’ beat all, we was jus’ lookin’ fer some privacy an’ somepony come along n’ snoopin’ in business what ain’ theirs,” She says angrily, “tha’s just disrespec’ful…”

I turned around and walked back to Luna’s side, trying as I did not to think of the night at the clinic. I looked up to see Luna staring at me with those enigmatic eyes of hers, like she was looking through me. For a second I shivered again as I was forcibly reminded that, despite looking as young as any of us, Luna was still only a handful of years younger than Celestia herself, and in some ways just as powerful in the magical arts.

The others were stopped at the door as I returned, “Sorry girls, it was probably nothing bad, just a curious filly or something, not many in Ponyville get to see Luna often.” The explanation was a shaky one but they each nodded, accepting it, they knew I’d rather just get on with Luna’s interrogation. I mentally thanked Celestia for making me make friends once more.

As soon as the room was empty Luna rounded on me, “Twilight, I hall be honest, I did not come here to ask about that night," her direct words caught me off guard but I nodded. "My sister asked me to come here and have a look at you, she told me that she felt something was wrong and while she gave me no more than that the mystical senses of a goddess are not something to ignore,” Luna explained without fanfare. "I see what she meant, yet like her I cannot place a hoof on it, so if there is something please do not hesitate."

I stuttered for a second before I answered, frankly Luna wasn't the most personable pony in Equestria but I liked her, “Princess I feel… well, not fine… but I’m as well as can be expected I guess.”

“I would expect anypony to be grief-stricken after an incident like this, and while I see your sorrow, I also see something else. Tell me Twilight, what is it that has you so frightened?” Luna asks, she cut right to the quick of it.

“I… it's nothing, I’m just a bundle of nerves since… since that night, really it's nothing Princess Luna," I forced myself to look her in the eyes, "I’m not ok Princess but I’m not any worse than Applejack or Fluttershy or Rarity,” I explained. I was sure all I needed was to settle myself.

Luna nodded slowly, “Alright Twilight, if you’re sure, but, as I said, do not hesitate to call on either of us if something happens," she gives me a awkward smile, she still has about a thousand years of social mores to catch up on but she tries, still she surprises me when she says, "and... that goes for your friends too.”

“Thank you Princess, I appreciate all you’ve done”

The small smile still on her lips the princess bowed her head to me slightly, “I only wish I could have done more, if anypony must shoulder blame for this atrocity then let it be the one whose charge is the night,” she said sadly, “If you need me I’ll be at Sugarcube Corner for the next week or so with the Nightwatch.” With that Princess Luna strode regally out and took wing back to her post. I wanted to call the other girls back almost instantly, something about being alone didn’t sit well but instead I busied myself with tidying up the Library, it had gotten rather messy since I’d been gone and the work helped distract me.

All at once a thunderbolt clapped and I nearly leapt out of my skin.

I walked up to the balcony and gazed out at the storm, ‘It’s a storm Rainbow Dash would have been proud of…’ the thought crossed my mind unbidden and brought the threat of more tears to my eyes. It was while I was looking out over the storm that the lights flickered and went out.

I blinked for a second to acclimate to the darkness before huffing, “Without Dash those feather-brained weather ponies are going to let every lightning bolt knock out the power.”

I turned around and slowly made my way down the steps using my horn to give me some light. I was half way down when I heard it again.

Creak…

Creak…

Creak…

I froze, I didn’t look, I didn’t move, I just stood there staring straight ahead whispering to myself, “It’s not real, it’s all in your head Twilight, it’s not real, it’s just the shock…”

Creak…

Creak…

Creak…

…

“Twilight…”

I heard the voice and every nerve fired, pure uninhibited terror fueling my legs as I scrambled up the stairs and ran out onto the balcony, I guess it’s almost to my credit that I hesitated a full half of second before leaping.

“Teeheehehee”

I jumped, something primal in me told me to run. To run and run and run as fast as I could. It was the predator in the dark. the old bone-deep animal fear for survival and it told me that I needed to get away or else I would face something more terrible than anything I had ever seen or read about.

Something that threatened my very being.

I hit the ground hard, I guess it was a good thing it was raining, I landed in mud rather than the hard ground so it didn’t do any real damage. On the other hoof when I hit the ground my legs went out from under me and my head impacted hard. Everything blurred and began to go dark, but in those last moments…

“Cross my heart, hope to fly…”

Darkness, mercifully, took me before I heard or registered any more.