Twilight’s Nightmare

The night air was cool and crisp as the rainstorm that just passed through earlier had cooled off the warm summer day making it a little more chill than it normally was. For most people it didn’t matter as one way or another they had shelter where they retreated from the storm and was more than content to stay in their shelters to relax and get ready for bed. Some sat around warm fires drinking hot cocoa while others took a nice hot bath and prepared for bed.

For one person though, she didn’t have the luxuries that so many others in Canterlot took for granted. Instead she had to go out in the cool white air as flashes of lightning arced high overhead as the loud booming thunder made her even more jumpy than she normally was. She had to be careful seeing how thanks to that little brat a few days earlier the police was looking for her.

She wasn’t trying to steal anything from what was probably the wealthiest family in Canterlot besides the princesses, it was trash. Yet the little brat started yelling for her father and he chased her off yelling about calling the cops. And she was sure that he followed through seeing how two cops since then had both chased her though she thankfully gave them the slip. It wasn’t as if it was too hard for her thanks to all the experience she had with it over the last year.

Still, getting caught by the police would mean a punishment far worse than jail or juvie. It would mean going back to her father who was a cruel, controlling man behind closed doors while out in public he showed a far softer side to keep up appearances in public seeing how he was an advisor to the princesses and did all the bookkeeping on their academy that they personally ran. He was all smiles and jokes around them yet as soon as he came home he started in on the insults…then the beatings.

For months she put up with it all, even after her mother abandoned her with the man and ran off to Cloudsdale saying she couldn’t put up with it anymore. In the end she had to follow her mother’s footsteps…except she was only sixteen and she learned the first time the police picked her up that it was a huge mistake to let them catch her. She pleaded and begged with them not to take her back home, told them what her father did to her. They didn’t even bother trying to listen or even pretend to care, instead they delivered her to her father who thanked the officers and as soon as they left turned his attention on her. Attention that caused bruised ribs, a black eye, split lip and she was sure at least some fracturing of bones as it took weeks to not wince in pain every time she tried to pick something up.

As soon as she was able to, she ran again though this time she was much more careful about being caught meaning that she slept during days making sure to switch places every few days. Mostly she slept behind supports of bridges or overpasses, in abandoned buildings or even a few condemned buildings where no one was around until it was time to tear the places down. A part of her sometimes wished they would bring the building down while she was asleep and end the misery that had become her life.

Looking in the darkened window of a store, the light from a streetlamp giving enough light to see her reflection looking back in it. She looked horrible; clearly malnourished though her clothes weren’t doing so well either since she was down to this last set thanks to someone stealing her backpack that had a few spare sets. Her grey hoodie zipped up and hood pulled up, though some strands of her hair could be seen still. It, much like her eyes seemed so dull compared to what they once looked like. It had several stains on it and the right sleeve’s stitches were coming undone at the shoulder showing a peak at the violet shirt underneath. Even though she preferred skirts she wore a ratty pair of jeans that had seen better days and was in a serious need of a washing machine if not a bonfire. Her boots were actually the only article of clothing that faired decently since the last time she ran from home and seemed to still have their color to them with little damage to them.

“Well Twilight, what do you want to do for dinner?” She asked herself, knowing that nobody would answer. It was a stupid question though seeing as how she could either find a good restaurant to dig through their trash or steal something. She hated digging through trash but hated stealing even more despite what the brat and her father claimed. Yet it was so disgusting digging through the trash at times, though she could often find something that was actually pretty much intact with no other trash in it. Much like the boxed take out that was sitting on top of that rich family’s garbage can.

“Well darling, you could join us if you want.” A voice said from, behind her. “It looks like you and your…clothes…could use something warm and refreshing.”

Twilight spun around, her hood sliding off as she did to stare at a group of girls and an older man that looked very familiar. Her hair spilled out around her face, a few inches above her shoulders and very uneven after she had to hack some off after getting gum stick in it. It only took a moment for her to realize who the man was making her take a step back. He wasn’t in uniform but the man was most definitely the police officer who almost actually caught her.

“Twilight?” A soft spoken voice asked in shock and concern which confused Twilight as she never meet these girls in her life. Her father kept her locked in the house most of the time home schooling her and not allowing her to socialize. Even before he got violent like he did he kept Twilight shut up as much as possible.

“You’re that kid from the other night.” The man said taking a step toward her.

“Sugar, what happened to you? Is Spike with you?” The blonde girl with a southern accent asked reaching out a hand towards Twilight who backed away from it.

She wasn’t sure how they knew Spike, but it made her wonder if they were close to her father somehow. It was the only way they would know about the cute little puppy her mother bought her for her birthday a few years ago. He was such kind, loving energetic puppy until her father killed the poor thing. It was something she hated the man for and never forgave him.

“I know you didn’t steal anything kid, but you can’t stay out here on the streets. It dangerous enough as it is, but even worse for a young girl like yourself.” The man said softly, concern in his voice though Twilight knew better. He would just take her back to her father no matter what she told him or how much she begged.

“I’m not going back to him!” Twilight snapped out just as the man got close enough. He must not have expected anything because he didn’t even try to block her from bringing her knee up to meet his groin. With a pained gasp he doubled over holding himself while the girls gasped out in shock. Twilight gave them one last look before spinning away and sprinting as fast as she could away from the group before the overcame their shock or the man overcame the pain he was in.

Author's Notes:

This is the first chapter that will possibly end up being 2 different stories. If everyone likes the first one I'll probably do a second, one being humans in a slightly modified EG universe and the other being ponies in the FIM universe.

There will be some slight changes to the universe listed below.

Luna and Celestia are princesses, but the do also run the Academy which is Canterlot High. It is something nobody really understands, but they love interacting with the children. They may also have an ulterior motivation as to why they run the academy personally, but no one really knows beyond speculation.

I tried finding information about the ponies families, but all I could find was on Wiki and some of it wasn't all that helpful. So I will try to use some of their names, but some of the families will be different from canon such as Twilight's father being the way he is.

Rainbow Dash's father is a police officer, a high ranking one at that though he had never met Twilight until recently as the last time Twilight had a run in with them some other officers took care of it.