Bong.

If anypony had been paying attention, they would have noticed the seven notes that reverberated around the city square.

Bong.

Although six of the notes were rather routine, heard on a daily basis, they were by no means insignificant. The Manehatten clock tower was a marvelous feat of engineering, combining the arcane knowledge of Unicorn mathematicians with the solid craftsmanship of adroit Earth Pony mechanists. It was one of the city’s best known landmarks, proudly proclaiming the passage of time day after day, hour by hour.

Bong.

But today, nopony cared to listen to the sounds produced by the massive timepiece. Today, there was more to worry about then being late for an appointment, more to fear than a scolding by an irate boss, more to dread then the inevitable, unstoppable passage of time. Today, there was darkness in the air. Today, the city was plagued by madness and fear.

Bong.

The fog had appeared early in the morning, coating the landscape in its inky tendrils. It traveled through holes, it spread through cracks, it twisted throughout the entire city, leaving no corner untouched, casting the metropolis under an eerie twilight. But, the smog brought more than just an unnatural dusk. It brought madness.

Bong.

The citizens of Manehatten, normally so civilized, so dignified, forgot their extravagant mannerisms. They tossed aside their cultured nuances, preferring to wallow in fear and despair. To their terrified minds, around every corner lay a bloodthirsty shadow, behind every bin and crate crouched an unearthly assailant.

Bong.

When faced with such a primal terror, every pony reacts in their own way. Some cower in their beds. Some hide in the basement. Some are frightened to the point of rage, striking out at anything at moves. A few truly courageous ones attempt to withstand their fear, acting as bastions of reason and solace in a world gone mad.

And a few, a very select few, have the most unexpected reaction…

Bang.

They look for attention.

“Come one! Come all! Come witness the amazing magic of the Grrreat and Powerful Trrrixie!”

The Unicorn, stood atop a haphazard pile of refuse and debris, silhouetted from behind by the flames of a burning store, and lit from above by the fading light of a few sparkling fireworks. Clad in a star-covered hat and cloak, and with forehooves dramatically raised towards the heavens, the pony struck an imposing and inspiring figure. Her voice echoed around the area, just as it had in town centers and marketplaces all across Equestria. It was the voice of a show-pony, an entertainer, an artiste. Full of pride and aloofness, it spoke of an owner who had dedicated herself to her art. It told of a pony who had trained for years to reach her current standing. It was the voice of a pony from a league apart, greater by far than the lowly commoners that comprised her adoring audience.

And it was a voice that was ignored. The square, normally packed with carts and stands, stuffed with shoppers and travellers, bursting with colors and sounds, was empty. The storefronts that lined the plaza were devoid of life. A few small fires provided scant illumination, giving the surrounding fog the appearance of a thin smoke. It would have been appropriate, and comical, for a solitary tumbleweed to venture across the deserted arcade. However, the Unicorn, undiscouraged by the lack of an audience, continued her tirade.

“Watch in awe, as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic every witnessed by pony eyes!” The ivory upon her head blazed with light, easily seen despite the hat enshrouding it, producing another round of flashes and bangs. A somewhat standard show routine followed; magically appearing flowers, fabricating doves from thin air, juggling a set of flaming staves. Panting slightly, the performer glanced out at the still empty square. Rising to her hind legs, she began bowing.

“Thank you, thank you! But, do not applaud just yet; there is much more to be seen!” Falling back to all four hooves, scrunching her eyes shut in concentration, the mare’s horn began to glow with an unearthly light. Slowly, sparks began to sprinkle from the appendage, falling to the ground in a shower of light. Once a small pile of the flickering specks had been created, they began to shift and float, softly floating through the air.

The sparks, now numbering in the hundreds, followed their creator’s unspoken directions. They twisted and twirled, casting a faint glow back onto the Unicorn. No longer cloaked in the shadows produced by the flames behind her, the disheveled nature of the show-pony was revealed.  Her once pristine hat and cloak were tattered and mud-stained. A foreleg was covered in oozing red gashes, as though it had been slashed by the claws of some cruel creature, and the mare’s right eye was black and swollen. Her azure coat and grayish-blue mane and tail were stained and tangled, had obviously gone untended for days.

However, the Unicorn’s ragged condition did nothing to hamper her magical abilities. The sparks began settling, forming into a transparent shape. First, hooved legs appeared, followed by a torso, neck, a flowing tail. Soon, the azure mare was faced by a Unicorn comprised of pure light, a glimmering companion. A mane and tail made of shimmering starlight swished through the air as the figure slowly circled its architect, its gleaming horn casting light over the pony that had given it form. When it had circled the show-pony, the shining figure bent its knee, bowing to the azure Unicorn.

“Yes, that’s it! Bow before the Great and Powerful Trixie! Bask in the glory of the most magical Unicorn the world has ever known!” Daintily, the flesh and blood Unicorn extended her hoof, pausing a few inches from the muzzle of the ethereal one. In response, the apparition lifted its head slightly, pressing the area where its mouth should be against the hoof offered to it.  For a long moment, the two figures remained motionless, lit by the magical glow. Slowly, almost silently, the mare moved her mouth. “Love me…”

The world suddenly exploded in a shower of sparks, as a snow-white Pegasus landed on the debris pile. Startled, the show-pony released her spell, her creation fading away, darkness engulfing her once again. The newcomer, clad in the golden armor of the Royal Guard, glanced curiously at the cascade of disappearing lights, before returning his focus to the shocked mare before him.

“Ma’am, I need you to come with me. We’ve got a shelter set up a few blocks from here; if you could justOOF.” A wooden plank suddenly slammed into the Pegasus’ side, ringing off his armamants and driving the air from his lungs. The magical aura that surrounded the timber swung it again and again, mercilessly beating the disoriented pony, slamming into him with enough force to drive him to his knees. With one final blow, the board shattered upon the guard’s helmet, leaving him dazed and disoriented. As he slowly shook his now-bloodied head, the Unicorn approached him, her voice lacking it usual bravado, replaced by undisguised loathing. “Heckling will not be tolerated. How dare you criticize Trixie? How dare you? HOW DARE YOU?” She exclaimed, her terrifying shout ringing around the square.

The mare’s horn began to glow again, as another chunk of wood lifted from the ground. With alarming speed, it raced towards the Pegasus, who had finally regained his footing. Hearing the projectile whistle through the air, the soldier’s battle-trained reflexes took over, flinging him to the side just as the plank embedded itself in the ground. As his hooves hit the ground, the armored pony twisted his body, using his wings to propel himself towards his attacker. The Unicorn, already reaching for another weapon, was caught off guard by the sudden attack, and knocked to her side.

The guard brought an iron-shod hoof to the mare’s neck, applying pressure to a certain point. The aura surrounding the Unicorn’s horn flickered, and then faded, leaving the ivory blank and lifeless. Still grasping for breath, the Pegasus took a moment to analyze his opponent. His steely resolve softened, as he noticed the tears leaking from her eyes. Her body was trembling, as though the temperature had dropped several degrees in a few moments. Her mouth was barely moving, but a few snippets of sound escaped her lips. “Come back… I can do better. I’ll be the best, I promise. Please don’t go…” She repeated her plea; eyes clearly not noticing the smashed windows of the building in front her.

Sighing, the guard looked at his hoof, still pushing down on the show-pony’s neck. It was shuddering almost as much as the pony held beneath it. His gaze shifted to his other leg, and the bloodstains that covered it. He vaguely recalled the other stallion, lashing out at the rest of his squad. He remembered how it felt, slamming his hoof into the Earth Pony’s… he pushed the memory away. He could worry about it later.

Removing his hoof from her neck, the Pegasus bent his knees, crouching next to the shivering mare. Warily, he eyed the area around them, looking for any sign of movement. None could be found. Slowly, wincing in pain, he extended a wing, gingerly laying it over the Unicorn twitching next to him, whispers still slipping from her lips. Although he knew her murmurs were not directed at him, the guard still answered her, as he protectively pulled her closer. “I’m not going to leave you. I promise.”

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Author's Note: For the life of me, I just cannot bring myself to care about Trixie. I've seen some fanon versions of her that are absolutely brilliant, but her character pisses me off to no end. And I think my annoyance with her carried over to this chapter to a certain extent, so sorry if this isn't high quality writing.

As you can probably tell, I've taken UnderstatedHyperbole's suggestion, and am writing a few short stories about various background ponies and their experiences with the darkness. This was the first of at least three, possibly more if I feel like it. Expect the next one in about a week, give or take a few days. Next Chapter: Side Story: The Musician Estimated time remaining: 24 Minutes