Title:           The Ponyville Horror
Author:          donutsteal
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/TUS75i0t
First Edit:      Wednesday 24th of September 2014 01:58:50 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Last edit on: Tuesday 30th of September 2014 08:55:19 PM CDT

This story isn't finished. I will be dropping it closer to Halloween.
 
 
>The town had seen better days.
>Ponyville used to be a happy place.
>The kind of place you could raise a family in peace.
>Hell it was the home of the avatars of harmony and its very own princess.
>Lately though things had been different.
>Now it was a place where ponies kept their doors locked and closed their shutters at night.
>Ponies looked at each other suspiciously and didn't go out after dark.
>It started out as what most ponies thought was an isolated incident.
>Animals of all sizes had been found dead near Fluttershy's cottage.
>If they had just been killed it would have been bad enough.
>But the damned things had been mutilated, half eaten, and played with.
>Their entrails used to make crude drawings of ponies hanging themselves, stabbing one another, and raping each other.
>The guards didn't know what to do about it.
>The only conclusion was that something evil from the Everfree must have made its way past there and gone back to the forest.
>After one of the largest search parties they could muster found no trace of any such creature the guards decided it must have
>moved deeper into the wilderness.
>Fluttershy was inconsolable.
 
>Two weeks later several ponies contracted an illness that had them bed ridden immediately.
>Before guards could find the source of the ailment all of the afflicted passed.
>Among the deaths were Sweet Apple Acres' Big Mac and Apple Bloom.
>Eventually the guards traced the cases back to Sugar Cube Corner, where upon inspection several bottles of poison were found
>in the Cakes' kitchen.
>The Cakes' were arrested and sent to Canterlot to await trial.
>Less than a week had passed when the towns first violent crimes had seemingly been committed.
>The body of a well known and loved Derpy Hooves was found bound, gagged, and beaten.
>The pony folk were mortified by this discovery and even more so the following morning.
>The body of Rainbow Dash, one of Equestria's best fliers and athletes was found in almost the exact same way.
>Both targets had been pegasi, able to fly away from an attack.
>But What truly troubled the guards was the lack of evidence found at the scene.
>In both cases there were no signs of struggle and no witnesses.
 
>That had been several months ago.
>The town had fallen apart after that.
>With the guard failing to find the assailant, the town turned to Princess Twilight Sparkle.
>On a good day this may have been to much for her.
>Aside from casual murder having never been something she'd studied the lose of one of her close friends had destroyed her.
>Dealing with Applejack and Fluttershy made things harder on her.
>She was unprepared to handle this.
>The town only grew more paranoid.
>Fights broke out in the streets, ponies accusing one another of the crimes, and all the while bodies continued to turn up.
>It wasn't until one of the bodies was found mutilated with the inside used to make gruesome cave drawings on the nearest wall
>that the guards concluded it was the same pony or ponies that had murdered Fluttershy's animals.
>Some of the more affluent families in town moved away.
>Other less fortunate ponies stayed in fear.
>Out of desperation Twilight asked Princess Celestia for assistance.
>A group of her royal guard had been sent to help maintain peace and order, and to assist in the case.
>Less than a week after their arrival one of the royal guard had seemingly lost his mind and killed two of the others.
>The squad received orders to return to Canterlot for inspection, driving Ponyville into deeper desperation.
 
>In secret Twilight called her closest friends to a meeting at her castle.
>They gathered together in their meeting room, each taking their time to notice the absent members seat.
>If Rarity and Pinkie Pie had been distraught, Applejack and Fluttershy seemed destroyed.
>Twilight looked as if she hadn't slept in days.
>"Okay everypony I think you know why I called you all here. But first I want to apologize to each of you. If I had been a better
>leader or detective I could have prevented some of this."
>The group reassures her there is nothing she could have done to prevent this.
>"But I've asked you all here because as the elements of harmony we have saved Equestria before and I know we can do it again."
>The group pauses again to notice the vacant chair.
>They discuss the events leading them up to that day and try to make sense of them and who may be behind it.
>After several hours the group disbands, tired and sick of the nature of their work.
>A few hours before sunlight, Twilight's first real attempt at sleep in days is disturbed by a guard.
>The armored unicorn nervously informs her that the body of one Sweetie Bell has been found by her sister, apparently crucified
> to a wall in her boutique and with her eyes and mouth sewn shut.
 
>Twilight arrived at the boutique as Celestia raised the sun, the town guard had already blocked off the entrance and was trying in
>vain to console Rarity.
>She'd seen the melodramatic pony cry before but not like this.
>Shock and grief cascaded off her so freely for once she didn't care what others might think.
>"Bring her over to Sugar Cube, tell Pinkie Pie what happened."
>Hearing Twilight's voice Rarity picked up her head.
>Finding her friend she broke through the guards and grabbed Twilight into a frantic hug.
>"Why Twilight!? Why Sweetie Bell!? She'd never hurt anyone, she was always a good filly!"
>For all her wisdom and knowledge Twilight found herself asking the same questions.
>It was all she could do to console her friend.
>"I Know, I know."
>To Twilight's relief one of the guard stepped in and led Rarity away from the desperate princess.
>"Come along now miss, let's let the Princess do her work.
>The thought that this was now her work scared Twilight.
>She didn't know how to handle this.
>She'd asked for help from Celestia and now even that was gone.
>The remaining guards now looked to her for leadership.
>She swallowed hard and walked to the door.
>It still hung open, the smell of iron and death wafted through to passageway.
>Picking her head up defiantly Twilight opened the door with her horn.
>She walked through the door and froze.
>Nothing could have prepared her for this.
 
>The once spotless floor was covered in blood that had only just started to dry.
>Causing a sick sucking sound as Twilight entered the room.
>The place was torn completely apart.
>Dresses were thrown everywhere, soaking in the blood of the filly.
>Pieces of skin and hair were scattered throughout the room now a testament to the struggle the little pony had put up.
>Twilight scanned the room slowly, unable to take in the scene as a whole.
>There hanging unceremoniously on the left wall was the little one she had spent hours with in 'Twilight Time'.
>True to the guards report she was nailed twice through each hoof and one through her little neck.
>Her body had been lacerated in so many places it was hard to tell where one cut ended and another began.
>Her face, the face Twilight had seen smiling so many time before looked someone had used it as a pincushion.
>The eyes had not only sewn shut, but her eyebrows had been sewn upward making them resemble the happy face Twilight knew too
>well.
>Needles and pins stuck from her eyelids dripping blood down her cheeks mocking the tears the filly must have shed.
>Sweetie Bells mouth, Oh Celestia this is Sweetie Bell, was not only threaded shut but sewn upward into her cheeks leaving her
>face in a macabre smile.
>Twilight took it all in.
>She owed it to Rarity, to Sweetie Bell.
>She stared until the gravity of the situation hit her stomach.
>She turned away, but the images stayed fresh in her mind.
>She started to walk to the door but the scene overwhelmed her.
>Twilight emptied the contents of her stomach on the already sullied floor.
 
>Twilight collects herself, walking slowly towards the door.
>Cautiously she exits the building, trying to keep her constitution in check.
>Two guards approach her as she breathes fresh air.
>"Ma'am?"
>"What... do we know about the scene?"
>She stammers out, wiping vomit from her mouth.
>The guards look to each other then back to their princess, one speaks up meekly.
>"Your Highness, we were hoping your input-"
>"WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE SCENE!?"
>Twilight screamed somewhere between frustration and loss.
>The guards swallow fear while the second speaks up.
>"We know the crime occurred late last night, while Miss Rarity was in your company. This excludes her from the suspect list
>provided you can corroborate her alibi."
>Twilight glares at the guard for even thinking her friend would be capable.
>"I'm sorry Ma'am, it's just protocol. Then we know that the victim fought against the suspect for several minutes. The whole
>thing would've lasted half an hour and a half at least."
>The thought of Sweetie Bell fighting for that long almost made Twilight sick again.
>"What we don't understand is how nopony heard or saw anything. The front door was smashed open, that alone should have alerted
>even the deepest sleeping neighbor."
>Twilight thought about the guards words carefully, then said the only thing that made sense to her.
>"Not if they used magic to silence the crime scene. Look for a unicorn. One that's been acting suspiciously since this all
>started."
>She thought for a moment then continued.
>"I want you to get what you need from here and for Celestia's sake get it cleaned up."
>"Yes Your Highness!"
>The two answered in unison.
>The two walked away giving orders to the rest of the guard.
>Alone now Twilight felt tired.
>She'd been without sleep to long and had seen too much to deal with.
>She flew back to her castle slowly and wasn't very grateful when she arrived.
>Walking to her room took the last of her strength.
>Twilight fell on her bed as much as lay on it.
>She was asleep before she had time to think about it.
 
>She heard the laughter before her other senses reacted to her surroundings.
>Twilight shifted uncomfortably at the sound.
>The voice was throaty, sinister.
>The worst part was she knew the voice.
>"Spike what are you doing? I'm trying to sleep!"
>The laughter stopped immediately.
>"Why didn't you love me?"
>His voice was clear but disconnected somehow.
>Twilight sat up searching the room fro the little dragon but it was too dark.
>"Spike where are you. Stop playing around you know I love you."
>The answer came as he climbed onto her bed.
>"You new me first. We were together first. Why do you love them more?"
>He was answering her, but not speaking to her.
>His head jerked in impossible ways.
>Twisting and cracking making sickening sounds.
>Twilight placed a hoof at her side to shift away from him.
>Her hoof pushed several light things out of place.
>Looking down she saw multiple purple feathers halves lying on her bed.
>"Spike, did you clip my wings!?"
>"Well I couldn't have you flying away could I?"
>This time he looked right at her.
>She immediately tried to raise a magic barrier between her and the deranged little dragon.
>Only sparks dribbled out of her horn.
>The act was painful in a way she couldn't describe.
>"And that horn could only be trouble when you woke up."
>Raising his claws she could see the outlines on scissors and a file.
>Desperately grasping the scene before her Twilight scrambled toward the edge of her bed falling.
>Before she could reach the ground the rope tightened around her rear hoof and she swung in a arc hitting her head sideways
>into the floor.
>Starting to panic Twilight sought out the only thing she had left.
>"Spike please, why are you doing this!? You're scaring me Spike."
>With a thud He landed next to her, her pleas falling on deaf ears.
>"Please Spike you know how much I love you.. Your my best friend!"
>The stab sent waves of pain through her she never knew existed.
>It went deep into her side.
>She felt something warm run up into her mane.
>Struggling she fought to catch her breath.
>"Spike please... This isn't you. I know you. You don't want to do-"
>The second stab was higher into body.
>She was finding it hard to breathe now.
>"Spike... Look at me."
>The little dragon paused for a moment.
>The glazed look in his eye melted away as he came under control of himself.
>"Twilight.. What's going on?"
>She heaved as she tried to find air to speak.
>Spike surveyed the room, filling in the pieces of what had transpired.
>"No... I did this? Twilight why did I do this? No! This isn't right!"
>He stepped away from his friend.
>His eyes wide with grief and terror.
>"Twilight I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to to do this."
>She looked at her little friend uncertain, fear still gripping her.
>He looked at the ground crying for a moment.
>Twilight's labored breathing the only sound in the room.
>After what felt like hours he looked up at her.
>"I'm sorry."
>It wasn't what he said but how he said it.
>The no had almost left her mouth before his claw moved.
>The scissors struck deep under his chin.
>Once more he twitched.
>The apologetic look in his eyes fading as they rolled into the back of his head.
>The thud his body made was almost drowned out by the scream.
>She wasn't sure how long she hung there crying.
>Every breath was painful, but as so as what had just happened.
>Eventually she realized she'd have to explain all this in the morning.
>Twilight reached up and undid the knot at her hoof.
 
>Days had past since the meeting at the castle.
>The knock came at the door sometime just after noon.
>She almost didn't answer, she'd had enough well wishers and visitors.
>When the knock came louder the second time she got up and went downstairs.
>Opening the door the guard pony squinted through the rain.
>Today wasn't a scheduled rain day?
>Oh right, since Dash died the weather ponies had either left or been unable to keep up schedule.
>The second time he spoke Fluttershy heard the drenched pony.
>"Miss Fluttershy, I'm sorry to bother you but we need you to come with us."
>"I'm sorry.. am.. am I in some kind of trouble?"
>"No ma'am, I'm terribly sorry to be the one to tell you this but,.."
>He paused unable to say the words.
>"Tell me what?"
>The meek voice made it all the harder for colt to speak.
>"Officer, has something happened?"
>He looked her in the eyes and she thought she could see tears mixing with the falling rain.
>"Ma'am it's Princess Twilight. We need you to come see her.
>The pegasi followed the guard across town and to Twilight's castle.
>More guards stood outside seemingly waiting for her.
>Her escort paused at the entrance.
>"Ma'am there should be a pony waiting for you at the princesses bedchambers. I assume you know the way?
>Fluttershy looked at the guard curiously.
>"Um.. Sir.. why aren't you going with me. Why am I.. Here?"
>The guard sighed heavily, he at least owed her this much.
>"Miss the seems to have been an incident a few nights ago.We're not sure quite what happened. Again I'm sorry this falls on me to tell you but we need you to >please identify the bodies."
>Her heart sank.
>The one word he had said she couldn't comprehend was bodies.
>There were more than one?
>The shock numbing her senses and curiosity driving her she entered the castle.
>She'd made the walk more than once and found herself nearing Twilight's room.
>Another unfamiliar face stopped her before she could reach the door.
>"Miss Fluttershy?"
>The new guard asked.
>She nodded.
>"Ma'am I'm sorry to have called you here. But I'm afraid we need someone to tell us the identities of those inside."
>She answered him without thinking.
>"Alright."
>He stepped back and opened the door.
>She walked into the room and just stared wide eyed.
>It was just like before.
>There was blood everywhere.
>Cut purple feathers lay about the room soaked in it.
>Her eyes fell on a small purple and green figure.
>She walk through the room over to the small lifeless figure.
>Spike lay face up, a pair of scissors more than halfway into the bottom of his head.
>His eyes were white with death but, the look on his motionless face was remorseful.
>She looked at him for a time, tears rolling down her face.
>"Did... did Twilight do this?"
>The guard followed her into the room.
>"We don't think so Ma'am. We believe it was self inflicted."
>Only then did she turn away from her friend.
>"Where is she?"
>The guard only looked toward the balcony.
>Fluttershy walk towards his gaze.
>The rain was cold on her as she scanned the balcony.
>She found what looked like the end of a sheet tied to the railing.
>Walking over and looking down she saw the pony.
>Its purple head hung in a position that wasn't possible.
>Its hooves were swollen with the blood no longer pulsing.
>She looked for a long time at her friend before she realized who it was she was looking at.
>Walking back inside she paused next to the guard.
>"Their names are Spike and.."
>She felt her body go cold.
"Twilight Sparkle."
 
>They sat together in Pinkie Pies room.
>Rarity had been staying over since Sweetie Belle.
>Fluttershy had never seen her look this bad.
>Pinkie wasn't much better.
>"So did they tell you what happened?"
>Pinkie's told Fluttershy how little she wanted the answer.
>"They said Twilight's injuries didn't seem to be self inflicted. Spike's were though."
>Pinkie lowered her head, not wanting to follow up with another question but didn't want her friend to solely bare the burden.
>"Then what.. what happened to Twilight?"
>Fluttershy followed Pinkies posture, the guards themselves didn't know why she'd done what she'd done.
>"Maybe she wanted the pain to go away..."
>Rarity hadn't spoken since Fluttershy had arrived but, she obviously had been listening intently.
>The direction of her statement though seemed to the others she wasn't completely speaking about Twilight.
>Fluttershy's heart ached when she realized the implications of Rarity's thoughts.
>"That may be true but that didn't give her the right to do that to herself!"
>Rarity faced her with tears in her eyes, she hadn't missed the passive aggression in the response.
>"Is it so wrong not to want to hurt?"
>Fluttershy knew what Rarity was hoping to find here.
>An excuse, support, any reason to follow Twilight's hoofsteps.
>"Of course it's alright not to want to hurt, but when YOU do that, you leave everypony else who was hurting with you only hurt
>more!"
>Rarity looked stricken.
>She lowered her head and wept softly.
 
>She'd stayed well past dark.
>Thankfully the rain had stopped by the time she left.
>Fluttershy walked slowly towards home, lost in her thoughts and grief.
>The wind blew enough to make her cold.
>Tilting her head into the oncoming wind made the walk a little more comfortable but, she more than once had to stop herself from
>missing a turn.
>Looking up to gain her bearings she thought she saw somepony walk into an ally, but she hadn't heard anything.
>After that she'd felt like somepony was following her.
>The sounds of the wind racing around building became somepony whispering about her.
>She'd stop and look.
>But every time she did there was nothing, the streets were empty.
>Save for her.
>Picking up her pace only made her less comfortable, the echo of her own hoofsteps sounding like an army surrounding her.
>This in turn caused the already leery pony to break into a sprint.
>Now she could feel whoever it was behind her, they were close.
>Panicking, Fluttershy spread her wings and took off.
>She felt something brush her tail as she left the ground.
>Who ever it was had missed her.
>A sudden gust threw her though and in correcting her course she hit her wind on tree branch just before she could feel safe.
>She hit the ground hard, dazing her.
>Fluttershy struggled to her feet frantically looking for her assailant.
>The shadows danced as the moonlight fought to break through the clouds.
>She could feel them watching her out of sight.
>She strained her eyes waiting for them to jump out.
>But nopony did.