The Dance of Life

Across the lands to neighboring towns to spreading around the villages around the castle, the infection they say is going around causing the population in the country to plummet. The infection was the wish for instant death, the horrors it brought to the victims as well as the doctors finding a cure for it. It was soon figured that there was no cure possible for this infection by the doctors then soon falling like their patients did. This spread always started the same way, starting as a common cold but then soon immediate blood loss followed an hour later. Many innocent ponies suffered this in their homes, in the streets, in the common shops and medical facilities. Bringing devastation to many villages.

Though a fair mare brought this disease no fear. Twilight had saw how this sickness effected outside of the castle that looked over the small, once used to be, charming village. She decided to send her assistant off to gather her long forever friends and villagers that were still available to join Twilight inside her strong structured castle. Although she herself was not afraid of the infection, she was worried for her friends catching it so she had wanted them to stay with her where the disease couldn't get to them behind guarded doors. She had wanted them distracted from all that was happening in the outside world around them by asking Pinkie Pie to help her throw a small masquerade ball. Time counted the hours that passed and the castle was filled with dancing, music and ponies not having a care in the world. Twilight was up in her room, getting ready with her outfit and mask Rarity had designed for her before she went down to join her friends.

She was looking at herself in a mirror as she tied the ribbon on her mask around her head and smoothed out her dress. When she saw that she was ready, she stepped out of her room, walking down the hallway and passing the rooms that accompanied it. Six rooms that were all different, these rooms were special because she had these specially made for her friends if they ever needed to stay overnight in the castle or if something happened and they had nowhere to go, she would welcome them to their own room in the castle. Twilight had looked at the rooms while she was making her way to the ballroom. The first room she came across would be Pinkie Pie's. The room was decorated with colorful balloons, large cupcake shaped chest that Twilight made so Pinkie could fill with party supplies, a bouncy but comfy looking pink bed placed in the middle of the room and it was completed with a blue colored stained glass window. The next one was Applejack's. The room was filled with an apple scent, the flooring and wallpaper had a natural feeling to it, a small hat rack and a bed with light green covers and a orange stained glass window which filled the room with the color. Next one over was Rainbow's, then Rarity and Fluttershy was next to her's. Rooms filled the colors of red, violet and pink. Finally, the last room, she knew it by someone already living in it was Starlight's room. It was illuminated by one purple light given by Trixie while the rest of the room was surrounded by darkness. Twilight never knew Starlight's reason for this but she never asked since it wasn't harmful. Twilight made her way to where she heard the cheerful celebration.

It's been a few hours and the party was still going as time counted down. Twilight made sure that everypony was having a good time until she heard someone trying to catch her attention.

"Pss, Twi? Hey Twilight," She turned and saw what she knew was Applejack under the scarlet colored mask.

"Oh, Applejack. Is something the matter?"

"Not really.. but there's something I should ask you about this whole party." Applejack's eyes looked around the room with what seems to be a cautious expression.

"Sure, what is it?"

Applejack sighed as she moved her mask up to look Twilight in the eye. "Look sugarcube, I know you threw this party to get everyone to turn an eye away from what's happening but you do think we should be celebrating right now? Shouldn't we be evacuating the town?"

There was a silence while the sounds of the party were mute between them. "I wrote to Celestia already on the matter and I'm keeping everyone safe in here away from the disease. We have to be positive about this. Trust me on this Applejack, the infection can't get us when the castle is protected."

Applejack paused before she spoke, "Alright Twi, I trust that you know what you're doing." Suddenly, there was a loud clang that made everyone stop all at once. Twilight had looked around to see what had made the noise and noticed it was the sound of what she identified as an old clock. The chimes continued and grew louder as everyone's faces drained in color. Faces white with fear and confusion then the clock stopped. As a light laughter echoed in the quiet room. The only one who laughed back was Pinkie, who everyone thought this could have been a prank from her. Everypony smiled at the mare's joke. The party continued but then interrupted in the next hour by another loud chime of the clock. Though, it was joined with something much different. Twilight was in the far right of the ball room when she saw this event happen. A guest that never appeared before in the center of the room. The guest had a mask like everyone else but it was in the shape of skull and it dressed in the blackest of ropes. Ponies were murmuring to each other about the strange masked figure, expressions changing to concern to terror. Twilight viewed at the figure and saw it leave a blood trail behind as it walked forward. Twilight stepped out of the crowd to walk to it.

"You're one of Pinkie's little jokes, aren't you?" She smiled then looked over at her. "It's really funny, Pinkie Who's under there? Where did you even hide the-"

"I...I didn't do this, Twilight." Twilight's eyes widen when she saw no smile hidden on Pinkie's face.

Twilight's head snapped back when she heard the figure step forward and she instinctively moved back. It moved closer but Twilight was the first to make a break from it. She moved through the crowd to the hallway. The figure followed while everyone scattered to the exit.

Twilight ran to the hallway, the color of blue on her face from the glass stained window glowed from Pinkie's room. Looking back at the beast behind her catching up to her, color changing to orange. She shouldn't have ran this way, now switched to red. Red to violet, it was gaining up on her. Green. She knew it was a dead end. Twilight turned around to face the creature tracking her down. Her horn glowing as she was against the wall behind her. It approached her, the hallway dark but only purple from Twilight's horn shining it. Her breath quicken when the mask was staring her dead in the eye and she felt as if her soul was pouring out.

A cry rang in the castle, hearing a thud falling onto the carpet and there laid the body of Twilight Sparkle. Her friends had soon followed and saw her motionless on the ground and the figure, they all tried to throw themselves on it to avenge their faithful friend. But the figure stayed motionless with the shadow of the timeless clock, leaving the only thing they got their hooves on was the skull mask it wore.

The infection came and gone soon but it showed that no one could escape it.