Under the Bed

Under the Bed
Part 3: Above the Schoolhouse

Cheerilee sighed happily after pulling the last blind down and closing up the schoolhouse for the night. Summer school might have had fewer students, but they were much harder to handle. She pulled the string hanging from the corner of the ceiling, letting the collapsible stairs unfold while she stretched. Clip-clopping up them, she emerged into her loft-like home.

It was little more than five rooms and a joining hallway, but it was all she needed. Much like the Cake family, she lived at her place of work. It was a tiny living room, bathroom, two bedrooms and modular kitchen. There was barely room to turn around in some spots, but she didn’t care. Her living space meant little to her when she spent little time there. None of her students knew about it. Well, one did, but she lived with that student thanks to the Equestrian Foster Foals Program.

Leaning, the purple mare checked on Scootaloo. The little orange filly had long since fallen asleep with a Power Stallions comic book plastered to her face. How did she sleep, all splayed out on her back like that? Cheerilee shook her head with a smile, peering around. The posters plastered all over the walls made the tiny room a home, along with the light smattering of toys and school things. Orphans, Cheerilee knew, were not the materialistic sort like many children could be. They had different priorities, like being loved—or even being noticed.

The school teacher crossed the room to take the comic off her face and shut the open window. It may have been summer, but the chill might make her foster foal sick. Struggling with the blinds for a moment, she finally shut out the moonlight and was plunged into darkness. Scootaloo stirred a little, turning on her side with a light series of sleepy sounds. She curled up in a little ball, which made Cheerilee’s expression soften like any mother’s. The mare pulled the covers up so the little Pegasus could nest properly, smiling.

Scrap. Tap-a-tap-a-tap-a-TAP-A-TAP-A-TAP-a-tap.

Cheerilee wheeled around, ears perked. Had something just run across the roof?! Instinct made her stand sideways to protect the foal, but the sound was gone almost as it had started. She stood there for a time, head cocked to listen. Silence. Shrugging and deciding it was nothing, she double-checked Scootaloo was tucked in and shut the door behind her. The filly gave a light whimper in her sleep, one of her tiny wings flapping a few times.

The purple mare went to her ice box for a quick late-night snack and emerged with a celery, peanut butter and wheat bread sandwich. 'The loudest sandwich known to ponykind.' Chuckling to herself, she went to the other side of the loft and away from Scootaloo’s room to eat it. She wouldn’t eat it in bed, but it didn’t hurt to stand around and read or something. Crunch-munch-munch-crunch. Cheerilee liked peanut butter a lot. Especially the lumpy kind. It relaxed her for some reason.

Walking over to the window, she lifted the blind to peer out into the night while she ate. Ponyville at night was a quiet, barely lit sort of place. The occasional streetlamp was all the kept the blackness at bay, and that was perfectly fine. It wasn’t as though there were any night clubs or anything to do out there in the evenings other than stargaze. Cheerilee missed the bustling campus life, from back when she was in school. She could go out with her girlfriends and catch a movie at half-past-midnight, or check out a local bar at ten-thirty. Not much happened in Ponyville happened beyond nine o’clock unless it was a holiday.

A figure in a cloak streaked by a streetlamp, making her jump. Had that been--?! She pressed her muzzle to the glass, squinting. But with it being dark outside and light inside, she could only see her own reflection. Clop-clop-tap-tap-clop. She turned her head. Somepony was knocking rather loudly downstairs. “At this hour?” Cheerilee wondered. The knocking paused for a time, then began again. Lowering the loft stairs again she went down them quickly and quietly so she didn’t wake Scootaloo.

Crossing the classroom, Cheerilee didn’t see a little black shadow slither up the stairs as soon as they were behind her. The purple mare weaved slowly between desks, peering out at the stoop from a window. A tall, horned figure stood there, staring at the door intently. It was cloaked in darkness, it’s flashing purple eyes trying to push the door open with their force.

The mare eased the door open a crack, “Y… yes?” she asked, the chain still on.

“It’s me,” said the figure softly.

“Oh,” Cheerilee said, deflating with relief. She closed the door, undid the chain and pulled it open properly. “What’re you doing out at this hour? It’s late,” she said with concern, letting the pony inside. Leaning, she nuzzled with it until the hood fell back to reveal Twilight Sparkle.

“Something strange has been going on, I was worried about you. So I came to uhm… check on you,” Twilight said, pink in the cheeks. The quiet romance between the grade school teacher and the scholar had started quite by accident some months ago, but it wasn’t exactly public yet. Both were too shy to announce their courtship.

“Check on me?” Cheerilee said, helping her out of her cloak and hanging it on a peg next to the door. “What’s the matter?” She asked as Twilight hugged her a little.

“Big Macintosh was taken a couple of days ago,” Twilight lowered her voice, turning with a flick of her horn to lock the door.

“Taken?” Cheerilee’s brow rose.

“And Rarity too, she’s been missing for almost a week!” The dark purple mare leaned into the light purple one, fretting.

“What’s happened? Why hasn’t anypony announced this?”

“The guards don’t want to start a panic,” Twilight filled her in on what little she knew. Sweetie Belle hadn’t been coming to class, but no one had told Cheerilee exactly why. The same thing for Applebloom. She was getting ready to go see both of their families about the importance of not being held back (both of them had a few things to make up before fall). Both of their older siblings were taken? Just like that?

“What do they think happened?” Cheerilee whispered, turning and leading Twilight up into the loft. Both of them sat next to each other on the couch, quite close.

“Fluttershy accidentally told me. She’d been nervous and shaking for days. I asked her one question and she blurted out everything,” Twilight said, shaking her head sympathetically. She told Cheerilee what had been seen at Rarity’s house, much to the mare’s horror.

“Oh, poor Sweetie Belle! She must’ve been under that bed for hours and hours!” gasped Cheerilee, putting a hoof over her mouth for a moment. Twilight put an arm around her. “What about Big Macintosh? The middle of the night as well?”

“No, that’s the strange thing. Big Macintosh disappeared early in the morning. Applejack came to me before the local guard. All there was,” Twilight gestured a little, “Was a pair of broken barn doors, some drops of blood and one of his horse shoes.”

A guilty little ache rose in Cheerilee’s chest when they spoke of Big Mac. They’d been a thing, sort of, for a little while. After the love poison incident they’d honestly given things a try but… well… they both had such demanding jobs and they’d drifted apart after a time. But to hear that the poor thing had been snatched in broad daylight--! “How, though? He must weigh time-and-a-half what the average pony does, and he’s all muscle!”

“That’s what I said,” Twilight said. “The barn doors were broken inward, like something really strong had forced them. I don’t know of anypony that could overpower Big Macintosh. Much less drag him away without a sound.”

“Teleportation?” Cheerilee offered.

“No, he weighs too much,” Twilight shook her head. “It would take several unicorns to teleport somepony as big as him without leaving a magical residue. Much less a crater at the air displacement,” she hunched a little as she spoke. “The guards yelled at everyone for letting me see the crime scene before them. I’m not allowed back into their barn for now.”

Cheerilee was silent for a long time, “Why’d you come to check on me, then?”

“I tried to see a pattern in it,” Twilight offered as Cheerilee pulled her close. “What do Big Mac and Rarity have in common? Nothing at all, right? A farmer and a dressmaker, an earth pony and a unicorn, and so on and so forth.” she looked over at Cheerilee with a worried expression.

“Yes? What is it then?”

“It’s their little sisters,” Twilight said.

“Sweetie Belle and Applebloom?” Cheerilee furrowed her brow.

“That was the only conclusion I could come up with. When Rarity was taken, Sweetie Belle was in the same room. Fluttershy told me.” Twilight said, pressing up against her in a rather needy way. Cheerilee held her as she spoke. “Whatever it was sprayed Rarity’s blood across the wall, dragged her away and didn’t touch her little sister.”

“And with Big Mac?”

“I’m not sure. Big Mac was taken next to the barn, in broad daylight,” Twilight furrowed her brow. “And I know two don’t usually make a pattern, Cheerilee, but… but well…”

“What?” Cheerilee pressed, turning her ears back worriedly.

“I think you’re next.” Twilight whispered, looking into her gaze with soft eyes.

“Me? Why?”

“Because if the pattern holds…” Twilight nodded towards Scootaloo’s room. “Tell me those three wouldn’t summon up an evil spirit trying to get their cutie marks, or… or something.” Cheerilee stared. In the back of her head she could perfectly picture the three cutie mark crusaders leaning over a demonology book. “N-now like I said, two doesn’t make a pattern. But it’s kind of convenient, y’know? The whole town knows those three get into trouble. I’m just wondering if they didn’t start something they shouldn’t have.”

There was a long silence. Cheerilee and Twilight Sparkle stared at each other. “But… I’m not related to Scootaloo,” the teacher offered. “She’s an orphan, she doesn’t really have anypony like that, does she? I’m not her older sister.”

“I know. It’s a shaky theory, but—!” Twilight was cut off when loud sobbing suddenly started in the other room.

Cheerilee quickly untangled herself from Twilight, jumping to her hooves. “Just a minute,” she whispered to her marefriend. “Poor thing must’ve had a nightmare.” Nodding and offering Twilight the blanket that was draped over the couch, she crossed the loft and went to Scootaloo’s door. Inside she could hear full, throaty sobs and whimpers. Turning the knob she eased it open and swept into the room. “Scootaloo? Honey, are you okay?”

Scootaloo was curled up in a ball, shaking. Her blanket was across the room, draped out on the floor. Her face was tucked, under her wing like a pathetic little swan. Her sobs were loud, and Cheerilee could see the twin streaks of tears. Her tail was tucked between her back legs and she was shaking like it was winter. “Keep me safe. Keep me safe. Keep me safe…” she was chanting softly, barely keeping her breath.

“Ohhh, honey…” Cheerilee clambered into the little floor-nest with her, curling around her like a mother should. “It’s okay, I’m here. I’m here…” Scootaloo curled up tighter, as though she were expecting to be struck. “It was just a nightmare, it’s okay.” The purple mare crooned, stroking her back over and over.

“Keep me safe. Keep me safe. Keep me safe.” chanted Scootaloo, clenching her teeth and shaking visibly.

“Scootaloo everything’s okay, it’s your room and I’m here see…?” Cheerilee gently pried her little wing open so she would look at her, then jumped back in terror.

Scootaloo stared at her with completely white eyes, tears streaming down her cheeks. Veins along the lower portions of her eyes spider-webbed back and forth in a repulsive display. One of her wings, but not the other, buzzed animatedly. “Keep me safe! Keep me safe! Keep me safe!” the foal whimpered. She began to sob as the hot scent of urine stung the air. Tears streamed down her cheeks to drip across the pillow like rain.

Cheerilee backed away a few steps, mouth agape. “Twilight!” she shrieked. Twilight appeared in the doorway instantly, rushing to her side. “What’s wrong with her?!”

“Keep me safe! Keep me safe! Keep me safe!” the foal shouted over and over like some unholy chant, squirming in the bed back and forth in a panic.

Twilight lit her horn, igniting all the lights in the room. She flinched back at the sight of the seemingly possessed filly, eyes wide. Then she looked closer. “Wait, wait! It’s okay!” she rushed forward, pushing Scootaloo onto her back. The filly sobbed animatedly, kicking a little. “She’s asleep! Her eyes are rolled up and outward! That’s what they do when you’re asleep!”

Cheerilee rushed over to help hold her down as well. “Why is she doing that?!”

“It’s a night terror! She’s sleeping with her eyes open!” Twilight said, pushing her weight down to make a half-circle around. “Scootaloo! Scootaloo wake up! Wake up!” They shook her firmly and the filly moaned, swaying back and forth.

Then, all at once, it stopped and the filly’s eyes flicked back to their normal position. “Cheerilee… and Twilight?” she said sleepily. “What’re you doing in my… oh no…” she peeked under the covers, her face going as red as a beet. She hid her face in her hooves, moaning in humiliation.

“A-are you okay? You were screaming, we came to make sure you were okay!” Cheerilee said worriedly, holding one of Scootaloo’s shoulders. The filly looked up at her with a confused expression. “D-don’t you remember? Your nightmare?”

“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Scootaloo said, cocking her head. “I was sleepin’ like normal!”

“You were sleeping like your mane was on fire.” Twilight said. Cheerilee shot her marefriend a dirty look, and she hung her head. “Er, sorry. We were just worried. You were yelling and squirming…” she trailed off.

“I was?” Scootaloo said, sitting up the rest of the way. “Er, c-can I get some new sheets?” she asked meekly, looking at the floor.

“Yes of course, we’ll wash these later,” Cheerilee said, smiling as she peeled back the wet covers and balled them up. “If you have night terrors, maybe we can see a doctor so it doesn’t happen again. What do you think?”

“A nightmare doctor? But I don’t even remember having a nightmare…” she trailed off when she saw the mess she’d made. “I-I’mma use the bathroom… get cleaned up…” she said in a small voice, shyly scampering out of the room.

“Hey,” Twilight whispered when the filly was gone. “You don’t think Scootaloo was… y’know, abused or anything, do you? Maybe that was a repressed memory, in her dreams?”

“No, I don’t think so,” Cheerilee said thoughtfully. “Other than being an orphan she’s led a very healthy life. I don’t know what could inspire a nightmare like that so suddenly. Poor thing.” She held up the wet sheet distastefully, then balled it up for washing later. Twilight nodded slowly, unsure. Cheerilee turned and went out into the living room down the hallway. She went into her own bedroom without bothering to turn the light on. Shoving the blanket into a waiting laundry basket, she fussed around in a chest to look for spare linens. She knew she had them somewhere, but where…?

Tap-a-tap-a-tap-a-TAP-A-TAP-A-TAP-a-tap. There was that weird sound again. Cheerilee cocked an eyebrow, but chose to ignore it. Scootaloo was more important than some random noise on the roof. “Keep me safe?” the voice startled her, and the mare turned around. Standing in the darkness of the hallway was her little foster foal. “Keep me safe?” Scootaloo repeated, tilting her head.

“Oh sweetie it’s okay, I promise,” Cheerilee said in a motherly way. Leaving the chest open, she turned and squatted down on her belly in front of the foal. “Nightmares happen, you’re always safe with me.”

The shadow-hidden filly seemed to consider this for a time, tilting her head the other way. The glint of the light from down the hall shone in her dark-reddish eyes. Her wings buzzed a little, then stopped. She looked up at Cheerilee as though curious, tap-tap-tapping her little hoof on the floor in a nervous way. There was a long silence of her doing this. “…promise?” Scootaloo said after some thought.

“Of course, of course,” Cheerilee pulled her into a hug-- then gasped when the filly dissolved into a black blobby puddle! She pulled away to find her arms and hooves covered with something dark and shiny like tar. Her eyes widened in terror. It spread all around her, bubbling and frothing like dirty oil. The purple mare jumped up to flee but it was already pulling her in. She sank into it like a bath, white-faced. She made to scream but it wrapped her eyes and muzzle as quickly as it could. Flailing as icy adrenaline flooded her body she was only half aware as it slammed her head-first against the wall. Two. Three. Four bludgeoning strikes and she was limp. Her eyes rolled into her head and she fell into darkness. The nightmarish blob of not-Scootaloo absorbed her body into itself, licking the blood on of the wall with a long blue-purple tongue.

“You okay, Cheerilee?” Twilight called when she heard the thumping, crossing the loft from the Scootaloo’s bedroom to Cheerilee’s. Only silence greeted her. Twilight flicked the living room lights on. “Cheerilee?” she called again, sticking her head in the bedroom. “Did you fall?” she said worriedly, turning about and flipping the hall lights on. She stopped, icy fear gripping her. Her pupils shrank into dots.

The entire hallway, up the walls and across the ceiling, were covered with tiny black hoof prints—like some tiny unholy pony had decided to start walking on the ceiling instead of the floor.

“Cheerilee!” Twilight whirled around when the sound of shattering glass pierced the silence of the bedroom. She rushed in, only to see a small, shadowy something vanish into the night. The window was completely broken out, showering the ground below with shards. “Cheerilee!” Twilight imploded on the spot, teleporting, appearing outside. “Cheerilee!” She turned in quick, panicked circles. “Somepony help! Hellllp! Somepony!” Twilight screamed bloody murder.

“Twilight!” Scootaloo had appeared at the window, a washcloth in one hoof. “What happened?! Where’s Cheerilee?!”

“I-I-I don’t know! Stay inside!” Twilight rushed down the alleyway, turning left and right. Nothing. Nothing at all but shadows and silence. “Cheerilee! CHEERILEE!” Lights in other pony’s homes started to come on all around her. The night guards patrolling the nearby street began to zero in on Twilight’s screaming. Armored stallions galloped in from on high, their bat-like wings flapping hard.

“Keep me safe… keep us safe… Cheerilee-e-e-e-e...” the night whispered. Twilight’s eyes scanned the dark, wide and frightened, but she couldn’t see anything. Cheerilee was gone.