Chapters "Just do it, don't be a pussy" Twilight's now rosy cheeks puff out at your slight, making your Rainbro snicker in the air behind you. "That's not nice! And no! I don't want you bringing your human filth into our world and corrupting innocent ponies!" Her argument is sound, but you are a master of deconstructing the logical points of others to win debates. "Do it, you prissy purple bitch." Oh yeah, the logic trembles before the might of your mind. Those purple eyes narrow at you, and a low growl comes to her throat as her tail starts whipping about in annoyance. She's cracking.
"She probably can't handle it, bro. That's like, Celestia tier magicalmumbojumbo." Just what you needed, thank you Dashie. "Yeah, you're probably right. I guess it was too much to expect a PRINCESS OF FUCKING MAGIC to be able to do something as simple as this." doitdoitdoitdoit. Her teeth grind together and her eyes become nothing but narrow slits, but you can tell she's going to take the bait.
You seriously doubt that this is as simple as you say; it borders on the influence of a god. The implications behind the creation of matter are staggering. But apparently it's pretty common around here; just think of something, and you can poof it into existence with the right spell. The thought crossed your mind as to how their economy functions at all when those hax as shit unicorns can just summon bits, or food, or whatever the fuck they want. When you asked about it, that naive lavender face looked at you in shocked innocence.
"But that would be wrong! We have to pay for the things we want with the bits that we've earned ourselves through hard work." She said. Seriously, you can see where Sombra was coming from. He wasn't evil, just an opportunist.
"FINE!!" Stomping her way over, she hoofs you roughly in the stomach causing you to bend over with an "oof". At your new lowered height, she is able to touch her now brightly glowing horn to your forehead. Fuck yeah, here we go. Wait... Of fucking course, every fucking day. God damnit. Why are her tee-
Sitting outside of Johns house, you peek in through the window. He has visitors over at the moment so you probably shouldn't barge in yet, even if you're really excited to see his how he reacts. Smiling happily to yourself, you watch John having a heated conversation with Twilight and Rainbow while you play with a pair of plastic vampony teeth you won in a crane game.
"Vamponies are s-sexy... Raarrr..." There's no way he'll be able to resist you with these. A giggle bubbles up from you as you practice bearing your "fangs" in the window. Oh my... Poor John just got hit in the stomach, and Twilight is casting some sort of spell. OH! Locking eyes with John through the glass, you duck quickly and try to keep quiet. Huddled down beneath the window, you don't notice the pitch black tendrils rising upwards from the roof. What you do notice is the ear splitting screech ringing out into the sky; combining into cacophonous harmony with the sound of slowly tearing flesh, and some of the most grotesque, pained moans that have ever been heard in Equestria.
An electronic whine is slowly rising in the background of this horrible noise, briefly fading into static every few seconds. "EEEEP!" You put your head beneath your hooves in an effort to drown out the sound of millions being tortured into screaming, wailing, death rattling torrents of misery. Stallions, mares, even foals... This is too much, nothing should ever be hurt badly enough to make those kinds of sounds.
Quickly rising to your hooves, you gallop to the front door and begin to bang relentlessly. All around town, the ponies begin to panic as you are, collecting their young and seeking whatever shelter is nearby. "Oh, please...! let me in, LET ME IN!" The sun above you starts to fade away all too quickly, as the ground beneath you begins to tremble. What in the name of Celestia is this? Continuing to bang on the door is a pointless endeavor amidst the din of all this noise, but it's all you can do to keep from fainting. All too soon the light of day is completely spurned by an all consuming darkness, and the only illumination remaining is from the candles set ablaze in the houses of ponyville, and the unicorns attempting to keep the artificial night at bay with their magic. The cries of suffering just get louder, and louder, and louder; with the bursts of static being enough to almost set your ears bleeding. "CELESTIA, MAKE IT STOP!!!"
With a final whimper and groan, it comes to an end. Standing alone in the dark, you once more attempt to get the attention of those inside. "JOHN, PLEASE!" The door is thrown open by a visibly disturbed Rainbow Dash, who immediately steps aside to grant you entrance and begins zooming about; lighting the candles that John keeps around the house.
"Shy! Hurry it up, get in here!" You don't need to be told twice. Galloping into the room with tears in your eyes, you see Twilight standing over the trembling form of John. He sits on the floor with his face buried in his hands; rocking back and forth, and mumbling to himself in a quiet, shaky voice as Twilight speaks to him softly. You slowly trot to his side, concern for his well being overriding all other thought.
"W-what happened!?" Twilight turns to face you, and it's clear that she blames herself for his current state. As she should, it could have been nopony else. The area around her eyes are puffy and red from her tears, but she keeps her voice steady as she explains the situation to you.
"There was a bit of a mishap with a spell John asked me to cast..." Obviously. You would never say as much out loud, but you have never felt the urge to yell at somepony as much as you do right now; staring at this mare who did something so horrible as to make John look like this.
"What did you do, Twilight...?" She looks away from you in sadness before continuing to speak.
"He... He just wanted some things from his old world. He said there was nothing scary enough here to keep him entertained, and that I should use my magic to create some things for him. I didn't mean for this to happen." It's hard, but you manage to control your anger for the sorrowful Alicorn in front of you. She isn't at fault, she didn't do this on purpose.
"John, it's going to b-" Your heart breaks when you see him flinch away from your touch, and scurry across the floor in an attempt to flee from you. He has shown you anger; even contempt when you've upset him in the past, but never fear. "John..." Resuming his prior posture, there is now the added sound of sobbing mixed in with his quiet mumbles.
You've never seen him act this way. He's usually so aloof and nonchalant; beating down anything troubling that comes his way with a ruthless sarcasm and lack of care. Your John would never cry openly in front of other ponies, no matter what was going on around him. Something is terribly wrong here, more so than what's happening outside.
"Twilight, what are we gonna do? What's happening out there?" She begins to pace back and forth while shaking her head at Rainbow's question, her mane already taking on the frazzled look that lets you know how stressed she is.
"I don't know Rainbow, I have no clue what went wrong. I really need John to answer some questions, but in the state he's in..." Glancing back at him; it's clear to everypony present the he won't be much help in the current situation. An iron will enters your heart as you look over him. It's going to be up to you to keep him safe until he recovers; to bring John back from whatever fearful thing has taken hold of his mind.
"Uh, guys? I think you should take a look at this..." Hearing Rainbow calling out to you from the window, you trot to her side to look out on what you can still see of ponyville. "What is it?" Following the line of her pointing hoof, you glance up into the sky to see something that steals the breath from both Twilight, and yourself.
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It's you, but not the same. Her colors are duller; more muted, like all the vibrancy of life has left her. Leathery wings, resembling a bats extend from her back with a far greater span than would be needed to maintain flight. She wears a tattered cloak that stands out for being even more pitch black than the absolute night she floats in; as though the tone is not just the lack of color and light, but is actually absorbing what little is left of these things from the air around her. The black butterfly marks on her flanks seem to shift and writhe in the darkness as she dances above the world with a grace that you wish yourself capable of. Her vermilion eyes glow softly, but at the same time are so clouded and murky that they could belong to a corpse.
She lowers herself to set hoof on the earth; slowly trotting towards your hiding place. Where she steps, umbral butterflies drift lazily upwards in her wake. Reaching the house, she doesn't bother stopping; simply vanishes from the porch, and rises into physical form from her shadow cast beneath the door. She speaks to you; showing each pronounced canine as her lips part, but the words don't reach your ears. The sound does. That voice, it's everything you wished you could be. Smooth as velvet; deep, rich and seductive; exuding a confidence that would be impossible for you to achieve.
You cannot move; only continue to stare in awe at this creature that is surely evil itself wearing a mask of your face. Fear should be taking hold, dread for the doppelganger standing before you, but all you can feel is a calm desire to submit to it's will. Perhaps it could show you how to move like it does; walk like it, talk, and be as beautiful as it is. Maybe then, John...
Your eyes snap open as you come back to yourself. She isn't talking to you, she never was. She stands before John; YOUR John, and softly strokes his face with her hoof. The panic and fear in his eyes have drained away to a lackluster tranquility, as though he has been sedated by her gaze.
"John..." You hate that voice for saying his name; for coming from your mouth that isn't yours. Twilight and Rainbow stare blankly ahead in the same way that you're sure you were just moments ago. You're by yourself in dealing with this monster that from looks alone, could be your sister.
"G-get away from him!" Her eyes that shine in dull malevolence turn to regard you; the look behind them whispering in unspoken contempt that she isn't impressed by what she sees. "...Why?" That single utterance that is finally directed at you turns your blood to ice, the weight behind that one word crashing down on you like a sheet of cold rain. It's all you can do to keep standing on your trembling legs.
"B-because... He's... M-mine..." Can things that lack a soul; things born of endless malice feel happiness, or joy? "Mphh... PhahahaHAHAHAHA!" No, it's nothing but sadistic amusement in her voice as she laughs at your near silent rebuke. Mocking you; mocking your weakness in the face of a being capable of bringing about your end, and the ends of those around you with nothing more than the slightest wave of her hoof.
The innate knowledge of how easily she could kill you comes completely unbidden, but it's there all the same. A testament to instincts that have gone long unused by your kind; instincts to hide away from the darkness and the sharp things that wait within. She is death, and hatred, and disease. She is rage, and suffering, and the sadness of over 7 billion beings. The feeling of holding a dying foal in your hooves and being unable to do anything to ease it's passing. The sensation of drowning in a bottomless ocean that is too deep, and too dark to see anything beyond the endless black water that goes on forever in every direction; drawing you ever closer to that final gasp. All of this seeps into your mind as you gaze into those lifeless eyes. And she is laughing at you. How can you stand up to such a demon?
"Oh, he belongs to you...?" Shivers run up your spine as her full concentration seems to hone in on you, as though she is laying terrible challenge to your claim. "Do you know why I'm here; the reason for my existence...? All of the worst things from his world, and yours in his mind; wrapped into one?" Stepping away from John, she almost glides her way towards you; hooves seeming to not even touch the ground as those phantom butterflies rise from the floor and begin to circle the room slowly. "It's because you are the one waking nightmare that he can never escape. You are what goes bump in the night; the monster hiding under his bed..." You stare into those deep red pools that are now inches from your muzzle, feeling her frigid breath passing a smile that holds no warmth.
"T-that's..." John gets very put out with you at times, but he would never... You've only ever wanted to show him your love.
"All those times you've hidden away in his home; watching him from the shadows with lust filled eyes. You've see the way he's always glancing back over his shoulder; you know the reason why he never leaves a door partly opened behind him..." The butterflies are growing in number and getting faster; sweeping through the air in a swarm of shadow so thick as to cut off your sight of anything beyond those sanguine eyes. You vaguely hear a door opening, but the sound is only a distant drop of water echoing in the deep lake of hatred you find yourself swimming in. Oh sweet Celestia make her stop.
"The way he checks every last dark corner before removing his clothes to bathe; how he never looks into a mirror after sunset for fear of seeing you standing by his reflection..." No, you love him! You'd never cause him such mental anguish! But you know her words are true, you've seen it all enough to realize...
"Fluttershy!" A gout of emerald flame tears through the swirling blackness to wash over the monster before you, but she doesn't even so much as blink.
"He locks his doors for the sole purpose of keeping you out; blinds his windows for no reason other than to keep your prying eyes at bay..."
"Leave her alone!"
The maelstrom of darkness raging through the room comes to an apex as she leaps back to Johns side with one great flap of those dreadful wings. With a deafening roar, every last flying mockery of what represents your love for the lives of all creatures; big and small, converge on the two to form an inky black orb of moonless midnight. "No, he was never yours... He's mine. If you want him so badly, then come and take him from me."
And before you can blink away the standing tears in your eyes, they're gone. The orb sinks into the floor; the only evidence that it existed being the few remaining butterflies slowly drifting away from where it stood moments ago; left to melt through the walls and ceiling; leaving no trace. Collapsing to the floor; you barely register your name being called as the stress of the situation brings you to the sweet embrace of unconsciousness.
Author's Note
A bit of imagery that borders on gore, but that's the worst it gets throughout the story. Sailin' on atmosphere from here on out.
Fading Light And Sun's Requiem
Fading Light And Sun's Requiem
"-ust isn't getting through... We're cut off from the outside world; assuming that there still is one to be cut off from." Pulling yourself back into the waking world is a difficult task. You'd like nothing more than to continue sleeping until this whole awful nightmare blows over. But what about A-
"John!" Shooting up from your prone position; you whip your head around in a frenzy, trying to take in all of the faces in the room with you. His isn't one of them. A hoof on your wither startles you before you look back into the concerned magenta eyes of Rainbow Dash.
"He's not here..." Feeling new tears welling up, you stare at the ground in misery as your friends gather around you.
"Fluttershy, we need to know what happened here. Neither of us can remember anything beyond staring out the window and seeing... You." Spike nods along with his mother figure in apprehension.
"I only got here in time to see you giving yourself the staredown. I tried to help, but that thing must have a dragons skin or something!" Do you tell them? Tell your friends that the monster that has taken your John is the result of his fear for you?
"I-it's... Not me. It c-couldn't be me. Twilight, can't you get the other Princesses to come and help us?" She shakes her head worriedly; of course they would have already done so if it were possible. "Whatever that darkness hanging over the town may be, it's swallowing up every letter that spike tries to send."
Looking over to your oldest friend, you try to appeal to her for aid; as much as it pains you to put her in potential danger. "C-can't you just fly through it and go straight to Canterlot?" A look passes over her face that is almost as foreign as the look of confidence you saw on your own before you blacked out. The element of loyalty; the bravest pegasus you know is afraid.
"There's something up there, Shy... Can't you feel it? It's gotta be bigger that the whole mountain below Canterlot, and I..." Putting a comforting hoof on her back, you nod in understanding. It isn't something to be risked unless absolutely necessary, if whatever that's in the sky above is enough to frighten her this way.
"Fluttershy, please, we need to know." Looking back at the ground, you try to piece together what to tell your friends.
"That monster came in and s-stole John away... She says that if we want him back, we have to go and take him from her..."
"Well there's no way she's keeping him. Come on, I say we go and kick her flank!" The thought of action seems to have risen your prismatic friends' spirits. Being able to do something; anything, would work as a distraction to the fear she's feeling.
"And where would we begin to look? I don't know if you've noticed, Rainbow, but the entire town is blanketed by this stuff! We have to go and make sure our friends are alright!" Oh... You do hope everypony is safe. And your little animal friends are staying cozy and warm back at the cotta- Oh no... "There's no time for that, we have to sav-!"
"GIRLS!!" The argument that was beginning to form halts at your alarmed outburst; all eyes in the room moving over to you. "I think she took John to my cottage..." Please Celestia, let your critters be alright...
"There ya go, Twilight, now let's head out!" The alicorn shoots a glare at Rainbow before beginning to formulate a plan. "We'll get there eventually. First, I need you to go check on Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres; you're the only one who can get all the way across town quickly enough. Fluttershy, you head to the Carousal Boutique and get Rarity; it's the nearest location so you should be alright to go alone. Spike and I will make our way to Sugarcube Corner to get Pinkie. We'll meet up in by the fountain in center of town, and head to Fluttershys' cottage together." As much as Rainbow wants to argue, her sense of loyalty to her friends forces her to concede to the solid sounding plan. Solid aside from the part where you have to venture out alone...
Recommended listeninghttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMfoRqbS-Ko&
"T-Twilight, I c-can't...!" This is your responsibility as much as it is Johns and Twilights'; you even swore that you would help John in his time of need, but this is just... Nothing like this has ever happened before. Even Nightmare Moons fabled eternal night still had her shining namesake hanging in the sky. The taint of Sombras' dark magic was nothing compared to what you felt when you stared into those dead eyes...
"I know, Fluttershy, and I'm sorry to have to ask this of you... But we need you to be brave, your friends are counting on you." Backing into a wall, you shake your head and tremble at the very thought of stepping hoof into that miasma of evil.
"I'll go with her, Twilight! You're a Princess, I'm sure you can handle anything you find out there." Looking over to the dragon, you can see him proudly sticking out his chest as he offers his assistance. "Rarity must be super scared too!" You don't have a choice in the matter; you certainly won't be staying here by yourself. Though he's not coming for your sake, you feel just slightly better knowing you won't have to go alone. Gathering every bit of courage you posses, you set your hooves and nod. "I'll g-go... For John..."
Holding your shaky hoof out, Twilight trots to your side and rests her own atop it. Rainbow cracks a nervous grin as she does the same, and Spike's claw lays over all. "Alright girls, remember. The fountain in the center of town; we'll all meet up there as soon as everypony is collected." With a nod from each of you, you all start towards the front door.
Pulling it open, you notice the light patter of rain beginning to hit the ground outside in slanted needles. You can barely make out the nearest houses from the small flames glowing from within. Beyond is just a never ending sea of black. Twilights' horn begins to glow, and from it comes several small balls of light; one for each group. They act much as a lantern would; illuminating the area immediately around you, but shining no further than the size of the room you were just in.
"This is a Will o' The Wisp spell, it should be enough to light the way for you." A deep groaning rumble comes from above you that shakes your very bones. It almost sounds like thunder; if thunder were alive and capable of being in agonizing pain. There's a feeling like heavy pressure bearing down on you from the sky, and you immediately recognize what Rainbow was earlier referring to. It's as though a mountain were falling down, and there's nowhere that you could possibly gallop to fast enough to escape being crushed into dust by it's awesome weight.
"W-well... Here we go." The pegasus in question takes off while being sure to stay as low to the ground as possible; her little ball of light following behind and growing dimmer the further she gets. Twilight too begins to trot into the distance after a quick nod to you and Spike.
"Alright, let's get going. Rarity doesn't live all that far from here." Looking down at the little dragon at your side, you shakily nod your head and begin to move out into the rain.
"Oooooh, why does it have to be so dark...?" Trotting down the path leading further into town, you see a few ponies looking out through their windows at you in apprehension. What you wouldn't give to be safe inside with them...
"Yeah, where did the sun go, anyway?" Another thundering reverberation from above sends you panicking to the ground with your hooves over your head. "...And what keeps making that noise?" You could honestly care less what it is, as long as it stays up there where you can't see it. Feeling a claw tapping your head, you look up to see Spike smiling down at you and chuckling in amusement; the rain bouncing harmlessly off his scales.
"H-how can you l-laugh at a time like this...?" Puffing out his chest once more, he pounds a fist to it smugly.
"I'm a big strong dragon, remember? I'm the scariest thing out here for sure." He doesn't know, he didn't look into her eyes. Rising to your hooves, you slowly continue on your way before a sudden chill calls you to a stop once more. Looking behind you, you can make out what appears to be a pair of eyes on the very edge of your light source. They aren't like hers in that they seem to be looking at you, instead of through you. Where her gaze was a raw contempt drilling through you just for being alive; this is more like the lecherous stare of a peeping tom. Your tail flicks about nervously trying to hide your more delicate parts, but this only seems to further intensify their scrutiny.
"What's wrong, Fluttershy?" Beginning to canter once more next to a confused Spike, a little more quickly than before; you glance back repeatedly to see those terrible eyes are following you.
"D-don't you see t-them...?" Looking slightly apprehensive, the dragon scans the gloom behind you.
"I don't see anything... What's there, what do you see? That's not possible; another look behind telling you that there are several more pairs of eyes alongside the first set. How can he not see them?
"Eyes, Spike! Can't you s-see them, they're right behind us...!" Seeming a little calmer now, he continues to look into the rainy darkness behind as you speed up to a gallop.
"There's nothing there, Flu- Hey, wait for me!" You can see them all around you now, balefully staring down at you through the cloudburst; even from above. Piercing into the very center of your being from every angle, and wishing to reach out and touch; taste what they see there.
"FLUTTERSHY!" Stopping at his sharp call; you wait for him to catch up to your light while whipping your head around in panic. ...To see nothing. The eyes have vanished into the shadows, as though they never even existed in the first place.
"What the hay was that about!?" As he leans over to catch his breath, you continue to stare out into the pitch black distance in shock.
"T-they were there... Please b-believe me..." Your quiet plea is drowned out by the heavy patter of water all around you. The light rain has turned into a downpour over the course of your trek, but luckily you're very close to your destination. Another deep rumbling; like thousands of raging voices from the sky prompts you to toss the baby drake onto your back and make haste to the doorstep of Carousal Boutique. In the darkness and rain, it takes on a macabre light that would normally have you running in the opposite direction; if not for the knowledge that your friend waits within. A streak of lightning blazes through the air for the first time; and for just an instant you catch a glimpse of what is hiding in the blackness above.
"Butterflies..." An uncountable number of them, trailing through the sky in a massive undulating wave that goes on further in every direction than you would be able to see even with decent lighting; like an endless leviathan slithering forward in constant motion. Having been outside for far longer than you find comfortable, you quickly slip into the building that serves as Rarity's shop and home.
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"Rarity? It's us!" The pale light of your wisp shines through the empty room, showing no trace of your friend. Slowly trotting forward, you glance around in nervous expectancy while water drips down onto the pristine floor. You've never been in here alone before, especially after dark. The mareequins and mirrors reflect the glow of Twilights' spell in an ominous fashion; you don't see how anypony would want to live in a place like this.
"Where do you think she is, Fluttershy?" Hopping off your back; Spike begins rifling through the racks of clothing, as if she'd be hiding behind them.
"I don't know, m-maybe in her room upstairs...?" Wishful thinking, but anything to get you out of this room... Perhaps not as wishful as you had imagined; for no sooner than the words leave your mouth do you hear the sound of something clattering to the floor from up above.
"Rarity!" Spike takes off waddling up the stairs as quickly as his legs can carry him. Beginning to follow; you are stopped short by a quiet mumbling coming from behind you. It sounds like John; but like he's standing on the other side of a wall or door...
"...John, is that you?" Turning around, you try to pinpoint where the hollow voice is coming from. The only occupants you can make out in the room are the mareequins... Stepping closer to them, you see the single human shaped... Mannequin that Rarity keeps for designing Johns' clothes. It stands perfectly still and lifeless, as it should. But the closer you get, the more sure you are that the sound is coming from within it. "John...?"
The ambient light of your wisp dies; giving way to the creeping veil of darkness. "W-wh-!!" Alone with the constant; insane mumbling, you begin to back away slowly. A flash of lighting rips through the inky blackness to reveal that the mannequin has taken the same pose that John was in; somehow sitting on the floor with its' face in its' hands. The light fades away as sobbing begins to mix in with the mumbles, sounding more and more like John did just before she came for him.
"J-John, please...!" Stepping away blindly, you try to find the stairs and escape this nightmare to the safety of your friends. Another flash of light reveals the mareequines in the room have turned to face the sobbing mannequin. It's sobbing intensifies slowly into a panicked crying as your vision fades once more. Backpedaling quickly, you keep your front to the noise in an effort to remain ready to fend off an attacker in your unseeing state.
Once more the lightning returns to show that the mareequines have formed a tight circle around the thing with Johns' voice, and are leaning down to it; almost as if to nuzzle against it lovingly. The sobs in the dark have turned into hysterical weeping; the sound of a creature in fear for it's very life and soul."Please stop it!" The feeling of something against your back causes you to scream with all the volume you can muster.
"Darling, please calm down!" Blinking away the tears, you realize that the wisp is floating above you just as before, and the crying has given way to the thundering deluge of rain outside. Looking around the room in terror, you find that the mareequines and mannequin are in their original positions. You turn to your friend and break down into sobs of your own; crying fiercely into her neck. "There there; whatever put you in such a state, dear...?" She gently strokes your back as you try to regain your senses.
"She was acting like this outside too; said something was watching her." You're tired of this, you just want to go home and cuddle up with Angel bunny with a nice cup of tea...
"There's nothing here, Fluttershy. Goodness; I nearly fainted when I saw you crawling about down here like you'd seen a ghost." How could she have seen anything in that darkness? Why didn't they hear the mannequin crying like you did? "Come now, darling; Spike has told me all about what's been going on, and we really should be heading out to meet up with the other girls if you think you're able." Sniffling to yourself and drying your eyes, you slowly nod. You don't want to be here anymore. "Let me just get some umbrellas to keep us out of this dreadful rain." Accepting the small bit of protection that it will provide against the forces of nature, you once more step out into the pummeling rain as it beats a savage rhythm into the ground around you.
The rain taps loudly against your umbrella as you trot; cold lances thrown from an angry sky that seeks to drown you in it's impotent rage. The wisp over your head cleaves the darkness with it's glimmering radiance, but never enough to make you feel truly safe. Ahead of you; your fashionista friend converses softly with her admirer as they move ever forward into the gloom, but you remain oblivious to their words. You couldn't hear them over the din of pounding water even if you wanted to. Yet each subtle glance cast back at you confirms it, and you can't bear to meet their worried gazes.
They're talking about you. Poor, delusional Fluttershy. Seeing shapes in the shadows, flitting about in the darkness on the edges of her vision; hearing phantom voices that aren't there, overreacting like a scared filly. Your eyes see only the wet ground beneath you; hidden behind your mane as you grit your teeth. The things you've seen are real.
But what if they aren't...? Even now; you feel the eyes behind you, watching your every move with a frightening intensity. If they had mouths; you're quite sure they would be cackling and panting in lust. It's all you can do to keep from breaking down into panic from their staring, and continue moving forward. The only thing to keep you distracted from those abhorrent eyes that never blink, is thinking about John. How terrified he must be being kept at the hooves of that vile witch. Using such words feels extremely unnatural to you, but there really is no nicer way to describe that abomination and her gaze that speaks of a world without kindness, or light, or love. That abomination that is you.
Thinking back; you try to piece together what could have lead to this. What monstrosity John could have seen in you; to construct such a ghastly nightmare world where the sun is but a distant dream in the back of your mind. Where laughing alongside your friends as you flew, and played in the light is a quickly fading memory. Where you're left alone; even in the presence of others... You can admit that your feelings may have been a tad... Extreme when seen from the viewpoint of an outsider, but you had always known that John would eventually see it for what it was. An undying love that would eventually break through his hard exterior with its ineffable sincerity. He never returned your feelings; even going so far as to spurn them... But you knew it was only a matter of time until he realized how happy you could make him.
That's all you ever wanted; his happiness. Each time you stole into his bedroom at night; every sneaking glance through his window; all the peeks into his shower as he cleansed himself were in an effort to lead him to his happiness. At least; that's what you've always told yourself... All of the sudden; these eyes staring immorally into the pit of your soul have a sense of familiarity. This is your punishment for your lack of care. He told you time, and time again that he just wanted his privacy. Screaming in anger that he didn't hate you; that he just wanted to be left alone. But you wouldn't listen in your selfishness, and now you have to endure the very scrutiny that you subjected him to. Trotting on with your head down; the shame is more unbearable than the severe eyes that judge you silently; it presses down with more weight than the darkness all around.
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But then you halt abruptly with a nerve wracking realization. ...When did the sound of the rain stop? Quickly looking upwards; you don't find the wet streets of the town as you were expecting. Your friends are nowhere to be seen; only the deep darkness around you. A whispering voice is carried through the silence to your pricked ears, but it's too far away to make out. And instead of the rain that has relentlessly driven itself into your mind with its constant descent; you see something else being cast down from above.
If the pounding torrent of water was the hatred and rage of the sky; then these are its' tears. Slowly drifting down all around you like snow on a windless winter night; are dead butterflies. They gently fall on limp, black wings; floating down like ashes. Reaching the ground; they don't collect into a layer of insect corpses as you'd suspect, but simply continue sinking. Casting a black ripple into the earth as they pass through; just like that orb of shadow that she used.
Huddling further under your umbrella; you do everything you can to keep from coming into contact with these dread butterflies; the spectral emissaries of Thaneightos. You sense no malice, or ill will from the shadowy forms floating down; and yet you shy away in fear all the same. They feel more than just unclean; as though to touch one would mark you for a fate worse than death. The whispering voice is gaining in volume, and you can just barely make out what it says now. It's a call for help; pleadingly speaking your name in hushed, fearful tones. It's John...
And with just a blink; the sound of the deluge returns with another bone trembling groan from above. A flash of lightning confirming that the overwhelmingly infinite stream of butterflies above are alive and well; or whatever passes for alive with those ghostly wraiths. Looking around nervously; you see your friends standing in front of you, worry painted across their faces.
"Fluttershy, please, we have to keep moving..." Nodding your head slowly; you look back down to the ground as you continue to trot forward into the never ending night. No words pass your lips as you make your way through the town. The rhythm of the pounding rain lulling your mind gently into acceptance of your fleeting sanity. For what other explanation could there be for the things going on around you that only you seem to take notice of? Rarity and Spike are right to whisper in concern for your mental state; you're beginning to become more than a little concerned yourself.
Another anxious glance back from your friend; and she drops back to trot beside you. "Darling; are you alright? I understand this is a very stressful situation we've found ourselves in; but I have every confidence that we shall overcome it."
What does she know? She wasn't there; she didn't have to gaze into the abyssal eyes of the end itself; she didn't see how badly your John was... No; you need to stop this. She only wants to help, just as you do.
"I-I know, and I'm a-alright..." You are anything but alright; the pressure from the sky in combination with the maddening stares from behind you are slowly bringing you to your breaking point. Feeling a hoof on your withers, you glance up into the sapphire eyes of your friend that wishes only to comfort you; yet knows that such a feat is beyond her ability.
"Come along then; we're almost there." Attempting to smile as best you can; you continue on together.
Reaching the area of empty space around town hall; you see that you weren't the first to arrive. Pinkie Pie and Twilight stand near the fountain; the former bouncing in her usual joyous fashion despite the rain causing her mane to hang limp.
"There they are there they are!" It bothers you immensely that the party pony can still be so cheery despite what's going on around her, but at the same time you can't help but feel envious. She's like John in a way. Nothing standing in their path is able to defeat their relentless attitudes; Nothing can hold down their indomitable spirits. But you've seen John break today. You pray to all the goodness that still remains in this dying world that Pinkie doesn't suffer the same fate; it would just be too tragic.
Reaching the base of the fountain where your friends wait; you are immediately wrapped into a warm embrace by the pink mare. "Everything's gonna be A-okay Fluttershy; don't you worry..." Feeling your lip tremble; you return the hug that you so desperately needed. Her wet coat is cold and sticks to your own, but for just a moment; you feel connected to the vibrant pony. The will to continue seeps back into your body as your other friends encircle you in a pony cuddle pile. "Auntie Pinkie always knows when somepony needs to be cheered up, and you needed it like you wouldn't believe!"
Feeling her hooves release you after a moment; you wipe the few tears that have pooled into your eyes away as she smiles at you brightly. "I-I'm... *sniff* older t-than you..."
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Genuinely smiling back at her softly for the first time since this began; you can't help but think on how true her words are. You needed more than cheering up. You needed to feel like you weren't sinking into the ground; deep into shadowy obscurity like those dead butterflies.
"Rainbow Dash should be arriving soon with Applejack; we just have to wait. Were there any hangups on your end Rarity?" Glancing over to the rippling pool at the base of the fountain; the words of your friends begin to fade as your attention is drawn elsewhere. It's difficult to make out, but even through the cascading rain upsetting the surface; you think you can see something in it.
Trotting over slowly, you look down at the usually placid water. Cold terror takes hold of you as you stare into what little you can see from the reflection. The view is dominated by black; just as it would be if you were to look up directly, but it would be impossible to miss that dull red glow as it glares down at you maliciously. It's her; you can feel her bitter spite boring through your very soul. Even as they shine with disinterest and uncaring contempt; the absolute focus of her eyes on the top of your skull is enough to turn your insides to ice.
Blinking as you throw your head back to confirm what you already know; you no longer hear the rain as you stare into the pitch black sky. The dead butterflies fall once more; a silence overtaking the world that suddenly feels like it has turned all of its' dark hostility towards you. Seeing nothing but the night at the edge of your light source; you look back down in panic to the now calm water.
There she hovers at the border of your vision; smiling down at you with all of the warmth and sincerity of a serrated knife whose only purpose is tearing flesh. Her cloak wrought of midnight spreads out around her; reaching down as if to consume you, and the light that you bear. As the lifeless butterflies drift down and sink into the ground around you; the reflection shows the apparitions rising into the air with lazily flapping wings. They float upwards past the being of pure malice to be swallowed up by the blackness above. The darkness of the sky seems to be almost sentient; sustaining itself from the flow of umbral butterflies that rise up to it en masse.
Its' pressure bears down on you greater than ever; like a moon barely restrained by a single thread is suspended there; waiting for the perfect moment to crash down upon you with it's endless fury. Nowhere is safe from it's crushing weight; no force can resist it's fall. And at the forefront of it all; that malevolent stare that rips through you with it's murky red gaze. Looking down at you with all the hatred and wrath of more eons past than you could possibly begin to fathom.
You wish to turn away from the reflection; to lay down and beg for mercy from the pain and sorrow promised in those eyes.
A hushed whisper passes her lips far above; but the words come to you as though roared down from the fiercest of Royal voices. "My children are coming." And then your vision is obscured once more by the pounding rain on the surface of the water; the vermillion eyes lost to the darkness.
"-nny Smith dern near went inta conniptions from all that racket, an' poor Applebloom was still shakin' under her bed when ah was on tha' way out. Ah left Big Mac in charge a' tha farm; Ah don't think ah need ta' worry about em." Continuing to stare into the pool beneath; your tears mix with the drops of rain as they fall into the churning water.
A hoof on your wither once more has you turning to the pink mare standing at your side; wearing a serious expression that is rare to see on her face. "It was a doozy, wasn't it?" Emotionally drained; you simply nod.
Turning to face the group that has grown in number during your episode; you see them looking back at you with an apprehensive resolve. "Everypony's finally here; it's time to go, Fluttershy." The thought of returning to your cozy cottage would normally brighten your mood considerably; but you can't dredge up the will to look forward to what awaits. What was once a cathartic escape from the stress and worry of everyday life has surely been transformed by the hatred of that witch. Yet there you must go; to pull John from the root of this darkness. To the den of the beast. Silently trotting past the worried faces of your friends; you begin the trek through the night to what's left of your home.
The comforting warmth that seemed to radiate from Pinkies' embrace; even as her wet coat sent shivers through you with it's dampness, is all but forgotten.
"Ya know, I think that once we get done with all this gloomy stuff; I need to throw a survived the end o-"
It isn't stopping. The loneliness and distant whispers of this place; where the butterflies drift down all around with relentless abandon invades your senses more frequently with each step. Though you feel so tired that it's difficult to even notice when it happens.
"-nd cupcakes, and cake-cakes, and my special gummy punch!"
Will it follow you forever? Even after John is safe once more, and the demon is sealed back in his mind? Each cold droplet of rain that soaks you to your core; each rumbling tremor from the groaning sky above is countered by a small stretch of time in that noiseless space. Where the spectral shadows of death float both down towards; and in the reflection; upwards from the earth in equal measure.
"Of course, Pinkie; when has there ever not been an exc-"
You've come to accept the reality of the mirror image as fact. Perhaps it's the grips of insanity clutching you ever tighter, but you can't risk ignoring it. If it's there that she lies in wait, then it would be foalish of you to simply pretend it doesn't exist. She would use your self induced ignorance against you with deadly repercussions; you're sure of it.
"-re as shoot wouldn't mind a good ol' fashioned shindig after we set the sun back where it's suppost'ta be, how bout' you Fluttershah?"
Each puddle of dark water that you pass is another opportunity for her to spear you with her malice. Every look back at your visibly concerned friends; every glance into their shining eyes is another chance for her to draw you into that dead world that is more lifeless than the rainy, pitch black night around you.
"Fluttersha-"
Trotting down the path towards the edge of town alongside the group is getting easier and easier. The rules of the game are becoming more clear to you every passing second. You're growing used to this new ponyville; as dark and twisted as it may seem on the surface. That vermilion glow that waits in the mirror is so much worse. The eyes that lie at the edge of your vision have grown even more intense in their scrutiny, but you can't seem to work up the will to care any longer. Let them look; they've already seen every dark part of you that was kept hidden away so well.
"-t's wrong with her; but the sooner we can get through this, the better..."
The thoughts and feelings that were buried so deep that you never had to face what they showed of your character. What more is there for them to uncover? The things you've done to John are not something a good pony would do; no matter how hard you've tried to convince yourself that it was all for him. You're sure of it now; the judgmental gaze of the eyes have seen fit to make you sure.
"Say, Shy! You don't need to look so do-"
The other place dominates your sight and hearing once more; coming through in a wave and drowning out all sound save the whispers that are too soft to quite grasp. Continuing to canter forward is your only choice in the never ending ashfall of those umbral specters. You no longer mind if you step across the black ripples that they create when they touch the surface of the earth. They aren't really dead anyway; simply passing on through to rise up in the reflection. Rising towards that sky of darkness that seems to go on forever; to be swallowed up and spit back out on this side again; ever repeating in an endless cycle.
"-eel that, Twilight; Fluttershy...?"
Your friends voice breaks through the silence with another deep rumble from above; the rain once more washing away those shadowy circles cast across the ground.
"I'm fine, Rarity..." You aren't fine. It scares you; the time you increasingly spend there and the implications behind it. Are you drawing closer to the black death that this world seems to represent? Are you ever even really in that other place at all?
"Darling, please listen; do you f-"
You're tired, and you're wet, and you're cold; and you don't even care anymore, because all of those things aren't what are making you feel so miserable. If only it were so easy to just sink into the ground like these butterflies that fall like soft snow. Sink down into the earth and then rise into the sky on the other side without ever having to worry, or think about why you're doing it. Your gait is halted as the distant whispering becomes more defined without getting any louder. Straining your ears; they flick about in effort to understand the words that seem to come from so far away.
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"-EN'T YOU RUNNING!? MOVE!" Breaking from the silent reverie of that place once more with a blink; you find a terrified Rainbow Dash yelling just inches from your muzzle; barely audible behind the deafening roar that echoes out over the sound of the deluge. You focus on the clear lines of horror that are creased in detail on her face; on the now constant rumbling groans from the sky, in an effort to remain tethered to this side of your apparent madness. The whispering voices that carry in that windless darkness of the other world bleed through; something important is happening here that you can't afford to miss.
"SHY, PLEASE; WE HAVE TO GO; NOW!" Why is she screaming at you? Glancing up with a blank look as lightning tears through the sky above; you see the reason for her distress. Ah. The thread has snapped; the moon is falling.
Slowly coursing downwards in a writhing mass, the endless leviathan above pushes closer and closer; as though its' only desire is to sweep away the earth in its' shadowy current. You can hear the raging voice of each butterfly in that black stream as it falls; culminating into the bone shaking roar that makes the very air around you tremble.
Seeing the wisps of the other girls already a ways ahead of you; you break into a gallop to catch up. Rainbow keeps pace with you; such a good friend. She could probably get out from under the shadow of this mountainous weight if she wanted to; and yet here at your side she remains. Loyal to a fault; or maybe... Maybe she just knows something you don't. That the looming darkness above truly does go on forever. That there is nowhere in the universe that isn't under threat of it's descent.
You're oh so close to your home now; you can see it there in the distance. Standing at your open front door; the other girls wave at the two of you frantically; urging you to move faster. The great serpent of butterflies has almost reached the tops of the houses now; it's surely already washed away the upper level of Town Hall, and Sweet Apple Acres on the hill at the edge of town. You almost want to turn and see what holds in store for the things it spirits away; where it carries what is picked up by the furious slipstream of darkness. The time simply doesn't remain to do so; you can already see it flowing over the roof of your cottage. It's massive pressure almost grinding you into the path below without even touching you.
As you slow a few steps from your doorway to look up at the beauty of those uncountable phantom butterflies; a rainbow blur hammers into you from behind and throws you through. The door slams shut at your back. You aren't sure if your other friends went in before you; but you assume so.
Standing up to look for them, the empty cottage; illuminated by the wisp is all that you see. Not even your critters are there to greet you; and you do so miss your Angel Bunny. Turning back towards the door; the thought crosses your mind that they're still outside waiting to be let in. But no; even in your delirious state, you understand on a very basic level that to open that door would be the last thing you ever did. So instead you turn and proceed up the stairs; intent on going into your bedroom where surely John awaits.
What makes you so sure of this; you don't really know. It seems a tad illogical considering the lengths he would go to in order to avoid that room. And even if not for that; there he is right in front of you, walking quietly down the hallway.
"John..." Trotting after him; you reach the door to the storage closet just as he closes it behind him.
Throwing it open, you don't find the linens stacked neatly on shelves as you expected, but an empty bathroom.
Solemnly making your way inside with a sigh; you close the door behind you before looking around for any trace that John may have been here. Any clue as to where he may have gone. As you snoop around the shower that you're so intimately familiar with, you catch sight of something moving in the mirror besides your own pale yellow coat. There is no spite radiating outward from it and into you, so it probably isn't her.
Standing on your hind legs and resting your hooves on the counter, you use your new viewpoint to survey the reflection for any discrepancies. It's the door, it's cracked open now. Turning your head, you see the door is closed just as you left it.
John stands behind you; looking down at you with a blank face, and dead eyes that don't reflect the light in the room. Craning your neck, you find yourself alone; the bathroom remaining unchanged.
"John...?" Daring to look into that lying mirror one final time, you let yourself fall back down to the floor and slowly proceed to the door. It isn't really him. The real John is sobbing in fear somewhere; his features aren't morphed into a visage of fury.
Your reflection remains standing on its' hind legs; the fake Johns' hands wrapped around its' throat. Its' eyes are rolled back into it's head, mouth open in a silent scream as those shadowy butterflies rise up from it to float through the ceiling. With a look of rage on his face, the image of John begins to soundlessly bang your reflections head against the glass, causing hairline fractures to web out from the points of impact.
Opening the door; you step back out into your hallway to continue your search. As you suspected, from your bedroom comes the voice of the real John; crying your name in a pained, pleading tone; as though begging you for absolution. But is the rage that you saw on that mirrors image so far from the usual reality? You've never heard John cry, or even sound scared.
Trotting over to your bedroom, you open the door to find an endless blackness stretching out before you; there doesn't even seem to be a ground. This is where his voice is coming from, so here you must dare to tread. Stepping through the doorway; you find yourself fetlock deep in dark water. It wasn't groundless; just a pool reflecting the black sky above.
Your lips move of their own accord as her voice that drips in velvety seductiveness reaches up to you from the water. You can't help but wonder which side is really speaking, and which is the reflection now.
"It's because you're weak..."
You're right. You are weak; nothing in the face of the deathly power in that other world behind glass. Nothing standing against the dull, contemptuous stare that gazes back up at you. You're nothing but the perverted eyes that wait on the outside looking in; panting to yourself, and wishing to reach out and touch.
"What did you plan to do when you reached the end of the path? Did you intend to fight me for him? Tear my new toy from from my hooves all by yourself?" You aren't strong enough to stand against that baleful force of nature; the sorrow, and rage, and madness that stares into your very soul. But the reflection is truth; all you have to do is reach out and claim it; you know that now.
For John; whatever it takes to save him.
"He isn't yours; you won't touch him again..." You can see the dead smile beneath you widen ever so slightly; still not enough to ever hope to reach those lifeless eyes the color of blood.
"...Why...?"
The weight of the word is just as great as it was the first time that you asked yourself this question; threatening to drag you down into the cold depths of the endless sky reflected beneath you. And yet it rolls off of you like the wet chill that holds your body.
Because
"He's mine..."
You don't laugh in sadistic amusement this time; though you can still see it tainting your gaze. Your smile grows ever wider as you close your eyes and lean your muzzle down into the mirror surface of the black water.
And then the warmth of the sun is shining down upon you again; after so long. Opening your eyes to take in the light that you had almost forgotten even existed; you rise to your hooves and look once more to Johns' window.
The purple glow of Twilights' spell dies down as John locks eyes with you a second time. His frown deepens in anger; but you continue to stare on. Your vision loses focus as you take in the endless black sky in the windows reflection, and the murky sanguine eyes that stare back at you lifelessly.
The butterflies mirrored behind you sink on dead wings into silent obscurity, but surely in reality they rise up from all around to be swallowed by that invisible undulating stream above. For now, you're on the right side of the glass.
If it will lead to his happiness; you would do anything.
Wait... Of fucking course, every fucking day. God damnit. Why are her teeth pointy? Is she wearing a set of plastic vampire fangs that you win in those retarded crane games?
She ducks down beneath the window as your eyes meet. Because you'll totally forget she's there if she hides quickly enough.
Only a few seconds pass before she stands back up and locks eyes with you again; but in those few seconds, something seems to have changed about her.For starters; the fact that she's keeping eye contact with you instead of glancing away nervously, and spewing awkwardness from every orifice.
As the glow of Twilights' spell dies from the room; you raise back to your full height and glance down to the panting alicorn at your feet. "...Soooo..." Panning your head around the room; you take in all the mystical levels of jack shit nothing.
Recovering her breath, the little lavender pony scans the room in confusion. "I don't know what could have gone wrong; it should have worked perfectly! The thaumatic energies from your world were perfectly implemented to resonate in line wi-"
Blocking her out as she goes of on some tangent in whatever the magical equivalent of techno-babble is; you glance back to the window to see Fluttershy continuing to stare in at you. Fuck that.
"Yeah, sure, whatever; just fix it." Walking towards your door as Twilight continues to ramble, and Dashie makes herself comfortable on your couch; you open it and step outside.
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The sun is especially bright as you walk around your house to confront your obvious stalker. Catching sight of her as she stares dazedly at your window; you call out as you step over to her side. "Oi. Flutterstutter."
She blinks at your voice and slowly cranes her neck to take you in. There's definitely something off about her. Her eyes look a bit glazed over, definitely lacking their usual vibrant shade of teal.
Smiling softly as she greets you; even her voice seems different. "Hello, John... I've missed you so much."
Shaking your head; you glare down while trying to keep your temper in check. "Please don't. Mind explaining what the fuck you're doing on the side of my house wearing plastic vampire teeth? They aren't sexy, you know."
Giggling softly, her eyes become even more dull and hazy. Her gaze trails up past you and keeps moving higher, like she's following something drifting slowly into the sky. Tilting your head up to see what she's looking at; you find only the glare of the sun and the bright blue sky.
"...Have I ever told you what a whackjob you are?" Pulling her eyes back down to you; she simply continues to smile softly in a way that doesn't convey any warmth or happiness. Turning to make your way back inside; you give her a parting shot for critical damage. "Right well; I'm headin in. You can fuck off." Before you round the corner you look back to see her beginning to flap her wings to take to the air.
"Bye for now, John..." She doesn't adopt the teary eyed, pouty look that she usually takes on after you tell her off; but a serene, almost lifeless expression. It's unsettling. She floats up and seems to dance in the light with a ghostly partner; showing more grace than you thought her capable of.
"..." What a creep. Shaking your head a final time; you head back to your door with the sound of her humming fading into the distance.
