Chapters Somewhere Special
Chapter 1
“Please stop laughing at me."
The laughter was but a hushed whisper, yet still filling the empty black abyss. Voices were heard, but not seen. In the centre of it all lay a unicorn filly, wrapping herself in her tail, her legs tucked tightly beneath her. Her dark purple coat almost seemed to seep into the darkness that surrounded her.
“Please. Stop laughing at me.”
The laughter grew louder, the distinct sound of schoolfoals echoed around the filly. She curled up tighter, covering her head with her tiny hooves. Her eyes began to well up, the blackness growing colder.
“Please stop laughing at me!”
The filly raised her head along with her voice. Her horn began to glow, the light purple aura providing a small amount of light. She peered into the illumination. The faint outlines of her past peers took shape, all staring at her. Their bodies were black, but their eyes were red, bright as fire. They moved in unison, all laughing louder at the defenceless unicorn. She rose up, standing on the endless void underneath her. She aimed her horn at the shadows, trying to eradicate them. Her horn only produced a few sparks before going dead. The laughter increased once again, now almost deafening. The filly stared at her horn in disappointment as it turned a pale purple. She tried harder and harder to get a spark, but it wouldn't start back up. She knelt back down, lowering her head and succumbing to the embrace of the shadows.
But it soon came back to life, producing a large purple glow, encompassing the foal in her own new found magic. The figures backed away, shielding themselves from the blinding light and the laughter had stopped. The unicorn felt empowered. She began to float, the endless void turning into a familiar sight. Her bed. The filly became excited, her sadness washed away with tears of joy. But the image began to fleet, a black mist encompassing it. It was the void once again. The glow let go of the purple unicorn, and she feel into the deep abyss. The laughter began once again. The foal fell deeper and deeper as the laughter turned to chanting.
“Twilight! Hahaha! Twilight! Hahaha!” The voices grew louder and louder, almost shouting. The filly could feel a small pressure began to poke into her side. She began to scream, her tears flying before her as the abyss took her at a high speed.
“Twilight! Twilight!”
She woke up. The unicorn sat up and began gasping, wiping tears of terror from her eyes, sweating pouring from her brow. Her frantic gaze met Spike, her dragon assistant, who was standing at her bedside. He looked at her with deep concern, his brilliant green and purple scales lit up by a bedside lamp.
“Twilight, you gotta calm down!” he said, snapping his claws. Twilight looked around, getting her bearings. She was home. She was laying in her bed, surrounded by her various books that she’d collected over the years. The bookshelves that lined her tree home towered over the unicorn. She came to grips with where she was, calming down and returning her breathing to normal. Her assistant crawled onto her bed, embracing the panicked pony.
“That dream again, huh?” he said, rubbing his claw along her back. It scratched her slightly, but it was comforting all the same. Twilight nodded her head, tears falling from her face. Spike looked at her,trying to muster what was going in Twilight’s mind. Her face fell blank, staring at her bedsheets. They were purple, much like her. They had been with her since she was sent off to learn under the guide of Princess Celestia. But now they are nothing more than cloth.
“Twilight, are you okay? You seem...different. All these nightmares and screaming in the middle of the night. It's scaring me.”
The unicorn did not answer. She simply swung her hind legs across the bed and stood on all fours. She began to trot out of the bedroom, Spike watching her actions carefully. Twilight opened the bedroom door with her magic, holding the spell as she looked back at Spike.
“Don’t follow me” she commanded. Spike gave a queer look, his head tilting to one side. He stood on the bedspread, about to protest, but the door had shut with gusto, shaking the bedroom the baby dragon was now alone in. He slowly crept back to his bed, a small wicker basket that was lined with his beloved baby blue blanket. He curled up in its warmth, poking his head and watching the door to see if Twilight would return. She didn’t.
Twilight left her hollowed tree home and made her way through the centre of Ponyville, Luna’s moonlight guiding her. Twilight wasn’t sure how late it was, but she didn’t care. She passed by her friends’ houses. She trotted up to Sugarcube Corner, home of her friend Pinkie Pie. She peered through the windows of the shop. It was dark, the bright packaging of the various sweets dulled in colour. The store was void of any life.
She trotted on, arriving at Rarity’s Carousel Boutique. Its intricate design leads most everypony to it, but Twilight wasn't drawn in by the building’s stunning beauty. Even in moonlight, the porcelain walls that protected the inside shone brightly. Twilight, again, peered into the window. Nothing. Rarity had packed up a majority of her supplies, leaving the dress forms to lurk amongst themselves. Even these pony-like figures failed to provide the life that Twilight was now desperately trying to find. She turned away from the window and trotted further on, soon reaching the end of the paved road that lead to Ponyville. Twilight was now in the elements, surrounded by nature. She quickened her pace, trotting quicker and quicker, leading up to a canter, and then a full gallop. Her hooves kicked up dust in their wake, leaving a cloud behind her. She had a set course.
The Everfree forest.
Chapter 2
Twilight galloped into the darkness. She sped down the path, but found herself on familiar territory. This was the path to Sweet Apple Acres, the home of her friend Applejack. Twilight started to slow down, taking note of her surroundings, breathing in the chilly night air. She smelt nothing. The usually fragrant pastures were now completely odourless. She noticed apple trees becoming more and more prominent, as well as more gray and dead, blocked off from the living by a line of white picket fences. She followed them, a wind starting to pick up, the trees waving her towards the farm. As she arrived on the complex, she could see a faint light coming from the large barn where the Apple family keeps their farm equipment. Twilight walked further onto the property, everything else falling silent, even the wind. She slowed her pace even more, moving in quite steps, her hooves barely making a sinking into the soil.
She crept closer and closer to the barn. The large front door was cracked open slightly, allowing her some sight of the inside. Twilight leaned up to the doorway, red paint chips coming off into her coat. She swung her around the door, sticking her muzzle through the thin entryway, taking a good look on the inside. It was empty. Twilight stepped further in, her front legs crossing the threshold, opening the barn door further with a creak. The barn was brightly lit by a lamp, the fireflies inside flying in spastic patterns. She crept in closer still, her hindlegs finally crossing into the barn. The smell of hay overpowered her. She had not eaten for days, but she wasn’t swayed by the alfalfa. She investigated the many tall stacks of hay bales, sniffing them intently and eyeing each carefully. They were put into neat pyramids. She eyed the precision of the placed bales, taking note of their shape. Only one pony could not only lift these large bales, but also put them away so carefully. But the unicorn felt shock run up and down her spine, as she heard the long squeal of a large door.
She froze. She wasn’t sure what lay behind that door, but she didn’t really want to stick around to find out. The unicorn looked around in a panic as the barn door began to open. She stood her ground, having nowhere to go, and faced the intruder. The figure walked into the barn. It was a tall stallion, his coat a bright red and freckles lining the brim of his muzzle. It was Big Macintosh. Twilight was somewhat relieved, seeing the first sign of life all night. But something seemed off about him, but the studious pony was stumped as to what it was.
“Twilight?” he asked simply in his low Southern accent. Big Macintosh was a stallion of few words, but managed to get his point across easily. He looked at the mare with a strange look, not sure why or how she was here. “AJ’s still asleep. Should be for some time.” he continued. Big Macintosh was always the first pony awake in Ponyville. He trotted over to a hay bale and picked a stem of alfalfa and chewed on it.
“Big Mac. Wh-why are you so pale?” Twilight asked, her voice beginning to shudder. Big Macintosh’s usually bright red coat had now taken to a whiter shade, almost as if he was sick, or worse. The workhorse said nothing, just staring at the mare that stood before him. He gave a vacant expression, not uncommon for him. But not only was his face blank, his eyes were as well. Usually as green as the fields he worked in, his eyes looked empty and black as night, taking a glazed look. The vacancy of his eyes stared down into Twilight’s very essence, causing her to lower her ears, intimidated by the large stallion.
“A-are you...dead?” the unicorn’s mouth was starting to dry out, fear filling her throat. Big Macintosh came closer, his pale coat getting thinner and thinner with every step, the dirt beneath him turning a sickly black colour patches. His normally stoic face was now twitching and contorting into a wicked smile, showing his sharpened teeth. Twilight backed up, trying to escape but finding no exit. Big Macintosh came even closer, his fur thinning even more, now revealing his taut grey muscles. He kept a low yet aggressive stance, creeping slowly towards his victim.
Twilight found herself touching the back wall of the barn; the hash, unfinished wood catching her coat as she pushed and rubbed into it, desperate to escape the villain.
“Big Mac, please don’t!” Twilight exclaimed; the stallion now muzzle to muzzle with her. His grin grew wider and wider, his forked licking his sharp fangs. His breath was cold, with the ever present smell of decay; it sickened Twilight. He chuckled lowly, his voice now coughing and hacking, bringing a hoof to her face and gliding it across her cheek. She stared at the hoof in terror It was mangled and rotting, barely attached to his foreleg. Twilight began to shriek loudly and pushed to evil entity away with all her might. He staggered back, quickly regaining his footing and starting after her, leaving more black spots behind him. The unicorn neighed loudly in despair, storming out the barn, Big Macintosh following close behind. He was still chuckling, now turning into manic laughter.
“No! Stop it! Leave me alone!” she shouted at the distorted stallion who was struggling to keep pace. Twilight ran down the path back to Ponyville, the wind picking up more, and leaves of once healthy trees blowing into her face. She zigged and zagged, trying to avoid the falling leaves and the zombie behind her. She managed to jump a white picket fence, landing in the apple fields and galloped into the wilderness. The mystery of the Everfree forest welcomed her, the morning sun rising behind it, drawing her in.
Twilight stopped, gaining back her breath. She stood before the ever expansive wilderness, the unknown staring straight at her. No boundaries, no rules, no bindings of law. Twilight wanted it. She wanted it now.
Chapter 3
One hoof in. Twilight could feel the drastic change with even a hoof step from the Kingdom of Equestria. Not even fully enclosed in the forest’s mystery, Twilight felt its bind of uncertainty wrapping her like a snake. The Everfree forest seemed to expand endlessly, trees and swamps strewn at random, yet all working in harmony. It was untamed and lacking uniform. Free of everything Twilight was forced to conform to on a daily basis. During her extensive and arduous studies with Princess Celestia. Her arrival in Ponyville. Restoring order after Discord took control. Everything was prim and proper, and Twilight had to try her best to keep it that way. Never tardy, never stressed, it was difficult. But no longer. Now, she was free. She needed nopony else, just freedom.
Another hoof in, the marsh pressing and indenting beneath it. The wet soil almost encompassed her hoof, instantly bringing her joy. Mud was everywhere in Ponyville, but this mud was different. It felt like a pillow, comforting her, allowing her to let go and be free. It was foreign, who knows what it could contain? She lifted her dirtied foreleg to her face, inspecting the mud. She squints her eyes, concentrating hard on the topsoil. She watched it for several minutes, taking note every detail and action. Then a lonely maggot popped its head, crawling on the fresh Earth on the unicorn’s hoof. Her eyes went a glow as she began to laugh frantically, dropping the dirt and galloping into the unknown.
“Ahahaha! It’s here! It’s here!” Twilight shouted at the top of her lungs, almost skipping with glee as she galloped through the forest. Her echoes could be heard for miles, causing birds to flee in a panic. The Everfree forest was dark, even in the fresh morning. Twilight had ran for what felt like miles, before finally arriving at a large hollow tree, her muscles tired and weak. The thick and muggy air weighed her down further, as she struggled to climb into the large knot in the tree, which she claimed for herself. To anypony else, it would appear to just be another victim of the Everfree Forest’s inhospitable and sometimes unpredictable weather pattern, as she was now lethargic and unwilling to move any further. Twilight observed the rotting wood with a serious eye. She noted every knot, crook, and crack. The inside was hollow, allowing her just enough room to lie down and stand up. She looked above, the sun beaming into the open top of the unicorn’s new home. She smiled and chuckled to herself softly. A new beginning brought new hardships. One of those hardships was staying safe. Twilight disregarded it wholeheartedly; safety was for the weak. Twilight was a new pony, on a new quest; to find new things.
The sky grew darker, as the light in the unicorn’s tree home began to fade. Twilight looked up again, met by a single drop from the sky. It was going to rain. Twilight chuckled again, louder, and laid her head down on the cold ground. The rain fell harder, washing the pony of her past life. Thunder rolled in the distance, welcoming her to her new life with roaring applause. Lightning flashed as the sky grew darker, giving the pony a fleeting glimpse of promise. Twilight looked to the ground once more, noting its sudden change in colour. It now held a faint green, moss growing over the once barren land.
“Here. It begins here.”
Chapter 4
“Spiiiiike!” Spike awoke from his stupor. He had fallen asleep hoping and waiting that Twilight would come home later in the night. He only assumed that his name being shouted to high Heaven meant that she returned. He brought himself up from his crib and rubbed his eyes.
“Spiiiiike!!” the voice shouted louder. Spike recognised it, but not as Twilight’s. It sounded as if it was coming from outside. The baby dragon dragged himself to the bedroom window to see Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity. The pony that had shouted his name was Pinkie Pie, who was bouncing around in her usual manner.
“What is it, Pinkie Pie?” Spike yawned. He stretched his small arms and shot them up as far as they could go.
“Spike, where’s Twilight? I haven’t seen her. I hope she isn’t sick. I know that if I was sick I’d stay home all day too. I mean, who wants to be around other ponies when they’re sick? That’s just plain rude and downright dangerous...!” the pink Earth pony jabbered on before getting a hoofful in her mouth from the other Earth pony, Applejack.
“Wha’ we mean is, is she home?” the farmer asked, trying to keep Pinkie subdued. Spike remembered what had happened last night, when Twilight had just up and left. It wasn’t uncommon for her to have nightmares, but Spike hadn’t expected her to just leave with no rhyme or reason. Yet he felt confident in her abilities, to some extent. He just hoped she wasn’t hurt, or worse.
“I haven’t seen her. I guess she went off to Canterlot or something.” Spike said, trying to mask his lie with sleepiness. He couldn’t tell them the truth; he didn’t want them to worry. The three looked at him with a hint of suspicion.
“Are you sure? I couldn’t imagine Twilight being sick or lost somewhere in the big wide land of Equestria without a tough and strong dragon like you to protect her.” Rarity coaxed. She knew that something was amiss, and she wanted to know the truth. Spike was flattered. He had always had a huge crush on Rarity, and her flirtatious compliments weren’t helping him keep the truth inside.
“No, no, I’m sure she’s fine. She’s a big filly.” Spike reassured the group. The group slowly trotted off, returning to Sugarcube Corner. Spike wiped away the sweat from his brow, exhaling with relief. He was never the best liar, he was just glad that they bought it. Nopony could find out, Spike himself didn’t know.
He returned to his crib, snuggling under his blankets again. The baby dragon was now swaddled in the baby blue sheets, unable to be touched by the worries of the outside world. He dug his snout deeper into the sheets. They even kind of smelt like Twilight. He was worried. The dragon tossed and turned, the blanket catching on his scales.
“I’m sure she’s all right.” he thought to himself. He tossed again.
“Then again, what if she isn’t? What if she’s hurt, or lost, or...” he stopped himself. He didn’t want to even think about what would happen if she did. He removed himself from the security of his blanket and waddled to Twilight’s desk. There sat an aged piece of parchment and a quill. He began to write.
Dear Princess Celestia,
Twilight is missing. Well, not missing, but she has left Ponyville. I’m worried. She has been acting strange lately. She’s had a lot of nightmares and sometimes wakes up screaming. She just left last night without telling me where she was going. I need your help. And I can’t let anypony know.
Your Faithful Student's Assistant,
Spike.
“I hope she’ll respond.” Spike said aloud. He rolled the letter and sealed it with a red ribbon and the seal of Equestria. He held it in his claw and burped a flame, taking the letter instantly.
“I REALLY hope she’ll respond.”
Chapter 5
Twilight had made short work of her surroundings. In just a few days’ time, she had turned the old tree stump she had originally called home into a full-fledged dwelling. The roof was made from overlapping layers of dead leaves, held up by an intricate net of winding branches and vines. The inner trunk had shed itself of its grey color, taking on a healthy deep brown color. The dead moss that used to hang internally had now fallen and regrown fresh and bright. The unicorn had made makeshift shelves out of outlying dead wood, lined with custom books made of her own parchment she made from stripped wood. It almost felt like home. Twilight was in the middle of it all, wiping the sweat from her brow with her dirtied hooves. It had been days since Twilight had bathed, and it showed. Her coat had taken a noticeably darker tone, covered by the dark land she now lived in.
“It is all coming to plan. All of it. All into fruition. I’m so excited. But the others...What if they...? No, they’ll never find out. That’d be impossible.” Twilight mumbled to herself. Her friends wouldn’t understand. They never understood. They’d always complain that Twilight was too anti-social. That she spent too much time worrying about others and not about herself. But Twilight had no choice. Ponyville and its civilians were always having some kind of crisis. Strange zebras, parasprites, Cerberus escaping from Tartarus, a God of Choas. Princess Celestia sent Twilight to learn about friendship, and she couldn’t do that if the town was destroyed. Twilight would be up late at night, preparing for some random encounter or planning for it. It got tiring. But Twilight persisted; she couldn’t fail. Not again.
But a rustle in a nearby bush startled the unicorn out of her deep thoughts. Twilight’s ears flinched back and her snout went into a scowl. An intruder. Twilight poked her head out of her new home, inspecting her surroundings. The thick forest canopy let in little light; only enough to see the vast foliage. The forest went quiet. The ambient noises all fell silent; watching the events unfold. Twilight stepped a bit further. The once soft and moist ground is now grey hard and cold. Almost as if it was dead. The air that used to stand lukewarm now brushed past with a cold whisper. The clouds that hung above the Everfree’s canopy clumped together; darkening the forest to near invisibility. But Twilight stood her ground, sniffing the air and keeping an eye on the shadows that seem to dance randomly as the forest grew darker.
Another rustle. Twilight was now sure that somepony was there. The only question is who. She gritted her teeth and snorted like a wild bull, digging into the dead topsoil that beneath her. “Show yourself!” Twilight yelled loudly, filling the silence with her shout. The rustling grew louder and Twilight’s muscles grew tighter, anticipating. The rustling became more frequent and the unicorn was able to locate its source. A single bush; leaves brown and decaying. Twilight trotted ever so slowly to the bush as it shook and shaked. The air grew colder as Twilight got closer, soon she was able to see her own breath. The purple unicorn was now only steps away from the bush; goosebumps rising on her skin from the frigid air. She shook herself from the cold and stomped her hooves into the cracked ground and took a deep breath.
“Show yourself! I know you’re in there!” the unicorn demanded once again. The bush shook more. Leaf after leaf fell to the bush’s constant shakes. It grew louder still, until finally, a dark figure popped in front of Twilight, shrouded completely in shadows, sending them both into a tumble. Twilight grabbed the figure with her forelegs and held what looked to be its head. Twilight could feel the familiar texture of pony hide, as well as a mane.
The two tumbled for several feet, eventually hitting a tree and falling on top of each other. Twilight was dazed and dizzy; her head hurting from impact. She lay on top of the figure that had jumped her, their details slowly coming into view. Twilight could make out hooves and the body shape of a pony. As well as...stripes. And their mane was cut into a short Mohawk. The figure lifted itself, Twilight falling off its body. Twilight looked at the figure again, noticing its movements. It brought a hoof to its head and rubbed its mane slightly.
“Oh my head. If I would have hit any harder, I surely would’ve been dead.” the figure muttered to itself. Twilight recognised the voice.
“Z-Z-Zecora?” Twilight called out. Despite being hidden by the shadow of the tree, more details came into view. The unicorn could now see the figures eyes and ears. When Twilight called that name, the figure’s ears perked up and their eyes widened.
“Twilight? My oh my, can it be? The long lost purple pony? Everypony was worried you had left for good. They tried to find you, none of them could.” Zecora said. The darkness began to lift, and Twilight was now just barely able to make out the face of her zebra friend.
“They’re looking for me?” Twilight asked; concern in her voice. She began to lower her guard.
“Yes, my dear. The mayor is busy and the town is in a tizzy. All so they could try and find you.” Zecora said, now resting on her hind legs.
“I see.” Twilight looked at the ground. Its color had returned to its natural green. She lifted her dirtied hoof to her face, seeing that life had returned to it. “Zecora, can you do me a favor?”
“What is it, Twilight?”
“Don’t tell anypony I’m here. They can’t know I’m here.” Twilight said, making eye contact with the Zebra. Zecora just chuckled quietly to herself.
“Z-Zecora?” Twilight said with worry. The Zebra hung her head lower, the chuckling getting louder. Zecora began to stand up, the ground turning grey once more. Zecora stood up; her head still low, but now making eye contact with the frightened unicorn.
“Oh Twilight, I don’t think you quite understand. You’re in high demand. You’re coming back, or I’ll have to attack.” Zecora said, slowly creeping towards Twilight. The unicorn couldn’t move. She was frozen by fear. The air grew cold once again and the clouds began to accumulate, spreading darkness abound. Zecora crept closer and closer, inching towards the last bit of sunlight left, before it too left. Then, Twilight saw it. Zecora’s face in full. It was rotten and foul. In that split second of light, Twilight saw that part of Zecora’s cheek had rotted away, leaving nothing but strips of dead skin and her rotted gums. The stench of death seeped from the Zebra’s hide, making Twilight sick to her stomach. Zecora’s fur was matted and falling off her. The zebra’s body moved in a heavy and slinking motion, mimicking a snake. She came closer and closer to the unicorn, until they were muzzle to muzzle.
Twilight went into relapse and was reminded of this situation with Big Macintosh. Her pupils widened and she immediately flailed her forelegs in defense, pushing Zecora away. The Enchantress was unphased, as she quickly regained her composure and rushing at Twilight once more, taking her by the mane and to the barren ground. Zecora now lay atop the Unicorn, her left front hoof pressing on Twilight’s sternum. Twilight couldn’t breathe. Zecora lowered her muzzle closer to Twilight, her rotting skin flaking off onto the unicorn’s face. Zecora just looked at Twilight with a wicked smile. The zebra also had sharpened teeth. The enchantress twitched uncontrollably, her head making spastic movements. Twilight could make out Zecora’s eyes, which had glazed over, a white color that contrasted her typically blue eyes. They seem to be able to pierce through their murkiness and into Twilight’s eyes. The unicorn’s horn began to glow, slowly encapsulating Zecora in a purple aura. Zecora saw this and removed her hoof from Twilight’s sternum, the pony regaining her breaths in heavy huffs. Zecora began to lift up, her rotting legs flailing wildly to get back on the ground. Twilight managed to stand up and take control of the aura.
Twilight went into complete concentration. She walked to the floating zebra and looked through her glazed eyes. Inside lay nothing. Just a dead shell. Twilight jerked Zecora to the right, gaining momentum, and then threw her to the left with incredible force. The enchantress collided head first with a dead oak tree, a deafening crack was heard. She fell to the ground with a hard thud, her back facing the unicorn’s cottage. Twilight trotted cautiously to examine the body. It lay motionless. She took her hoof and prodded the zebra with her hoof. Nothing. It seemed that she had been defeated. Twilight lifted Zecora’s lifeless body with her head, propping the zebra onto the student’s back. But Twilight had not moved but an inch, when the body spontaneously sprang back to life. Zecora wriggled and writhed, trying to free herself. She managed to get off Twilight’s body, kicking it with her back legs and galloped at full speed back into the forest. Twilight fell to the ground, her hind injured by Zecora’s kick.
“Your time has come Twilight!” Zecora shouted; her voice coughing as she did. Twilight watched as the demon sped off into the abyss, unsure of where she was going. Twilight managed to limply lift herself up and drag her injured hind leg into her tree home.
It was over.
For now.
