Equestria Under

Life... What is Life? Is it... a place? A place where you go to do whatever it is you want? If so then, surely, it is not here...

Or... is it a path? A path from which you cannot stray, yet you can build upon on - a invisible surface that was set before you were even in existence? This seems to be so. But how shall I know, if I have never lived? I am only a mere... existence...

Well, I guess I'll never know. At least... not until it's my time... that is, if it will ever be my time... For you see; I am a shadow. A nothing. An apparition, if you will. And my home? A cursed wasteland of nothingness; a place only known by the name of "Equestria Under". But this world is only one of the balances on the scale; the other being Equestria, itself. Equestria is said to be a place of wonders, color and happiness. Equestria Under, on the other hoof, is a dreadful place, inhabited by daemons, lost souls and evils so great that if the earth did not contain them, nothing of either worlds would exist. And, of course, shadow-ponies.

Shadow-ponies dwell on the "other side" of Equestria and, therefore, have no choice but to act the part. We shadow-ponies have no life about use -- no feelings. We have a shadow of consciousness and enclosed within us are the darkest of souls. Shadow-ponies are supposed to represent the "alternative" of that which is their other-wordly host. In other words, a shadow-pony cannot exist without a pony. A "pony" being one who walks the surface of the other world as their true selves. Once this pony passes away, the shadow-pony ceases to exist. Just. Like. That. But if this pony lives on then the shadow-pony dwells on, down here, in this wretched place. One cannot exist without the other. Or so I've been told. Although I have no idea what could possibly happen to a body when its shadow-counter-part goes away with it still living.

Nothing drastic, I should believe. Those who dwell above, in the light...they should and could have nothing to complain about. Yet, here  am. A cursed being from the start, with really nothing to call my own and every step and/or turn the same as the next. Trapped. I am trapped, forever, in this world of nothingness, while so many others, SO many others re up there enjoying the privilege that is life....

And it is strange... it is strange that I both desire and despise the world above and its inhabitants. On one hoof, I long to be there, but at the same time, also, I detest it. If I were to ever make it to that place, then what would become of so many other shadow-ponies? Nothing. As long as their hosts still posses the breath of life then they must remain here. Just as I have for so very long, now.

So curse this lifeless wasteland I call my home....Curse the place I long to be....And curse me, Pinkamena,  worthless shadow-pony who shall never leave this place called Equestria Under.

All off these thoughts occupied my mind as I stared out of the window of my dwell. A dwell is simply the place a shadow-pony can stay and be protected from the horrors of Equestria Under... Yes, even this world has its own troubling features... even in this world... And why do I stress such a thing? Because as shadow-ponies , we already have it hard; we hardly have an existence and we are stuck here, suffering because there is no light as there is in the world above. Oh, how I have longed for light! For something! Something above this world -- something more. Something more than just he same old place, everyday and night. And oh yes...that. We shadow-ponies go by ray and light-time, as to know when it is "day" or "night" as we shadow-ponies cannot exactly see what is called "the sun".

"The sun..." I thought. I heard of this thing called the sun while at one of the gatherings. A gathering is just the place where many shadow-ponies come together to learn about the Equestria Over, the place we are meant to go to. It is supposed to "keep spirits high", as I have been told. Regardless, it has never helped me in the way I have been told it is supposed to; it only makes me want to get there, faster, for I just cannot wait!

I stare out of the window of my dwell and look at the sky... It is always the same. Its color is a dull, grey/tan color. As if a part of the shy, there are always large dark clouds which have een stretched thin and that go round and round, in a spiral -- until they disappear at the center of the sky. The hole where the dark clouds disappear is actually right above Shadow Dwell.

Shadow Dwell is simply an area of Equestria Under where many dwellings are, as well as many shadow-ponies, who occupy the dwells. I believe that any shadow-pony who is wise would stay in this area, until they are ready to ascend to the world above. I believe this for many reasons. Regardless, my philosophy has never seemed to help me, any. I have been here all of this time and I am eager to leave already. Only I can't! For even if I did, where would I go? All of Equestria Under is home to the dangerous entities that make this world the cursed place that it is. Indeed, departing from Shadow Dwell and heading deeper into Equestria Under is surely to give  shadow-pony a change to loose their soul. Once this has happen, that shadow-pony will become destined to forever wonder this world below, with 0% chances of ever being able to escape their eternal prison.

I sigh as I look out at the world beyond my dwell's window. It looks as though it is about to rain. Perhaps there would be a storm? I am not sure. But I do know that if there was to be any sort of storm, I was hoping that it would not be one of Daemons... Daemons... I especially don't want that kind of storm.

"If it must be one of Daemons, then let it not be like the one that swept across Shadow Dwell, a few days back.", I said, speaking my thoughts aloud, propelled by my spirit of fear. For it was these storms of Daemon that were to be feared, the most.

I knew that such an event had occurred rays and lights back, because three times it had been ray-time and three times it had been light-time since that time. Ray-time is the time in Equestria Under where the dark, swirling clouds above open, and rays of dim, grey light come down to illuminate what little they can of this darker place. This signifies that in the world above is experiencing "day time". As I have said, three light-times have passed since then, as well. Light-time is when the rays disappear, pulled steadily back into their darker hosts and the world under is enclosed in darkness -- illuminated only by from those few features that actually give off light in this place. Regardless, the experience was no less frightening.

I have heard that many shadow-ponies have tried to follow the light back into the dark clouds, yet have they failed. Of course... it is during the light-time that every shadow-pony should be in their dwell. That is, unless, they have given themselves up to the darkness and evils of this realm. I, for one, have thought of giving myself to the evils, on many occasions, though each time I feel much to frightened by the thought to proceed with the action.

It is safe to say that it is the terror provoked by just the thought of being devoured that has kept me going, but I speak truthfully when I say that I have nearly lost all faith in hope -- even though I know not what it is that I even hope for. I have been outside of my dwell, before, but it was the daemons that I saw a few days back have scared me into hiding in my dwell, this long. I will probably never have the courage to be devoured by one, even if I truly wanted to be. The daemons that were present at that time, took the form of creatures which had gaping holes in their faces strange body shapes adorned with thorns. Some had tails - others had tails which were just an extension of their bodies -- with no leg-parts! Each one of the were of a large size, and there were times when they did decide to cease to crouch and ran erect, increasing their height all the more. And what speed they had, running about banging on the entrance to every dwell, screeching and screaming, howling, trying there best to break the "dwell spirit" - the will to dwell - of any shadow-pony they could.

The reason these events are known as  storm is because of the way the included daemons travel; in groups. This storm does not originate in the sky, but simply appears anywhere in Equestria Under. Those who decide to keep refuge in Shadow Dwell are safe from the random spawning of these horrific creatures - that is, until these creatures make their way into Shadow Dwell. The daemons are not allowed to spawn inside of Shadow Dwell, yet are able to enter any time they please. It is a tragic thought, but at least shadow-ponies know when these storms are come - most time. The sky will let us know.

I remember that when this particular storm was come, I was just nearly to my dwell; I had parted from it during the earlier parts of the ray-time to see if anything on the outside would possibly spark my dying hope. I walked quietly and softly along, but then lifted my head, slowly. Something in the sky caught my attention, some kind of movement. I stopped, one hoof raised as I paused, mid-step. What was... that? They sky; already dull and grey, began to grow darker, (or at least the part I was looking at). There seemed to be some kind of shadow stretching across this part of the sky, just over Shadow Dwell. I looked about, quickly, and saw that other shadow-ponies were looking up, taking heed to the signs of an approaching storm. I then felt something; some kind of force seemed to slam into my frail essence. I was moved back a few inches, and this is what turned my attention towards the end of the path on which sat my dwell.

A great black smokey cloud was rushing towards me, each inch gained in my direction causing me to become rigid with fear. I began to see large heads form from within the blackness; large, ferocious creatures, large sharp teeth; large, scary eyes and no true form, as of yet. I saw a bit of them turn to daemons with forms of large creatures with large claws, hideous faces and even more twisted bodies! Many of the creatures opened there mouths and screeched. Loud, horrible noises did they make, causing me to no longer  stick to the ground on which I stood. I made a break for my dwell; the ONLY place I would be safe, I knew, until the daemon storm did pass.

Faster, faster, I ran. I had never moved so quickly, for it was no shadow-pony's tradition to do so. ut it mttered not how fast I ran --I was a target. The daemons were very close to me by the time I came to my dwell. I dared look only once more at them - a terrifying sight - and then passed through the portal-like entrance to my dwell - just in the nick of time, too! The daemons which had come after me did not give up, though - oh, no - they pounded on the windows, tried the entrance, all to no avail!

Their cries did not temp or take me; I was much too scared of their appearance; large-eyed, sharp-toothed, large, loud, noisy, black as night, with evil just radiating off of them. Them. More then one of them banged and pushed against the entry, trying desperately to get in. I remember staying in the farthest corner of my dwell, shaking, nearly cursing this world and the world responsible for this world's creation.

I was shaken so badly by that experience, that I am here. Here, in my dwell, on this third ray. Three rays and yet do I still feel a  tremble in the leg-parts of my essence, as I think on those beasts, alone. Think on them, alone. I know there must be many more wherever it is they came from, OUTSIDE of Shadow Dwell and because they were from the outside, I had to ask myself:

"Will I ever again leave? Leave my dwell? Leave Shadow Dwell?

"May be not... May be... never..." I spoke aloud, answering the question of three rays old.

The thought only somewhat comforted me, though. If I never left my dwell, then I would have the best chance there was for never being devoured by the evil spirits and creatures that were about Equestria Under, true. This would then increase my chances of getting to Equestria Over, faster -- also true, yes? I placed my hoofs on the glass of the window and nodded my head; this was certainly right... right? If so, then... now all I had to do was be patient and wait....

No! This can't be true! Staying inside of my dwell, forever, can not be the answer! For even if I were to stay in this dwell then what would be accomplished? For a shadow-pony to leave Equestria Under they must gather the correct spirits - build themselves up in order be granted the highest achievement, the right to live in the world above. How am I to gain spirits when staying in one place? At least I have sense enough to know what makes sense... But if this is so, then I should try and see what more - what other things await me in the world beyond my dwell, should I? Beyond Shadow Dwell -- should't I?

I let my hooves slide down the window. Once they touched the floor, I began to walk, slowly over to the exit of my dwell. I gave the exit/entryway a good looking through. I could see the other side. I could see outside. All that looked back at me was a dull Shadow Dwell. Simple, hut-like dwells - all similar to mine - and pathways in-between them - gazed back. Despite the dismal appareance of the outside, the sight sort of comforted me, as well as the fact that there were no daemons around.

I slipped through the portal-like doorway to my dwell, stepped out into Shadow-dwell and then - a few minutes later - out of Shadow Dwell, all together. I didn't know what I would find out here but whatever it was, I hoped to be ready for it. For, assuredly, I was going to get to the world above. I hadn't come far, but I was sure if I kept on keeping on, that fact was bound to change....hopefully....