My Haunted Neighbourhood

I woke up to the loud banging of someone knocking on the front door. Why so early? Don't ponies ever sleep in? I dragged myself out of bed, throwing the covers off and letting the cold creep over my legs, giving me goosebumps.

"I GOT IT!" I yelled towards my parents' bedroom. Quickly, I went downstairs and opened the door to reveal a grey-coated mare with a short, black mane shooting out in every direction.

Looking at her stone-grey eyes, I asked, "Can I help you...?"

The odd mare said cheerfully, "Hello, I believe you're Crimson Rose, Moonlit's 12-year-old daughter?" She brushed back a strand of hair into its seemingly correct spot.

I nodded and then turned back to the house. To the visiting mare I said, "Wait here. I'll get my mom." I ran to mom's bedroom and bucked the door open.

"Wakey-wakey mom! You have a visitor!" I shouted at my parents, who stirred in their sleep but didn't wake up. Growing frustrated I stomped to my mom and shook her as hard as I could. She opened her eyes groggily and glared at me.

"What was that for, Crimson? Ever heard of beauty sleep? It's pretty much six thirty in the morning. Go back to bed." she said as she yawned, waving a dismissive hoof at me.

"Mom, somepony's at the door. They're looking for you!"

"Ugh, alright Crimson." my mom groaned as she sat up and stretched. I shot her a look, clearly meaning can you hurry up? She ignored me and continued her slow escape from the blankets.

Finally, we headed down, leaving dad to sleep in. Lucky him.

My mom gasped as she saw the visitor. She exclaimed happily, "Stone Crave! Long time, no see!" They hugged each other, making me stare in confusion.

"You know each other?" I asked, my mind completely muddled. My mom and Stone Crave grinned.

"Oh, we've been friends ever since your mother was born!" she explained, putting a hoof around mom's shoulder. I blinked in shock. Wait... my mom was born here? Why didn't she ever tell me? That's just weird.

"I'd really better be going though, my newborn needs to be fed," Stone Crave said to my mom, "so, I'll see you later. Can't wait to meet your husband!" Winking she started to trot back in the direction of her house (probably, I don't even know where she lives).

"Bye!" my mom called out after her friend. I waved to her, still pondering. Then an interesting question popped into my mind.

"Hey mom, why didn't you wake up early today? You're usually a morning mare." I asked, raising my eyebrows.

"I woke up a bit after your vomiting," she answered, making me blush at the mention of my little experience, "because it sounded like someone was breaking into the house or something. Maybe they were going out, but nothing looked stolen."

Uh oh. I had hoped it had been just a nightmare, but my misadventure last night came back to my mind. I remember seeing my eyes glow in the mirror and getting this wild feeling... as if I had so much energy but couldn't spend it on anything. Then I had charged out of the door, shaggy coat and all, straight onto the street.

I couldn't remember much after that. Flickering images of ponies gasping and running away, and howling coming from somewhere near me... or I was the one howling. I also remember the free way I had felt the wind stroke my mane as I ran faster than I ever had before.

So, it was probably not a nightmare. But I don't get it. I woke up in my bed, though I don't remember getting back to the house. Oh well, never mind about that; I'll figure it out later.

"Anyway, Crimson, I've got some great news!" my mom chirped. "You're going to school tomorrow! Isn't that the best news ever?"

My jaw practically dropped to the floor. School. Tomorrow. Was my mom crazy? I can't go to school so early, I just moved here! One of my eyes twitched in disbelief.

"Mom, you have got to be kidding me." I said blankly, my eyes looking at nothing in particular.

She shook her head and continued blabbing about the school. "Did you know that it's only for unicorns? You'll get to learn a lot of magic and train your control! There you will have so many friends! The blog said they are a very accepting community with lots of social foals that are eager to get to know new students! Isn't that great?" She smiled so widely, I wondered how her face could fit it all in.

"Uh, if it says so in the blog, that doesn't mean it's exactly true," I mumbled grumpily, "besides, I don't even WANT to go to school yet. I don't have any supplies!"

"Don't worry, dear! The school provides everything! I swear that this will be the best educational opportunity you'll ever get!"

I groaned in despair and trudged towards the house, dragging my hooves across the grass and occasional spot of mud. All the while, my mom bounced alongside me, going on about all the "wonderful" things at the school.

Zoning out, I ignored my mom and thought about how hard it would be to find foals that would be willing to be friends. The one thing I did catch from my mom's unstoppable talking was that the school was called A.S.S.: Arcane School Superior. Say laaame! I don't want to go to a school called ASS! That's ridiculous!

I sighed and marched to my bedroom. There was no way I was going to school tomorrow. I spent half of the day reading while my parents put the rest of the furniture in place.

Turning onto page 204, I got a great idea. Running downstairs I yelled to my dad in the kitchen, "I'm going for a walk! Coming back at dinner!" Secretly I thought, See ya later, suckers!

After running down the street, I stopped at house #29. There it was with its boarded up windows and door; completely deserted. The silence was making me feel uncomfortable so I said loudly, "Hey, Night Prank, it's me, Crimson. Are you here 'cause this is kind of awkward..." I trailed off, having nothing else to say.

After waiting for a few minutes, I grew bored. Yeah, I know that house #29 isn't my property but when you're bored you just do stupid things. So I picked up a rock near the board walk and threw it at that top attic window. It made a small "clink" sound as it bounced off a plank.

I levitated it with my magic and was about to throw it again when I felt soft breathing on my back.

"Crimsooon, Crimsoooon..." a raspy voice whispered behind me.

"Scarlett, I think she had her first change." I told my husband nervously. I didn't know how he would react. "We have to tell her. She has to know." I used my magic to put away a few spoons in a drawer.

"We'll tell her in good time, don't worry. Right now, we have to get settled in properly. Crimson is OK. Besides, it's not like it's in the newspapers or something!" he joked, drying a plate with a baby blue towel.

I gulped. If that was out in public... Just then, the bell rang. I rushed over to see to the door. A rolled-up newspaper sat on the doormat. I couldn't see the articles properly so I unrolled the paper.

"Scarlett, we have a problem. Your hypothesis wasn't exactly correct!" I showed him the newspaper, nearly shoving it in his face. He gasped: on the front page stood a blurred photo of Crimson Rose with her shaggy coat and mane, terrorizing ponies.

"Buck my life." Sunflower grumbled under his breath.

I froze. Who was behind me? Slowly I turned around only to face a horrifying sight. A pony's face; all bleeding. Deep wounds dragged over its cheeks and one of its bloodshot eyes was falling out.

I felt my lunch rising up. Putting a hoof to my mouth I choked back a scream. Suddenly the pony pulled its face off. There stood Night Prank, smirking as he held the bleeding pony mask.

"You little... I will get my revenge!" I said, pointing a hoof accusingly at the jokester.

He grinned wider and said, "You? No way! You'll never be able to beat a prankster like me!" He boasted, striking a pose. I facehoofed and cursed unhappily.

I turned back to house #29 and asked him, "You live here? It's kind of, let's say weird." I didn't get a reply. Huh? I thought. I looked around for Night Prank. But he was gone.

I woke up, refreshed. Yesterday I had just gone home after Prank left. Looks like I fell asleep. My good mood dropped as I remembered what day today was: my first day of school here.

Sliding down to breakfast, my mom greeted me with a nervous smile. "It's OK dear, you're going to be fine today!" I think she was trying to convince herself more than me. My dad handed me a saddlebag.

"Your snack is inside. Have a nice day, Honey!" he pushed me out of the door and rushed me along. "Don't want to be late right?" he said.

I just nodded and headed to school, looking at a map my mom had given me.

After about ten minutes, I arrived at a giant building, a wide sign saying "A.S.S." in golden letters. I sighed and headed in, pushing open the glass doors and arriving in the middle of a current of foals rushing to get to their classes. I pushed my way through them and muttered, "I wonder what will happen today..."