Joat's nightmare

Fear gripped me as I watched this little pony curled up on the ground. There was whispering in the darkness inaudible for me to hear.

Flipping the patch back over my eye and forcing myself back to the forest, the little pony was still sitting there. Gathering spectral energy into my palm I slowly made my way over. Standing over it I waited for it to strike. But it never came, just more sobbing.

"Hello?" the pony tensed up. I flipped it over and brought my fist down. Stopping mere inches from her face I realized she wasn't a Shade.

"Please don't hurt me" the little one pleaded. I didn't respond instead I started looking for a sign of possession. When I found none I responded " Why are you out here?"

"I-I was running from Marcus"

"Marcus? Who's Marcus" Looking around I saw the ash pile and it hit me. Looking deep into her eyes I saw it. The same symbol I see in the mirror.

"You're cursed." I told her.

" Wha-What do you mean cursed?"

"You're so called friend was just using you." Standing up I looked around for the way I came in at. "What is your name?"

"Mom said I shouldn't tell strangers anything about me."

"Fine have it your way." I said as I started my way back to the campsite.

"Wait-up!" She yelled "Please help me find my mommy and daddy."

"Listen kid, right now your a walking magnet to shades okay. I have kept myself alive by hiding, I haven't come this far to let someone ruin it now."

Tears started welling up in her eyes again "Please" she whispered "just until I find my family, please."

*Feels right to the heat* "Ugh. Fine just stop with the eyes already"

"Thank you!" She ran up and tackle hugged me.

"oww.. sore ribs please let go." letting go She fell to the ground. "But, you have to tell me your name first."

"Well.. My name is Sprinkler" the little sea blue Pegasus finally murmured.

"Alright then Sprinkler, shall we go find your parents" I said as we started down the path I had came in at.

We walked for about thirty-some odd minutes taking turns asking each other questions like. Favorite color, aquamarine was mine and Sprinklers was grass green. and other things along the lines to get to know one another.

"So" I said "where are you from?"

"I'm from Ponyville" Sprinkler exclaimed

"You are? I guess it is a good thing you tagged along then." I stated while stepping into the clearing. my camp in sight now. "me and my friend are on our way there too."

About 20 feet from camp something small latched onto my back. "What is that thing?" A little voice squeaked out "Is it gonna eat me?"

"That thing has a name, and no I won't eat you!" Krystal yelled from where she was waiting for me to get back.

"Krystal Don't be offended remember when we first met?"

"Yeah, I didn't even get halfway through my life till I was waking up next to a fire with my head bandaged." She glared at me. Then her tone turned to panic "OH MY Your leg Joat!"

"A Minor cut at most." I said casually.

"uh Joat you may want to inspect that again." what is she so afraid of I was wondering. When I looked down I found out why. The cut on my from where the shade had struck me was oozing red slime, not blood Slime.

"That's not good!" I panicked.

"Joat sit down and stay still" I obeyed Krystal and immediately sat down.

"What is wrong" Sprinkler asked now standing next to me.

"I don't know, but that's why I keep Krystal here around." I said motioning to the changeling now eyeing the red goop on my leg.

"This is going to hurt a lot" Boy was that a understatement. It felt like a thousand rusty needles was stitching my skin together with the suns solar flares.

After that I blacked out but not before felling like I was being dipped in magma. I woke to the sound of laughter.

"And then he thought the best thing to do was to pretend like he always greeted someone new by kissing them on the cheek."

"AAhaha you cant be serious haha."

"dead serious, I walked around the griffon empire giving everyone that came up and greeted me a smooch on the cheek."

"Joat!" the little filly greeted me by bouncing on my chest.

"Welcome back pansy" Krystal greeted while stepping into my range of sight

"You need to work on that spectral magic of yours. I'm not sure if that was worth it"

"well sorry that my magic is fueled by caring not Anger." Krystal said very annoyed.

"What is spectacle magic?"

"Spectral not spectacle, and it is a type of magic that Abyss Lookers can use cause of their ties to the Abyss." I told the little filly "Which reminds me."

Picking up my bag that my head was resting on I dig through it. "no" "no" "didn't even know I had that anymore, but no"

"AHA" I yell out suddenly while pulling a mist like object.

"What is that?" the filly asks

"This I harvested from the Abyss before they could find me, It conceals your presence to shades."

"What is the Abyss?"

"the Abyss is the realm in which shades lie in wait." I replied

"Wait for what?"

This filly has a lot of questions for a.. a "How old are you?"

"twelve"

"Ahh, Shades are waiting for someone like us that doesn't know any better to let them manifest in our realm."

"Ooo, like Marcus did with me?" Sprinkler said

"Kinda. He wasn't able to fully channel himself into our world. If he was able to I would have been more injured than that."

"so how does the ghost chalk work?"

"well we need to find something to put the symbol on and you will have to wear it at all times."

"I don't have anything to put it on"

"I have just the thing!" Krystal reminded us she still exists. she ran over to her bags to dig something out of them. When she came back over she showed us bracer. "do you like it Sprinkles?" Krystal asked the filly.

It was a simple and plain steal bracer with gold circling the edge of it.

"It looks nice are you sure I can have it?"

"of course but you have to wear it at all times ok." Krystal said whilst handing the bracer to me.

Taking my time to make sure each curve and edge had flawless detail put into it I hadn't noticed it get dark and the other two were making dinner. Smelled like mushroom and leek soup. by the time I was done Sprinkler was trotting over to me with two bowls balanced on her back.

"I brought you some dinner." exclaimed Sprinkler.

"Thank you my dear, and its finally done here you are." I proclaimed taking the bowl from her and giving her the bracer.

"but I think dinner will have to wait." I told her while getting into a defensive pose over the filly.

"Joat what's wrong?" Krystal teleported over to me taking a defensive pose of her own.

"Sprinkler has been to long without a Shade looming over her, and to long without being able to hide."

"what's happening?" Sprinkler cried out as I gripped my eye patch and discarded it off to the side.

"FOUND YOU!!"