Chapters It is said that dreams are often the gateway to the soul.
"Right this way your highness"
The Princess of the night looked wearily at the door; then to the thin white coated nurse.
"Are you quite certain she is asleep Nurse Redheart? This only works when the pony is in R.E.M sleep; it is when ones mind is in free mode, allowing me to focus on dreams."
"She has been properly sedated; and I have had my staff checking on her, and the other two every hour."
Luna reached for the handle of room 501; and gently stepped through the door. It had been an eventful month since the incident; what with funerals, sessions with the families, and Luna`s constant nightly dream walking to try to put everything together. Her sister also had her hooves full with dealing with what had taken place as well. Luna had not made very much progress with the three young fillies; as each of them had lost their grip on reality. One thing troubled her most however; and that was the almost demonic hell-scape that were their dreams. Leaning her head close to the young white filly; Luna held back a single tear.
"Oh; dear sweet Sweetie Belle, please just give me a hint of what went on. Your poor sister is beside herself; and I fear for her well being. You must fight them Sweetie; you must. I know you are a good filly; I..I just...."
Steeling her resolve; Luna gently tapped her horn to the head of the sleeping filly. As the all too familiar hospital room faded; so too did the happy and joyful filly she once knew.
"Well then; if it isn't her royal highness, The majestic Princess Luna. Come to bask in my beautiful utopia again have you? To what do I owe the pleasure again?"
"Hold your tongue vile creature; and release this pony at once! She is not your play thing; to do with as you please, she is an innocent filly who deserves freedom from this place! You will allow me to see her memories so that I may help her rid herself of you."
The creature let a wry smile creep on to its lips before appearing next to the princess. Luna neither flinched; nor spoke as it stared at her with contempt. Though she had encountered nightmares before; These three in particular sent shudders through her entire being. Most of the time she would simply guide the pony back in to the more relaxing planes of the dream realm, and that would be that. These three young ponies however; were either being held against their will by inner demons, or had all but lost contact with reality itself. The latter option was what Luna desperately wanted to be true; however, the sad reality of it all was that both had actually happened. They had given in to their desires; and therefore had allowed these... demons in to their very being. They slowly were lost to the inner demons until one day they were lost seemingly forever.
Not one to back down; Luna found herself in a very familiar position. The demon was casting sly, almost suggestive glances her way. The Lunar Princess was being hit on; yet again. Only this time, instead of the demon merely toying with her; it transformed in to Sweetie Belle. The doppelganger looked seductively at the princess before speaking in that all too familiar voice.
"Oh; Princess Luna, you've come to set me free haven't you? Oh thank Celestia, I thought I'd never be me again. Hmmm... Now; how about I reward my savior."
The Night Princess was taken aback by this new tactic; and attempted to leave the dream. It was however too late; the doppelganger Sweetie Belle had already closed the distance between them and her lips were at the alicorn's in moments. The false Sweetie belle was hard at work planting small kisses along the alicorn's lips and neck, before she even knew what was happening. She attempted to leave the dream again; but her magic fizzled out when the demon started to nip at the mare's neck. Her mind in a daze; she soon succumbed to the false Sweetie belle's advances. Luna was powerless to do a thing; her magic sapped by the demon's advances, she found herself staring in to the wide and lust filled eyes of Sweetie Belle.
A slight gasp escaped Luna's lips, and she soon found herself; as if being memorized, kissing the false filly back. The voice in her head commanded her to stop; but her body betrayed her, and she became lost in lust. She gently rolled over on to her back and allowed the demon access to her most sensitive of areas; while at the same time, continuing to softly gasp and moan in pleasure. The demon filly took this as a sign to begin the main course; and quickly dove in. Luna was awash with emotion, and sexual pleasure, and the sight of the young pony's filly hood in her face was enough for her to simply lose all control. There was a sudden realization that rocketed through Luna; and she quickly threw the pseudo filly aside.
"Thou has made a critical mistake in thy attempt at seduction! we were one with thee for a short time; and in that span, we got a glance at the past of this young filly. remind us the next time we meet to thank thee."
The night Princess lifted herself off, and shook a bit to regain her composure; and was gone in a bright purple flash. As soon as the room reasserted itself; Luna looked to Nurse Redheart.
"Have these fillies checked for signs of sexual activity; and do it now! Though I did not receive as much information as I'd hoped; This filly was hiding something, something she wanted me to see. Check them for any sign of sexual misconduct, or rape, I fear something awful happened to these three, and I do believe they are finally trying to reach out to me. These dream sessions I have conducted have not revealed anything as of late; however, I feel that tonight I have finally gotten somewhere. Have their families brought here in the morning; I wish to question them; all of them.
Luna bent down, and gently kissed the sleeping filly's head; and softly whispered in her ear. "We thank thee dear Sweetie Belle; thou has given us great insight. Sleep tight little one; for soon there will be nothing left to fear."
With that said Luna turned and walked out the door. Steeling her nerves yet again, she found herself at room 502.
Chapter 2: Voices in the dark
The often continuous mutterings of a patient can often lead to glimpses of the past.
*Caution; subject is extremely volatile. Only authorized staff may enter*
Patient is capable of violent outbursts; sleep is not recommended. Patient shows no signs of former self; and has numerous scars all over body. Patient has been known to attack ponies on sight; and refers to self as Wrath. Will bite, scratch, and spit. Proper equipment is recommended when interacting with patient.
The room was eerily cold as Luna entered it; it was a very un-natural cold, one that sent shivers through the alicorn as she stood by the door. The memories of her very first; and last attempt at reading the young filly's dreams flooding back to her. When she had attempted to do so, she had actually been locked out of the dream by what ever had possessed her; and Luna had been scared to do so again. Instead, she opted to stand quietly by the door and listen to the young pony mutter on and on incoherently.
"We.. are the Cutie mark Crusaders... Must get mark, we want it; we need it...Sweetie was right.. dumb idea on to the next one. What's that Apple Bloom.. A knife; but how will that earn us our marks. And.. we will never stop... the journey, NOT UNTIL.. he.. he; we.... have.. our..... cutie marks. They all lie to us; they say to wait.... but NO! Waiting has gotten us FUCKING NOWHERE!"
"Scootaloo; I'm back, do you remember me at all?"
The princess watched as the form of Scootaloo rocked back and fourth while still muttering for a few seconds; before the young pony turned towards her, and starred her in the face; the filly's eyes were pin-pricks; and she had absolute hate in them.
The filly hissed at Luna, and immediately attempted to lunge at her; the only thing that stopped her was her restraining jacket. What actually had happened, was that Scootaloo ended up face-planting on to the padded floor and screaming incessantly about nothing. Or at first it was nothing; until the filly started to mutter something about a lake and the "thing"
"They told.... me everything was OK; they said things would work themselves out. THEY WERE WRONG! I THREW THAT STUPID THING IN TO THE LAKE LIKE THEY ASKED..... and I was found out. They deserve to DIE! All of them. It's fine... everything is fine.. Rainbow will come to pick me up eventually... THOSE BEAUTIFUL WINGS...... I want them so bad."
Luna attempted to take a tentative step towards the filly to gauge just how close she could get. She took another when the filly just sat and looked at her; malice in her eyes. Before she knew it, she was face to face with her. Rather than fear; Luna felt pity for the young pony. She had helped her face her fears of talking to Rainbow Dash, and in return had gained yet another friend. This; however, was not that pony. This was a very deeply troubled filly who had been through a lot in the past month. She had actually voluntarily come to the hospital right after all of it; and had requested that Luna help her out with something. Sadly though; shortly after arriving, she began to show signs of Schizophrenia, and other signs of psychosis. The help she asked for, just three hours too late.
Luna looked the filly directly in the eyes and asked her a simple question; the response terrified her.
"WHAT IS THY NAME YOUNG FILLY"
"I... AM.. WRATH"
Luna knew this name all too well, it was one she once wore; though with a different name, she had taken to calling herself Nightmare Moon, or at least her bout of psychosis had. Avoiding any more personal questions, she tried another approach.
"TELL US... WRATH, WHERE HAS THE YOUNG ONE GONE TOO, AND IS SHE SAFE?"
"SHE IS SAFE, OF THAT I CAN ASSURE YOU; SHE ALLOWED ME TO TAKE OVER WHEN SHE COULDN'T CONTINUE ANYMORE. NOW DEAR PRINCESS... ALLOW ME TO ASK A QUESTION IN RETURN. DO... YOU.. MISS ME?"
"WE... OFTEN THINK ABOUT OUR PAST, TIS TRUE; HOWEVER WRATH, WE KNOW WHAT EVIL YOU CAN BRING, AND HOW YOU OFTEN SHOW YOURSELF TO THE DOWNCAST. WE... DO COMMEND YOU ON AT LEAST TRYING TO HELP, EVEN IF IT IS EVIL AND CORRUPT. SO TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION; THERE ARE TIMES WE MISS THEE, HOWEVER OUR LIFE HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF NOT NEEDING TO JUST BARELY HOLD ON TO THE HOPE OF BEING LOVED, AND NOT BEING TEASED OR BULLIED. SO... NO; WE DO NOT MISS THEE."
Scootaloo scowled at her a second, and then quickly snapped at her.
"YOU BITCH, YOU SAID TO ALWAYS FACE MY FEARS; AND HERE YOU ARE HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH THEM. YOU DESERVED TO BE SENT TO THE MOON; YOU ARE AS USELESS NOW AS YOU WERE BACK THEN. THREE FUCKING HOURS LATE; WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN ME AT THAT TIME? YOUR'E LUCKY I'M IN THIS JACKET, OR YOU MIGHT END UP LIKE THAT RAINBOW COLORED.... FUCK.. FUCK..... FUUUUUUUUUUUCK! Deep breaths scootaloo, deep breaths. Rainbow did her best to help... it.... just didn't end up all that well. Princess Luna.. is... is that you?"
Not wanting to lose this chance, Luna looked the frightened filly in the eyes.
"Scootaloo... Do you know who I am, and where you are?"
The young Pegasus looked around a second before bursting in to tears.
"We did something really bad..*hic* didn't we? It... I think it was after those two made fun of me for not being able to fly, am I right? Oh Princess Luna... WHAT DID WE DO?"
The young pony started to shake and seize, her eyes starting to roll in to the back of her head.
AWWWWWWW; DARN, IT SEEMS YOU SACRED HER OFF. THOSE ARE THE BREAKS PRINCESS, YOU PUSH TOO FAR; AND.... WELL YOU KNOW THE REST DON'T YOU.... NIGHTMARE MOON."
Luna inwardly smiled as she faced Scootaloo.
"Oh... No Wrath, I think I scared you away; Strange that when I started pushing the young one for information, she came out of her own free will. I do commend you though; It seems that... perhaps for now... she still needs you. Do me a favor though, do let her get some sleep... for me. Also Wrath; do also let others near her, no more of the charade. You may stay for now, but do me those two tiny favors please; for old times sake."
Luna then stepped back from the filly, and watched her face contort in rage.
"FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK!.... FUCK, FUCK; FUCK... JUST FUCK! LEAVE BITCH... YOU THINK I'D EVER LISTEN TO YOU! GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, I HATE YOU I'LL FUMMMPHHPHHHHHFFF"
"Oh Wrath, you know... you're kind of cute when your mad. Thank you nurse, I hate to see her like this; but I did finally make contact with her; though brief. Have the police dive every body of water between here and Canterlot, post haste. I think we may find another clue in one of them."
"Right away your highness, what do you think it all means princess? Do you believe that they were just brought to a breaking point and finally snapped?"
"I am not sure nurse, however; what I do know is that they are finally trying to battle whatever has taken them over. Do be careful around Scootaloo from now on though, it pains me to do so; but I authorize use of tranquilizer darts if she needs to be handled. I'd suggest she also be sedated as well, she needs sleep; and a bath as well. Do you understand my commands nurse?"
"y... yes princess of course, it will be done. Now; what about Apple Bloom? She is by far the worst off out of them all. Missing teeth, scars, half an ear, not to mention all the surgeries to patch the multiple stab wounds, and the destruction of many vital.... The poor dear has taken to liking pain."
"I know nurse, but rest-assured; I will get to the bottom of this. Are the families on their way as I asked? If so, they can take my room here. I shall stand vigil over the rooms for your guards... If that's OK with you that is."
"Yes.. of course it's fine princess. Shall I wait by the door with the tranquilizers again your Highness?"
"That shouldn't be necessary nurse, but... do have them on stand by just in case."
With those final words, Luna found herself at the door she feared most. What was inside made her stomach knot up by just thinking about it. The door number was 503, and inside held the most disturbed of the three... It called itself Envy.
Chapter 3: Like clockwork
When one has been in a place for an extended period of time, they get to know the routines of those around them.
As Luna stood by the door to room 503, she took in a few deep breaths to calm her nerves. She had already started to count tonight as a victory in the solving of just what had taken place a month ago and felt fairly confident in her work thus far. Of course just when one feels as though they have victory in their reach, fate comes along and throws it in to chaos.
As usual Luna entered the dark and quiet room and proceeded to the bed of the young filly. However, this time was different. The filly had been standing right by her, and in the dark had been concealed. Just as Luna entered the room she was shoved in to it with the door slamming in her face. Nurse Redheart watched as the crazed foal ran at her full tilt and then slam in to her. Knowing the nurse had tranquilizers on her she quickly found one and jammed it in to the mare's neck. Quickly grabbing the keys around the now un-conscious nurse's neck she made it to Scootaloo's room and opened it, next she did the same with Sweetie Belle.
"Damn Apple Bloom, took you long enough. Shit I was getting tired of having to preform the same act every night. When did you finally figure out their routine anyway?"
"Ah figured it out about two weeks after coming here ta be honest. I would listen to what was going on outside my room every night about this time, and... well ya'll know the rest. Now come on, Celestia Knows how many times we have been hit with those darts, you know they only last an hour."
Apple Bloom took a second to count how many of the tranquilizers the nurse had on her and whistled.
"Wow you two, she had ten of these on her. You don't suppose she saw me as a threat do you?"
"Enough joking around guys, here lets divvy them up so we all have at least a couple. We'll need them if we plan on getting out of here."
Apple Bloom turned around to look at the nurse laying in the hall, and walked up to her. Turning her around; Apple Bloom went through every pocket she had. In doing so she had found a key card, stun-gun, pens, papers, and a few bits. Taking another tranquilizer out, she jammed it in to the mare's neck for added security. She then turned to the hall and started walking; the other two right beside her.
As they went through the halls of the hospital they would hear other patients muttering and cursing in their cells. Suddenly Apple Bloom had a brilliant idea.
"Those cells are rather un-comfortable wouldn't you say girls? How about we allow them the same luxury we now have hmm."
"Uhhhmm, Apple Bloom; I don't think that'd be a good idea. Do you realize just how many sick in the head ponies there are in here? Also; we aren't all that well in the head either what with what happened a month ago. I mean sure it was a rush, but this; these ponies will more than likely do far worse things to us then we ever did; and we did some sick shit."
Apple Bloom snapped her neck towards Sweetie Belle and ran at her.
"WE DO NOT TALK... ABOUT THAT, DO... YOU.. UNDERSTAND. That shit we did had to be done, they... had.... to.. die. If they didn't it would have just kept on, and on. Yea; we're fucked in the head, so the hell what. THIS WHOLE WORLD IS FUCKED IN THE HEAD!. Do you really think Princess Luna would ever allow us to leave this place after what happened? Hell, Celestia knew what we did and she at least showed understanding. Did you not hear what she said to us in private? She told us that if we ever needed help, to just come and find her. Look; this... what we started a month ago... It's not fucking over you two! You know there were witnesses right? After you two started to chicken out and walk away, I had to do fucking damage control. So you two are in this with me weather you like it or not... GOT IT! Now, let's free them so that when the guards notice that the princess, and nurse haven't checked in... and they will find out. Why don't we allow our friends here some revenge."
Sweetie Belle looked at her crazed friend, and smiled. One month of being in this place had been enough to nearly drive them... well, more insane then they already were. Scootaloo also had the same feeling as they made it to their first door and knocked.
"Psssst, Pin Prick; you awake? It's me Apple Bloom, come to the door."
The teen aged filly lazily got off her bed and walked to the door and looked out the window. As she did she could see three young fillies standing there with keys.
"SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Awwwww, I knew I always liked you three, now where's that nurse so I can gouge her eyes out with this?"
There was a squelching sound followed by something clattering to the ground. The young mare had formed a makeshift knife out of one of the facility's spoons and was practically clawing at the door to be let out.
"Now Pin Prick, if you are a good girl we'll let you out OK. You have to tell the others not to hurt us, but to only go after the guards OK? Knock once so that we know you are coherent OK."
*KNOCK*
"Good girl, now... tell them all to behave and they will be rewarded"
"HEY ASSHOLES... LISTEN UP! MY FRIENDS HERE HAVE A PROPOSITION FOR YOU ALL. WHO HERE WANTS REVENGE ON THE STAFF HERE? BANG YOUR CELL DOORS."
Suddenly it seemed as though the whole hospital was one big bang.
"GOOD, NOW THERE ARE GOING TO BE FILLIES AT YOUR DOORS IN A FEW MINUETS. IF... A SINGLE ONE OF THEM IS TOUCHED... THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY! GOT IT?"
Once again there was a loud bang heard throughout the halls.
"Obedient to a t, aren't you girl. Very well then; Pin Prick I'm opening the door now OK? The nurse is down the hall in front of room 503."
Escape is very often the end, right?
As the fillies went door to door releasing the patients, Apple Bloom was busy thinking on what all had taken place with in the last month. Short flashbacks of Princess Luna telling them that they had been brought to this place due to violent outbursts in class, and even threatening other students at school. She knew that some of it was true, but the rest? Her mind was trying to regain control of itself after the countless drugs they were forced to take. Lucky for the CMC the staff... well some of them knew about the secrets this place held, and aided them in out smarting Princess Luna. The drug that Scootaloo had taken was a mild psychotic inducer, used for testing subjects during psychotic breaks. Sweetie Belle had taken a fairly strong hallucinogen prior to sleeping, thus allowing her dream to become something of a nightmare. Apple Bloom on the other hand had taken nothing, she had her anger driving her.
She did remember a few details however. The sounds of screaming, Luna was there, and her family as well. The more she thought however, the more muddled everything got until it all blurred in to a mess. She knew she wasn't a bad filly, and she knew her friends weren't either; but she also knew what Luna had done.
"Sister, I hereby put you in charge of the Ponyville Mental Health Facility. I know that with your gentle ways, that you can help any and all who seek it."
It had been a big deal for the town, so of course every pony in town was there, including Apple Bloom. Things ran great for a time, until...
A single tear rolled down Apple Bloom's cheek as she thought back to the last month. There were times when it would just be her looking at her sleeping in bed, or "trying to read her dreams" In reality however; the CMC were guilty of nothing, they had never touched another pony, during the family visits however... Luna would oversee the meetings, and often would tell the families to do certain exercises together to release stress. The families would try to find ways out of coming eventually, leaving Luna to explore more detailed ways of stress relief.
The staff started to bury things under paperwork, as patients started to complain about Luna's nightly visits. She would often take some out of the facility to "have some one on one time" There were even a few cases of mares not returning. When Luna started to visit the CMC, they started looking for a way out. Sure bullies had gotten to them, and often times life would as well; but no pony should have gone through what those poor ponies Luna would take out had to endure.
Apple bloom thought back to one particular night when Luna made her usual rounds, she came in and almost smelled of copper. In the dark she couldn't see the flecks of dried blood that stuck to the white coat she wore, but she had heard Luna mention something about a filly and... well you know.
"Hurry up Apple Bloom, those darts will be wearing off soon!"
"I'ma comin hold your horses. We need to make it to the front desk and past the guard........."
"HOW DARE THEE TRY TO ESCAPE THY CARE! YOU NEED HELP, AND ONLY I CAN GIVE IT TO TO YOU. YOU THINK YOU CAN OUTSMART US!"
...
"I am sorry Applejack, but I don't think she is quite ready to come home, she keeps talking about a murder."
Apple Jack stood in the waiting room with the Princess of the night, she had heard of the attempted escape by Luna herself. As she waited in the room and talked to the princess, a few things didn't make since. Apple Bloom and the other CMC had been brought to the facility after a mi-understanding turned sower with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Sure there had been a fight, but... a murder, this was the first Apple Jack had ever heard of this, and she had visited her sister a few times prior to this day. Luna for her part seemed... off a bit though. She was acting nervous, almost as if she didn't want Apple Jack in her presence, and this struck AJ as odd.
"Wait a minuet Princess, I know there was a fight, but.. a murder? I think I would know if mah sister had done something like that. I don't think mah sis would ever attempt any such thing. I also don't get why Apple Bloom would suddenly attempt to escape this place, and in the way she did. I demand an explanation princess, and I demand it now! What is my sister being held here for? I know we brought her here after the fight on the recommendation of one of your psychiatrists, but I think it is time she comes home with me! In the few times I have been able to see her, she seemed in good spirits and even apologized for the incident. On that note I will be telling rarity and Rainbow that the fillies need to come home.
"My dear apple Jack, I am afraid there is more to this story than you know. I can assure you your sister is getting the treatment she needs here, and that whatever you have been told about the "incident" has been a well fabricated lie. Those fillies will stay here and under the watchful eye of my staff, and there is nothing you can do about it."
Luna used a slight break in the conversation to pop a pill in her mouth and washed it down with a cup of water. To Luna everything she was doing just felt... right, and there wasn't a pony in the world who could change her mind, not even her own sister. She was falling more and more in to a psychotic state due to her own delusions of why every pony was in the facility, to her they were the bad ponies not her. After all, she was in charge, and they weren't. Apple Jack turned to trot out of the waiting room when Luna spoke up again.
"If you really wish to see her I will allow it, however I must warn you; she is no longer the filly she used to be."
Apple Jack was lead to the room in which the filly now called home, and knocked on the door.
To Luna's shock, Apple Bloom responded to the knock with a cheer at seeing her sister through the window in the door. As apple Jack entered the room her sister hugged her and began to apologize for trying to escape, and asked if she was in trouble for it.
"No sugarcube, you aren't in trouble at all. Now why don't you tell me why you did what you did, and just what happened that night OK.
"I want to go home sis, this place isn't what every pony thinks it is. Luna does very bad things to every pony and she gets away with them because she can."
Apple Jack noticed a slight, almost un-noticeable twitch in her sister telling her something was in deed wrong, however Luna was just on the other side of the door and AJ didn't want the Princess listening in on the conversation. Little did AJ know that Luna was using a manipulation spell on the young filly making her seem up beat and happy, when inside she was battling emotions of rage towards Luna for her failed escape plan.
"No pony is bad, there was no murder. I know there wasn't, but why does Luna insist there was, and why does she keep us all here? I just want to go home, but my mind is so fucked right now I can't tell what is real or false anymore. Damn you Luna, I know what you have been doing, but I cant say a word because you are a princess, and I am just a filly. What is real and what isn't anymore? I just want to be normal again, not all messed up in the head."
As the thoughts swirled around in her head, her eyes suddenly rolled back in her head and she began to convulse. AJ noticed this and held her sister tight telling her she would find a way of getting her out of there. Luna wore a devious smile on her face as she continued to manipulate the poor fillies mind, it was a gift she had possessed for quite some time, and in the beginning she would use it to help ponies. Now, however in her slowly deteriorating mind, she used it to quickly end rebellion or to manipulate ponies in to doing anything she said to do. These fillies however had tried on several occasions to outsmart her, and that escape attempt had been the final straw. They had to stay, she was in charge after all and what she said was law. besides, she had plans for the fillies and having them leave was not one of them.