Hoof-Bred Killerby Silver NightshadeChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 4Chapter 5Chapter 1"So, did you hear what Ditzy did last night," Lyra asked me the moment I got close to our group's little meeting place outside the College grounds, next to the children's park. I sighed heavily, still wishing I was in bed. "No, Lyra I didn't. But I bet you're going to tell me aren't you?" "Pretty much," she said giggling. "You're too serious Night! If you'd loosen up I wouldn't have so much fun poking at you." I'll believe that when I see it. "Anyway what she did was from what I heard sh-" "Stop right there Lyra," I said pointing at her with a finger, "You mean to tell me you're about to gossip something you heard second-hoof?" "Night? I think you mean second-hand, and...yeah I was before you interrupted me," Lyra said with a pout. "Oh, right," I physically face-palmed as I realized my speaking error, grabbing my long, dark grey ears afterwards. "But still, Lyra you know I hate gossip at the best of times and if I'm hearing something from someone who heard it form somewhere other than the source of the topic then I. Don't. Want. To. Hear. It," I articulated as my face got closer to hers with every word, making her flatten her ears and look down like she was caught stealing a cookie. "Oh, right, because of last year huh?" "Yeah, last year."...We remained silent for a few seconds until Octavia and Ditzy came walking up to us and broke the silence. "Hey guys! How'r you doin," Ditzy asked once she was in speaking distance. I smiled up at the mare and looked her in the eye that was focused on me. "Well I wish I was still in bed, so its been a pretty good morning so far. How about you Ditzy?" I ask, placing my hands against the back of my head as I leaned on a tree. "Oh! well..." she looked away as a seriously dark blush colored her grey cheeks. I looked to Lyra and she was staring at me with one of those, 'you should have let me tell you' looks on her face. I laughed at Lyra and motioned for Ditzy to come over to me. She brightened and her blush vanished as she jumped into me for a hug. "Yay! Hugs," was all she said as she slowly squeezed the life out of me. I'll never understand why she loves getting hugs from me. I look to Octavia and Lyra for an intervention but they just giggled and barely tried to contain it as usual. I sigh mentally and manage to get my arms around her to give her a hug as well. I decide to save myself once I heard the first vertebrae in my back pop. "H-h-hey, D-ditzy?! I-if you k-kill me h-h-here I w-won't be able to-to buy ya a m-m-muffin!" "Muffin?!" "MUFFIN?!" Octavia and Lyra asked in unison. "N-no, not m-muffin, m-m-muff-fins," I enunciate to give her some real incentive. Thank Celestia it worked! Ditzy instantly released me and gave me that adorable pleading look with her eyes. I laughed and patted her on the head. "During lunch, I promise I'll buy you three muffins," I said as her eyes grew sad towards the beginning but then they were absolutely huge as I said the number. She then began to flutter towards the school, almost drooling. I looked at Lyra and Octavia and watched with a bemused look on my face once I saw they were staring at me in disbelief... "Well someone really is in a good mood today aren't they?" A voice said from behind me. I turn and find Rainbow Dash staring at me from a pointer finger's length away and I don't bother to back up. "Maybe, what's it to you Dash?" I ask with a stoic look on my face. "Oh, nothin' just came by to tell you guys that class is starting soon and I'd hate for you to be late N.D." "We-...What did you just call me?" "Oh, sorry I just thought your name was Night Darkshroud." "Oh you know it is. You said my initials though, and you never call anyone but Applejack by their initials," I began to think about possible reasons why she just called me by my initials but then I heard the bell and smiled. "Well R.D. it looks like you're going to be late as well." "Oh buck!" She left her trademarked rainbow trail as she bolted to the school. I laugh until I hear someone clear their throat and I turn to see Octavia looking at me rather disapprovingly. "What?" "I'll never understand why you two can't get along," Octavia said frowning at me. I glance at Lyra and she just seems to be trying to avoid looking at me. "Got something to say Lyra?" She jumps a little and glances at me before gulping and opens her mouth to speak. "Well, I was wondering what Rainbow did to make you so hostile towards her. But we should get to class before we definitely get detention." Octavia and I nodded in agreement before we all jogged to the school building. Mr. Crutch wasn't even in the room when Lyra and I skidded through the Calculus room door and took our seats. I looked over at Ditzy and she shook her head indicating that he in fact hasn't shown yet. I sigh inwardly and smile to Lyra, who smiled back, just before the teacher came shuffling into the room. He glared at the class before turning around and immediately started to deftly strike numbers and mathematical symbols on the white board. He explained a few things had Ditzy, who he calls Derpy like most of the students around here, for the answer even though she could only see one half of the equation at any point in time. I really hate this old man. On instinct I turned to Lyra who was shaking her head at me. I mouth 'what' and shrug my shoulders. "You bucking know what." She mouthed in as a retort. "How can you expect me to keep accepting this shit," I mouth back, motioning to the increasingly smug teacher as Ditzy fumbles to figure out the problem. "Because she is," I could see the emphasis on the 'is' in that last retort. I flattened my ears and looked back to see that Mr. Crutch was about as close to my face as Rainbow Dash was earlier. Why do people keep getting literally in my face today?! Chapter 2Lunch, finally! I thought to myself as I left my Creative Writing class. I have been waiting for this all day. I stop just before turning the corner and watch as Lotus and Aloe come walking towards me. SHIT! I can't let Lotus see me or I'm dead! I quickly try to teleport to the other side of the hall but they got to me before I could... "Uh...Hi there Lotus, Aloe," I say with a weak chuckle and grin as I slowly get closer to the ground to try and pass off for grabbing something. I look down to think and actually see a quarter on the floor. Oh thank the Princesses that I now won't look like a complete idiot now. Before I could actually pick the coin up, however, I felt a pair of hands grab my hoodie and lift me up. I continue to look at the ground as I see a blue-furred hand grab my find. "Really Night? Have you become this desperate after dumping Rarity?" Lotus asked as she held the quarter between her fingers. "Oh come off it Lotus. He probably just found out he's short changed to get his afternoon pop," Aloe said holding me against the wall. My hands were gripping her arms trying to dislodge myself from her grip but all I could find myself doing was feeling how smooth and soft her fur was... Idea! I begin to stroke her arms and let out a gasp of shock while she returns her gaze to me and lets go immediately. "What the fuck Night! That was just creepy!" "Yup," was all I said before using my dark grey magic to grab the coin from Lotus. "But it made you let go didn't it?" I ran as she realized I fooled her and before she could give chase I teleported to the Cafeteria, right into my seat at the table I always sat at with Octavia, Lyra, and Ditzy. Everyone gave a small shout in surprise as I appeared and of course it was Octavia who recovered first. "Let me guess, Lotus and Aloe?" "Yup." "Why are they still after you?" Lyra asked. "Because it's not everyday someone manages to break Rarity's heart apparently." "Oh, right...that." "Yup," was all I said after that, hoping to change topic but unable to discover a new one to talk about. Thankfully Ditzy did have a topic. "Hey Night?" "Hm? Oh right lets go get your muffins Ditzy," I said as she smiled and got out of her chair. We walked over to the food stands and found the one selling muffins and pop. I didn't recognize the mare working the stand but she smiled at us all the same. "Hello, what can I get you?" "Three uh..." I stalled elbowing Ditzy to tell the lady what she wanted cuz I had no idea. "Oh! I want three blueberry muffins please," Ditzy said with a smile as she moved to the side. "One Ginger Ale for me please." "Okay, that comes out to five twenty-five," she said, still smiling in a way that was really starting to unnerve me. Good thing I actually found that quarter, I'd be short otherwise. I hand the mare my money and she hands me a bag as well as my drink. I smile, nod and turn to go until she speaks up again. "Hey are you Night Darkshroud?" Bucking?! Really?! Why would she want to know that? Was she a friend of Rarity's too?! "Nope." I wasted no time in turning, saying that one word, and walking off. "Why did you lie Night," Ditzy asked carefully, afraid we might get overheard. "Because lately if a mare is asking me if I'm who I am, they tend to be friends of Rarity." "Oh," she walked with her head down and ears drooped before I nudge her face with the bag. "Hey, you don't need to look so depressed by my situation, after all, I did go and buy you muffins," I said with a forced smile. "I know but I can tell how you get about my problems with other people calling me Derpy instead of Ditzy. That and Lyra tells me after class everyday." Lyra, you little loud-mouthed wh--. Whoa, that was uncalled for Night. Just take it easy. "Well of course, you're my friend and that shouldn't happen, its rude and hurtful. Now before you tell me that its no different than your concern let me tell you that it is. I have this problem because I acted rashly and really hurt a mare's feelings. Now, her friends are trying to get back at me because of it. Is it wrong? Probably. Do I deserve it? Yes. Will I apologize? Eh, I don't know yet." I finished as we sat back down at the table. I look at Lyra and she looks from me and Ditzy to Octavia, who is looking me in the eye. Again. "I really don't like how you two have done nothing but stare at me all day so far. Is there something on my face? In my mane or on my horn?" "No," the two said in unison. I nod, open my bottle of pop, and take a sip before I feel a draft on the nape of my neck. What the hay? I turn around and I see not only Rainbow Dash, but Lotus and Aloe, as well as the mare from the stand. Uh-oh. "You! You lied to me?!" the blue coated, two-toned blue mane colored mare said in a loud voice that made every head turn towards us. "Yup." "You know I love how calm you are right now. That means you'll feel even worse after we beat your flank N.D," Rainbow said, cracking her knuckles. "Nope." "Enough!" What the hell? I look over to across the table and see Ditzy standing from her spot, crumbs from her half-eaten muffin framing her mouth. If it wasn't for the look on her face as her eyes almost looked like they were focused on one spot like any normal pair of eyes I would have thought it looked cute, hell I still do but it unnerved me how focused she was on the four mares in front of me. "Just leave him alone Dash! And besides, you always make yourself sound so tough why would you need to have three more mares behind you to actually get up the courage to challenge Night now huh?!" I had no words, and neither did Dash, which was rare. I glanced to Lyra and Octavia but they were frozen in shock. I nodded to Lyra and she reached over to Octavia. Before Octavia could do anything else Lyra's horn lit up and they were gone. I stood from my spot and placed a hand on Ditzy's shoulder before walking up to Rainbow. "Let's get this over with already." I teleported me and the four hostile mares out to the back of the Cafeteria building, leaving Ditzy behind inside. "Well? Your move ladies." "You'll regret this." I took to the air and bounced off the building's back wall and landed behind Rainbow as she swung to hit me. I nudged her with an elbow and she hit the pavement from lack of balance. Lotus came in with a high kick while Aloe came in for a sweeper. I flipped back onto Lotus's shoulders and leaped to a bar that connected the Cafeteria with another building. I have no idea what this thing serves to do but currently it's giving me some breathing room. I feel a draft and hop even higher as Dash tries to spin into me from behind. I can only go down so I use my magic and land behind the the blue mare whose name I didn't know. "So, what's your name?" She swung at me wide and I easily dodged it. "Maybe later then," I huffed as she growled and tried to shoot me with a magic bolt. I clicked my tongue at her while wagging my pointer at her disapprovingly. "That was sloppy, here is how you do a real magic bolt." My horn flared and I fired four large bolts at the four awestruck mares... Chapter 3...Boing! Boing! Boing! Boing! The bolts were absorbed by a dark grey shield that covered the four mares before breaking like a piece of glass before dissipating into thin air. I walked away as the four just stood in the alleyway, all of whom, except for Dash but not without lack of trying, were shaking at the near miss. I turned and started to walk away before muttering, “I have already forgotten why I’m back here. I say you should as well.” I teleported away and reappeared in the Cafeteria. I found that Lyra and Octavia have returned and were trying to cheer up a depressed Ditzy who was trying to hold back tears. “Hey, I’m back and no one got hurt,” I said with a smile, trying to diffuse the tension. Ditzy’s ears perked up at my voice and turned to look at me. She stood up and when I held my arms out, she slapped me so hard I stumbled back and was forced to turn my head to look at everyone, everypony, else who were staring back to see what that loud noise was. I felt arms wrap around my torso and the life being squeezed out of me. “Let me rephrase that,” I say with a sad smile. “No one got hurt but you Ditzy. I’m sorry I ditched you to deal with the others but none of them got hurt and I didn’t get hurt by them.” Ditzy loosened her grip and Lyra came to share a hug.I must have really worried them cuz Lyra rarely gives me a hug except on a holiday or for her or my birthday. I was really thrown off when Octavia stood up, walked over, and placed a hand on my shoulder. I lessen my smile as something tickles the back of my mind.Why?... “Night?” Octavia said from her seat, lifting an eyebrow at me. “Why are you just standing there? Say something.” I blink and realize a lot of people are still staring and my cheek is really tingly. I look over at Octavia and see Ditzy pulling her hand back before giving me a rather scary stare.I hope she doesn't have, the stare!I think as she draws closer to me, her cross eyed glare easily tearing into me like a napkin. I gulp and remain quiet. “Why would you leave me here alone while you went to get beat up by a few mares?!” she screamed as she got near my face. “...” “Well!” “sorry.” “What? “Sorry Ditzy okay! I just wanted to get this over with and I don’t need you thinking any less of me than you probably already do. So there, I’m sorry.” I clear my throat and try to smile again. This time, Ditzy just collapses into my arms and lightly beats my chest. I stare at Lyra and she’s just blushing and starting to giggle. Octavia just clears her throat and pushes my bottle over to me. I pick it up with my magic and take a swig. “So, how were the muffins?” “Good,” she sniffled. She straightened herself and smoothed out her blouse and wiped her face. I muss up her hair and she lets out a giggle before playfully swatting my hand away. I finish my drink and we go about to our last class. THREE DAYS LATER I've managed to avoid any more trouble from Rainbow, Lotus, Aloe, and the other mare whose name I still don't know. I guess Rarity probably heard about what happened and told them to leave me alone, well, that or they are still afraid that I was about to actually hit them with magic bolts. Either way they left me alone and that meant I no longer needed to skulk around corners in fear of running into any of them. Right? I close my locker and am met with the blue mare's face inches from mine. "Gah! What is the matter if you mares?! You all show up inches from my face!" She shies away and flattens her ears before looking up at me with a slightly guilty look. "I-I just wanted to apologize for the last time we met. I'm Colgate, if you still wanted to know my name." I open my mouth to say something until her entire utterance clicks in my head... "Apologize? Shit, uh okay yeah I accept your apology and Colgate? Interesting name I bet you got a lot of toothpaste related jokes sent at you when you first came to Earth huh?" She nods her head, looking at me as I attempt to make small talk. She giggles and I'm almost confused until she grabs a sheet of paper from my horn and places it in my hand. "Um...Here." I look stupidly at her then the paper...For buck sakes! I thought I stopped doing that already. Well at least it wasn't anything important, just a random ass doodle I made in Calculus yesterday. I take the piece of paper and hold it up to the ceiling, looking at the hole. It was positioned where the belly button on the mare was supposed to be. "Oh that is funny." "What?" "Hm? Oh nothing, " I say before preparing to crumple up the paper just to have it snatched by magic. Colgate looks at it and is stifling a giggle of her own before looking back to me. "Who is this? Is she a real pony? If so I've never seen her around here." "Yeah she goes here, her name's Vinyl Scratch, she runs the DJing for all the College parties on and off Campus." "Oh? Does she now you draw her?" "Yeah, I would hope so, she sits down most of the time so I could when I had actual art classes in high school. She's my adopted sister, or rather I was adopted into her family since my parents were part of the fifteen percent." "Oh. Sorry to hear that." "Don't worry, its buried now and I've gotten over it..." I stop talking once I see her gaze shift from me to a space behind me. I turn and see Lyra bolting up to me with Ditzy and Octavia close behind. They were all rushing towards me and tears were on all of their faces. All I see is the random scene from the lunchroom as Ditzy and Lyra hug me, sobbing all the while as Octavia puts a hand on my shoulder. "Oh Night, I'm so sorry," Octavia says barely keeping herself from turning into a sobbing mess like the other two. I glance from the girls to Colgate and she just sneaks away, not wanting to intrude. "Hold on girls. What's wrong? Why are you crying and, Octavia, why are you sorry? I could really use an explanation here," I say as the mares' expressions turn from sad to confused, more confused than me! "Wait, you mean you don't know?" Lyra says wiping her nose on her sleeve. "But you damaged you drawing of her! How can you say you don't know!" She repeated growing into a shrill shout as she falls into me again. I look down at the ruined drawing of Vinyl and look once more to her mare-friend, Octavia. "What is going on?" Chapter 4...In other news, Police this morning have found the body of a Unicorn mare, who has been IDed as Vinyl Scratch. She was a DJ who attended the Creative Arts College right here, in New Equestria, the town that was build and named after the ponies showed up here over six years ago.The male and female reporters both look off screen and ask someone else about what they were about to say. With a grim nod the woman picks up where the man left off.Um..Right forewarning, we are about to show some of the crime scene photographs and we advice you to cover your children's eyes before we do. I stared in shock, disbelief, and horror once the images flashed up on the screen. They showed a picture Vinyl, laying on a table in a, once dark, room. She had a rope around her neck that was attached to some contraption on the head of the table. Her hooves and arms were also bound to similar machines. One of them was used to rip her arm off, leaving blood to pool and exposed bone and ripped muscle that reminded me of something out of a movie. One of her legs were removed in the same fashion, except it was ripped off closer to the fetlock instead of the knee due to the ropes placement. I then look back to her head and I see...I see..OH BUCK!! I start to break into a fit of quiet sobs as I see that the rope around her neck was also pulled and that it had pulled her head, with some of her spine, right off. But despite all this these three pictures weren't the worst of it. No, the worst one was the picture of her slashed chest and torso. Her clothes, I realize, had been removed and that she had a Baseball bat wedged between her legs, slightly covered by her tail. Her breasts were slashed and her stomach was cut open to allow for her intestines to be pulled from her body and thrown on the floor....Please tell me that's all the pictures! PLEASE! I mentally begged, but it was unanswered, instead one more picture remained to be seen. I blood-drawn image of a..Hoof? Was on the inside of the door that seemingly went to the outside. Well folks, that truly is disturbing and my apologies to the family for what not only happened to the poor girl, but also for having to say this next bit as well. The killer is still at large and as of yet the Police can find no trace of him, or her, and no recoverable clues or evidence has been found. It would seem that the machines and the bat were devoid of prints, fibers, or any bodily fluid or DNA that pertained to anyone, or anypony, other than the victim. Now here's Greg with the weather. The guy with the remote turned the TV off and everyone in the Cafeteria was silent for a long time. I couldn't blame them. The only sound in the whole building was the rattling of trays and dishes in the dish washers in the kitchen, Octavia and my sobs, and the occasional whisper form someone trying to break the silence only to fail. LATER THAT DAY I walk out to the Cafeteria and sit down at the table. I barely notice the trail of rainbow colored mane that disappeared behind me and showed up next to me as Dash sat down on the bench. She looked like she was disturbed by something, and I bet I knew what it is to. "Hey," was all I said. "Uh... Hey yourself." She let out a nervous chuckle and turned to face me. "Hey I just wanted to apologize for the last time we-" "Shut up Dash. I told you to forget about it didn't I?" "Well yeah I guess but-" "No. We will not bring it up, I already forgot about it and will not talk about it. Especially now," I say with a deep sigh as I look at my hands, half covered by my hoodie's sleeves. "Alright then. Oh, by the way, sorry about Vinyl." Rainbow got up and walked away after that, and I just stared at my hands. I get up and walk out of the building and head towards my motorbike. It's black, with blue rims and silver accents on the sides. I don't bother with the helmet in the storage container and just rev it up and ride. I wonder when the funeral will be. I'm driving for a couple of hours before I stop at the top of a cliff with a tree and a 300 foot drop to the water below. I look at the tree and trace my fingers at the heart that was cut into the trunk with the initials V.S. and O.P. written inside of it. Another sigh is found escaping my lips as my hand turns into a fist and connects with the tree, right over the heart. I repeat this several times until I notice the bloody smear I left on the trunk, over Vinyl's initials. I look at my hand and see my knuckles bleeding, scraped up and with small bits of bark stuck in them. I look out to the lake and walk towards the edge of the cliff, where I look down to see the jagged rocks that tear the waves apart as they crash and recede from the rock face. My ears twitch, what was that? It sounded like a- "Night!!!" a familiar voice cried out. I turn to see Ditzy flying up to me with Lyra and Octavia running out of a nice looking Nissan GTR R35, silver paint job. I walked away from the edge before the force of Ditzy's impact sends us over. "We thought you'd come out here after we saw you leave on your bike." "Why are you out here?" Octavia asked before looking at Lyra, who was staring at me and the tree. "Lyra what is it?" Octavia asked, her voice slowing to a near silent end as she saw my hands and the blood on the tree. "Night!" Oh good, now I get a lecture. "Yeah Octi?" "What do think you're doing?" "Trying to take out my frustration about losing another member of what I consider a family, that's what." "So you leave blood on their name engraving?! That's pretty messed up don't you think?" "No, I don't, I really can't consider that messed up after seeing the pictures of her they Aired on state-wide TV!" I'm starting to hyperventilate as I am being overwhelmed by the emotions of loss, anguish, hatred, frustration, and a small sense of abandonment. Vinyl was the one who begged her parents to basically adopt me after all. She was my linchpin, my buddy through our time in school while living in Equestria, and a sister after coming to Earth. Losing her, was like losing a piece of myself, and I know that last feeling must be present for Octavia as well. Ditzy looks up at me and helps me to the ground as I start shaking. She looks over at Lyra who looks horrified by the scene taking place. Hell, I would probably have the same look if I was looking at my state from her perspective. I started hiccuping from how hard my sobs were attacking me. I felt another presence next to me and Ditzy, I looked up to see Octavia, probably in about the same state I'm in, get on the ground and wrap her arms around me. Lyra and Ditzy look at us and decide to head back to Octavia's car. Chapter 5Falling, that's what I'm doing right now. Falling farther, and farther, and *farther into the depths of the sky as I fall from the cliff, my horn snapped in half so that I can't use a teleportation spell. Normally people would be freaking out, especially if they saw all those jagged rocks at the bottom of the fall separating me from the water just underneath the rocks. I, however, was just giving my rocky killer a sad smile. I give a choked laugh and look up at the top of the cliff. A stranger in all black whose features are unrecognizable to my eyes is looking down at me with a wide smile. I also see several lengths of rope falling behind me. I watch them curiously before finding that they're attached to my neck and limbs. I still don't panic, I actually laugh and look at the ever closer rocks that will no longer get to impale me upon their heads. I get to die a more brutal death, a more impressive one. I get to die from being pulled apart.* BUZZZZZBUZZZZZBUZZZZZ I jump from my bed and collapse on the floor of my little one bedroom apartment and am properly woken up the rest of the way once my alarm clock buzzed its way off the nightstand and onto my head. "Ouch!" I pick the stupid thing up, turn it off, and throw it into a nearby hamper. I then stand up and stretch my arms as I yawn before heading to the bathroom. The bathroom light turns on upon my entry and I turn on the shower while I deal with some other things before getting in. -----???----- I hear the shower turn on after watching Night grumble his way into the bathroom. What I didn't expect was him to be exiting the bathroom right afterwards. I activate an invisibility spell and stand off to the side as he fumbles around the room grabbing various bits of trash and other miscellaneous objects before throwing the trash in the can and placing the other things onto various shelves and cabinets before returning to the bathroom...That was close. ----- Night Darkshroud----- I had just finished putting away some of my various artifacts that had belonged to my parents and had also thrown out the remaining trash from my dinner last night after getting home from my little trip to the lake. I had just pulled the curtain closed and just stood there letting the burning water scorch my skin beneath my fur for a minute before finally turning it down to a more skin friendly temperature. "And now comes the part where I sit and think about life, death, Vinyl, and well all of that other bullshit like on these human TV shows," I say to myself as I spin in slow circles, levitating the shampoo as I did so. "Also there is the matter of my bizarre dream and why I fell out of bed like it was a nightmare, which it was...I guess. But then why did I feel so good during the dream then? So many questions and I already know my mind isn't going to have an answer..." Riinng! Riinng! And there's the doorbell. I wonder who's here? I step out of the shower and grab a towel to quickly dry off before pulling on a pair of boxers and pants. The doorbell sounds again, followed by knocking on the door. "Just a minute, be right there!" I walk over to the door and peek through the peephole. Something must be blocking it cuz I can't see out into the hallway. I slowly unlock the door and open it a crack... "Hello?" I ask once I didn't see anyone. It was still before dawn and this was a little creepy. "Oh!" I hear as Aloe steps from behind the door, her finger over the peephole. "Sorry about that but I wanted to make sure you answered the door instead of ignoring me." "Come in," I say as I walk towards my chair. I hear the door close and the sound of hooves on the wood floor. A moment later Aloe's sitting on the couch opposite of my chair. I take a deep breath as she nervously glances around my apartment. "Want anything?" "Huh-what?" she asks momentarily surprised by the question and its effect on breaking the silence. "Drink? Want anything?" "Oh sure thank you," she says looking down at the coffee table in-between us. I stand up and head off towards the kitchen to grab a can of Ginger Ale and a glass. I fill the glass with water before returning to see her wandering around the living and dining room area, looking at the various artifacts and random knickknacks on the shelves and in the display cases. I clear my throat and she jumps. "I swear I didn't touch anything!" "I know, if you did you would have been teleported outside near the trash if you did without my permission. Useful enchantment to have." I walk over to her and stare at the mask that was once worn by my father. He always said it would keep him protected from calamity. It obviously didn't work in the end though clearly. "Which one do you want?" I ask bringing the two drinks into view. She looks at them and hesitates, probably wanting the Ginger Ale but not wanting to seem rude by giving me, her host, the plain water. So I give her a hand, I pull the water slightly closer to me. She then slowly grabs the pop and I return to my chair, slowly sipping the water. "Thank you Night." "No problem, now was there something you needed?" "Oh um..." she trailed off, taking a glance at me before turning away. What? I think before looking down and realizing I'm half naked...Right. I mentally deadpanned. "Sit." I said before walking off to my bedroom. I fumble around before finding a white, long-sleeved button-down and threw it on; only bothering with the center two buttons before walking back out into the other room. I see Aloe sitting on the couch again, sipping her drink. I notice she keeps eyeing the artifacts and the door. So, where were we then? Oh yes, you were about to tell me what you needed from me." "I just wanted to say sorry about Vinyl and about pinning you for Lotus before the fight, if you could even call it that," Aloe mumbled at the end there. "Thank you for your condolences. As for pinning me, it was fun. I got to have fun creeping you out and I made twenty-five cents. I actually did need that since I had to buy Ditzy three muffins," I said with a light laugh, trying to diffuse any tension she might be having about our meeting. She smiles a little and looks to her drink before muttering something. Immediately after she looked at me and waited. And waited. And waited. For what, I can not be sure but patience is a virtue that she had but not as much of it as me. "And what about the fight?" "What fight?" I ask with a tone of ignorance and a look of I dare you to bring it up. She reflects on my words and must have remembered what I said that day for she answered with, "Oh, never mind I'm thinking of something else." Exactly. -----???----- This mare, Aloe, has almost sat on me twice now. I still have my spell on so that they don't see me but I can't stand this back and forth between them. She's pretty though, maybe I'll kill her. No, I got somepony else to kill first, and another after them and so on. She'll be much later, but she will be killed, trust me and mark my words she'll die. -----Night----- I hear a knock on the door again. Looking out the window from my chair I see its almost dawn. I get up and walk over to the door. The peephole was blocked, again. "Uncover the hole, or you can just stand there until you get bored. I have no where to be today," I shouted at the door. I heard hooves shuffle away from the door and I looked through the peephole again. I saw Lotus Blossom looking at the door, her mane was unkempt, like she just left her house after waking up. I wonder if she knows she came in a nighty and jacket. I opened the door a crack and looked at her. "I'm guessing you figured out that Aloe's here?" I asked as she headed closer to the door. "Huh? She's here?" Damn now I've done it probably. "Well are you going to let me in?" "I must say I think I'll let you stand out there and get gawked at for your...choice, of clothing." She looked down at herself and gasped in shock. "Let me in now Night!" she growled. I chuckle and let her into the apartment. I hear Aloe gasp and the rushing of hooves as I got knocked over. "So, what do I owe this pleasure?" I grunt as I get off the floor. "I came here to see if you knew where Aloe was or if you could help me find her, but I found her so I guess I can go," she said, grabbing Aloe's wrist and about to open the door. "Wait!" Aloe cried out as she pulled free of Lotus's grip. "We can't leave with you like that! I'm amazed you didn't get taken on the way here since you're alone." Aloe looks at me with a pleading look on her face. "Can you help us somehow?" "As much as I really don't want to leave my apartment today I can't just let you two leave in good conscience, so I'll take you two home," I say with a sigh as I grab a jacket from the hook and throw it on. I grab my apartment keys and herd them out the door before locking it. "Um, one aren't you forgetting your keys to your vehicle? And two, isn't the only vehicle you own a motorcycle? I know we're thin and all but not that thin," Lotus barked in frustration at this turn of events. It was obvious she still held a certain disdain for me unlike Aloe, who was trying to make amends. I was in the same boat as her when it came to the turn of events but I really didn't care if she, or the other two for that matter, tried to apologize or not. I don't think this to come off as unforgiving, I just really don't give a buck about it. it's ancient history, especially with the funeral coming up and I still need to figure out where its being held so I can sneak Octavia in. I smirk at Lotus and my horn lights up, enveloping her and Aloe in my dark grey magic. In a quick flash and a light pop we were all out near the college, half a mile away from my place and a mile from theirs. I took a breath and did it twice more before we, literally, hit the front of their house. I wonder why neither of them drove to my place, I thought as I saw their two small cars in the driveway. Both were the colors of the mare they belonged to...or vice-versa. While they rubbed their heads I quickly teleported away before they could ask anything else.
Chapter 1"So, did you hear what Ditzy did last night," Lyra asked me the moment I got close to our group's little meeting place outside the College grounds, next to the children's park. I sighed heavily, still wishing I was in bed. "No, Lyra I didn't. But I bet you're going to tell me aren't you?" "Pretty much," she said giggling. "You're too serious Night! If you'd loosen up I wouldn't have so much fun poking at you." I'll believe that when I see it. "Anyway what she did was from what I heard sh-" "Stop right there Lyra," I said pointing at her with a finger, "You mean to tell me you're about to gossip something you heard second-hoof?" "Night? I think you mean second-hand, and...yeah I was before you interrupted me," Lyra said with a pout. "Oh, right," I physically face-palmed as I realized my speaking error, grabbing my long, dark grey ears afterwards. "But still, Lyra you know I hate gossip at the best of times and if I'm hearing something from someone who heard it form somewhere other than the source of the topic then I. Don't. Want. To. Hear. It," I articulated as my face got closer to hers with every word, making her flatten her ears and look down like she was caught stealing a cookie. "Oh, right, because of last year huh?" "Yeah, last year."...We remained silent for a few seconds until Octavia and Ditzy came walking up to us and broke the silence. "Hey guys! How'r you doin," Ditzy asked once she was in speaking distance. I smiled up at the mare and looked her in the eye that was focused on me. "Well I wish I was still in bed, so its been a pretty good morning so far. How about you Ditzy?" I ask, placing my hands against the back of my head as I leaned on a tree. "Oh! well..." she looked away as a seriously dark blush colored her grey cheeks. I looked to Lyra and she was staring at me with one of those, 'you should have let me tell you' looks on her face. I laughed at Lyra and motioned for Ditzy to come over to me. She brightened and her blush vanished as she jumped into me for a hug. "Yay! Hugs," was all she said as she slowly squeezed the life out of me. I'll never understand why she loves getting hugs from me. I look to Octavia and Lyra for an intervention but they just giggled and barely tried to contain it as usual. I sigh mentally and manage to get my arms around her to give her a hug as well. I decide to save myself once I heard the first vertebrae in my back pop. "H-h-hey, D-ditzy?! I-if you k-kill me h-h-here I w-won't be able to-to buy ya a m-m-muffin!" "Muffin?!" "MUFFIN?!" Octavia and Lyra asked in unison. "N-no, not m-muffin, m-m-muff-fins," I enunciate to give her some real incentive. Thank Celestia it worked! Ditzy instantly released me and gave me that adorable pleading look with her eyes. I laughed and patted her on the head. "During lunch, I promise I'll buy you three muffins," I said as her eyes grew sad towards the beginning but then they were absolutely huge as I said the number. She then began to flutter towards the school, almost drooling. I looked at Lyra and Octavia and watched with a bemused look on my face once I saw they were staring at me in disbelief... "Well someone really is in a good mood today aren't they?" A voice said from behind me. I turn and find Rainbow Dash staring at me from a pointer finger's length away and I don't bother to back up. "Maybe, what's it to you Dash?" I ask with a stoic look on my face. "Oh, nothin' just came by to tell you guys that class is starting soon and I'd hate for you to be late N.D." "We-...What did you just call me?" "Oh, sorry I just thought your name was Night Darkshroud." "Oh you know it is. You said my initials though, and you never call anyone but Applejack by their initials," I began to think about possible reasons why she just called me by my initials but then I heard the bell and smiled. "Well R.D. it looks like you're going to be late as well." "Oh buck!" She left her trademarked rainbow trail as she bolted to the school. I laugh until I hear someone clear their throat and I turn to see Octavia looking at me rather disapprovingly. "What?" "I'll never understand why you two can't get along," Octavia said frowning at me. I glance at Lyra and she just seems to be trying to avoid looking at me. "Got something to say Lyra?" She jumps a little and glances at me before gulping and opens her mouth to speak. "Well, I was wondering what Rainbow did to make you so hostile towards her. But we should get to class before we definitely get detention." Octavia and I nodded in agreement before we all jogged to the school building. Mr. Crutch wasn't even in the room when Lyra and I skidded through the Calculus room door and took our seats. I looked over at Ditzy and she shook her head indicating that he in fact hasn't shown yet. I sigh inwardly and smile to Lyra, who smiled back, just before the teacher came shuffling into the room. He glared at the class before turning around and immediately started to deftly strike numbers and mathematical symbols on the white board. He explained a few things had Ditzy, who he calls Derpy like most of the students around here, for the answer even though she could only see one half of the equation at any point in time. I really hate this old man. On instinct I turned to Lyra who was shaking her head at me. I mouth 'what' and shrug my shoulders. "You bucking know what." She mouthed in as a retort. "How can you expect me to keep accepting this shit," I mouth back, motioning to the increasingly smug teacher as Ditzy fumbles to figure out the problem. "Because she is," I could see the emphasis on the 'is' in that last retort. I flattened my ears and looked back to see that Mr. Crutch was about as close to my face as Rainbow Dash was earlier. Why do people keep getting literally in my face today?!
Chapter 2Lunch, finally! I thought to myself as I left my Creative Writing class. I have been waiting for this all day. I stop just before turning the corner and watch as Lotus and Aloe come walking towards me. SHIT! I can't let Lotus see me or I'm dead! I quickly try to teleport to the other side of the hall but they got to me before I could... "Uh...Hi there Lotus, Aloe," I say with a weak chuckle and grin as I slowly get closer to the ground to try and pass off for grabbing something. I look down to think and actually see a quarter on the floor. Oh thank the Princesses that I now won't look like a complete idiot now. Before I could actually pick the coin up, however, I felt a pair of hands grab my hoodie and lift me up. I continue to look at the ground as I see a blue-furred hand grab my find. "Really Night? Have you become this desperate after dumping Rarity?" Lotus asked as she held the quarter between her fingers. "Oh come off it Lotus. He probably just found out he's short changed to get his afternoon pop," Aloe said holding me against the wall. My hands were gripping her arms trying to dislodge myself from her grip but all I could find myself doing was feeling how smooth and soft her fur was... Idea! I begin to stroke her arms and let out a gasp of shock while she returns her gaze to me and lets go immediately. "What the fuck Night! That was just creepy!" "Yup," was all I said before using my dark grey magic to grab the coin from Lotus. "But it made you let go didn't it?" I ran as she realized I fooled her and before she could give chase I teleported to the Cafeteria, right into my seat at the table I always sat at with Octavia, Lyra, and Ditzy. Everyone gave a small shout in surprise as I appeared and of course it was Octavia who recovered first. "Let me guess, Lotus and Aloe?" "Yup." "Why are they still after you?" Lyra asked. "Because it's not everyday someone manages to break Rarity's heart apparently." "Oh, right...that." "Yup," was all I said after that, hoping to change topic but unable to discover a new one to talk about. Thankfully Ditzy did have a topic. "Hey Night?" "Hm? Oh right lets go get your muffins Ditzy," I said as she smiled and got out of her chair. We walked over to the food stands and found the one selling muffins and pop. I didn't recognize the mare working the stand but she smiled at us all the same. "Hello, what can I get you?" "Three uh..." I stalled elbowing Ditzy to tell the lady what she wanted cuz I had no idea. "Oh! I want three blueberry muffins please," Ditzy said with a smile as she moved to the side. "One Ginger Ale for me please." "Okay, that comes out to five twenty-five," she said, still smiling in a way that was really starting to unnerve me. Good thing I actually found that quarter, I'd be short otherwise. I hand the mare my money and she hands me a bag as well as my drink. I smile, nod and turn to go until she speaks up again. "Hey are you Night Darkshroud?" Bucking?! Really?! Why would she want to know that? Was she a friend of Rarity's too?! "Nope." I wasted no time in turning, saying that one word, and walking off. "Why did you lie Night," Ditzy asked carefully, afraid we might get overheard. "Because lately if a mare is asking me if I'm who I am, they tend to be friends of Rarity." "Oh," she walked with her head down and ears drooped before I nudge her face with the bag. "Hey, you don't need to look so depressed by my situation, after all, I did go and buy you muffins," I said with a forced smile. "I know but I can tell how you get about my problems with other people calling me Derpy instead of Ditzy. That and Lyra tells me after class everyday." Lyra, you little loud-mouthed wh--. Whoa, that was uncalled for Night. Just take it easy. "Well of course, you're my friend and that shouldn't happen, its rude and hurtful. Now before you tell me that its no different than your concern let me tell you that it is. I have this problem because I acted rashly and really hurt a mare's feelings. Now, her friends are trying to get back at me because of it. Is it wrong? Probably. Do I deserve it? Yes. Will I apologize? Eh, I don't know yet." I finished as we sat back down at the table. I look at Lyra and she looks from me and Ditzy to Octavia, who is looking me in the eye. Again. "I really don't like how you two have done nothing but stare at me all day so far. Is there something on my face? In my mane or on my horn?" "No," the two said in unison. I nod, open my bottle of pop, and take a sip before I feel a draft on the nape of my neck. What the hay? I turn around and I see not only Rainbow Dash, but Lotus and Aloe, as well as the mare from the stand. Uh-oh. "You! You lied to me?!" the blue coated, two-toned blue mane colored mare said in a loud voice that made every head turn towards us. "Yup." "You know I love how calm you are right now. That means you'll feel even worse after we beat your flank N.D," Rainbow said, cracking her knuckles. "Nope." "Enough!" What the hell? I look over to across the table and see Ditzy standing from her spot, crumbs from her half-eaten muffin framing her mouth. If it wasn't for the look on her face as her eyes almost looked like they were focused on one spot like any normal pair of eyes I would have thought it looked cute, hell I still do but it unnerved me how focused she was on the four mares in front of me. "Just leave him alone Dash! And besides, you always make yourself sound so tough why would you need to have three more mares behind you to actually get up the courage to challenge Night now huh?!" I had no words, and neither did Dash, which was rare. I glanced to Lyra and Octavia but they were frozen in shock. I nodded to Lyra and she reached over to Octavia. Before Octavia could do anything else Lyra's horn lit up and they were gone. I stood from my spot and placed a hand on Ditzy's shoulder before walking up to Rainbow. "Let's get this over with already." I teleported me and the four hostile mares out to the back of the Cafeteria building, leaving Ditzy behind inside. "Well? Your move ladies." "You'll regret this." I took to the air and bounced off the building's back wall and landed behind Rainbow as she swung to hit me. I nudged her with an elbow and she hit the pavement from lack of balance. Lotus came in with a high kick while Aloe came in for a sweeper. I flipped back onto Lotus's shoulders and leaped to a bar that connected the Cafeteria with another building. I have no idea what this thing serves to do but currently it's giving me some breathing room. I feel a draft and hop even higher as Dash tries to spin into me from behind. I can only go down so I use my magic and land behind the the blue mare whose name I didn't know. "So, what's your name?" She swung at me wide and I easily dodged it. "Maybe later then," I huffed as she growled and tried to shoot me with a magic bolt. I clicked my tongue at her while wagging my pointer at her disapprovingly. "That was sloppy, here is how you do a real magic bolt." My horn flared and I fired four large bolts at the four awestruck mares...
Chapter 3...Boing! Boing! Boing! Boing! The bolts were absorbed by a dark grey shield that covered the four mares before breaking like a piece of glass before dissipating into thin air. I walked away as the four just stood in the alleyway, all of whom, except for Dash but not without lack of trying, were shaking at the near miss. I turned and started to walk away before muttering, “I have already forgotten why I’m back here. I say you should as well.” I teleported away and reappeared in the Cafeteria. I found that Lyra and Octavia have returned and were trying to cheer up a depressed Ditzy who was trying to hold back tears. “Hey, I’m back and no one got hurt,” I said with a smile, trying to diffuse the tension. Ditzy’s ears perked up at my voice and turned to look at me. She stood up and when I held my arms out, she slapped me so hard I stumbled back and was forced to turn my head to look at everyone, everypony, else who were staring back to see what that loud noise was. I felt arms wrap around my torso and the life being squeezed out of me. “Let me rephrase that,” I say with a sad smile. “No one got hurt but you Ditzy. I’m sorry I ditched you to deal with the others but none of them got hurt and I didn’t get hurt by them.” Ditzy loosened her grip and Lyra came to share a hug.I must have really worried them cuz Lyra rarely gives me a hug except on a holiday or for her or my birthday. I was really thrown off when Octavia stood up, walked over, and placed a hand on my shoulder. I lessen my smile as something tickles the back of my mind.Why?... “Night?” Octavia said from her seat, lifting an eyebrow at me. “Why are you just standing there? Say something.” I blink and realize a lot of people are still staring and my cheek is really tingly. I look over at Octavia and see Ditzy pulling her hand back before giving me a rather scary stare.I hope she doesn't have, the stare!I think as she draws closer to me, her cross eyed glare easily tearing into me like a napkin. I gulp and remain quiet. “Why would you leave me here alone while you went to get beat up by a few mares?!” she screamed as she got near my face. “...” “Well!” “sorry.” “What? “Sorry Ditzy okay! I just wanted to get this over with and I don’t need you thinking any less of me than you probably already do. So there, I’m sorry.” I clear my throat and try to smile again. This time, Ditzy just collapses into my arms and lightly beats my chest. I stare at Lyra and she’s just blushing and starting to giggle. Octavia just clears her throat and pushes my bottle over to me. I pick it up with my magic and take a swig. “So, how were the muffins?” “Good,” she sniffled. She straightened herself and smoothed out her blouse and wiped her face. I muss up her hair and she lets out a giggle before playfully swatting my hand away. I finish my drink and we go about to our last class. THREE DAYS LATER I've managed to avoid any more trouble from Rainbow, Lotus, Aloe, and the other mare whose name I still don't know. I guess Rarity probably heard about what happened and told them to leave me alone, well, that or they are still afraid that I was about to actually hit them with magic bolts. Either way they left me alone and that meant I no longer needed to skulk around corners in fear of running into any of them. Right? I close my locker and am met with the blue mare's face inches from mine. "Gah! What is the matter if you mares?! You all show up inches from my face!" She shies away and flattens her ears before looking up at me with a slightly guilty look. "I-I just wanted to apologize for the last time we met. I'm Colgate, if you still wanted to know my name." I open my mouth to say something until her entire utterance clicks in my head... "Apologize? Shit, uh okay yeah I accept your apology and Colgate? Interesting name I bet you got a lot of toothpaste related jokes sent at you when you first came to Earth huh?" She nods her head, looking at me as I attempt to make small talk. She giggles and I'm almost confused until she grabs a sheet of paper from my horn and places it in my hand. "Um...Here." I look stupidly at her then the paper...For buck sakes! I thought I stopped doing that already. Well at least it wasn't anything important, just a random ass doodle I made in Calculus yesterday. I take the piece of paper and hold it up to the ceiling, looking at the hole. It was positioned where the belly button on the mare was supposed to be. "Oh that is funny." "What?" "Hm? Oh nothing, " I say before preparing to crumple up the paper just to have it snatched by magic. Colgate looks at it and is stifling a giggle of her own before looking back to me. "Who is this? Is she a real pony? If so I've never seen her around here." "Yeah she goes here, her name's Vinyl Scratch, she runs the DJing for all the College parties on and off Campus." "Oh? Does she now you draw her?" "Yeah, I would hope so, she sits down most of the time so I could when I had actual art classes in high school. She's my adopted sister, or rather I was adopted into her family since my parents were part of the fifteen percent." "Oh. Sorry to hear that." "Don't worry, its buried now and I've gotten over it..." I stop talking once I see her gaze shift from me to a space behind me. I turn and see Lyra bolting up to me with Ditzy and Octavia close behind. They were all rushing towards me and tears were on all of their faces. All I see is the random scene from the lunchroom as Ditzy and Lyra hug me, sobbing all the while as Octavia puts a hand on my shoulder. "Oh Night, I'm so sorry," Octavia says barely keeping herself from turning into a sobbing mess like the other two. I glance from the girls to Colgate and she just sneaks away, not wanting to intrude. "Hold on girls. What's wrong? Why are you crying and, Octavia, why are you sorry? I could really use an explanation here," I say as the mares' expressions turn from sad to confused, more confused than me! "Wait, you mean you don't know?" Lyra says wiping her nose on her sleeve. "But you damaged you drawing of her! How can you say you don't know!" She repeated growing into a shrill shout as she falls into me again. I look down at the ruined drawing of Vinyl and look once more to her mare-friend, Octavia. "What is going on?"
Chapter 4...In other news, Police this morning have found the body of a Unicorn mare, who has been IDed as Vinyl Scratch. She was a DJ who attended the Creative Arts College right here, in New Equestria, the town that was build and named after the ponies showed up here over six years ago.The male and female reporters both look off screen and ask someone else about what they were about to say. With a grim nod the woman picks up where the man left off.Um..Right forewarning, we are about to show some of the crime scene photographs and we advice you to cover your children's eyes before we do. I stared in shock, disbelief, and horror once the images flashed up on the screen. They showed a picture Vinyl, laying on a table in a, once dark, room. She had a rope around her neck that was attached to some contraption on the head of the table. Her hooves and arms were also bound to similar machines. One of them was used to rip her arm off, leaving blood to pool and exposed bone and ripped muscle that reminded me of something out of a movie. One of her legs were removed in the same fashion, except it was ripped off closer to the fetlock instead of the knee due to the ropes placement. I then look back to her head and I see...I see..OH BUCK!! I start to break into a fit of quiet sobs as I see that the rope around her neck was also pulled and that it had pulled her head, with some of her spine, right off. But despite all this these three pictures weren't the worst of it. No, the worst one was the picture of her slashed chest and torso. Her clothes, I realize, had been removed and that she had a Baseball bat wedged between her legs, slightly covered by her tail. Her breasts were slashed and her stomach was cut open to allow for her intestines to be pulled from her body and thrown on the floor....Please tell me that's all the pictures! PLEASE! I mentally begged, but it was unanswered, instead one more picture remained to be seen. I blood-drawn image of a..Hoof? Was on the inside of the door that seemingly went to the outside. Well folks, that truly is disturbing and my apologies to the family for what not only happened to the poor girl, but also for having to say this next bit as well. The killer is still at large and as of yet the Police can find no trace of him, or her, and no recoverable clues or evidence has been found. It would seem that the machines and the bat were devoid of prints, fibers, or any bodily fluid or DNA that pertained to anyone, or anypony, other than the victim. Now here's Greg with the weather. The guy with the remote turned the TV off and everyone in the Cafeteria was silent for a long time. I couldn't blame them. The only sound in the whole building was the rattling of trays and dishes in the dish washers in the kitchen, Octavia and my sobs, and the occasional whisper form someone trying to break the silence only to fail. LATER THAT DAY I walk out to the Cafeteria and sit down at the table. I barely notice the trail of rainbow colored mane that disappeared behind me and showed up next to me as Dash sat down on the bench. She looked like she was disturbed by something, and I bet I knew what it is to. "Hey," was all I said. "Uh... Hey yourself." She let out a nervous chuckle and turned to face me. "Hey I just wanted to apologize for the last time we-" "Shut up Dash. I told you to forget about it didn't I?" "Well yeah I guess but-" "No. We will not bring it up, I already forgot about it and will not talk about it. Especially now," I say with a deep sigh as I look at my hands, half covered by my hoodie's sleeves. "Alright then. Oh, by the way, sorry about Vinyl." Rainbow got up and walked away after that, and I just stared at my hands. I get up and walk out of the building and head towards my motorbike. It's black, with blue rims and silver accents on the sides. I don't bother with the helmet in the storage container and just rev it up and ride. I wonder when the funeral will be. I'm driving for a couple of hours before I stop at the top of a cliff with a tree and a 300 foot drop to the water below. I look at the tree and trace my fingers at the heart that was cut into the trunk with the initials V.S. and O.P. written inside of it. Another sigh is found escaping my lips as my hand turns into a fist and connects with the tree, right over the heart. I repeat this several times until I notice the bloody smear I left on the trunk, over Vinyl's initials. I look at my hand and see my knuckles bleeding, scraped up and with small bits of bark stuck in them. I look out to the lake and walk towards the edge of the cliff, where I look down to see the jagged rocks that tear the waves apart as they crash and recede from the rock face. My ears twitch, what was that? It sounded like a- "Night!!!" a familiar voice cried out. I turn to see Ditzy flying up to me with Lyra and Octavia running out of a nice looking Nissan GTR R35, silver paint job. I walked away from the edge before the force of Ditzy's impact sends us over. "We thought you'd come out here after we saw you leave on your bike." "Why are you out here?" Octavia asked before looking at Lyra, who was staring at me and the tree. "Lyra what is it?" Octavia asked, her voice slowing to a near silent end as she saw my hands and the blood on the tree. "Night!" Oh good, now I get a lecture. "Yeah Octi?" "What do think you're doing?" "Trying to take out my frustration about losing another member of what I consider a family, that's what." "So you leave blood on their name engraving?! That's pretty messed up don't you think?" "No, I don't, I really can't consider that messed up after seeing the pictures of her they Aired on state-wide TV!" I'm starting to hyperventilate as I am being overwhelmed by the emotions of loss, anguish, hatred, frustration, and a small sense of abandonment. Vinyl was the one who begged her parents to basically adopt me after all. She was my linchpin, my buddy through our time in school while living in Equestria, and a sister after coming to Earth. Losing her, was like losing a piece of myself, and I know that last feeling must be present for Octavia as well. Ditzy looks up at me and helps me to the ground as I start shaking. She looks over at Lyra who looks horrified by the scene taking place. Hell, I would probably have the same look if I was looking at my state from her perspective. I started hiccuping from how hard my sobs were attacking me. I felt another presence next to me and Ditzy, I looked up to see Octavia, probably in about the same state I'm in, get on the ground and wrap her arms around me. Lyra and Ditzy look at us and decide to head back to Octavia's car.
Chapter 5Falling, that's what I'm doing right now. Falling farther, and farther, and *farther into the depths of the sky as I fall from the cliff, my horn snapped in half so that I can't use a teleportation spell. Normally people would be freaking out, especially if they saw all those jagged rocks at the bottom of the fall separating me from the water just underneath the rocks. I, however, was just giving my rocky killer a sad smile. I give a choked laugh and look up at the top of the cliff. A stranger in all black whose features are unrecognizable to my eyes is looking down at me with a wide smile. I also see several lengths of rope falling behind me. I watch them curiously before finding that they're attached to my neck and limbs. I still don't panic, I actually laugh and look at the ever closer rocks that will no longer get to impale me upon their heads. I get to die a more brutal death, a more impressive one. I get to die from being pulled apart.* BUZZZZZBUZZZZZBUZZZZZ I jump from my bed and collapse on the floor of my little one bedroom apartment and am properly woken up the rest of the way once my alarm clock buzzed its way off the nightstand and onto my head. "Ouch!" I pick the stupid thing up, turn it off, and throw it into a nearby hamper. I then stand up and stretch my arms as I yawn before heading to the bathroom. The bathroom light turns on upon my entry and I turn on the shower while I deal with some other things before getting in. -----???----- I hear the shower turn on after watching Night grumble his way into the bathroom. What I didn't expect was him to be exiting the bathroom right afterwards. I activate an invisibility spell and stand off to the side as he fumbles around the room grabbing various bits of trash and other miscellaneous objects before throwing the trash in the can and placing the other things onto various shelves and cabinets before returning to the bathroom...That was close. ----- Night Darkshroud----- I had just finished putting away some of my various artifacts that had belonged to my parents and had also thrown out the remaining trash from my dinner last night after getting home from my little trip to the lake. I had just pulled the curtain closed and just stood there letting the burning water scorch my skin beneath my fur for a minute before finally turning it down to a more skin friendly temperature. "And now comes the part where I sit and think about life, death, Vinyl, and well all of that other bullshit like on these human TV shows," I say to myself as I spin in slow circles, levitating the shampoo as I did so. "Also there is the matter of my bizarre dream and why I fell out of bed like it was a nightmare, which it was...I guess. But then why did I feel so good during the dream then? So many questions and I already know my mind isn't going to have an answer..." Riinng! Riinng! And there's the doorbell. I wonder who's here? I step out of the shower and grab a towel to quickly dry off before pulling on a pair of boxers and pants. The doorbell sounds again, followed by knocking on the door. "Just a minute, be right there!" I walk over to the door and peek through the peephole. Something must be blocking it cuz I can't see out into the hallway. I slowly unlock the door and open it a crack... "Hello?" I ask once I didn't see anyone. It was still before dawn and this was a little creepy. "Oh!" I hear as Aloe steps from behind the door, her finger over the peephole. "Sorry about that but I wanted to make sure you answered the door instead of ignoring me." "Come in," I say as I walk towards my chair. I hear the door close and the sound of hooves on the wood floor. A moment later Aloe's sitting on the couch opposite of my chair. I take a deep breath as she nervously glances around my apartment. "Want anything?" "Huh-what?" she asks momentarily surprised by the question and its effect on breaking the silence. "Drink? Want anything?" "Oh sure thank you," she says looking down at the coffee table in-between us. I stand up and head off towards the kitchen to grab a can of Ginger Ale and a glass. I fill the glass with water before returning to see her wandering around the living and dining room area, looking at the various artifacts and random knickknacks on the shelves and in the display cases. I clear my throat and she jumps. "I swear I didn't touch anything!" "I know, if you did you would have been teleported outside near the trash if you did without my permission. Useful enchantment to have." I walk over to her and stare at the mask that was once worn by my father. He always said it would keep him protected from calamity. It obviously didn't work in the end though clearly. "Which one do you want?" I ask bringing the two drinks into view. She looks at them and hesitates, probably wanting the Ginger Ale but not wanting to seem rude by giving me, her host, the plain water. So I give her a hand, I pull the water slightly closer to me. She then slowly grabs the pop and I return to my chair, slowly sipping the water. "Thank you Night." "No problem, now was there something you needed?" "Oh um..." she trailed off, taking a glance at me before turning away. What? I think before looking down and realizing I'm half naked...Right. I mentally deadpanned. "Sit." I said before walking off to my bedroom. I fumble around before finding a white, long-sleeved button-down and threw it on; only bothering with the center two buttons before walking back out into the other room. I see Aloe sitting on the couch again, sipping her drink. I notice she keeps eyeing the artifacts and the door. So, where were we then? Oh yes, you were about to tell me what you needed from me." "I just wanted to say sorry about Vinyl and about pinning you for Lotus before the fight, if you could even call it that," Aloe mumbled at the end there. "Thank you for your condolences. As for pinning me, it was fun. I got to have fun creeping you out and I made twenty-five cents. I actually did need that since I had to buy Ditzy three muffins," I said with a light laugh, trying to diffuse any tension she might be having about our meeting. She smiles a little and looks to her drink before muttering something. Immediately after she looked at me and waited. And waited. And waited. For what, I can not be sure but patience is a virtue that she had but not as much of it as me. "And what about the fight?" "What fight?" I ask with a tone of ignorance and a look of I dare you to bring it up. She reflects on my words and must have remembered what I said that day for she answered with, "Oh, never mind I'm thinking of something else." Exactly. -----???----- This mare, Aloe, has almost sat on me twice now. I still have my spell on so that they don't see me but I can't stand this back and forth between them. She's pretty though, maybe I'll kill her. No, I got somepony else to kill first, and another after them and so on. She'll be much later, but she will be killed, trust me and mark my words she'll die. -----Night----- I hear a knock on the door again. Looking out the window from my chair I see its almost dawn. I get up and walk over to the door. The peephole was blocked, again. "Uncover the hole, or you can just stand there until you get bored. I have no where to be today," I shouted at the door. I heard hooves shuffle away from the door and I looked through the peephole again. I saw Lotus Blossom looking at the door, her mane was unkempt, like she just left her house after waking up. I wonder if she knows she came in a nighty and jacket. I opened the door a crack and looked at her. "I'm guessing you figured out that Aloe's here?" I asked as she headed closer to the door. "Huh? She's here?" Damn now I've done it probably. "Well are you going to let me in?" "I must say I think I'll let you stand out there and get gawked at for your...choice, of clothing." She looked down at herself and gasped in shock. "Let me in now Night!" she growled. I chuckle and let her into the apartment. I hear Aloe gasp and the rushing of hooves as I got knocked over. "So, what do I owe this pleasure?" I grunt as I get off the floor. "I came here to see if you knew where Aloe was or if you could help me find her, but I found her so I guess I can go," she said, grabbing Aloe's wrist and about to open the door. "Wait!" Aloe cried out as she pulled free of Lotus's grip. "We can't leave with you like that! I'm amazed you didn't get taken on the way here since you're alone." Aloe looks at me with a pleading look on her face. "Can you help us somehow?" "As much as I really don't want to leave my apartment today I can't just let you two leave in good conscience, so I'll take you two home," I say with a sigh as I grab a jacket from the hook and throw it on. I grab my apartment keys and herd them out the door before locking it. "Um, one aren't you forgetting your keys to your vehicle? And two, isn't the only vehicle you own a motorcycle? I know we're thin and all but not that thin," Lotus barked in frustration at this turn of events. It was obvious she still held a certain disdain for me unlike Aloe, who was trying to make amends. I was in the same boat as her when it came to the turn of events but I really didn't care if she, or the other two for that matter, tried to apologize or not. I don't think this to come off as unforgiving, I just really don't give a buck about it. it's ancient history, especially with the funeral coming up and I still need to figure out where its being held so I can sneak Octavia in. I smirk at Lotus and my horn lights up, enveloping her and Aloe in my dark grey magic. In a quick flash and a light pop we were all out near the college, half a mile away from my place and a mile from theirs. I took a breath and did it twice more before we, literally, hit the front of their house. I wonder why neither of them drove to my place, I thought as I saw their two small cars in the driveway. Both were the colors of the mare they belonged to...or vice-versa. While they rubbed their heads I quickly teleported away before they could ask anything else.
