Hoof-Bred Killer

Falling, 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.