The only way to see inside is a window; a tiny window with frosted glass that sparkles, blinding anyone that dares to take a glimpse inside. An ever-bound door is in the exact center at the front – it can never be unlocked, not even for the closest of friends. It is the sole entry, the lone exit.
Each room is filled with a thousand spider webs, but no eight-legged creature is to be found. They glisten in the darkness, fixed tightly to the central bulb that never lights, hiding a maze of lies that cannot be escaped as they wrap around each corner of the room.
In one of the large, shadowy rooms is a television screen. It’s huge, grey, and the tingling sounds of static echo from its blank display. Edging forwards, I press down on the button softly, snatching my shaking hoof away as it recoils upwards. Flickering, the screen comes to life, casting eerie shadows across the white walls that are lined with photograph frames, some empty, some not.
Cross-legged, I sit on the dusty floorboards and wait for pictures to appear in front of me. I’m so close to the television that my eyes become blurry from each tiny pixel that makes up the images.
And so the sorrowful story begins with the glossy-eyed mare and her orderly life. Her pale face unfolds a cage of perfection, a path that never winds. No change in direction is ever taken. Each twist in the plot has the changing emotions of a piano-played song. The visual biography has the violent edge of a stormy sea mixed with the flowing tranquility of a river with no meanders.
Tears fill my tired eyes as I watch each mistake, each lie and each failure flash before me, teasing the angry sadness threatening to escape. The mare on the screen screams so loudly – the first sounds of the video and I cannot help but do the same. Strangled cries echo off each wall as the picture frames smash and the photographs fall through the cracks in the old floorboards.
I have to get away. My anxious hooves carry me away from the torture chamber, pulling me up the narrow, creaking staircase and far from the pain. Slamming behind me, a door closes, locking me into a room of nothing except a single bed, positioned in the corner. It’s the only color in the room with its red sheets and thick duvet.
However even in dreams I cannot escape the story of the glossy-eyed mare as she creeps slyly into them, forcing my imagination to think the world is collapsing around my very self. The light bulb downstairs shatters with a shiver worthy crack, taking down the spider webs with it, the lies collapsing.
My heart pounds violently as I wake and run back down to the television room, the mare still screaming on the screen of horror. Covering my ears, I see that it isn’t real. The bulb is still intact, and with it my security.
A sigh of relief escapes my cold lips as I collapse to the floor in my reprieve. My cage is still safe, still kindly unbroken. Even the terrifying screams are blocked by my skilled ears so that I cannot hear them – I’ve abandoned them. Eventually, I tune them out so powerfully that the television turns itself off, replacing the picture with a blank, colorless screen.
Each photograph is restored to its original place as they rise slowly through the cracks as I put the pieces back together. The faces in them put a faint smile on my face which is taken away quickly by the memories that swirl around my fragile mind.
Light glimmers from the central bulb before returning the room to its usual darkness. Its refusal to brighten darkens my emotions once more as I find myself climbing the stairs, each one a hurdle to overcome before I can reach my destination.
The red sheets beckon my presence as I get closer and closer, avoiding the obstacles that lie in my path, not wanting to attack any of them head on. Sitting on the lumpy mattress, my breathing steadies.
“This is my mind,” I whisper, filling the silence with the hoarse sound of my voice. “This is my house. I decide what happens. So why trap me in such a woeful paradise?” The screaming mare answers my frantic words as her heart-wrenching tone reaches every single room.
She is me, I am her. We are one.
Author's Note
Just a little something I threw together in my head while making dinner. It probably sucks, but let me know what you think anyway.
Spike opened the door of the library to see Fluttershy standing on the doorstep clutching a package in her teeth. He asks, "Fluttershy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
Setting the package down, she replies pleadingly, "I'm sorry I woke you, Spike, but I need your help. Please, just send this package to the Princess for me."
Spike was about to ask why this couldn't wait until morning, but something in Fluttershy's eyes tells him not to. Instead, he just nods and picks up the package which he can't help but notice has the words, "For Princess Luna's eyes only." written upon it.
"Thank you," Fluttershy says before turning away.
Bewildered, Spike shuts the door and sends the package away with a breath of green flames. Still wondering what could be in that package that was so important, Spike goes back up to his bed.
In Canterlot
Princess Celestia was about to go to bed herself when a package materialized in midair, surrounded by the tell-tale greenish grey mist of Spike's mail flame. Curious she picks it up in her telekinesis and reads the words written on the outside. "For Princess Luna's eyes only." Wondering what the package could possibly contain, she opens the door to her bedchamber, and gives the package to a guard, saying, "Deliver this to my sister."
The guard salutes and gallops off to deliver the package. A few minutes later he arrives at Princess Luna's chambers, where he is admitted after a moment of explaining the situation to her lunar guards. Princess Luna turns around as he enters and asks, "What is it that thou wants at this hour?"
"This package just arrived for you, Your Highness," the guard states.
Taking the package in her magic, Luna nods, "Dismissed."
With a quick bow, the guard leaves to return to guarding Princess Celestia's chambers.
Once she could be sure that she was alone, Luna opened the package. On top was a short letter which read:
Luna,
I'm sorry.
Fluttershy
Underneath this were ten pages each with a different poem written on them. Intrigued, Luna began to read.
Piece of Me
I love the way the letters form on a blank page,
Where a simple pen takes away my rage,
Expressing innermost thoughts and hidden fears,
Ink smudging in the marks of my drying tears.
When read aloud sweet words are spoken,
An undiscovered character has been awoken.
Exploring the darkness of an innocent mind,
Emptying the pain to leave it behind.
It is the light of my melting candle,
The satisfying click of a turning door handle
Opening my soul to a new direction
And saving my mistakes from unwanted correction.
Helping the puzzled to understand
That it's impossible for emotion to be planned,
Because as each word forms it's a piece of me,
A unique section of my ponyality.
Escaping the Cage
I always want perfection.
Nothing I ever do is good enough.
Always following the same process,
Even if it’s tough.
Scared of blunt rejection.
A plan is set out for me,
Never straying from the road,
Got to remain on the track,
Taking on every load,
Never getting to be me.
Confidence hiding within,
Always acting in situations
Scared to mess everything up
Pretending brings complications,
Not happy without a win.
Afraid to step out of the cage
That is safe to stay inside,
Never taking any risks,
Nothing new ever tried
Bringing me disadvantage.
Break out of the repetition,
Learn to live with freedom,
Discover the things that I am missing,
Stop running from frustration
Embrace the imperfection.
Past Mistakes
It’s funny how things change,
With time.
How one short year is so long,
In a life.
Values stay the same,
Yet different are thoughts,
Opinions are altered
And redemption is sought.
How a secret is different when
Read twice.
When the second time around is like
Rolling dice.
Get a six, move forwards,
Get a one – not much fun.
Biting my lip I see that
Things shouldn’t have been done.
Thinking back on how I was,
How naïve.
How I didn’t think it through and just
Chose to leave.
How hatred affects judgment
And flattery brings haste,
I know of these setbacks and
How decisions go to waste.
It’s part of growing up, seeing the past,
And wondering how happiness can ever last,
When mistakes are just around the corner again,
And you’ll have to remember them even after the pain.
Gossip
Did you think before you said that?
Told a lie to make ponies laugh.
How do you think she feels?
‘Cause it’s not true, it’s not real.
Did you think before you wrote that?
Sold it to see how ponies would react.
Why do you think she’s crying?
All because you’re the one that’s lying.
Because of you her heart is breaking,
Because of you her joy is for taking.
You took a candle and made a fire,
Thought it’d fuel ponies’ desires.
So ponies may have gossip and lies
But you also put tears in that mare’s eyes.
Did she deserve it? Just for some fun?
Her perfect relationship has twisted undone.
Ponies believe anything they want to hear,
A bit of a story to which they can leer.
But how much of it is actually true?
My guess is not much, this news isn’t new.
This Mare
This mare who acts like she owns the world,
Perfect on the outside, hair all curled.
She’s driving the wheel but none of its real
- inside she’s young and hurt.
This mare who acts like she owns the place,
With a bright smile on her pretty face.
She takes the lead but it’s not what you need
- she’ll leave you without a trace.
What is this supposed to be,
When you’re in love with someone who isn’t me?
What am I supposed to do,
When you’ve fallen for a me who isn’t true?
Did I lead you on? Did I let you fall?
I’m sorry that you’ve not met me at all.
If you knew the real me,
You wouldn’t be thinking those three words.
This mare who plays childish games,
Without looking back or being ashamed
She’ll hurt you and fight through day and night
- she’ll only cause you pain.
This mare full of confidence showing no fear,
Will tell you what you want to hear.
She’ll flirt and play along, even if it’s wrong
- she’ll destroy you, my dear
What is this supposed to be,
When you’re in love with someone who isn’t me?
What am I supposed to do,
When you’ve fallen for a me who isn’t true?
Did I lead you on? Did I let you fall?
I’m sorry that you’ve not met me at all.
If you knew the real me,
You wouldn’t be thinking those three words.
To you I am incredible,
Maybe you’re not all that wrong,
But what’s real isn’t exactly what you feel.
What is this supposed to be,
When you’re in love with someone who isn’t me?
What am I supposed to do,
When you’ve fallen for a me who isn’t true?
Did I lead you on? Did I let you fall?
I’m sorry that you’ve not met me at all.
If you knew the real me,
you wouldn’t be thinking those three words.
Interruptions
The scraping of the chairs
And clashing of cutlery
Against plates sends
Shivers down my spine as
It interrupts my thoughts
Disrupting the silence I'd
Created for myself so the
Rush of chattering friends
And rattling packets
Fills my ears and reminds
Me that I'm alone.
Moving Forward
The spluttering sound of music
From a radio
Fills my ears.
The harsh black rims of glasses
Cover my eyes and
Hide my tears.
The false sound of laughter
Escapes my lips for
It’s what everypony hears.
The expression of determination
Remains pasted on my face
For it hides my fears.
So I block out the disrupting noise
So it is only me, waiting.
The way forward clears.
I Don’t Need to Think
Where the sound of screams makes me happy
And the tears wash my frustrations away
I don't need to think twice
About being lost in this crazy paradise.
Where the music plays in my ears so loud
And the magic lies in silent thoughts
I don't need to think again
About dancing wildly in the pouring rain.
Where the poisonous outlook invades my mind
And venom trickles in my tainted blood
I don't need to think more
About how this insanity is what I live for.
Where my secrets are taken to the grave
And my soul is not the one that you save
I don't need to think at all
Because life will catch me when I fall.
Disguised
The world is full of disguise,
The looks behind which ponies hide,
Where is the truth underneath the lies?
Originality we are denied.
Can you honestly say
That you are yourself every day?
We are the ones that are led astray
The pony we are we always betray.
We are full of our petty tales,
Exaggerations and wrong details,
Reality hidden under tangled veils,
We can try but the lie prevails.
Life is about what we make
Of ourselves, for our sake.
If we were truly awake,
We would see that all is fake.
In masks of crowds we hid,
Our darkened souls closed the lid
On anything true, we must forbid
Ourselves to reveal what we once did.
We were handed a strange deal,
To live in a life where we feel
That we have to change to be ideal,
Whatever happened to being real?
Bitter Perfect
We finally got our picture,
Just the two of us tonight.
Then you chose this time,
To break my stupid heart,
But I’m not gonna fall apart
On this bitter perfect night.
Don’t expect me to come running back,
‘Cause I’m through with all the lies,
It was your idea for me to come,
Yet you pretend I don’t exist
And I’m left alone
On this bitter perfect night.
Never felt your leg around me,
Never told me I looked even pretty,
Never acting as friends should be
No compliments ever in sight.
Not letting me have my last dance
On this bitter perfect night.
Now I’m too busy dancing
To care if you’re watching,
You’ve had your chance now,
I’m not going to keep trying,
I’ll dance away my regrets
On this bitter perfect night.
Now the night is over,
I can’t help but cry,
Tears spill down my cheeks
You don’t even realize,
That you were the one that ruined
This bitter perfect night.
Setting down the last page, a single tear rolled down the Princess of the Night's cheek.
Author's Note
These were originally meant to be two separate stories, but the first chapter wasn't long enough. So, I combined them. Tell me if there are any errors.
