Chapter One: The Invitation
Chapter One: The Invitation
Chapter One
A cold night was the only thing that welcome Night Cloud after a long day's work in delivering mail. The young pegasus was soaring through the sky, wings flapping from time to time as he felt the cool breeze brush up against him, the moon's light illuminating the night as stars dotting the sky with silver to white lights. He couldn't help but always welcome peacefulness that welcomes him every night after his shift was over, the wind passing in between his feathers.
Night Cloud was a young stallion pegasus with a navy blue colored coat, his mane and tail a Palatinate purple color with a black streak running down the middle. His tail was nothing special, medium length and wavy as his mane was slicked back in a style the complemented his moderate looks. The mark on each side of his plot consisted of a black cloud with a envelope on top of said cloud, giving away to anyone what his special talent could possible be.
The trip from Cloudsdale to Canterlot was good thirty minute flight as the city finally came into view. It didn't take him long to fly straight into the royal city since there was hardly anyone out this late, the place was empty. Landing in a clear spot near his small house, a smiled crept across his for he was finally home. His wings ached from all that flying today and the thought relaxing was ever more enticing. But when he approached the foot of his door, a strange red letter with his name on it was laying on the ground, did somepony drop this off earlier today? He couldn't understand why since he worked for the mailing industry but he didn't pry too much into it, he just wished they used his mail box instead of throwing it on the ground.
Night Cloud with his front hoof reached back into his saddlebag to find his keys to the front door but at the same time still wonder what was inside this suspicious letter. Finally he was able to pull out his keys, unlocking his front door as the fresh smell of his scented house wafted right into his nostrils, all the stress simply vanishing as he relaxed his body as he took off his saddelbag and hung it on a coat hanger near the door.
"Home sweet home again. now for that letter to read." He said as he turn back around, picking up the strange envelope of the ground and closing his door shut.
A simple flick of a switch turn the lights on within his living room, a simple medium sized room with only a three seat sofa, a squared table in front of the sofa, some pictures of his family hanging on the wall and a chest of all his old stuff from the past sitting in a corner. Night Cloud simply ripped the top of the letter off with his teeth and inside was something he could of ever have expected. Decelerate professionally, it was an invitation that gave the young pegasus a huge grin on his face
"Dear Mr Night Cloud.
I would like to cordially invite you to participate and stay for a week in Cosmos Fall's five star hotel within Manehatten. Every year we invite some of the greatest of minds, thinkers, inventors and workers to our hotel for a Grand Event to celebrate, Their will be fine dinning, some of the worlds greatest alcohol and a grand ball for you to dance. Everything here will be free of charge, so please, come and enjoy your stay at out hotel. We'll be waiting.
Sincerely: The Host
A week free of charge to stay at five star hotel in Manehatten sounded too good to be true and he hardly herd of Cosmos Fall. From what he knows from delivering mail in Manehatten, the residence hardly knew much about Cosmos Falls other than it being a hotel. Suspicious as he was, he couldn't help but give in to their free food, lodging and drinks, thinking that taking a week off from work wouldn't hurt for him.
The letter mention that the event starts tomorrow night as his mind was already made up. He'll call first thing in the mourning and tell his boss that he'll take his vacation for the week. For now, sleep was the only thing he could think of and it was rather late as it is. Night left the the invitation back on the table as he shut off the lights, making his way upstairs to his bedroom and straight to his bed. The young stallion simple sighed in relief when his head came into contact with his pillow, slowly drifted off to his dreams, hoping that Luna's blessing would sway any nightmares that would haunt him. Little did he know that all wishes don't always come true.
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Everything was dark, blood smeared on the wall, skeletons and body parts littered the ground, mutilated and massacred. Night asked himself of where he was at, what had happen to him, how could this happen to so many people? The smell of rotting flesh welcome his nostrils as fear grip his every being. Screams could be herd father down the long hallway and a screeching noise could be felt at the back of his mind. Night Cloud just sat on the ground, petrified with fear and confusion at the scenery that transpired in front of him, he had never been so scared before until now.
Th sound of loud banging could be herd behind a lock door, a feral and monstrous noise could be herd behind the door, Night turning his head quickly as his eyes bugged out at the noise. This gave him the motivation to get up and run as fast as possible and away from the horrible growling. He didn't care what was behind him, Night kept on running for dear life as the noises was getting closer and closer with every second! The sound of his was heart beating faster, and faster, adrenaline pumping through his veins! until suddenly all his hopes vanished when he tripped over on a loose board in the wooden and broken floor. Whatever was chasing him immediately toppled right on top of him as he got a good lock of what it was, horrified at what he saw.
The body was that of a pony but it's eyes, nostrils and mouth had a insidious glow of red, black smoke flare out of it's mouth. It's breath was that of pure death and his heart was beating faster than ever. it's skin was completely torn off, only showing torn tissue and exposed muscles and what hair he had left was pitch black, greasy and stuck together like glue
He was going to die. The being just stared down at him, growling like a feral beast from the Everfree wood. He truly felt the oncoming death was just at the foot of his door. Then, it happen. The beast, with a quick thrust with his head, tore right through Cloud's chest with his teeth! Blood and flesh flew around like a fountain as the Pegasus Screamed out in agony! The beast not letting up as it tore deeper and deeper within his body!
"GAAAAAAAH! MAKE IT STOP! SOMEPONY HELP ME! AUGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
And in a flash Night woke from his bloody nightmare, sweat dripping off from his body as frantic pants and hard breath, eyes bugged out. It was all a dream, a nightmare that he had as he was still shaken up from within.
"Dear Celestia... W-what was that? I felt like I was going to die just then." He said though heavy breathing. it took him awhile for him to calm down and the sweat to subside.
He didn't know what to make out on what transpired within his dreams. The atmosphere, the running, that monster's breath on his face, the agonizing pain that came after, it felt too real. Night set both his hooves on his face, covering his eyes as to get a grip of reality. Sweet Luna, that abomination was the most hideous thing he had ever seen, fear couldn't even described what it was.
For now, he'll have to calm down first before he could start the day, and already he felt like he should just stay in bed and forget what'll happen. But soon. very soon he'll know the true meaning of insanity.
