Tainted Love

Thunder roared as rain pelted down onto the earth, hammering itself into puddles outside of the small cottage. Night cast itself through the window, covering the open living room in a blanket of darkness.

The thumping of the rain was only overshadowed by the loud cracks of thunder, but the white pony couldn’t hear any of it. Bright light blinked in for only a moment, exposing the empty bottle in her hoof. With her eyes closed, she laid stretched out along the room’s couch, drool hanging from the edge of her lip as she snored.

Her ears subconsciously twitched as a fresh sound of hooves entered them. They splashed in the water outside as they were brought down with a stomp. They creeped up to the door, before halting.

A streak of lightning flooded the room once again, followed almost instantly by a punch of thunder.

The doorknob turned slowly, and the rain found it’s way into the building through the open crack. The sleeping pony, though, did not falter. She simply laid still within her own mind… dreaming blissfully.

Slow creaking soon filled the room as the door was closed carefully. The pony’s eyes darted around nervously, hoping she’d not been heard.

Lighting lit up her face, revealing a large bruised cut along her cheek, a messed mane, and a drenched grey jacket.

She used her hind leg to ease the door shut right before the crack of thunder could be heard clearly. Once closed, she began to walk. The floorboards squeaked when her hoof contacted them, causing the pony to winse. But her ears soon picked up the familiar sound of snoring.

Glancing at the source, she could see nothing but darkness. Even though she knew the room well, she couldn’t see it, no matter how hard she tried.

Light burst through the window, giving the pony a clear view of the shattered glass strewn along the floor. Before it went black once again, she took note of the extra bottles, and the pony who left them.

Thunder rang in her ears as she clenched her teeth together. Her home had been ruined. Never before had she wished harder for her past self to die. But the devil she let inside was in her house, her house, and she couldn’t stand it for one more day…

She took a step into the abyss of darkness, towards the sleeping beast. Her mind begged for another flash to light up the room as she took another step.

The more she thought, the more the pain of her cheek flared, as well as the purple mark on her side. All those years of not fighting back only brang pain… She never thought of what it was like to deal it, not receive.

Another flash of light lit up the room, and the pony saw a clear path to her target. Like a golden road to her destination, it was clear from all broken lamps and bottles. Thinking had it’s advantages, but it was time for her to act.

Suddenly the thunder came about, but she was already walking. The sound of the thunder lasted longer than normal, letting her mask creaking of the wood below her.

She stopped as the thunder died down. The knowledge of being so close to the pony was eating her alive. She felt her face turn red as she grinded her teeth.

The devil as was only a few steps away, and the very thought of freedom was getting to point of insanity. She connected the desire to her music which was played in the time of rising freedom. The time when ponies had to put down what they believed in to fight for the greater good.

Nightmare Moon may have had to destroy many lives before she was finally stopped, but the devil in front of her only ruined one. And that was one too many…

Light poured through the window, letting her see the sleeping monster. Drool leaked down the edge of her mouth onto the cushion of the couch, where it then dripped onto the hardwood floor. Her head laid on a pillow, but another was sloppily placed on her stomach.

Soft creaking chimed as the observer put pressure on her hoof, eager to hear the masking sound of thunder for the final time.

The punch of thunder filled the room, as did the sound of hoofs. Soon... it all went silent.

She could hear her breathing… All she could feel was hate… Hate for the devil, hate for the drunk, and hate for the abuse. ‘What was one more sin on the list of pain?’ She thought.

The image of the second pillow burned in her mind, like the need for a bow to play a cello. It’s almost like she could see it in the pitch of black.

As she reached out for it, she could feel her hoof shake. A bead of sweat formed on her forehead as she got closer to it. The sweat rolled down her face, stinging her open cut, but she hardly felt it. With revenge and freedom so close, she felt almost numb.

Light bashed its way into the room. She saw the pillow, her hoof was almost touching it. Reaching further out, she could feel it’s soft fur. Her expression hardened as light was deprived from the room.

She knew it was coming… In time it would be there… Just like the tainted love she brought herself into, it was only a matter of time before somepony got hurt…

A boom cried out as she screamed with anger. Bringing the pillow up above her, she forced it down upon the devil’s face with all her might.

The beast’s bottle flung out of her hoof as she awoke. Her forelegs quickly flailed in surprise, and her hind legs kicked. Surprise turned into fear in almost a heartbeat. She gasped for air, but the pillow wouldn’t allow a single breath to enter her lungs.

She tried to get away from the couch, but soon felt the weight of another pushing her back down. Muffled screams filled the room, mix with the grunts of anger. She swung her hooves at the attacker, only to realize how weak she was…

Soon the muffled screams faded away, and the hooves that once tried to stop the attacker hung limply off the couch. But the pillow didn’t relent it’s attack, still pressed hard against her face. The pillow pressed even harder, but drops of tears began to rain from above.

Light flashed again.

The devil was gone…

Thunder.

She slid off her victim, landing on the hard floor. Tears streaming down her face.

I’m free...

The corners of her mouth slowly slid upwards, forming a deadly smile.

“No more hate,” she quietly chuckled. “No more…”

Octavia was free.