My life with death.

Chapter Two: An accident.

“These are your messes! And I’m just cleaning them up!? Is that all I am to you!? You just needed me for your mistakes? You just needed a little obedient maid?. . . . “

I shot up out of bed. My eyes wide, and panting hard. A cold sweat has covered me in my panic. I bring my hooves up, resting my head against them, trying to ease the pain. “Why?” I speak out. Getting up out of the bed, I walk up to the room window, looking out onto the small village. One that’s very reminiscent of my home town. The moon is also visible in this night time sky. Big, bright, and round. Looming above this village.  “Why must you still torture me?” I ask out, as I turn to look back into the empty room that surrounds me.

“Even though I’m so far from home and from you.  Why do you still haunt me! Why can’t you just leave it be!” I start to shout at the nothingness. I fall down, collapsing onto the ground. “Why.” I start to sob gently. I hear a couple solid thuds from the room above me.

“Hey! Some ponies are trying to sleep. Keep it down!” I hear the muffled shouts. I just lay on the ground, softly sobbing in the moonlit room.

“Please. . Why can’t you just tell me?” I continue to sob gently, the darkness closing and suffocating around me. I hear the door open, and light from the hallway pours in and shatters the self induced nightmare.  I couldn't care less at the moment who it was, and just stay there on the ground, curled up with my woe.

“Revvy? What’s wrong? I heard you yell. . Why are you crying?” I hear the familiar voice speak out. I look up, my eyes bloodshot from my crying.

“It’s nothing Roxy. It’s just. . . “ I trail off as I stare back out of the window. “That nightmare, again.” Roxy. The same pink prissy filly that I met at school so many years ago, but not the same as before.  I met her the same day I discovered my talent. Safe to say we didn’t start off on a good note after she thought I called her a colt.  But we got past that.

She had a long, neat and prim two tone mane, and long flowing tail. I had both of mine messily cut short. She had rich parents, and a big mansion. My family wasn't poor, but my father always believed in the importance of equality, so he was never a heavy spender. When I lived with him it was in a nice house towards the edge of town. Thinking back on these thoughts it brought up issues that I hadn't resolved from my past with her.  It was in middle school when everything changed.

“Hey Roxy?” I ask her as I stand up from the bedroom floor. “Do you remember why we became friends?” She gives me a confused look.

“Um. Yeah. Middle school. We shared a home room class with Mr. Stern. . . Right?” I smile and nod slowly.

“Yeah. That's right. But, do you remember how exactly we became friends?” She shakes her head gently, creases forming on her forehead while the corners of her mouth turn down a little as she reaches for the memory.

“No. . Now that I think about it, I don’t really. It just kind of happened, right?” I shake my head slowly.

“I wish it had just happened. You don’t remember. That’s pretty normal for people around me. Most choose to not remember, though I don’t think you had ever gotten that choice. . . “ I pause for a moment and walk back to my bed. “Here, come sit. I have a story to tell you.” She keeps her confused gaze on me as she walks over, gently sitting on the edge of the bed, right next to me.

“It was in middle school.  I had gotten lost in our school when. . . . “

Years ago.

  Finally. I found my classroom. With a small smile, I push the door open, and step inside. No teacher, weird.  But, there is a pink mare in here. Her mane cut really short, shorter than even mine. A very. . . Punkish look, if you ask me. “Hey there.” I call over to her, waving. She gives me a look of complete disinterest.

  I stay quiet for a second as I walk to a desk. A desk that’s a length’s away from her. “Well. . Umm. I’m Rev-” She holds up her hoof, making me go quite.

  “Listen. If I don’t ask, you don’t tell. Ok?” He voice sounds rough, as if she had spent a long time screaming. I give a small nod to her. “Good. Now, please just shut up. I was trying to nap before anyone got here and I don’t want you ruining that.” She lays her head against the desk again.

Present

  “I had no idea that you were the same filly that just before summer break that year had a long mane, and liked wearing dresses. Come to find out that you had cut your own mane and started making rock music.” She laughs slightly, her hoof reaching up to mess with her long mane.

   “Yeah. Personally, I like this look better. Was I really that much of a bitch?” I give a small nod, sticking out my tongue.

“Kinda yeah. But there’s a big reason why you stopped acting like that. The reason we became friends. Roxy. . Promise me that you won’t hate me for this. . I’m sorry I've kept this hidden for so long. . “ She wraps her hooves around me, holding me in a gentle, friendly hug.

“I could never hate you. I know how you are, and how you can be. If you had to erase a part of my memory, you must of had a good reason. You don’t need to tell me, if you don't want to.” I shake my head, and pull out of the hug.

“No. I have to tell you. Not for your sake, but for mine.  I have to get it off my chest so, please just listen and try not to hate me.” I take a deep calming breath, and continue with my story. “I don’t know why, but I kept trying, and trying to become friends with you. Yet every attempt I made, just led to you shooting me down.”

Years ago.

  “Why? Why do you keep trying. Do you really think a freak like you could just hop in, and try to be normal? It’s impossible. Why do you even try?” She snaps at me, with a sneer on her face. It had been a week since I first tried talking to her in the class room. I had been walking alone, when I heard sobbing coming from the back of the library.

When I got back there, I found Roxy. She was definitely crying. But when she heard me approach, she took one final sniff and hid her tears. I had tried to comfort her, ask her what’s wrong. But she just snapped at me, and lashed out.

   “Please, Roxy. I’m only trying to help. I’m not trying to fit in. I’m not trying to pretend to be normal. I’m just trying to help those who need it.” She brings her hoof up, and smacks me.  I suck in a breath of air out of shock.  I hadn't expected her to get violent.

  “Well who said I need your help?! You’re just a freak who claims she can see dead ponies. . . . “ I watched as a malicious grin grew on her face, unnerved by her sudden shift. “Fine. You want to be friends, we can. Only if you prove to me and the others that you can really see the dead. Come to my house tonight. I'm having a party then and you're talent can be the main attraction.”

I should just walk away. I should turn down her offer. The way she’s looking at me worries me. I was thinking hard to myself, but in the end, I just gave her a nod. “I’ll be there.” I said.

Later that night, after my dad had gone to bed, or more accurately fell asleep at his study desk.  I snuck out through my bedroom window. Thank Celestia for having a ground floor room. I pulled out of my saddle bag a small piece of paper that gave me directions to Roxy’s house. Though, I really didn’t need it. Everyone knows where she lives. It’s practically the biggest house in the whole town.

After a few minutes, I reached her front door, and knocked. “Jeez. There you are! Come on, you're missing the party.” Roxy greeted me, already acting as if we were friends. She wrapped her hoof around me, dragging me inside, and I heard the door slam closed behind me. Too late to turn back now.

“Hey, everyone. Our guest of honor is here.” There weren't many ponies there. I recognize two mares here, both of them share our home room. Not only that, those two and Roxy have some sort of band together. Aside from them, a few other ponies are spread here and there through out the first floor of the mansion, sitting around, laughing and drinking. I would say about six guests including me, with Roxy and her twin sister Swing hosting.

As I walked further inside, I immediately realized my mistake. I should have noticed something was wrong with her the moment I saw her. But now I am looking right into her eyes, and can’t do anything but swallow some air.

  Swing. . . She had died right before summer started. No one knows what happened for sure. It was labeled an accident. . .  Though there was talk that it was suicide. They say she slipped, or maybe even jumped, into the river and the current had carried her under, causing her to drown. But if it was an accident, then no one knows why she was there, or how she would’ve slipped in. There was no evidence that pointed to a clear answer.

  I stand there staring at her,  and she just stares back at me. Something feels off about her.  Her eyes seem more sunken in then the spirits that I've dealt with already, and her coat is darker than the other ghosts who look lighter by comparison. I still can’t tell what's putting me on edge though. “Yo? You there?” I hear Roxy laugh at me, as she waves her hooves in front of my face. I nod slowly, still looking straight at Swing.

“Yeah. . Sorry about that. . Just spacing off.” I hear Roxy laugh a little more.

  “Pph. Freak.” I hear her whisper, though, I’m sure she meant for me to hear it. I let out a sigh, just wanting to leave.

“How do you want me to prove it?” I state out loud.  Roxy gives me a funny look.

  “Hm? What do you mean?” I glare at her.

“You told me to come here so I can prove that I see the dead.” Every pony starts to laugh. And I feel my anger rising. “And I can prove it beca-” Roxy holds up her hoof, laughing along with the rest.

“Calm down. Jynx, grab the book.” I see the blue, spiky maned unicorn mare walk into another room. “I’m going to have Jynx cast a spell from this book my dad got a while ago. One that will supposedly call forth a spirit. Or something like that.”

“You shouldn’t meddle with these things. Trust me.” I warn her, already having dealt with a spell I didn't fully understand myself.  Roxy just laughs at my comment as she takes a big drink, straight out of one of the bottles lying about.

  “Mm. Gotta say, my parents have good taste in alcohol.” She laughs. I see Jynx walk back into the room, carrying a very old, worn looking book. One that is all too familiar to me.

  “Where did you get that book?” I ask her, and she shrugs.

  “I dunno. Ask Roxy.” She points to her, and Roxy shrugs as well. Answering before I can ask again.

“It's my fathers. I don’t know where he got it from exactly, but he always liked collecting these old things. Said he bought it off a friend who wanted to ‘make some room on those dusty shelves.’” I look at the book, seeing the silver archaic writing along it’s binding.

I think back to a few weeks ago, to what my own father had said about selling the book.  I was sitting in his study as I watched him write. I looked at his book case, and saw an empty slot. “What happened to the book that went there?” I had asked him, looking at all the other shelves of books. There’s never an empty space.

“Don’t worry Revenant.  I sold it to a friend. Just wanted to make some room on these dusty shelves for more useful books.”

It’s too much of a coincidence to be an actual coincidence.  My dad had sold Roxy’s father that book. But why? That book had been gifted to him by the Royal Canterlot Library!  It contains old, powerful magic, something no average pony without the proper knowledge should have a hold of.

“We shouldn’t do this.” I say warningly. “It’s stupid. . We should just stop.”

“So, your saying that you lied to us then? You can’t see the dead?” I hear Roxy ask mockingly.

“No I can. But.” Before I say more, Roxy just cuts me off.

“Then lets prove it.” I watch in frozen horror as Jynx opens the book. A mint blue aura surrounds her  horn. I hear her slowly recite the words of the spell.

A dark, icy cold voice spoke up from behind me, releasing a petrifyingly chilly scoff that rolled across my neck.  “You should have warned them more. Really.”  It had came from the spirit of Swing who then walked in front of me.  I was completely stunned.  I couldn’t move anything other than my eyes, my limbs refusing to budge, either out of some self induced fear or by a body binding spell.  I glance around to see everyone else in the same situation. Jynx is stuck by the book with a pained look on her face, eyes opened wide and darting around in terror.  Her horn is still glowing from the spell.

I feel the numbing coldness of Swing's hoof, as it passes through me. I collapse to the ground, released from the spell, gasping to draw in enough air. “What do you want?” I ask breathily as I attempt to stand up. Every ponies eyes are on me. “Tell me what you want Swing!” I shout at her. I watch the others eyes dart around, clearly not being able to see her.

  “You ask me what I want?  I.  Want.  Revenge.” She speaks coldly as she turns to look at the frozen Roxy. “I want revenge for the cause of my ‘accident.’” I look Roxy in the eyes and I see her panicking with the need to move.  I hear Swing hiss, as she touches Roxy. She falls to the ground, gasping. “Revenant.” She speaks out to me. “What's going on?”

“Ask her! Ask her what caused my death!” Swing shouts to me.

  “Roxy. . What caused Swing to die. Tell me the truth.” She's struggling to stand, but freezes in place.

“What makes you think I know?” she yells at me. I glare at her, and let my horn light up. My aura covers her and Swing and I watch her eyes flash silver from the spell.

  “Now tell me.” I demand, and watch as she looks at Swing.  The color drains from her pink face at the sight of her departed sister.

  “I. . I didn’t mean to. . If I didn’t then. . . Then she would’ve done the same to me.” She says slowly, looking her dead sister in the eyes. “She was going to shove me into the river.” She whispers this and I reel back in shock not expecting to hear this tale.

  I hear Swing laugh wickedly. “Ohh yes. I was going to get rid of the pest that no one wanted. The outcast of the family that always acted out, never followed rules.  Without her our family could have been perfect.”

  “Stop it! Revenant, get rid of this illusion. Please.” She pleaded, the words the apparition was saying having a negative effect on her.  I shake my head slowly and sorrowfully.

  “No.” I say in a grim tone. “That is no illusion. That is your sister. I wasn’t lying about my ability.” I need to stay calm.I need to find out how to make Swing move on. I need to find the way to make her leave for good before something dangerous happens.   I thought as Swing circles her still living twin,

“Well. The pest has gone on long enough. It’s time to finally squash the bug of the family.” I hear Swings tone grow darker. I watch as she begins to radiate with a dark aura that spreads like water from her mane until it pools at her hooves. “Hm. I think this would be fitting.” I feel my hooves grow cold.

I look to the ground to see it slowly filling with water. “You can’t do this! Look at the innocent ponies you’re going to kill!”

   “Do you think I care?” She laughs at me. “I’m doing you a favor. What have these ponies done for you? Other than torment you and cause you pain?” I sigh.

  “Nothing. They’ve done nothing for me, expect cause me pain. But, that doesn't mean they should die.  They still have a chance at life. You lost your chance when you tried to take your sisters life, and you got what was coming to you. Taking others lives just for revenge won’t help.” I speak slowly, working my way closer to Swing. Well, really, I’m working my way to the book. If I can get it away from Jynx, that should stop the spell, and stop feeding Swing with energy.

“Fine. You can just die with them then.” I see her dark aura lash out towards me in a concentrated whip. I glare and dive forward towards the book. I feel the heat of stinging pain shoot through my side as one of her dark tendrils passes through my flank with an almost physical feel.  I let out a loud yelp as I land on the book. "I'm a ghost.  You can't kill what's already dead with anything in that little spell book. What do you think you can possibly do against me?” She asks with a laugh, bringing her dark aura back up to lash out and finish me.

In my pain, I look down at the book under me. “The only thing I can do.” I say through gritted teeth, as I charge up my horn. She laughs more, and I see the darkness around her grow, and grow as the water begins to rise up close to my head. Only one shot, I think to myself as I take aim. I quickly read out the words for the spell on the next page. A banishment spell.

I watch my silver aura shoot out, and hit Swing. “Ha! Did you think that would really do any. . “ She stops, looking down as the water starts to disappear. “No. This can’t be happening. I’m much more powerful than that simple spell.” She yells, and I watch as her darkness drains away, bleaching all of the color from her coat and mane leaving only a shivering, black and white mare in it's absence.

   “No. Please. I don’t want to leave.” I glare at her as I stand up, a renewed strength in me, and walk closer to her, my horn glowing brightly.

  “We all have to leave one day and you should have left a long time ago. You had no reason to be here just to continue to torment your sister. I would’ve told you that I hope Faust has mercy on your soul. But after seeing you almost try to kill me and the others, I can’t. But, I can tell you this, I hope there’s a special place in Tartarus for you.”  I stand up straight and my horn gives off a flash that blinds everyone in the room

Present.

We both sit in silence. Minutes pass before I finally hear Roxy speak up. “That doesn't explain how I don’t remember that, or how we became friends.”

   “Well. After Swing vanished, I picked up the book and was able to cancel Jynx’s spell finally.  Everyone was asking me questions.  What had happened, what was going on, why couldn't they move. Some were running around freaking out about what had just transpired while others just curled up on the floor, unable to process the event that had occurred.  I looked down at the book hoping it would give me some wisdom instead of more strife to fix this mess. It was still opened to the bookmarked page for the summoning spell. It also had two other spells on that page. The banishment spell which had worked successfully, and a memory spell.” I pause for a moment, letting it sink in for Roxy.  She sit's on the bed, dumbfounded by the revelation of having a missing memory

“I was able to cast the memory spell. Everything about that night, all of you forgot. The next morning when I came into class, you smiled and called me over to sit next to you.”

She nods slowly. “Yeah. I remember the party. . We all got drunk and passed out and I can't recall anything after that part of the night. That morning when you came into class. . I was just happy to see my friend.” She smiles gently at me, giving another hug. “So, I never thanked you for saving me?”

   “No. You thanked me enough that night, before I cast the memory spell. Also when I left town, you came with me. Saying you wanted to help me on my travels. That’s more then enough thanks.”

She laughs slightly. “Anything for a friend, Revvy. So, that’s what happened that night?”

I nod slowly. “Yeah. I kept the book as well. That memory spell has come in handy. There are many ponies that are haunted by sins from the past that come back. Once I get their tormentor to leave, I ask if they want to forget about it.” Roxy nods slightly as I explain.

“But that night, you didn’t. Before that night I remember that I tore myself apart, always wondering why my sister had tried to kill me. I couldn't help but feel what had happened to her was my fault. . . and I guess it was my fault.” Roxy says slowly, sniffing.

I wrap my hooves around her, comforting her.  “Hey. Don’t blame yourself. You did what you had to do. And, I didn't ask that night because. . . I thought it was for the best to leave your sisters death as just an accident.”

And as we sat there comforting each other below the glistening moonlight, that's what we agreed on.

It was just an accident