The House Of Pain

"You know what's funny?" I laughed nervously, "I wasn't even aware I was being prepared for this moment.

When my father disappeared in that flood when I was just a small colt I was terrified that Death would come and get me too. Huge winged creatures with eyes as red as fire haunted me every night in my dreams. Now, you tell me I have to become one of them, that this is my fate?"

"It will only happen when it's needed," said Mamma.

"How is this thing supposed to work again; how do I become Death, by wishing it?"

"It appears you're smarter than I thought, pony. You see; in your case Death has a counterpart which is life, of course but a stronger one is needed as a catalyst. Only then can a transformation occur."

I sighed deeply.

"I need a moment to think about this."

"It must be done tonight, my boy," said Mamma.

Blak followed me all the way to the balcony making very little noise. I didn't actually care for what time it was but the air was very cool. I let it caress my pale skin and play with jet black mane.

"I know you're there," I said to him, "the way you breathe, the sound of your hooves, the scent of sandalwood upon your coat."

"Thank you, Love; I appreciate that but you look sad."

"I wish this was all one big nightmare so I could truly feel like I'm home."

"This can't be called a home unless it's in peace and only you can change that."

"No," I said as I laid my hoof down, "it's us; together we will make this happen. Our bond is strong and we will succeed."

"Do you really have that much faith in me?"

And so my lips met his and after a while I began to feel very warm; nothing else mattered and I didn't want to let go.

"I think you're feeling better," he said as he stroke his face against mine.

"Oh yeah! I forgot all about being sick; I guess most of the time it's all in my head except for the spectres that live here."

"My dear sweet prince," he said softly, "our love will keep us alive." Blak kissed on the forehead. My mind went blank.

"I got an idea; let's go back inside!"

At that moment I realized something incredibly powerful amazing and shocking.

"Mamma!" I cried as I entered the living room with much enthusiasm.

"I found the catalyst you were talking about! Mamma?..."

The whole room was empty, there was not a trace of that hipogriff, or Rosie or Blak or even my cat. I was alone in the dark...in a haunted house.

I grew uneasy and breathed heavily; the level of silence was incredible.

"It's a dream, it's all just a bad dream..." I repeated to myself over and over as I hit the floor and covered my eyes.

"Silly pony," said the voice of an old woman, "Tell me, if this is a dream why does it feel so real..."

That was Ann Marie; she stood next to me. She didn't resemble a ghost; it was more like she was brought from the past. Her horn glowed and became a means for our conversation.

"You, you're the one who is responsible for driving everyone else mad around here!"

The unicorn of a jaded pink coat continued, "They have been weak; my dearest pupil was a bit of a fool as well."

"You mean Emily, right? Where is she, what did you do to her?"

"It appears you have grown quite fond of her; you're in love with a spectre, ha! Do you have any idea who you really are? Look at the mark on your flank!"

"I am prepared for anything now, I don't fear you. This may not be of my concern but I will fight for what I believe in."

"Oh, that sounds SO gorgeous!" she said sarcastically, "the young ones are always so well spirited and lustful; sadly they ignore the truth."

"What truth?"

"Well that's just the thing isn't it? Nobody is interested in knowing the truth for they preferred to listen to a lie that killed us all?"

"You mean..."

"Pray for the decay,

for the witches' fray,

Pray for those

who oppose

the righteous way!

It makes no sense now because we're dead! We're dead, I tell you! Creatures like you no longer believe in us."

"But I'm different!"

"How?"

"I don't discriminate; I think unicorns are still great despite the limitations they have today."

"Are you sure?" she cried, "Our kind was turned into slaves! Or isn't that other unicorn who lives here a servant?"

"That's different...she works for me but I see her as part of family. Don't change the subject, where is Emily?!"

"You can always summon her; she comes to you when you're in pain."

"I'm not in pain now, I feel fine. Wait, maybe I'm asking the wrong question; where is the little boy you saved from dying?"

Her expression quickly changed, "And how did you find that out?"

"It wasn't that hard; it's a part of history, even my boyfriend Blak could see it. Why did you do that to him? That's forbidden?"

"Oh, come now; are you here to lecture me about what I can or cannot do; it's a tad late for that don't you think? He's no longer among the living so what do you care?"

"Of course I care! He asked me to be delivered, to set his soul free from this eternal Darkness. I am you rival not because you're a unicorn, it's due to your betrayal!"

"Is that right? Then so be it!"

Unfortunately I was hit by her magic rapidly. I didn't feel a thing and yet some seconds later I was hemorrhaging. My skin burned and I lost my balance for everything looked blurry.

"Who's going to save you now, that traitor?"

I touched the ground all lost and confused. "No, my friends will give me strength; love will keep me alive..."

Suddenly I stopped feeling pain as if the wound had closed by itself. Instead my back began to itch uncontrollably as if something was desperately fighting to come out.

"What are you doing to me?!" I yelled.

There was no stopping now; I was experiencing a transformation even the sound of my voice changed. I turned around and noticed I had grown wings! They resembled those of a bat, the ears were pointy and so did my hooves like those of a goat.

"I didn't do that!" she cried nervously. "You have become an agent of Death and I don't like that at all..."

Ann Marie levitated trying to escape and now I could follow her wherever she went with my enormous wings. We were going through a black hole inside the very same mansion; nothing but darkness all over the place yet I could see quite well.

"Come back, you coward! Come back!"

After a while I lost her. She vanished into thin air. I was about to give completely and sought refuge in my thoughts.

"Is there anybody out there? I'm flying through a sky full of sadness, does anyone really care?"

I remembered some of the things Mamma Lyon taught me.

"Is this what the Void looks like? Is this truly the death of all magic, of all good things in the world?"

As I continued to hover I heard a familiar voice that answered my questions.

"Yes, Marelyn; this is the Void, the one that our mistress fell into; it's darker than the bottom of the ocean."

"Is this worse than Death?"

"Yes; nothing can die or come to life here."

"Emily, where am I supposed to go now?"

"Do you believe in magic?"

"Yes!"

"Do you believe in love?"

"Yes!"

"Then you shall have no trouble finding me or the little one."

My body began to feel warm and irradiated a beautiful white light. I closed my eyes and struggled to pictures all things that were pleasant; the way Blak smiled at me, his emerald-green eyes, the soft purring when Lilicat welcomed me in the morning, my mother's garden, the sound of the rain in the afternoon...that very same day when I asked myself if this house was haunted; how I wish I could go back in time and find everything in its place.

Then I thought of Emily. It didn't matter if she wasn't alive because she treated me like I was her son and would gladly do anything for me.

A son; probably the one she never had because the small one fell into the hooves of evil.