Chapter 11

You know the more I write this….memoir I guess….the more I feel like ever since I entered this world I have faced more challenges than any on Earth…regardless let me continue with Lyra’s place. The wind was howling when I awoke and drafts of cold air could be felt dancing throughout the house. The fire I made was still relatively warm with the embers giving off a therapeutic warmth. It was difficult to determine the time given it was still dark outside but the clock that hung over the fireplace read 6:30 am. I groggily swung my legs off the sofa and glanced to wear Pinkie should have been but she wasn’t there. A jolt of panic swept through me. Where could she of gone, she was near hypothermic when I brought her inside.

“Pinkie Pie? You in hear?” I called out as I pulled myself off the sofa and placed my shirt back on. I immediately regretted that decision. Apparently snow melts when brought inside and my shirt was soaked same with my shorts but less so leading to some frigid water sliding down my back. Putting aside the fact that pinkie was missing I realized she was probably exploring the house and her condition was probably not as serious as I thought. With an exasperated sigh I resolved to strip down in the living room to allow my clothes to dry in front of the fireplace. I glanced around the living room grateful for probably the first time that the Party Pony was nowhere in sight. Removing my clothing placing them to dry I searched the cupboards and closets for a blanket to make myself decent. “Not that I am that decent to begin with but no one needs to see me naked that’s for sure” I whispered to myself. I searched and searched and finally stumbled upon a large quilt from a walk-in closet inlaid with gems depicting a night sky with the reverse side mountains in the daylight. It was very intricate and the coolest quilt I had ever seen. I’ve told you that I sketch or free draw from time to time and I spend most that drawing imaginary landscapes and you can imagine why I loved the detail put into that quilt.

“This is gorgeous, and the mountains even have oak trees intricately sewn in….the obsidian stars in that jet black sky shimmer just like a real night sky….”
“Watcha doin?!” I yelped and I think my heart skipped a beat. When I turned around I saw Pinkie Pie dressed up in a wool snoe cap with booties and a down black jacket. I also realized too late that in my surprise I had dropped the quilt revealing…. Well you know….
“Pinkie!?.... I err… was just umm… admiring this quilt here since I am letting my clothes dry…. And…” I tried to answer flustered and embarrassed
“Oooo…preeetty!” she exclaimed entering the closet and reaching with her mouth to pick up the quilt I was now standing on. Reflexively I backed further into the closet hoping Pinkie hadn’t seen what I thought she saw. Hiding in the forest of Fabrics and blankets I saw Pinkie place the quilt on her back using it like a cape and obviously admiring herself in the mirror built into the closet door.
“I look just like Rarity in one of her fancy gowns! You see Sammy?! Sammy?! Where did you go?”
“I’m still here Pinkie.” I called back from deep within the closet I looked around hoping to find some cloth around me that I could cover myself with unfortunately all of the clothing was made for ponies and not a single blanket was the size of that quilt. Sighing I grabbed two pony sized sweaters and tied them around my waist making a quite revealing and ridiculous loin cloth. I stepped out of the shadows and immediately saw a certain pony struggle to maintain her composure upon seeing me. I tried to play it off cool.
“Something the matter Pinkie?”
Pinkie fell on the floor bursting with laughter. I frowned for second but upon seeing myself in the mirror I couldn’t help crack a small smile.
“I do look pretty ridiculous don’t I?” I said more to myself than to Pinkie.

“You look so silly! Here let me give you this quilt it covers you better than those itty bitty sweaters.” Pinkie said in between giggles. Relieved that Pinkie hadn’t seen me in buff I accepted the quilt from her and wrapped it around my waist as a make shift robe leaving my hairy unsightly chest exposed.
I couldn't help but feel embarrassed despite how relaxed I had been around Pinkie, to put it frankly if you haven’t already gathered my self esteem is pretty low. I lowered my head and attempted to vacate the closet hoping my clothes were dry enough to wear while Pinkie was still giggling on the ground.
“
Heya Sammy what’s the matter you seem down and your face is all red?” Pinkie asked seeing me leave the closet, her abrupt change in mood surprised me she was after all just laughing her head off a moment a go. I suppose I am not so good at hiding my emotions or at least from Pinkie.
“Nothing…” I replied as I walked over to the fireplace to examine the dampness of my clothes.
“Dang it, still wet and cold.” I muttered sighing I plopped myself on the sofa content just to let the warmth of the fireplace overwhelm my senses. I leaned my head back and covered my eyes with my arm. “Lucky she didn’t see the hideous body you have” darkside whispered. I clenched my fingers a bit taking deep breaths. The room seemed to shrink as darkside returned it felt as if he was on the sofa with me his damp sickly breath whispering into my ears.
I was so lost in my mind I barely noticed that Pinkie had climbed onto the sofa and was lying next to me.
“It doesn’t seem like nothing is bothering you…” Pinkie murmured putting a hoof on my knee. I lifted my arm from my head and opened my eyes to see Pinkie Pie staring at the fire looking a little more melancholy than usual. I tried to lighten the mood. Using my chipper voice
“Don’t worry about it Pinkie I’ll be fine. You on the other hand almost froze outside how are you feeling?....I was so worried….”

“Oh I’m fine” She replied solemnly.

“You don’t sound fine….” I said quietly

“Neither do you….”
We sat there in silence for a while staring at the flames as they flickered leaving dancing shadows on the floor. The wind was still howling outside.
“You saved my life.” Pinkie said softly breaking the silence
“Well…I suppose I did…you saved mine as well if you recall.” I was uncertain how to reply and immediately regretted saying that. I didn’t save Pinkie from the storm simply because she stopped me from…well you know…suicide.
“What I mean to say is that ummm… I care far too much about you Pinkie I couldn’t just leave you to freeze outside.”
“I care about you too Sammy. You are a true friend and I want to help you. But, for some reason you won’t let me silly. You saved my life but you don’t seem to care about your own.” Pinkie replied sadly.
“I know…I just…I’m just not ready to talk about it…you merely talking to me right now is enough Pinkie.” I didn’t want to sound like I wasn’t glad Pinkie was willing to help but there were things at the time I could not share with her. I was afraid. She sighed giving a gentle yet sad smile.
“Alright. Then could you at least tell me why you were blushing in the closet?”
Again I was unsure how to respond. “Well you see back on my world people like me, men and women have to wear clothes while in public. It’s considered indecent to be naked outside of say private areas like bathrooms and such.”
“That’s totally weird!” Pinkie exclaimed “We ponies wear clothes and dresses when we feel like it or for special occasions like a costume party…..OH MY GOSH WE SHOULD TOTALLY MAKE YOUR WELCOME PARTY A COSTUME PARTY!”
I smiled “Sure Pinkie that sounds like it could be fun, but how about we make it a scary costume party?” I never mentioned this but I think some things are just more fun with a little fear added to the mix.
“You betcha, this party is gonna be awesome!” Pinkie exclaimed and just like that I felt better and I think Pinkie Pie did as well.

It was around mid-afternoon according to the clock above the fireplace you couldn't tell really since it was still snowing outside making the hour seem much later. My clothes had finally dried and I slipped into a closet to change. When I finished Pinkie was waiting very close I might add to the closet door. I jumped in my skin a little surprised
“Whoa Pinkie! You scared me. Why were you standing so close to the door?”
She seemed a bit frazzled “Oh I was umm…. Just making sure the… the umm spirits I mean… the ones I felt with my pinkie sense didn’t lock you in the closet.” She was blushing a little

“Oh really. And I suppose these spirits haunt Lyra’s place just so they can lock ponies in closets where they then trap their victim and perform a ritual to turn the innocent
ponies into spirits using dark magic right?” I said hiding a grin.

“Yep! that is totally why I kept my head near the keyhole to make sure no ghost key locked it!” She was blushing much more now.
“I see well, why don’t we get to searching the bookshelves to see if there is anything we can look up that deals with Ponies and Humans, I haven’t a clue what you ponies eat or anything about the culture here.” I was genuinely curious and wanted to find out more about this world.
I noticed Pinkie give a relieved sigh “Phew,….Yeah and I will totally keep three eyes out for any books dealing with Pony or People parties.”

And with that our investigation of Lyra’s eerie mansion began.

Author's Note

Heya guys just wanted to give a quick update this chapter and the next will be today and the next over the course of next week. Anyway just wanted to thank you all for reading and don't worry I have some awesome Ideas cooked up for this next part. As always thank you for reading and if you ever feel like commenting go right I ahead.

P.S. Happy Holidays little late for Christmas but I hope you all have a relaxing New Year.