The Beckoning of Nature (Re-Written)

The hours passed by, the day waning into night. Yuuki had since returned back to the caverns (and, as she predicted, listened to the constant moanings of the stallions who she thought were forced to get hammered in the process). After another few hours of watching Yoneko, all save the lightpost and trashcan were sound asleep.

Soon, however, the purple pegasus was tossing and turning in her bed. The dream world decided it was a fine idea to kick things off by sending a monster after her--one she was practically alone against. Having no other alternative, the pegasus hid in a dark alley with the monster just seconds behind her heels. It was a towering beast, a black jailhouse with legs on the underside and a unicorn’s head on the top. Its outer walls proved impenetrable, and its barbed wires formed wicked, five-fingered claws.

The behemoth roared and looked around, noticing its prey had vanished from its line of sight. Yuuki watched, holding her breath in her mouth, hoping to go unnoticed. To the thing, she was merely a colored speck in the dull greys and blacks of the dreamworld city, all alone and far too discernable for her own good. If there was a moment she hated being completely purple, then this was the precipice of that moment. She was also still, hoping the darkened alley could provide some cover from the monstrosity.

The thing did something completely unexpected: it grabbed its head with its claw and yanked it off like it was the goddamned headless horseman. The claw swiveled, enabling the head to glance round in all of the little nooks and crannies it couldn’t before.

And it found her. The pegasus held back a shriek, turning around and galloping away before quickly skidding to a halt.

A dead end greeted her.

“Alone, are we?” Taunted a masculine voice from behind. Yuuki froze on the spot, feeling time freeze with her. Before she could regain control of her muscles and react, the claw grabbed her and yanked her out of the alley, stabbing her with its multiple twisted ends as a result. She was hoisted high into the air with no trouble, clenched in a tight fist of wires.

The lone pegasus whimpered, feeling something cold and unearthly touch her exposed shoulder. Whatever it was, it didn’t belong to a pony or the jailhouse that held her hostage. When she looked at her shoulder, though, she saw nothing apart from what was keeping her in the air.

“Drop her.” The voice spoke menacingly, and in an instant, the jailhouse obeyed. Down and down the pegasus fell, her limbs flailing wildly about during the descent. The ground cracked open, revealing a blackest abyss waiting for her. By this point, she was screaming, and no matter how hard and how fast she flapped her wings, she could not fly back up for whatever reason.

Next thing she knew, her rear end landed smack-dab on a hard surface of some kind, one obscured by blackest shadow. Using a hoof and taking in some deep breaths, she felt her entire body.

No damage was done, as far as she knew. That rose a red flag in her still-panicked mind, considering what had just transpired moments ago.

“I’m sorry, was that too much for you?” Teased the voice once more, a sinister chuckle soon escaping from the unseeable owner.

“After we’re done with you, we’re gonna fill the damned castle with kitchenware and call it Counterlot.” Spoke another voice, this one also masculine but raspier.

“Trash cans make more sense, you dolt!” Hissed the first voice accusingly. “Think about it for two seconds!”

Aside from Yuuki’s steadying breathing and her heart pounding like a drum in her chest, all was silent for a few moments.

The second voice broke out in hysterical laughter. “That’s an even better idea!” It said.

Yuuki scrambled to her hooves, only to feel the cold touch on her shoulder again. This time, it snaked its way to her hip slowly, feeling her curves and chilling her to the core in the process. Whatever it was, it certainly was not welcome. “Stop touching me, I-I already have someone…” She complained, cringing.

“He’s not here to save you. Do you see a green stallion around here? I sure don’t!” Remarked the voice coldly, and Yuuki yelped in pain as an invisible force sent her sprawling to the ground. The purple mare felt her heart stop for an entire moment as she heard the tell-tale sound of chains clamping shut around her legs.

“This is all a dream!” The pegasus declared, opening her eyes to find that she had tumbled out of her bed and onto the floor. In front of her was a set of four green hooves. She jumped and looked up, seeing Nagare looking down at her with worry in his eyes.

“Want me to help you get back in bed?” The stallion asked, his voice riddled with concern. He moved a hoof towards the mare, and she clasped it with one of her own hooves posthaste. Carefully, she was lifted onto her legs, the blanket somehow not falling off of her form.

Yuuki took in some deep breaths, calming herself down substantially. Without a second thought, she wrapped her front legs around her green companion and rested her forehead on his chest. He didn’t mind--in fact, he hugged back without hesitating. It lasted only for a moment before they broke away.

“Has your headache gone away?” The mare asked, blinking.

“Not quite, but it’s a dull throb now.” Nagare replied, smiling faintly.

Yuuki nodded and clambered back onto the bed. She covered up, only to jump upon feeling a hoof touch her shoulder. The stallion who was currently in the room with her also climbed in, quickly reassuring her by stroking her mane tenderly. The mare turned over so she could face him, and she arched a brow. “You wanna sleep with me?” She asked.

“Why else would I clamber into bed with you?” Nagare retorted, flashing her a friendly smirk. “Though, not in the way you’re probably thinking.”

“Ah.” The mare sighed, pulling him in for a hug and snuggling close to him.

“Now I feel like an overgrown teddy bear.” Nagare remarked, still smiling as his fellow pegasus fell asleep before he too went out like a light.

And he could’ve sworn he heard those two voices that had been taunting Yuuki in her sleep, but he didn't see their owners in his slumber.