The Filly and her Ghosts

Memories hurtled through Sweetie’s head: the padlock, the ink, the writing; Rarity shouting, Rarity arguing. It must’ve simply begged you not to even think about touching it...

The two fillies burst into the library. ‘Don’t open it, don’t, don’t!’

‘Sweetie Belle,’ gasped Rarity, but the filly ignored her, instead running up to a bewildered Twilight (the unicorn had been right on the verge of opening the door). ‘What’s wrong girls?’ she asked. Sweetie stared at her. Though she’d been ready to explain everything- the Book, the writing, the snow- now she was here, she found that the thrill of it all had shoved the words out of her mind.

‘It was one of your books, Twi,’ said Apple Bloom to Sweetie’s relief. ‘We was sortin’ them out like ya said-

‘Whoa there nelly. Twilight: ya had ma sis sorting out books?’

Apple Bloom shot her sister a steely glare. ‘She didn’t make us do nothin’, Applejack. But anyways, we was sorting them out-

‘You mean pre-sorting?’

‘Yes Twi, let me finish. We was pre-sorting them, when that there chest ya got, it... I dunno, it opened itself, and then-

‘Wait, Cherry Blossom’s chest opened on it's own?’

Apple Bloom blinked at the purple unicorn. ‘Cherry Who-Now?’

But Twilight didn’t answer, because just like that she was lost amongst the stars. ‘It opened by itself,’ she mouthed. ‘By itself...’

Knock. Knock.

The door commanded everypony’s attention like the wailing of a falling bomb. Twilight shook her head. Kneeling down, she peered into Sweetie’s eyes, and the filly felt as though the librarian was boring into the depths of her mind. She had always thought of Twilight as being serious (head in books, candles burning out as she read into the night), but never ever had she imagined the unicorn looking half as grave as she did now. ‘Girls,’ she said. ‘What was in the chest?’

And Sweetie Belle found her words. ‘It was a Book,’ she whispered, something of Twilight’s seriousness in her voice. ‘A, a big one. I touched it, and there was this writing and it... it said that that a ghost was going to knock on the door and then it did!’

Knock. Knock.

‘H-hello? Anypony in?’

Through the door the voice sounded muffled, however there was no denying to whom it belonged: a colt no older than the fillies, and whose voice shook from cold. ‘Oh, the poor dear,’ said Fluttershy. ‘We simply must let him in.’

‘But what if he’s evil,’ said Pinkie, ‘and he comes in and he’s a scary, creepy ghost who wants to ruin Rarity’s party and eat all the cakes and drink all the drinks and pop all the balloons?’

‘Ghost, shmost,’ said Rainbow Dash, grinning menacingly. ‘We can take on a mean old ghost, no problem.’

Rarity rolled her eyes. ‘Pinkie Pie, Dash, I seeeriously doubt it’s a ghost. But I digress; we absolutely must let him in. My sister letting her imagination run riot is no excuse for her to tell tales.’

‘It’s down to you then, Twi,’ Applejack said in a hushed voice. ‘This here’s your house ain’t it? What’s it to be?’

Nopony objected to this, and the silence which followed was so deep that even the walls seemed to be holding their breath. Then, sighing, Twilight headed for the door; without pausing to think, Sweetie Belle ran and plumped herself in front of her. ‘Sweetie!’ Rarity exclaimed. ‘Making a poor colt freeze on the doorstep; I would never have expected such barbarity from my sister.’

‘Bar... barb what?’

‘Rudeness, Sweetie.’ Rarity’s nostrils flared. ‘And all this nonsense about a book and a spirit.’

Pushing a hurt looking Sweetie Belle aside with magic, she proceeded to open the door. ‘I am so sorry,’ she told their visitor. ‘We all... we just... the door was locked! That’s right. It was locked, and we had to have a discussion to remember where we placed the-

‘There’s nopony there, sugercube.’

Rarity blushed as she realised Applejack was right: there wasn’t a soul in sight, and not even hoofprints because they’d already been buried in snow. Sweetie Belle felt her eyes water as she cried out: ‘Now d’you see? And it shouldn't be snowing either.’

‘Hay,’ said Rainbow Dash thoughtfully. ‘She's right- it's not s'posed to snow until Thursday...’

Rarity huffed. ‘Well even so, Sweetie Belle, there's no such thing as ghosts.’

‘Sis, how can you say that after everything you've done? Why don’t you ever believe me? He was a ghost! Tell her, Apple Bloom.’

But it wasn't Apple Bloom who responded to this; it was a voice they didn't know. ‘A g-ghost? Wh-where to?’

Rarity and Pinkie shrieked. Twilight and Applejack gasped. Rainbow Dash backed away as Fluttershy screamed and hid under a chair. And the two fillies leapt as they spotted the young brown unicorn who had materialized in the library behind them all, a unicorn with no cutie mark and eyes the colour of ice. A unicorn with a ragged red cape and a brown saddle bag, and fur wet from the snow. A unicorn who didn’t belong there.

His jaw dropped in horror at his reception. ‘I’m sorry I’m sorry I’m-

‘How did you get in?’ said Twilight. ‘Did you force your way in?’

He shook his head feverishly. ‘No, no. I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, but your b-back door was open and I was so cold, I’m sor-

‘We get it already,’ said Rainbow Dash. ‘You’re sorry.’

The colt managed a weak smile.

‘Sn-Eira,’ he told them. ‘My name’s Eira and I’m sorry I scared you all. I didn’t m-mean to.’

‘Oh my, you're freezing,’ said Fluttershy, concern bursting from every word. ‘You should warm yourself up.’

The yellow pegasus sat him down in the comfiest, squashiest chair by the grate. Twilight conjured up a roaring fire, and a minute later the others were gathered around as well, warming their hooves upon the flames.

Look at him. Look at him sitting in the chair. Neither Sweetie nor Apple Bloom could remember the last time they saw a pony look so frightened, and that included the incident with the cockatrice: being lost at night in the Everfree Forest whilst being stalked by a monster whose gaze turned ponies to stone still hadn’t been enough to make them as scared as the colt looked now.

Why didn’t the grown-ups notice this? All Fluttershy worried about was the rough state of his hoovie-woosies; Applejack was telling him about the fresh apples she had out in the kitchen; and Pinkie Pie was saying that this called for another party. Rarity was lost in thoughts of what she was going to make to replace his tatty cape; Rainbow Dash was amazed by how quietly he had sneaked into the library (‘Skills like that? Kid, you could be a natural prankster.’); and Twilight was apologising for keeping him waiting, and was asking if he wanted to choose a book to make up for it (‘ 'Daring-Do and the Stable of Doom.' Came in just this week, it's the best one yet!’).

Apple Bloom barged her way through the grown-ups, pressed her snout up against Eira’s. ‘What ya doin’ here?’ she spat. ‘Where ya from?’

‘Apple Bloom!’

Applejack grabbed her sister by the mane to drag her away. ‘Treating our guest like common vermin, how could ya?’

But Eira was plainly terrified of the yellow filly. ‘C-Canterlot,’ he said. ‘I’m from Canterlot. A-and I don’t know where I am. I’ve been trying to tell you but... but you were all saying these lovely th-things, and I, I couldn’t get the words out... I just need to get home. Do any of you know The Great and Powerful Taurus?’

The ponies all glanced at one another, eyebrows raised. ‘Um, surely you mean ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’?’ said Twilight. But he shook his head, blushing brightly enough to rival the fire in the grate. Twilight changed tack. ‘Then what did you mean you don’t know where you are? You didn’t know this was the library?’

Again, he shook his head. Understanding poured into Twilight’s face. ‘You didn’t know you’re in Ponyville? But... but that doesn’t make any sense. Not even a bit.’

Somehow, nopony noticed how confused the colt looked at the mention of Ponyville. Instead, Applejack said to Twilight: ‘He coulda jus’ got lost. Ain’t too hard to do, all this snow and all.’

Eira took a deep breath. ‘I, I don’t remember what happened. I was in Canterlot in the storm, and, and I was with a friend and... and that’s the last thing I remember. Nothing else. I promise.’

‘Storm?’ said Rainbow Dash. Eira blinked at her. He didn't elaborate.

And to say that Sweetie Belle could see that Eira’s lie was as well hidden as an elephant in an empty room truly meant something, for she had never been the best at spotting when other ponies were being less than truthful. And ‘I promise,’ what a strange thing to say... strictly speaking it made sense, but, only in the same way that some ponies apologise to you when you tread on their hooves. Acutely aware of everypony’s gaze, she wandered up to the anxious colt. ‘You’ve got to remember something,’ she whispered. ‘Isn’t there something in your bag that-

‘Hay, d-don’t look in my bag. I’m not a thief.’

Sweetie tilted her head. ‘Huh?’

‘I... I mean... nothing. Nothing.’

‘What’s in your bag?’

‘N-nothing.’

‘That’s how it is, huh,’ said Apple Bloom, following her friend’s lead. ‘So if we looked in ya bag we wouldn’t find a single thing, would we?’

‘I’m t-telling the truth, I don’t have anything.’

‘Then why did you say you’re not a thief?’ Sweetie said.

‘Because I’m not.’

‘Why d’yah say it at all then? That ain’t no normal thing ta say.’

‘I’m... I’m not a thief! I j-just need to get back to Canterlot...and...’

He started to cry. Within seconds he was inconsolable.

The silence was punctuated by the sound of the gathering wind, the patting of snow against the windows. Sweetie felt the stares of the other ponies like sacks of coal on her back, and it was too much to take, all this mystery, all this messing up. She knew she ought to be ashamed of herself, yet somehow the only thing she could think of was how exhausted she suddenly felt, how much she longed to be in her bed, tuck herself under the soft sheets and blanket, lay her head on the plump pillows- oh, bliss! No creepy Book, no unwelcome visitors, no trouble. She could stay in her room and never mess things up.

‘... Pinkie Pie, what are you doing?’

Something in Twilight’s voice made it dawn on everypony that Pinkie had been missing for several minutes. Now, the pink pony stood near the fireplace. Next to her was the Book. In her mouth-

‘THE NECKLACE!’

Tears forgotten, Eira sprung from his chair. ‘You found it! Thank you thank you thank you thank you!’

Sweetie gaped at the sapphire which formed the necklace’s centrepiece, at how it glistened so beautifully in the light of the fire. She watched the colt throw his hooves around Pinkie. ‘It was in your bag, silly,’ said Pinkie with a giggle.

‘... My b-bag? Really?’

‘Uh-huh. You ought to look closer next-

The joy fell from his face faster than a diving Wonderbolt: he’d spotted the Book. Grabbing the necklace, he jumped behind his chair so fast that he managed to startle Fluttershy. Pinkie faced Sweetie and Apple Bloom. ‘You fillies seemed sooo worked up about this thing, so I thought I’d fetch it to see if you were fibbing or not.’

Apple Bloom shook her head. ‘Pinkie, ya gotta get rid of it. Chuck it on the fire.’

‘That's a bit harsh, ain't it? Jus’ looks a plain ol’ book if ya ask me.’

‘Applejack’s right,’ said Twilight. ‘We shouldn’t do anything until for sure what we’re dealing with.’

‘But me an’ Sweetie already told y’all!’

‘She’s right.’

It was Eira. Everypony turned to face him (even Fluttershy, who was now cowering under a chair). ‘That B-Book. You need get rid of it. Listen to... err...’

‘Mah name’s Apple Bloom an’ she’s Sweetie Belle.’

‘Y-yeah. You should listen to Sweetie and Apple Bloom.’

He fell quiet. Sweetie Belle gave him a funny look. Was it possible, could it be possible, that she had misjudged him?

‘What do you mean?’ Twilight asked. But again, he didn’t want to answer, so she tried a different question ‘Why do you need to get to Canterlot in such a hurry? Maybe we could help- I’m Celestia’s personal student, after all.’

‘I thought her student was called F-Firefly.’

Twilight raised an eyebrow. ‘Well... I’ve taken Firefly’s place. Whatever you need to get done, I’m happy to help. And for the record, you’re perfectly safe here. I promise.’

Sometimes, ponies choose exactly the wrong thing to say at exactly the wrong time: the words twist fate around them in the same way that the gravity of a star has the power to bend light.

It started with the Book. The stunned party guests watched as it opened by itself, and then it was as though an invisible pony was flipping through the pages at tremendous speed, coming to a halt around the middle. At the same moment, a skin of frost grew on the windows, extending over the walls, across the ceiling, along the floor. The lights blew out. The wind roared. The foals screamed.

As she stumbled in the gloom, all Sweetie knew was that she had to find Rarity, tell her how sorry she was. If only she had left the chest alone, the Book alone, left everything alone. If only she hadn’t ruined the silk. If only she could be the sister Rarity deserved...

‘RARITY!’

The fireplace died. Darkness like the filly had never known filled the library, and ponies were shouting: Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash; Fluttershy whimpering; Eira’s worried voice, ‘not again, not again.’

‘RARITY! WHERE ARE YOU?’

No answer. The filly felt as though a steel hoof had trust itself into her chest, was churning up her innards. Her stomach was in her mouth.

‘RARITY! WHERE YOU GONE?’

Somepony bumped into her. ‘Who’s that?’ she heard Twilight say. ‘Is that Apple Bloom?’

‘It’s me Twi! It’s Sweetie.’

The darkness lifted, just enough so that she could see Twilight’s glowing horn in front of her. The older unicorn relit the grate. In it’s flickering light they saw the frost had vanished, the Book was closed and that, as quickly as it had all happened, everything was back to normal.

Except they were the only two ponies there.

‘... Guys?’ said Twilight. ‘Guys?’

‘L-look in the book.’

Sweetie and Twilight spun around, discovering they weren’t alone after all: Eira was putting on his bag.

A nervous Sweetie stepped closer to the Book. Her heart pounded as she flipped it open...

They were all there, all drawn and coloured in so exquisitely that they looked like they could spring off the paper. There was Pinkie, and Applejack had a hoof around a crying Apple Bloom. The illustrated Rainbow Dash was trying to comfort Fluttershy.

And there was Rarity.

She looked so alone in the corner of the page.

Then they vanished as the ink faded away. ‘I, I wish I could help,’ Eira whispered. With that, he opened the door, and ran into the snow.

He had left them.

He had left them.

Sweetie had once been so furious at Rarity that she’d declared she going to abandon her, had even gone so far as to try and adopt Applejack as a new older sister. However, that was one of the nice things about Sweetie Belle: the reason the memory stood out was because that had been the only time in her life when she had felt truly, properly angry at somepony. Now the feeling returned with a vengeance; it was as though her insides had been replaced with a blazing fire fuelled with the might of the sun. He had left them alone. How dare he. How dare he.

‘Sweetie, wait!’

She was so lost in her rage that she didn’t hear Twilight, and she charged into the snowfall (it had grown into a blizzard). She was going to catch up with Eira; he was going to help whether he wanted to or not, he knew something they didn’t, she was sure of it.

The snowfall was spectacular, she couldn’t see a thing-

Then she stopped as she was engulfed in the purple glow of magic. ‘Let me go,’ Sweetie screamed. ‘Let me go, Twilight Sparkle!’

‘He’s gone, Sweetie,’ said Twilight, appearing by her side. And though the filly didn’t want to admit it, the mare was right; the snow was too thick, the night too dark. Eira could’ve been anywhere by now.

Sweetie’s voice cracked.

‘But... but how am I going to save Rarity...?’

She couldn’t remember being released from the magic. The only things that mattered were that her anger had broken, that she was crying harder than she had ever done in her entire life and that Twilight was there. The little filly buried her face into the unicorn’s purple mane, and never wanted to lift up her head ever again.