A Darker Home

The two mares hug themselves closely to you, trying to find the source of the giggling. Dark shadows flicker just out of sight. Was that a breath on your neck? Or was it just the wind? Twilight lights her horn and tries to illuminate the room as the outline of a filly darts out of sight. She focuses her beam on where the intruder was, only to find a doll in its place. Fluttershy shakes, whimpering to herself, as you swear that doll just moved.

“Wanna play?”

A gentle breeze rustles the curtains as golden rays enter the window of your room. You open your eyes to take in the calm serenity of a new day. Today is a day that you decided to take to relax and enjoy yourself. Life wasn’t stressful for you in the quiet town of Ponyville, but it’s still important that you take time to relax and enjoy the little things. You had the day off from work, no plans, and could do virtually anything you wanted.

But, you probably shouldn’t practice your golf shots at the weather ponies again. You’re lucky you were let off with a warning.

Leaping out of bed, you hum a tune to yourself as you prepare yourself for the day. What in the world what you will fill your day with? You could spend the day reading a book or practicing an instrument. Of course, there was also that new recipe you wanted to try. In the evening you could head down to the Ponyville Pub and chat it up with some of the hardworking stallions. They have some of the best stories you've heard since you came to town. Getting information on what appealed to the mares didn't hurt either.

Now, let’s be clear for a second. You aren't attracted to the horses, but female companionship was a necessity in order to stay sane in this world. Lucky enough, you are surrounded with plenty of friends that care about you and are happy to spend time with.

Turning off the shower, you step out into the foggy bathroom and crack the door a little bit. After wiping off the glaze of condensation from the mirror, you rub the stubble on your chin. Grabbing your supplies, you lather your face with some shaving cream and try to remove the unsightly hair from your face.

“Well this won’t do…” you mutter to yourself.

The shaving cream and razors are by no means perfect, but-

"Ah! Shit."

Blood trickles down your neck.

"Great," you mutter to yourself.

What were you thinking of? Eh. Probably didn’t matter.

After you finish up, you put some strategic toilet paper squares on your battle wounds, you don the designer robe that Rarity gave you for your birthday. The material was top notch, she made it special just for you, and it fit perfectly. You didn't even care that it was neon pink with a floral pattern and baby bunnies. It’s manly as hell. Don’t judge.

What would breakfast be today? Cereal? Oatmeal? Actually, eggs and toast sounds marvelous. You’ve earned it! Today’s your day off. Plus, it's not often that you get to spoil yourself.

Once you get yourself to the kitchen you prep a cup of coffee and get out everything for your special breakfast. Looking outside your window, you look outside to see the pear tree you planted. It looks like it may have ripe fruit next week. Of course, you will have to trade a few of your treats for some of Applejack's signature creations, especially if you get some of those apple fritters. A trail of drool nearly escapes your mouth as you imagine the aroma and flavor of the treat.

Once you’re knee deep into preparing your breakfast, you hear a knock on your door.

"Come on in!" you call out. “The door’s open!”

Crime is nearly non-existent in Ponyville, so none of the houses came with locks. At least, not standard.

"Something sure smells good in here!" you hear from a familiar voice.

"Yep. Just making some breakfast, Twilight. Want some?"

"Yes, please! I haven't been able to eat anything since Celestia's letter this morning. I came here right away after I read it,” Twilight says.

Two sets of hoofsteps make their way towards your kitchen, causing you to turn your head.

"Um, could I have some too? That is, if it's not too much trouble," asks the meek tone of Twilight’s friend.

Fluttershy. Great. Of any of the ponies she could bring, it had to be the pony that had a massive crush on you. She’s a fine mare, really, but her constant attempts to be your marefriend were getting on your nerves after awhile. You wouldn't mind if she just came out with it and asked to go on a date, but her current methods were just...

"Uh. Yeah. It's no big deal. Lemme just get some more in my pan," you say, not wanting to turn down the sudden guests.

As you cook your meal, Twilight begins conversation about a new book she's been reading with Fluttershy. Some brand new romance novel about a stallion and a mare finding love on a train called, ‘One-Way Ticket.’ It sounds like a comfy enough premise, but you aren’t sure if it’s something you’d be picking up any time soon. Romance isn’t quite your thing.

Once breakfast is ready, you serve breakfast to your guests. You do your best not to notice that Fluttershy has been staring at you quietly and has only been giving polite nods.

“Here, girls. Have some breakfast,” you say.

“Thanks!” Twilight says with a smile.

“T-thank you. H-handsome,” Fluttershy whispers, struggling to get out the last word.

You hit her head lightly with yesterday's newspaper. She recoils as if she were bludgeoned with a sledgehammer.

"Bad. No," you say.

"What did I do?" she asks, giving you wide puppy dog eyes and her ears turned down.

"You know what you did."

You sit down to enjoy your breakfast with a cup of coffee. Twilight sets down her utensils and levitates a piece of parchment in the air, turning her attention to you.

"Anyway, on to business. My letter from the Princess was a new assignment and I wanted to see if you would join us."

"Oh?" you ask in curiosity. "What's the assignment?"

"I'm supposed to form a small team to explore an abandoned house where a young filly went missing. I wanted to see if you were interested in helping."

Abandoned house exploring? Heck. That could be fun. There might even be free stuff. That’s your favorite kind of stuff.

"Sure! Why not! It sounds pretty awesome."

"Fantastic! Then the three of us will leave right after breakfast."

You lean back in surprise, staring at Twilight.

"Fluttershy is going?" you ask questioningly, looking at the scaredy-cat pony. “Her? Seriously?”

"Oh, um. Well I'm sure that you will protect me if I get too scared," she says gently.

You give her a flat look, then return to talk to the only other adult in the room.

“Well, yes,” Twilight responds. “If there’s some sort of animal that’s causing something strange, I’d like to have Fluttershy around to negotiate.”

You sigh to yourself and shake your head.

“Well, I guess it can’t be helped. Let’s wrap this up and get outta here.”

After cleaning up, you team begins their journey outside of Ponyville. As you begin to approach the abandoned house, the trail fades into the surrounding matted pale grass. A few sickly trees blot the landscape, as you turn to Twilight.

“Twilight, we’ve been walking for hours now. How much further do we have to go?” you ask.

“I don’t think it’s too much farther. This place isn’t considered any town on the Equestrian map. So after awhile we just have to… well, look.”

The breeze was noticeably stronger out in the open land than it was in town. The wind blows past your ears as your embrace yourself for warmth, the air blowing gusts of sound into your ear. You look around, following behind the two mares. The rural landscape was a rare sight for you from the typical scenery of Ponyville or even the occasional Canterlot trip. For some reason, you thought that most of Equestria must be some form of town, forest, city or even a desert. But this place simply had… nothing. Not the sort of emptiness that implies there’s not much to look at, but rather, that you knew something was missing.

Most of the grass was dead or was simply overtaken by weeds. Despite being the spring, leaves fell from the trees in a solitary, final dance. An unstained wooden fence stands dilapidated and slumped. A graying carriage shows its exposure to the elements near the fence's gate, which swings with the breeze. And just off in the distance, as a two story wooden house.

Fluttershy shivers while Twilight digs her nose into her instructions.

"I think this is the place," she says.

"A-are you sure? Maybe w-we should head back. I think Angel needs feeding," Fluttershy says.

"In that case, let's just get this over with,” you say. “The sooner we are done, the sooner we can head home. I don’t like this place."

"Y-yes, my love," Fluttershy stutters.

"You just lost hand-holding privileges," you say, trying to inject some humor into the situation. You follow Twilight trying not to look at Fluttershy's shocked face.

"I-I had those?!" she says.

"It’s a plan then," asserts Twilight. “We get in, we get out. Done.”

As you move closer you have the chance to better inspect the house. It was much bigger than it looked in the distance. The house had two levels, and what it lacked in height and width, it made up in length. Most of the paint has been eaten by the elements, and the house has a noticeable slant to it. There was no way that this place could be structurally stable.

What few windows weren't boarded up, were broken with their curtains flowing smoothly outside. Very few were on the bottom level, and the open windows upstairs only revealed emptiness on the inside. The rocking chair on the porch creaked back and forth with the wind. The hairs stand on the back of your neck, and goosebumps begin to form on your arm.

"Does anyone else feel like.... like... W-we are..." Fluttershy says.

"Being watched?" you finish for her.

Fluttershy's eyes shrink to the size of needles and collapses, whimpering a sound akin to the bleat of a goat. You pick her up like dirty laundry and nod to Twilight.

"I don't wanna go!" Fluttershy says.

"We will be done before you know it, Fluttershy,” Twilight says. “Let’s just go inside and check it out.” Twilight leaps up the front steps of the building and opens the door to the house. "Hello? Is anypony here?"

Not a single sound comes from inside. You and Fluttershy follow Twilight into the abandoned residence. The boarded windows do little to let light in to the dim room.

"Hello? Is anypony here?" Twilight reiterates.

"Oh, would you look at that! Nopony is here. I guess that means we can all just go home," Fluttershy says.

You drop the yellow pony on the ground and she shrieks.

"Not until we search the entire house. Let’s check under and inside everything," orders Twilight.

"Got it. I don't want to be in here any longer than I have to," you reply.

Blankets cover the assorted antique furniture in the room, which have grayed with dust and age. Pulling off each cover breathes to life a massive cloud of dust, which promptly covers the matching sets of their ancient brethren.

"Annie? Are you here? My name is Twilight! We’re here to help you!" Twilight calls out again.

The only reply is the sound of teeth chattering.

"Fluttershy, stop it. We might not hear if there’s a reply," You hiss to her.

She muzzles herself the best she can with her hooves. A thud comes from the back of the house. The three of you instantly look down the dark hallway. You glance to Twilight who’s doing her best to keep her ears turned up. She stays frozen in place as you turn to each of the mares. Looks like you are the leader now.

“Oooohh!!! Mister spooky ghooossstttt! Come ooouuuttttt!” you chant.

Twilight shakes her head and manages to recompose herself, but Fluttershy is hardily amused.

“Please don’t actually come out, mister ghost pony. Please,” she mutters.

An eerie silence fills the room as nothing responds. You move slowly toward the shadowy hallway. Ducking quickly, a caramic plate flies down the hallway towards your face. It narrowly misses your face, and crashes to the ground.

"Hey!" you grunt.

Silence is the only answer.

"Come out of there, or we are coming down there," you shout.

"Anon, don't be so forceful. You might scare them," Twilight says.

Another plate flies down the hallway. Stepping aside, it smashes against Fluttershy who has checked out of reality.

"I take that back," Twilight says.

"Just light up the hallway, please?" you mutter, frustrated. “Alright kid. Enough’s enough. It’s time to go home to Mom and Dad.”

Twilight charges her horn, and lights the hallway with a beam of light. The hallway is completely empty. There are two open rooms on the left, a closed room and a boarded up window on the right, as well as a closed room at the end of the hallway.

"Stay back. I'll go down," you whisper.

Twilight nods to you as you inch your way towards the hallway. Your gut clenches and the air is dry and has the distinct taste of mold and rot. Every step you take makes the wooden floor under you sends a creak through the house. The wind rips against the house from outside, whispering a waft of air with every few steps. As you approach the first open door on the left, you stop and look back at the girls. Fluttershy looks breathless, and Twilight is doing her best to keep her cool.

If you break, these girls are going to lose it. Stay strong.

You take a deep breath and move into the open room.

"Annie? Are you in here? We’re here to help."

A clouded window dimly lights the room and illuminates the many boxes lined along the walls. Some of them are wide open, with their contents scattered around the room. An open box of fine china sits near the door. Whoever threw those plates at you had to be in here.

"Alright. I don't wanna play hide-and-seek today. So, if you’re hiding, it’s time to come out."

You hear a faint giggle from behind you. Turning around, you find only boxes. You wipe a bead of cold sweat off your face and continue into the room. Checking the open boxes, they contained fairly normal things belongings such as books, children's toys, glassware and clothing. In fact, as you look over the contents, there seemed to be lots of different things for younger ponies in here.

"Hey, Twilight. What was this place used for before it was abandoned?” you call out.

"I'm pretty sure it used to be an orphanage, but I couldn't find the reason why it was closed."

You open another box to find it full of porcelain pony dolls.

Nope.

You quickly close the box and take a deep breath.

"Well, there isn't anything in here, Twilight. Lemme open a window for some light and I'll check the next room."

"Good idea! We will try to get some of these boards down out here."

Making your way to the window, you try to open the window and push as hard as you can. But, try as you might, brute force won't pry this one open. You wipe a little of the clouded window to see outside. The small amount of cleaning immediately makes a noticeable difference in the room's lighting. Looking outside at the bottom of the windowsill, you notice that the window was nailed shut from the outside.

Whoever closed this never wanted it to be opened. They must have used the whole box of nails. You slowly back away, and make your way to the hallway. Something brushes your leg, making you jump. A small ball bounces away from you and you hear another giggle from out in the hall.

"Did you girls hear that?" you call out.

"Hear what?" Fluttershy asks, concerned.

You pause, listening closely to the house around you, but the only sounds were the creaking of the house around you.

"Nothing, must have been my imagination."

Walking out into the hallway, you take one last look into the room. Wait, didn’t you close that doll box.

Forget it. No way that you are going back in there again.

Back in the hallway, you inch towards the closed door on the right. You put your hand on the doorknob and try to turn it. The knob resists your will as you grunt to yourself.

“Locked.”

An ear-splitting scream rings through the house. You sprint towards the girls. Fluttershy is pale and pointing towards you.

"What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Her eyes seem focused on something far away and words fail her.

"Fluttershy!"

You kneel down to her and hold your hand to her face. She's cold to the touch.

"I think we should get out of here. Something is wrong,” Twilight says.

"Don’t need to tell me twice."

You scoop up Fluttershy and head towards the open front door. The door slams shut in front of you and Twilight. There was no magic aura. The wind wasn't strong enough. The house groans from the sudden force.

Fluttershy quietly sobs to herself.

"No more... Please... No more. I just wanna go home."

You look to Twilight, who is staring wide eyed in disbelief. You put your hand on the handle, but the door won't open or budge. You set down Fluttershy and try to ram the door down. It only serves to make your shoulders hurt.

"Can your magic open it, Twilight?"

Her horn glows a bright violet as she closes her eyes and tries to concentrate.

“What’s up? What’s taking so long?” you ask.

"My magic isn't working on it and I can't teleport for some reason," she says desperately. "I-I don't understand why though. This has never happened before."

"I think we’re stuck. Unless we can get out of some of these windows, but one of them was nailed shut in the other room…. Most of them might be…”

You think to yourself about how to get out of this terrible place.

“I do remember seeing an open window on the way in. If I'm right, it should be towards the back of the house," Twilight suggests.

"Alright. Let’s find it and stick together," you suggest.

The three of you head back down the creaky hallway, illuminated by Twilight's magic. As you pass the locked door, Fluttershy pipes up.

"Um, D-Did you try this door?" she asks.

“Yeah, it was locked."

The sound of a squeaky door opening is heard from behind you. Fluttershy opened the door with ease, standing absolutely still.

“It… It was locked?” she asks.

You pat her head.

"I mean, uh. I totally forgot to open it. Nothing spooky there! Right?”

Opening the door she just opened, there appears to be a staircase to upstairs section of the house.

"Let's check this out when the lower floor is cleared," you suggest.

Moving down the hallway, you move to the next open door on the left. Edging into the room carefully, Twilight follows suit to illuminate the darkest room of the house so far. This room is a faded-yellowed pink, and is littered children's toys. Dolls and games line the walls which have patterns of rainbows and flowers drawn across them. A large, worn, circular rug fills most of the room.

Sitting on the center of the rug is a pale blue little filly with disheveled black hair. She's holding a teddy bear and staring directly at you with fear in her eyes. You get down on one knee to get on her eye level and slowly try to approach her. You try to put on the warmest voice possible.

"Hey there... What's your name?"

Her eyes dig deep into your soul and send a shiver down your spine.

"Do you want to go home?"

"Uhm." Twilight says, trying to form words.

The filly lifts her right hoof and points directly behind you. Curiosity gets the better of you, and you look over your left shoulder. All that’s behind you is the two girls.

"Who are you talking to?" Twilight asks.

Returning your gaze, all that remains in the middle of the room is the teddy bear. It's inside stuffing was ripped outside of it and scattered across the room. You stumble backwards. You hear another giggle from out in the hall.

"I.. I don't know."

"Are you feeling okay?" Fluttershy asks.

You take a deep breath, turn to the girls, and ask Twilight the question that has been on the tip of your tongue.

"Twilight... are there hauntings in Equestria?"

Twilight stutters, and then looks away, unsure of how to answer.

“That’s what I thought,” you mutter.

Fluttershy can't hold back the fear and tears anymore. You get down on the yellow pony's level.

"Fluttershy, I know this is really hard, but I'm going to need you to try and be strong for me. Okay?" You give her some ear scritches. “We’ll get through this. We just need find the window and climb out. So don’t panic."

Your calming words don't seem to be helping much, but her sobs begin to quiet. She meets your gaze with an exhausted look. Then she nods. You give her a warm smile then make your way to the boarded window and try your hardest to push the boards that were nailed from the outside. However you try, they won't budge.

"Can you do anything on these, Twilight?"

"Let me see what I can do,” she replies.

Her horn glows brightly and begins to light up the room more. You take a moment to look around the room while Twilight does her thing. There is a pile of stuffed animals that Fluttershy is looking at intently.

"I-I had a bunny doll... just like that one... when I was a filly."

You walk towards them and examine some of them. Many of them showed typical play wear, but most of them had their eyes ripped off. You dig deeper to the bottom of the pile of dolls when a sharp pain jolts into your hand. You lose your breath and fall to your knees.

"SHIT!"

Retracting your hand, blood flies across the room and drips to the floor. You see directly through a new hole in the middle of your palm, crimson red life dripping to the floor.

"What’s wrong? What happened!" inquires Twilight fearfully.

A puddle of blood stains the rug underneath you. Giggling rings through your head. The room spins around you.

Fluttershy shakes you.

“Get a hold of yourself!" she exclaims in a panic.

Then, everything returns to normal. Looking at your holeless hand, you’re now holding a small knife, covered in doll cotton. You drop the weapon as if it were on fire and back away from it slowly.

You look at the girls.

"We need to get out of here."