A Darker Home

"Maybe we should try to leave the doors that we've explored open... just so we know where we have been,” you say.

"Probably not a bad idea..." says Twilight, deciding not to close the door as the three of you enter the hallway.

After what was just witnessed, everyone seems to be in fairly high spirits. Twilight could be onto something, if you clear the house of the other spirits, maybe Gertrude won't have a reason to stay. Then, you’ll be able to leave.

Stretching your arms in the hallway, you do note that the house feels a little bit warmer and a little less oppressive. This doesn't stop you from keeping your guard up as you make your way across the hallway to the next closed door. The one that was previously locked.

The sun had completely set, but an overcast hid the light of the moon, leaving the house in a deep pitch black. Twilight’s horn is the sole source of light in the house, making the tight doorways and halls feel like cages. The areas unlit by magic seemed to expand into endless voids of space.

The blackness in this house didn't just feel like being in the dark. If it were that, you could handle it. Being surrounded in this darkness felt like you were being watched by a predator ready to strike. Looking at the girls, you nod to them.

"Be ready for anything," you say, grabbing the previously locked door.

You pull and the door opens, letting the glow from Twilight's horn fill the room. The light only reveals little bits of the room at a time. This room also had a tiled floor, and seemed to be one of the dirtiest rooms in the house yet. A strange odor filled the room as you sneak your way inside with Fluttershy and Twilight in tow.

"What's that smell?" you say to no one in-particular.

You hear the girls make their way in too, judging by the sound of hoofsteps on tile. As Twilight makes her way into the room, more fixtures begin to take shape. An oven, a sink with dirty dishes, and counter tops begin to take shape. A large brown stain tints the color of the tiles within a few feet of the sink. On the counter top, remains of what may have once been food is stuck to the surface. Around the food is many different forms of cutting trays, utensils, and cooking supplies.

However, what grabs your eye is a large, rusted butcher knife, resting in a charred circle on the counter. You stroll over to it and examine it carefully. You notice a slight gleam on the blade and lean towards it. Was that something on the other side of the blade? How would you know?

You pick up the knife.

And the rust seems to fall away like pencil shavings on loose leaf. The knife glows in your hand, the silver radiance giving light to the room. It’s light. The blade is sharp and balanced. The knife brings a smile to your face. You raise your eyes to the sunlight that streams in through a nearby window.

A young filly cleans the dishes at the sink. She's vibrant for being an orphan, and she seems to be reading while she works. You listen as she struggles to read, your hand falling limply to your side.

"As Daring Doo trec... trekked through the t-tropical jungle"

That's when she entered the room. You recognized Gertrude by her long silver mane. She holds a baseball bat in her mouth as she approaches her. The filly doesn’t hear her hoofsteps as she draws nearer.

"... the wet heat s-sapped her energy and sl... slowed her every step."

You can't let this happen. Holding the knife firmly in your hand, you charge towards her

"If only she could escape this oppon... oppressive atmosphere…

"Don't you touch her!" you scream at Gertrude.

An invisible force forces you to stop as you swing your weapon at the mare.

"and fly up into the cool blue sky."

The bat rises in the air as you scream. You watch helplessly as the bat came down full force on the filly's head. The filly falls off her stepstool, and onto the ground, where she lays lifeless. Blood sprays on your face. The droplets spatter across your face and warm you from the cold.. You drop the knife. Darkness floods the room again, as your eyes try to adjust to the violet magic around you.

Fluttershy is collapsed in front of you, shaking. He holds her hooves over her head as you look down to the knife on the ground.

"Is it... over?" Fluttershy asks.

"I... think so," Twilight says.

Silence fills the room as you rub your hand on your cheek. It comes back dry.

“I… I’m sorry,” you say.

"What was it this time?" Fluttershy asks.

You take a deep breath, trying to compose yourself.

"It was Gertude, and she was attacking this little filly."

You lean down to help Fluttershy up, but she slowly gets up on her own, watching you carefully.

"She was reading a book... I think it was a Daring Doo book, while she was doing dishes. Then, she just came in with a bat, and the filly didn't even see it coming."

The gravity of what you just saw begins to weigh down on you. You fall to your knees, remembering how she looked on the floor. Her eyes stared off at something that you couldn't see. Something that wasn't in the room. Covering your face in your hands, you feel a hoof being put on your shoulder.

"It's okay.…"

You nod your head.

"It doesn't hurt anymore."

You open your eyes again, and turn to see another faded filly standing behind you. Giving her a light smile, a thought occurs to you.

"Why did you stop hiding?" you ask,

"I was in the knife, but I wanted you to see something first before I came out," the pale filly says. “I didn’t want… I didn’t want to be forgotten.

She looks down at the ground, and kicks the tiles with a ghostly hoof.

"I didn't think what I would show you would make you try to hurt somepony... I'm sorry."

Fluttershy steps forward.

"It's okay. Really! I-I'll be fine."

The filly continues staring at the ground.

"Do you want to know what I did to make her do that?" she asks you.

You try to place a hand on her back, forgetting for a moment that she’s a spirit. But, to your surprisey, her form is solid, despite it's looks.

"Only if you want to share," you say.

She gives a heavy sigh.

"Gertrude always hated it when I read. We always had to be absolutely quiet whenever we weren't in class. Then later on, we weren't even allowed to do that. So, a lot of us began to have trouble reading, since we couldn't sound out the words."

Twilight slowly makes her way over to the filly and sits down.

"So, whenever I would do dishes, I would try to read out loud, hoping that the sound of the water would hide my reading.”

Fluttershy nudges you, and hands you what looks to be an old dusty book.

"I always loved reading, so I tried to read whenever I got the chance, and even began to take some risks. One day I got caught, and she warned me that I was only allowed to read in class."

Twilight's eyes are locked on the filly, the filly begins to talk directly to Twilight.

"But... I just couldn't stop.... I just couldn't."

"You needed to know how it ended...." says Twilight understandingly.

The filly begins to slowly sob. You wipe the dust off of the book. Daring Doo, and the Quest for the Sapphire Statue. You hand the book to Twilight, knowing that this is her territory.

"Now tell me... where did you last leave off?" Twilight says.

The filly’s eyes glowed with excitement as Twilight opened the dusty book.

“Do you… Do you really want to read with me?” the filly asks.

“Of course,” Twilight says. “Anything for a filly that is just as in love with reading as I was.”

“It was page 57. I think,” the filly says, sitting next to Twilight.

Time passes as you sit in the room with Twilight, Fluttershy and the little filly, listening to Twilight read. The book isn't massive, but for a beginner reader, it could definitely be difficult. Twilight knew just all of the points to change her voice to make things sound more dramatic. She even gave the characters different voices. The little filly ate it up and listens with rapt attention.

"And so, with Ahuizotl defeated and the Sapphire Statue secured, the world was safe and sound once again. Thanks to Daring Doo!" Twilight said with one final crescendo.

Twilight closes the book and gives the filly a deep smile.

"That was amazing! Is there more? I need to know what happens next!" your ghostly friend says.

"Of course there is! This book is a classic," Twilight answers.

"But how will I read them?" the filly asks.

The three of you pause. Twilight is the first to speak up.

"Well... maybe, you will be able to find them... up there," Twilight says, motioning to the sky with a hoof. “I know I would want something nice to read. When it all ends... anyway.”

"Does that mean I’ll be able to read and I won't be hit for it?"

Twilight nods with a gentle smile.

"I can promise, nothing will ever hit you."

The kitchen door opens slowly, bathing the room in white light. A yellowish mare with dark hair walks out of the doorway, and moves beside Twilight and the filly. The new mare kneels down to meet her at eye level, and gives her a wide smile.

"Hey there, kiddo. What's your name?" the mystery mare says.

Twilight's eyes and mouth widen a little bit, looking to the filly.

"My name is Melody... What's your name?" she asks.

"My name’s Daring... and I was told that you are a pretty cool little filly."

Her eyes widen, and the color slowly returns to the filly's coat. She looks to Twilight in disbelief. Twilight nods to her in approval.

"D-Daring... Doo?" Melody asks.

Daring Doo smiles down at her.

"The one and only!"

Her hair slowly begins to turn into a beautiful shade of yellow.

"But I thought that you were only in the book…" she says.

"That doesn't mean I'm not real, kiddo. I'm right here. Inside you."

Daring takes her hoof, and points it to the filly's head. Her eyes light up as she begins to believe what she is seeing.

“So then! Do you wanna stay here, or do you wanna find out what happens next?"

Daring takes her signature hat and puts it on Melody's head as she wipes tears out of her eyes.

"Yes... Yes! Let's go on an adventure!"

Daring takes Melody and puts her on her back. The filly looks to the three of you with a wide smile.

"Thank you, Twilight... Anon... Fluttershy. I hope you can find my friends. Please help them... and listen to them."

You nod to her, as the door slowly closes behind Melody as she begins a chapter of a brand new adventure.

Consider Pausing The Music Please

The three of you rise to your feet, with a feeling of warmth in your hearts. Whatever force was helping you with these fillies tonight, really knew what it was doing. The three of you make your way into the hallway, but you feel a warm breath on the back of your neck. You turn around, but find nothing.

A whisper fills your ears.

"If you fight it, you will regret it."

A shiver runs up your spine as you move quickly to rejoin the others.