A Darker Home

"I suppose now it's my turn, huh?" Robin says.

You look to the girls, and then back to Robin.

"Well, uh. Yeah. Wasn’t that how it works?" you say.

She nods and heads into the hallway and the three of you follow her. As she heads into the play room, the door closes behind the three of you.

“Thank you, all of you. But, I don’t think anypony else is going to be able to leave,” Robin says.

You take a step back, examining Robin as she sits in front of the torn open teddy bear.

“What? Why?!”

Robin smiles and shakes her head.

“Twilight Sparkle, the smartest unicorn in Ponyville. Anonymous, the Human. Fluttershy, the Element of Kindness. The three in the nearest town that could help my friends pass on to somewhere safer,” Robin says gently.

Twilight takes a step forward as Fluttershy moves behind you.

“Your names and words of your deeds traveled on the wind to my ears. Gertrude was about to claim another life. I couldn’t allow that to happen. I had a letter sent, in a means that would gather your attention. I just hoped you could help everypony pass on. But… I’m getting tired. I’ve been using everything in my power to hold Gertrude back from hurting anypony tonight. If I left now… I don’t know what would happen to you three if she were at full strength.”

Robin reaches a hoof to the bear, but it phases through.

“So, you’re saying...” Twilight says.

“I… I tricked you,” Robin says. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t think of any other way. I've been trying to get all of them to go through their doors, but a few couldn't see them or didn't want to. So, thank you, all of you. For protecting them. You’ve helped my sisters in a way I never could.”

You take a step forward and kneel down to the filly.

“I understand if you hate me… I know don’t deserve your forgiveness. If I really try, I can help the three of you get out of here, then it’ll just be me facing Gertrude. I might be even able to help the filly in the basement.”

“That’s not okay,” you say. “You’re getting out of here, too. No one is getting left behind,” you say to her.

Robin looks up at you curiously.

“W-wait, what?” she says.

“We’re not leaving until all the fillies pass on. We’ll deal with Gertrude,” you say. “It was the plan before and it’s the plan now.”

Robin traces a hoof on the ground, staring at the bear.

“I’m… still sorry,” she says.

“We forgive you,” Twilight says, approaching the filly. “But… how can we help you pass on now? You’re the only filly left.”

Robin smiles, then looks up to the three of you.

"This is the only place that I can see my door," she says. “This is the place where I was killed.”

"So you have seen your door before?" you ask.

"Yeah... I couldn't leave the girls though. I'm like a big sister to all of them. I stood up for them. I fought back."

You nod.

"Sort of like Glitter then..." says Twilight.

"Not really," she says. “I would try to hit back at Gertrude when she struck us. I’m the reason why Gertrude is… well, a ghost. And, since I fought then, I want to help you before I join them."

"How?" asks Twilight.

"Well, there’s a filly here. She wandered in a few days ago and Gertrude has her in a trance."

"That's Annie," exclaims Twilight. "Is she safe?"

"Yes, she's sleeping at the bottom of the hole as Gertrude's hostage."

"Then, what do we do? How can we get everypony out of here?" Twilight asks.

"That's the problem... I don't know," says Robin sadly. "I've been thinking so hard, but I don't know how you can do it. After I leave, Gertrude will be at full power and I have no idea what will happen."

You stand up.

"Well then, I know what we have to do. We’ll have to bargain with her."

The three ponies look at you questioningly.

"You won't like it, but it will work. Let's just get this over with so we can get home."

Twilight stands up, furious.

"No! We've done all of this as a team so far, so we will do this as a team. What’s the plan? What could we possibly bargain?"

You sigh and shake your head.

"Twilight, this is the only way. I had a feeling it would end this way once we started this."

"W-will anypony get hurt?" Fluttershy asks.

A lump forms in your throat. You know exactly what she means. You close your eyes.

"Everyone will be fine, Fluttershy. If this goes right, you’ll all get out safe."

She looks directly into your eyes.

"Will you be alright?"

You look into her worried eyes.

"I'll be fine," you mutter.

She doesn't break her gaze. Twilight looks at Fluttershy, then Robin stands up.

"Well, it sounds like this is my time to go," the filly says.

Robin walks over to the door, and raises her hoof to the handle. White light fills the room one more time as the rest of the girls are playing catch, a dog runs from filly to filly, following the ball.

"Hey girls."

"Robin!" the girls all chime in unison.

Robin turns to you three and smiles.

"Thank you... so much. I swear I will find a way to repay you three. Good luck."

The three of you nod.

"Have fun, girls," Twilight calls to them.

"Bye bye!" says Fluttershy excitedly.

Twilight simply waves with a smile, as the door slowly closes for the last time.

“See you soon,” you respond.