My eyes slid open as I lay in my bed. I stared at the drab ceiling of my room, slowly coming to my senses. I became acutely aware of the position I was in, an uncomfortable twisted mess of Scootaloo. I sighed internally. I hate how my body does that. It always seems to find a way to twist itself into the strangest positions while I slumber.
I tried to roll over, but it didn’t work. My muscles simply didn’t respond when I commanded them to. A surge of panic raced through me; this hadn’t happened before. It was almost as if I was paralyzed. We’d learned about it in school a little. Had I managed to snap my spine while I slept? Tears welled up in my eyes as I tried to move again. The same result occurred, and another surge of adrenaline raced into my blood. My eyes flicked to the end of my bed, hoping to see somepony there, somepony to help.
I thought I’d left it behind.
It can’t be here, not now!
Did it do this to me?
A silhouette stood at the end of my bed, a black shadow. It seemed frozen, frozen in time. I couldn’t tell if it was looking at me or not. Mostly because it didn’t have a head.
Memories of that camping trip a few years ago raced back to me. A campfire tale, brought to life in my dreams, by my sick, twisted mind. And a savior, arriving from the moon and offering encouraging words. Luna was the one thing that allowed me to continue in that dream. But Luna couldn’t help when I was awake. The Headless Horse couldn’t be blown to bits now. I was on my own.
It stood there, never moving, never making a sound. Was it waiting? What was it waiting to do? Was it waiting for me to do something? What could I do? It had frozen me. And so I waited.
The longer it stayed, the faster my heart began to race. It felt like it was trying to burst out of my chest, the writhing sensation was so intense. And I couldn’t move. The sensation of helplessness was overwhelming. I needed help. If I didn’t get it, I was going to die.
I tried to speak, but couldn’t move my mouth or stimulate my vocal chords. My adrenaline spiked again, I was going to die in this bed. I half began expecting to see the spirit of death himself, to reap my soul and take me away. Maybe that’s what the headless spectre in front of me is here for. Maybe my body is dead. So why do I hear my heartbeat?
I tried to speak again, and felt a buzz in my throat. I made a sound! I can still live! I blinked. I realized it was the first time I’d blinked in however long I’d lain here.
I looked back towards the shade in front of me and my heart nearly stopped. I saw two glowing eyes, hovering above the mangled stump of it’s neck, and a thin line I could only assume to be a mouth. As I watched, terrified, the line curled up into an upside down arc. I began to strain in my bed, furiously attempting to move and yell, find a way to run away from the ghost that was haunting me. More buzzing in my throat, and then I heard it.
“Eh,” I said, my voice tense and strained. No matter how terrible it sounded, it provided a ray of hope, a ray of light into the abyss of fear I’d fallen into. I began to strain harder than ever, attempting to run.
“Heh- HEH!”
My leg shifted, and another spear of hope pierced the hide of fear. The horse seemed to sense it, smiling wider. It began to fade.
“Help.”
My plaintive cry sent the shade reeling. it vanished, and I suddenly could move my body again. I scrambled upright and grabbed my pillow, hugging it to my chest. I began to weep softly, from fear and sheer energy. I looked at the little clock by my bedside. It read 3:57 A.M. I stared at it through blurry eyes. No way was I going back to sleep. I wouldn’t let it get to me again.
<--->
“Scoots, ya all right?”
The voice of Apple Bloom cut through my state of mind, forcing me back to consciousness. I looked up at her, picking my gaze up and away from the food I had on my lunch tray. “No, I’m not,” I replied.
“Whyever not?” Sweetie Belle asked, eyeing my pudding.
“Something happened last night,” I said, pulling my pudding closer to my body. That stuff took one and a half bits out of my lunch balance; I’m not giving it up.
“What?” Apple Bloom inquired. “I’ve nevah seen you shaken up so much.” I looked away from her, trying to hide my expression. She laughed a little. “Scoots, I’m your friend. You can tell me what happened, without me tryin’ to steal yah puddin’.” She threw a distasteful glance at Sweetie Belle.
“Fine,” I said, casting off she shadow of doubt. They wouldn't judge me. It seemed they’d become more mature after they had gotten their cutie marks. But all it did for me was make me more awesome. “I have a little bit of a stupid fear. I thought I had it conquered, but last night, I woke up, and it was standing at the foot of my bed.”
“What was?” Sweetie asked.
I swallowed nervously. Moment of truth. “The Headless Horse,” I whispered.
“Huh, did Dash scare ya that badly?” Apple Bloom asked.
“No, that’s the thing,” I said. “I conquered that fear years ago. But last night, I woke up and couldn’t move or speak. And it’s silhouette stood at the hoof of my bed, watching me.”
“Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“I stayed up the rest of the night,” I replied. “I was awake for sure.”
“Aw, is tough little Scoots afraid of a myth?” Apple Bloom teased.
“This isn’t funny,” I growled. “Imagine being stuck, unable to move or speak, when one of your long forgotten fears stands at your bed.”
“I think you’re overreacting,” Sweetie Belle said. “It can’t have actually happened.”
Maybe it was my lack of sleep, but I felt hurt. “It happened,” I snapped back at her. “I’m going to sit somewhere else.” I picked up my tray and left.
<--->
I sat alone at a bench on the newly renovated playground, not speaking to anypony. I was stunned that my friends were so callous when it came to something that had scared me so badly. It wasn’t a joke! Couldn’t they see that?
A pony slid onto the the bench next to me. I didn’t look to see who it was. “Scoots,” Apple Bloom’s voice said.
“Yeah?” I said, annoyed.
“Sorry about treatin’ ya like that,” she said. “I didn’t know it was so serious to you.”
“It’s fine,” I grumbled.
“Can I say somethin’?” she asked quietly.
“Think about it before you say it,” I said. “I’m not in the mood for jokes at the moment.”
“Don’t be afraid.”
The words hit me. They were so crazy it took me a moment to actually process what she said. I gave a small laugh. “How?” I asked. “How will that help?”
“Things from your past don’t usually show up without a reason,” she said. “Stop fearin’ it and see what it wants. The fact that it stayed there, without attackin’ ya, makes me think there’s somethin’ more.” She got up. “I’ll leave now.”
As she went, I mulled her word’s over in my sleep-deprived brain. She might be right, but then again, she might get me killed. But I’m not a little filly anymore. I’m big. I’m strong. And she might be right. So I’ll take her advice. But I’m not sure if I can bear that again.
<--->
I recognize this forest. I remember the moon, the sky, the ground. I remember it all.
He’s here.
I started to trudge through the dream forest, looking for him. The Headless Horse was here last time, he’s got to be here now. He brought me here. I'm going to find him. Take Apple Bloom’s advice.
Because it can set me free.
I scanned the trees, looking for a silhouette. He’s got to be here. After last night, he will be here.
A gale began to whip through the trees, blowing faster and faster. My mane whipped around, flying into my face. A hiss reached my ears, and I shrank down, the fear returning.
“Sssssssorry.”
I froze, uncertain about what had just happened. The wind just spoke to me! I looked around. “Apology accepted,” I said, looking for the Horse to appear.
Speak of the spirit, and he shall appear. Around fifty feet away from me, the same shade I’d seen last night appeared. It walked toward me, the eyes and mouth forming. And then it stopped.
“I didn't mean to scare you,” it said.
“It's fine,” I said. “What do you need?”
“I need to find my head,” he said softly. “I’ve been trapped as a ghost in your world because of it. It's a part of my soul. I need it to move on.”
I gasped. Never had the thought even crossed my mind that he may have needed help. “Where is it?” I asked.
The shade pointed at the moon. “In that direction,” he said. “But I can't locate it. That's where you come in.”
I swallowed nervously. “Okay,” I said. “Let's go.”
We began to walk. I spoke first. “Why me?” I asked.
“I knew you,” he said.
“Why show up in the middle of the night?” I inquired.
The spectre seemed to sigh. “A mistake,” he said. “I thought you would be more willing to help. I didn't realize you feared me.”
“Hey, no prob,” I said.
“You're too kind,” he responded.
We continued on our way. I began to feel an attraction, sort of like a magnet for my soul. I turned toward it. The shade followed me. “We're close,” he said.
Soon I saw how close we were. An ethereal green light began to shine ahead of us, and I gasped. “Is that it?” I asked.
The Horse nodded. He ran ahead. “Thanks!” he shouted. “You don't know what this means to me!”
I sat back and thought. I remembered the camping trip from years ago. I thought back to how I’d reacted to the Horse. I gasped. “I should be thanking you!” I shouted back. “You inadvertently helped me get closer to my idol back when I first saw you.”
The Horse turned around. “You're welcome,” he said. He then reached up, grabbed the glowing head, and placed it on his shoulders. A burst of green light followed, and the forest faded to black.
<--->
I woke up and gasped. I looked at the clock. 7:32 A.M. I smiled. I don't usually like being wrong, but I can make an exception now.
END
Author's Note
Yeah! My first one shot fic! Now, the thing Scootaloo described was what is known as sleep paralysis. I had an experience with it recently, so it's accurate. The hallucination of the Horse could have been caused by the chemical that causes dreams, but I like to think of it as more paranormal. Tah-daah! Story idea!
I hope you guys enjoyed this. Leave a comment and tell me how it is!