A Real Nightmare
The darkness of night made it near impossible to see even with the bright moonlight, but I had to keep moving. Sugarcube corner couldn't be that far away now.
I continue shuffling through the bushes frantically looking around to see if 'she' was there. Keep moving until the loud snap of a twig stops my progression. Even though I snapped it, my instinct reminded me of the danger that it could have attracted. I crouch down and move slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible. The urge to just get up and fly was getting stronger, but I know the outcome if I even slightly hover off the ground. Finally deciding that it was safe to continue, I press on. I recognise the area even if it's been trashed, Sugarcube corner was literally around the corner. I check the area and sneak toward the door. Locked, figures. There was only one other way to get inside, as suicidal as it was. I wait for a few moments listening carefully for any noises and smash the window, injuring my right hoof in the process.
As soon as I jumped in, I could here something moving around in the same room I was. The place was pitch black, then again what wasn't. I slowly walk in the dark room until I hear a sudden voice. “No… No please… Leave me alone...” I immediately recognise it as Mrs Cupcake, she was alive too! “Hey Mrs Cupcake, is that you? It's only me, Rainbow Dash, don't panic and for the love of Celestia keep your voice down!” I whisper in an attempt to reason with the obviously terrified mare. “R-rainb-” She is abruptly cut off the sound of… Torn flesh and the crushing of bones. It's here, she's here.
I feel my heart beating loudly, so loudly I was afraid she would hear it. Then it hit me, the tearing sound of flesh and the smashing of bones. From what I could tell, there was just me and Mrs Cupcake in this room not including 'her'. So that could only mean… Oh no. As time increased it was becoming harder to remain still and quiet. I wanted to scream and just fly away from it all, but I held back. I can't disappoint the others, they're depending on me to get any supplies I can.
After what felt like hours I hear the sound of hoofsteps getting louder followed by what I assume to be I light chuckle. I can feel her towering over me, I could feel her eyes staring at me. Just as I was about to snap when the window upstairs smashed, somepony had the same idea as me it seems. I heard the pony stumble about and the loud thuds of 'her' going to investigate, now was my chance to get out of here.
When I was sure she was far enough up the stairs, I grabbed whatever food I could and climbed out of previously broken window. I heard a shriek come from Sugarcube corner lasting only a split second, then followed by a mutilated corpse flying out the window nearly hitting me. I waste no time trying to identify whoever it was, I limped as fast as I could in the direction I hoped to be the camp.
I took a moment to look back to see if I was being followed, and I saw her silhouette standing by Sugarcube corner. She must have been as tall as an average house, how she got in I do not wish to know. But I could make out one facial feature clear as day, two massive eyes with small blue irises staring right me. I could tell by the shape of her face that she was smiling unusually wide, it was like she was taunting me. Then, within the blink of an eye, she was gone. Twilight was right, she's changing even more.
2 Hours later
The journey back to the camp was far longer than expected because of this damned hoof and also because of the extra weight of whatever I grabbed back there. Even though it was slowing me down, I still wish I had brought an extra pack.
I arrived at a path to the camp, this was usually laid out with traps that anypony who knew about them would easily be able to navigate their way past. While walking past something felt off, I looked back and threw a rock where one of the traps would be triggered. Nothing happened. It was meant to swing a log down on any unsuspecting and probably unwanted visitors, but it didn't budge. Upon closer inspection, I saw it was being held by another bigger log, a log that nopony could lift especially at that hight. This can't be good. I turn the last corner where there would usually be a straight path leading to the camp that was usually overgrown with foliage, but instead it was just a completely plain path straight to the camp. The combination of terror and worry made me nearly vomit.
I slowly entered the camp hoping that it was just some space for more traps or something, but I knew better. The site of a few tents and an unlit campfire sent chills down my spine, there were far more tents and even structures than this. It was like we only set it up right there and then. Then another thought struck me, where is everypony? There were only three of the originally fourteen tents and two of them were barely standing with large cuts on either side, but one was untouched aside from the open entrance. I recognise it by the size, it was our tent. Me and the other five used this to plan the scavenging hunts, the placement of traps and to keep track of supplies and other surviving ponies. It seemed like they all left in a hurry, but they left everything behind. Food, useful materials and the new map. How could they go without the map of all things too, this nightmarish new Equestria is like a colossal maze. A small pool of blood in the corner catches my eye, in it was a small purple claw… Spike…
It seems all the events have made me slowly become more and more emotionless. I heard the murder of one of our close friends, encountered countless mutilated bodies of ponies that I'd normally pass by without a glance, been alone with no idea about the whereabouts or condition of my bestest friends and now I'm staring at the dismembered claw of one of them. I feel nothing any more, the only feeling I still have in fear. There is no losing that anymore...
I sat there for about twenty minutes thinking about a way to at least try and survive or an idea of where they could have went. Then my thoughts suddenly turn to 'her'. The way she looked at me didn't seem like a look anypony at all could give. I know that she's changed so much to the point where she's hardly recognisable, but something didn't seem right. Maybe, just maybe, there was still a shred of the real pony in there. Maybe Luna is still in there somewhere trying to get out… Then that chuckle from before echo in my thoughts, then it hits me. I'm wrong, Luna isn't being trapped by some creature. There is no creature, no being controlling her, it was Luna. She's just lost her damn mind.
I am suddenly pulled out of my thoughts by the sounds of voices. I jump up ignoring the pain from my hoof and sprint to the exit of the tent. As I was about to go through, I am suddenly met with a large hoof to the face. The blow sends me flying straight to the back of the tent again and the exit is zipped shut. I make my way back to the exit and try to unzip it, but it won't budge. I hear movement from outside, but it sounds like it's coming from every direction. Suddenly the voices return, “Oh sweet Celestia there it is! I told you it was a bad idea to come back, run!” a feminine voice screams. Before I attempted to determine whether I knew them or not I hear magic being cast followed by an explosion and a bright yellow light to the left of the tent. I could tell by the sound it was making that it was fire, and it was getting louder.
I quickly try to unzip the tent again, but it just won't move. I panic and start pacing around trying to think of a way to get out of here. I was running out of time, the fire was quickly surrounding the tent almost unnaturally. I glance at Spike's dismembered claw, it might be able to cut through and make a hole. As sick as it was there was no other way, so I picked up the claw and started to stab at the right side. The entire left side was now engulfed in flames and it was only a few inches from me. I finally manage to slice enough of the side to climb out, I would be burned by the wall of flames but it wasn't enough to kill me so at this point I couldn't care. But just as I was about to lift one hoof, something was emerging from the flames. It was her, she was walking through it all like it was nothing. She just blocked it off and smiled at me, not even moving after she completely obstructed my only exit. She didn't even blink once. I felt myself starting to burn, it was completely lit up now. I flailed, I screamed, I spastically looked for a way out, but to no avail. I collapsed, I couldn't breathe and the constant immense pain made it nearly impossible to move.
But then she moved closer. I watched as she approached me and slowly lowered her face to meet mine. Then, her smile widened even more and I could see her sharp, fang-like teeth. I saw my own refection in her eyes, I had next to no skin and my mane was gone. Then, for the first time in about four years, she spoke.
You can't wake up from this living nightmare.
