Author's Note

Hey guys! Long time, no see. This chapter is partially inspired by one of my most favorite authors, Edgar Allen Poe. This guy is really the reason on why I wanted to make such a story, with inspiration from the Innistrad storyline. Thus, this chapter is like my own tribute to him. I hope you all enjoy it.

Nevermore

Chapter 9: Nevermore.

Fluttershy woke with a gasp, and immediately looked at her belly.

The spear was gone. No scars, no clear evidence that she was skewered at all.

She was still in the ballroom, and looked up to see the shattered remains of the glass the spear went through.

“So it wasn't a dream.” Fluttershy told herself.

“Caw!”

Fluttershy whirled around to see… a single, ragged, jet-black raven. This raven cawed again and its eyes glowed a sickly green.

“Hi… um, Mr. Raven.”

The bird cocked its head to the side and cawed.

“... judging by the green eyes, you're no ordinary raven.” Fluttershy said.

The raven spread his wings and flew around the room, and landed on Rainbow Dash’s corpse.

Fluttershy did a double take on Rainbow Dash’s body. She noted the numerous cuts, the gut-spilling slash, the torn throat, and the pool of coagulated blood.

It… appalled her.

Fluttershy’s reddish-gold eyes began to water… with blood. Tiny streams of it slipped from her eyes as she turned around to see all the mangled bodies of the Mane Six, minus Applejack, who was lucky to escape with her life.

“What have I done?!” Fluttershy yelled quietly as she wiped the blood-tears off her snout and cheek. Panic and Madness sowed their seeds in the mind of Fluttershy as she kept on staring at her gruesome masterpiece.

She turned to the raven, and frantically asking, “please,... tell me if this is a dream! Tell me i'm dreaming, PLEASE!!!”

The raven regarded her with cold eyes.

Fluttershy went to the raven and asked, “please, tell me I'll see them again, in anyway, shape or form!”

Quoth the raven, “Nevermore.”

Fluttershy’s eyes widened as she heard the raven’s word. She stumbled as she realized all the horror, all the blood soaked screams of agonizing pain she caused.

Then it dawned on her...

“The spear changed me. Luna! What have you done to me?!”

Luna appeared in a mirage of herself, her face was unfeeling, no pity in it whatsoever.

“I did what must of been done. Thy soul is cleansed of the corruption. Vampirism cannot be cured.”

Fluttershy prostrated before the princess of the moon.

“Please, help me!” She begged in a whisper.

“Silence cur!” Luna shouted, taking Fluttershy by surprise. “You deserve the worst punishment after what you did. I was willing to forgive you, but you showed me that there was nothing to forgive. After you finish up here, you are banished from the land until the end of time!”

Fluttershy began to weep blood again as she stammered, “p-please… h-h-have mercy.”

“MERCY?! did you show mercy to the innocent lives you killed, who were your friends?! For your deeds, you expect mercy from me or my sister?! Never!”

Luna brought her voice down to a dangerous tone. “After this mansion, if you don't leave Equestria, i'm going to kill you myself, understand me?! This is the price and you will pay it.”

Luna extended her hoof, and with a magic pull, ripped the Element of Kindness out of Fluttershy’s body.

“You don't deserve this!” Luna hissed as she disappeared.

Fluttershy collapsed into a sobbing, bloody heap. Everything was taken from her. The raven flew to her side.

“What am I?” Fluttershy asked between sobs.

Quoth the raven; “Nevermore.”

(---)

“He’s getting closer!”

“Don't look at his eyes! Keep yours on me!”

Roseluck and Applejack galloped through the various hallways, a bunch of ancient, floating dolls were chasing them, all with glowing red eyes.

“Your blood will taste so sweet.” The dolls said in unison as a shadow was forming in between them.

Roseluck took out a vial. This was the last vial of Wolfsbane. She uncorked the vial and threw it at the dolls.

It did… nothing.

The dolls laughed and lashed out at Applejack, grabbing her hind legs. Applejack slammed into the floor, her eyes filled with terror as she was being rapidly pulled back.

“Roseluck!” she shouted.

Roseluck dived at her, locking hooves with Element of Honesty, using all her strength to hold on.

“Awww, we can't have anything like that.” the dolls said.

The shadow solidified into Ashen Spectre. While Roseluck was temporarily distracted by the master of the dolls, the master took her own sword out of it's scabbard…

And used it to slice at Roseluck’s fetlock, slicing off that part and the hoof of Roseluck’s right front leg. From this, Applejack was dragged into the shadows screaming, and Roseluck stood there in shock as she realized what just happened.

She screamed in pain as blood began to pump from the stump. She knew that she had to stop the bleeding, before she died.

She paused and heard Applejack’s agonizing scream as she was torn apart. Roseluck could even hear her blood spatter down the hall.

Roseluck threw herself into a room and closed the door. It had no lock, so she was done for if Ashen decided to bring his dolls for a visit.

Roseluck was silently crying in pain as she looked frantically for something to stop the bleeding on her stump. With no other option, she grabbed and yanked the ancient bedsheets of the bed in the room. With her teeth she ripped the sheets apart and began to wrap her stump with haste. It hurt so bad…

The bleeding stopped, but Roseluck is having second thoughts about coming here. She had done nothing but lose her friends, and letting everypony die. She was so sick of it, so sick of it all.

She looked mournfully around the room. No doubt that Ashen is looking for her now. Her blood trail should lead right to her location.

She collapsed on the floor, weeping, hoping that she is granted a quick death.

(**?**)

Fluttershy slowly made her way around the manor, blood staining her cheeks.

Banished, alone, deemed a monster.

All she wanted was to bring her friends back, all she wanted was for all this to end.

But it hasn't.

Fluttershy’s new companion, the raven, followed closely behind her, cawing and pecking at the occasional skull.

Fluttershy was alone. The raven was seemingly tormenting her, by answering “nevermore,” to all her questions and monologues. Every once in awhile, Fluttershy would turn to see if the raven was still there, and its piercing gaze would nearly drive her insane.

Fluttershy realized she had no purpose, no salvation, no hope.

She lost her friends, her element, herself, and lost sight of the goal. What could she do now in this horror land? What could she do to possibly change the outcome of this juggernaut of evil?.

(**^**)

Death did not come for Roseluck.

Roseluck’s painful sobs turned into sniffles as she slowly regained her train of thought.

She was still terrified of Ashen casting his shadow at any second, but knew that she needed to see what she could use in order to go out the door.

She got up, and slowly looked at the room once more. It was a small room, perhaps ten-by-ten feet, with faded peeling wallpaper. A simple bed and dresser were in the room, along with a faded portrait of a white mare.

“Marelady Whitehoof.” Roseluck said in a hushed whisper. Underneath the portrait was a worn note, folded up.

Roseluck carefully went over to the dresser, keeping her stump close to her chest. She had to get used to it.

Using her teeth, she picked up the note. She slid onto the old bed, making it creak. Using her left front hoof and her teeth, she was able to break the seal on the note, and open it.

She read it quietly to herself.

“My love, I have accepted the duel, and have accepted that it may be the last time I can openly tell you about how much I feel.

I must confess that I have known of your marriage to Lord Whitehoof when I courted you in the gardens. I saw you once and I just… had to make you mine. I am a scoundrel, a liar, and a thief. It broke my heart, and fed my jealousy every time I saw you with him.

Perhaps this duel will ultimately decide the winner of your heart. Know this, If I win, then we can finally live the way we wanted to. To see the world, to live on the road, never stopping, living free. Alas, it is but a dream. Your husband is the best swords stallion on the continent, so this is my death writ.

Inside my dresser is my sword. I shall not fight with it, and shall use an inferior blade instead. If you get this note, burn it and flee the manor, because I dread to think on what he could do to our young Anvil Break.

I'm sorry it turned out like this, but in the end, I go to meet my destiny with the only honor I ever had in my life.

Don't waste your prayers on me.

Love, Steel Plate.”

Roseluck shed a single tear. She read the unknown stallion’s writ, read the first of her lineage’s own words.

She put the note in her bag and slid off the bed. She went over to the dresser and opened the top draw.

She opened the case and gazed at the sword.

It was a Gothic-style straight-edge arming sword. In the middle of the black colored blade was decorative rubies that resembled crystalline drops of blood. The crossguard curved downwards on both sides, and was made of silver. Strips of dark leather were wrapped around the hilt. A small, single ruby orb topped the pommel. Next to it was a black scabbard, with red silk marking the wavy patterns. A belt as attached to it.

While looking at this sword, Roseluck made her mind up.

“I will reach the Bloody Chapel. I swear on my ancestor’s grave.”

Using her teeth, she slid the sword into its scabbard, and tied the scabbard to her flank with the belt. She still kept her missing sword’s scabbard on. She then faced the door.

With a deep breath, she said, “I do this for you… Steel Plate. I will get through this horror. For all my friends…”

She was in front of the door, and felt fear returning to her mind.

“And may darkness take me if I fail, nevermore to return.”

She opened the door.