where your nightmare begins
“Sweetie are ya sure bout this it's getting late,” asked Apple Bloom unsure of herself, her friend's idea, and their location.
“It's fine we’ve got two hours before sundown,” assured Scootaloo as she looked into the shadowed gorge that stood before them.
“Are ya gonna tell me why ya brought us here Sweetie,” asked Apple Bloom.
“CMC Myth Busters!” exclaimed Sweetie excitedly.
“Sweetie we’ve already tried - I know but we never had a real myth that pony made it up so we would stop bugging him” finished sweetie cutting A.B off.
“and what makes you say that,”asked Scoots.
“Cause I got his brother to tell me” answered Sweetie as they stand on the basin of the gorge before the entrance they had decided to explore the bottom first.
“Oh,” said the duo. As they start following, Sweetie in.
“so what's the myth Sweetie,” asked Apple Bloom.
“The Curse of Black Stars Mark,” answered Sweetie in as spooky a voice she could manage. “Legend has it that the curse was made by a group of cultist unicorns through the dark arts” explained Sweetie darkly.
Meanwhile back at A.Js.
“What's taken them? It's not like my sis-ta be out this late,” said a worried Apple Jack.
“I'm sure they're fine," said Dash rolling her eyes at her friend's worry.
“Are you sure we shouldn't at least check?” asked an equally worried Rarity. “It looks as if it might rain,” finished Rarity looking at the darkening sky.
“Nonsense it's not scheduled till tomorrow,” said Rainbow Dash making a passive jester with a hoof. -flash rrrrrrrmmmmmble- crash--
“you were saying,” said Rarity.
“Let's head inside they should be back soon now,” said A.J as her friend's we're already indoors.
Back with the CMC.
“Sweetie it's raining we should head back,” suggested Scootaloo.
“No, we're almost there I can feel it!” exclaimed Sweetie.
“Uh feel what?” asked Apple Bloom a concerned look on her face.
“What he said all unicorns feel before they see the beast,” said Sweetie causing her friends to stand still.
“And what is it exactly?" asked Scootaloo.
“Yeah an what are ya feeling Sweetie?” asked apple bloom nervously
“A dark presence,” explained Sweetie in a tone that showed no concern or fear. “He said if I ever feel it I couldn't show fear cause it's what the thing feeds off of “ finished Sweetie, in a dark tone ending in an evil laugh.
-crash RR rumble- “aaa!,” exclaimed Sweetie startled by a peal of lightning and thunder . “Maybe you're right it is getting later than we're normally out here,” said Sweetie Belle her fear of thunderstorms winning out.
“What was that!” asked Apple Bloom frightened as a shadow of something ran around them at a high speed.
“That thing moves faster then dash does!” exclaimed Scoots.
“It.t.t..I It's The shadow beast run!” stuttered Sweetie yelling as she turned around and ran, running into a dark figure -crash rumble- AAAA! hmph uh” screamed Sweetie before she’s swatted by a giant claw and thrown against the gorge wall knocking the wind out of her a pile of rubble burying her.
You fiend!” yelled Apple Bloom as she looked over to the one twitching hoof of her friend sticking out of the rubble. -Ahhh ng...humph- charged Apple Bloom before a second claw slashes her side sending her tumbling and sliding across the ground before stopping bloodied and battered.
“You!?*” Yelled Scootaloo before noticing the beast had completely vanished. “Apple Bloom!” exclaimed Scoots running over to her friend. “Apple Bloom please say something!” said Scootaloo as looks at the small pool of blood around her friend.
-mg-ow-ow ow- said, Apple Bloom as she struggled to her hooves. “We have ta get Sweetie outa here before that thing comes back” exclaimed A.B a pained expression on her face showing a blood-filled eye. -mg- winced Scoots upon seeing this as she helps her friend up and over to Sweetie Belle hoof still twitching slightly.
Back at Sweet Apple Acres.
"Alright, Rarity the clubhouse Dash scan the edge of the ever free Big Mac south to west fields Granny stay here in case they come back I got the- help!” instructed A.J interrupted
“help,” said Scootaloo. Struggling through the open door of the farm house carrying the weight of both of her friends .
“Help Sweetie” struggled Apple Bloom as she and scoots carrying Sweetie “hel-cough- Sweetie Belle,” said A.B as she coughs up blood. Before collapsing with Scootaloo a trail of blood leading south- east out of the house.
"Sweetie!" Exclaimed Rarity rushing over with A.J and Dash.
“We have to get them to the hospital big mac get Twi have her meet us there,” said A.J gently but swiftly picking up her sister and rushing out as her friends do the same
“yep,yep,yep,” said Big Mac rushing alongside them before changing direction
The hospital
-Ng- “where am I,” asked Scootaloo her head throbbing as she looks to her left to find R.D sleeping in a chair next to her. “Rainbow Dash? Mn..ng” asked Scootaloo as she tries to move but finds herself held by restraints of some sort.
“Rainbow Dash help I can't move!” exclaimed Scootaloo causing Rainbow Dash to wake with a start.
“aah whaa?- Scootaloo!” said Dash gasping and exclaiming her excitement upon seeing her #1 fan and adoptive sister awake.
“What's going on why can't I move!?” questioned Scootaloo shouting and struggling against the hospital restraints.
“Scootaloo please calm down,” asked R.D as she pushed Scootaloo back against the hospital bed.
"No!...no no no not till you tell me what's going on!” yelled Scootaloo fearfully. And finding she couldn't move her wings either.
“nurse!” called Dash. ‘ I'm not going to go through this again I'm sorry squirt’ thought Dash as she called for a nurse.
“Scootaloo please I'll tell you but you have to calm down!” pleaded R.D
“no i-mmn-,” said Scootaloo noticing the nurse and what she had with her. Scootaloo felt a chill run down her spine at seeing her worst fear, needles. ‘She wouldn't would she?!’ thought Scootaloo squirming a little less her fear turning straight into adrenaline.
“Scoots please I can't go through this again,” said Dash fighting her sappy, state as a few tears run down her cheeks. "You…" ’she’s already done it before but she knows how much I hate those things why I trusted her why’d she...’ she thought. “...traitor!” finished Scootaloo yelling her adrenaline spiking as was evident on the heart monitor her B.P a death-defying 321 over 456 heart rate 256 per minute and with her new found adrenaline driven strength - nrr snap grrrr “NO!” screamed Scoots breaking her left hoof free grabbing her would be sister and pulling her muzzle to muzzle.
“what’s going on now THEN i'll calm down!” said Scootaloo angrily.her eye’s pin pricks.
“ sniffle...You Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom we're out crusading it was late and raining when it should’ve been a clear sunset me Rarity and A.J we're about to go and look for you but when we turned to head out you and Bloom where standing there carrying Sweetie on your backs you both asked us to help before the two of you collapsed we took you and them to the hospital,here you..you’ve been having seizures squirt it's the only reason I let them, please i can't do this again!?” said Dash as tears flowed hot dripping on Scootaloo.
201 over 150, 156 Beats a minute. "Where... how are...are they... are they...mnng,” asked Scootaloo. fearing the worst B.P 252 over 196, 198 B.P.M
“there in recovery there going to be OK you..y... you've been in a... coma for... nine days!” answered Dash breaking down and hugging Scootaloo. B.P 102 over 96, 102 B.P.M → 78 → 62
“ I've been in a coma for nine days-rrmm gerggle- having seizures?” said Scootaloo questioningly and in shock as her stomach groaned with hunger and dis-nerve.
“Yes and I’ll bet you're hungry let's get you out of these Restraints,” said Dash tightening before ending her embrace.
“I am kinda- hey what's she doing!?” said Scootaloo inching away from the nurse.
“Easy, squirt she’s just taking off your Restraints,” said Dash. explainingly.
“Oh I uh mm no needles... right?!” asked Scootaloo with an audible whimper.
“Right?” Said Dash questioningly eyeing the nurse.
“No needle Ms Dash” answered green thorn in an English accent.
“Ahh-sigh” breathed Scootaloo relieved as she lets the nurse undo her restraints.
The moment she was free she pulls out her iv a small trickle of blood coming out as a result before she tackles Dash before green thorn could unbind her wings and lets herself go, crying into her idle sobbing “we're...ng are they...what room?” asked Scootaloo as Dash just held her before returning the embrace.
“Recoveries doors only open for a nurse with the right clearance and during visiting hours and even then you need a nurse to open the door for you there in room nineteen... But visiting isn't for an hour why don't we eat first?” explained dash rocking her adoptive sister. ‘why wouldn't her parents come I understand there traveling but seriously?!’ thought dash angered at their lack of caring.
“Uh um o...OK, i... How are they?” asked Scootaloo drawing a worried expression from her idle.
“There ok, to be honest A.J, Rarity and I didn't think our hopes would be met this early but twilight and the medical community made a huge difference. How about right after lunch we talk with doctor Strong Heart and see if you're well enough to go see them, I mean don't get me wrong I think you're as strong as ever, but he sees things that I wouldn't notice until it got worse and I don't want you to have to go through anything else you haven't already,” answered Dash explainingly as she and Scoots break their embrace.
“I don't think you’ll have to wait for very long,” said Strong Heart at the door to their room as he walks in Scootaloo hurriedly presses herself against Dash as she looks at a doctor that to her would have Franken pony running.
“uh ..mm” whimpered Scootaloo as she looks at a doctor with a commando-style utility belt straight from her nightmares sharp objects from needles to hooks strange torture gadgets from Tartarus itself or that’s at least what she saw.
