" Well here we are Rapscallion. " I looked up at my Auntie Mystic Craft and then to the mansion that would be my home. " Well go on, go take a look. " In truth, the giant house looked intimidating for me. A three floor castle complete with an attic, basement, storm cellar, and many rooms. I gulped down what fears I had and approached the massive oak doors of the house. " Don't get lost sweetie! I'll be right inside after I finish looking at the outside. " she called to me, and I hoped she was only kidding.
The inside of the house was a beauty I had never before seen. A large navy blue carpet greeted me and led me to the empty living room. To the left was a kitchen that had a door that led to the dining room, to my right was the stairs that led up to the rooms, and straight ahead was a hall that led to the study which was currently closed. I ascended the stairs to the second floor that peered over the living room. I continued my walk over the kitchen to where three rooms were. The first room had a view of the front of the house and didn't really interest me due to the yellow wallpaper that was starting to peel away. The next room overlooked the left side of the house and I saw trees, not surprising since this house was in the middle of a forest. The third room was the most intriguing to me.
The blue wallpaper had a calming effect and the light gray carpet was soft under my hooves. The window had a balcony that over looked the back yard and it was perfect for me. I decided this was to be my room. It even had a walk in closet and a half bath so I wouldn't have to walk through dark halls to find the little colts room in the middle of the night because I hadn't listened to my Aunt and drank two glasses of Sweet Apple Acres Apple Juice. The last time that happened was not one I cared to remember. Only two rooms left unexplored and the basement was not a place I cared to view alone. The attic was all that was left and the thought of neat treasures left by my Grampy was enough to make me forget my fears. I pulled the string and opened the hatch to where a fall-out ladder descended eagerly awaiting me. I climbed the ladder into the new room.
Empty, of course. The room had been cleaned spare the wardrobe at the far end. Why the wardrobe hadn't been taken was beyond me and I was curious. I approached the large closet and wiped away the dust that had accumulated over the years until I could see my reflection in the mirror that was built into the door of the giant wardrobe. My usual reflection stared back. A light brown, maybe chestnut, pelt with a dusty blonde mane and tail, my usual black button up shirt with blue flames that I never bothered to button up, and my strange gray-blue eyes that changed from gray to blue depending on my mood and had black bags underneath from lack of sleep.
I had always been a problem child and I felt bad about it. Growing up I never met my real parents because my dad had disappeared and my mom, who was a teen when she had me, didn't live past giving birth to me. I had lived with my aunt for eighteen years now and I swear I had made her life a miserable hell. I had always gotten into fights and was always mad at the poor mare. She had never done anything to me. She always had a smile on her face and even when I acted out, her smile never wavered. She had never risen her voice at me and she had never been truly angry with me. I felt horrible and I couldn't figure out if she would be happy about me living here from now on without her. I heard her downstairs calling my name and started my descent when I thought I heard a giggle from the wardrobe. Figuring it was my imagination, I headed downstairs to greet my aunt.
" Well sweetie? How is it? Do you like it? "
" Well yeah I like it a lot....but ...I just..... "
" What is it sweetie?"
" I don't know if I'm ready to be by myself, " I admitted feeling disgusted I was sharing my inner feels with her.
" Aw sweetie, you're grown now, I think you'll manage, plus you can always write to me and I'll gladly fly by, " she said with a small flap of her wings.
I nodded, it seemed too early for her to go and I still had one thing on my mind. " I'm sorry...for all those years. I'm sorry for causing you so much stress. I'm sorry for..... "
" Now stop right there mister, " she interrupted before I could finish, " you may have been a hooful but if you think you were a problem, you're wrong. You may of had those days where I wanted to strangle you, but I knew it was because of me. I'm not your mother, I never was and it was wrong of me to try to be her. She was everything I wasn't. The yin to my yang.....and without her, I was lost. " Tears were dotting her eyes and her voice was quivering, something I had never seen her do. " I loved you like a son...... " she broke down sobbing.
I embraced her and she hugged me rested her head in my shoulder crying. We hugged for the longest time, the both of us crying until she finally got a grip of her emotions.
" I'm sorry sweetie, it's late and I have to return home. I'll be back later tomorrow if you wish."
" Yeah, please do, and can you make some of that sweet tea? It was always my favorite. " She nodded and we said our goodbyes.
Alone at last. I had finally done it. Here I was in my new home which was my Grampa's old house back when he was still alive. I felt so grown up and yet I felt alone. I decided to call it a day and go lie down. My aunt and I had bought some of my stuff such as blankets since they were lightweight and I was grateful I had something to sleep on. I trotted to the blue room and set the blankets down.
After a few hours I still hadn't fallen asleep and I had this strange feeling of curiosity. I couldn't stop thinking about that old closet up in the attic. I heard a thump and I sat up. The room was dark except slivers of moonlight peeking through the window. I stood up and looked around the dark room when I saw it, a shadow on the wall!
Deciding not to make a sound, I followed the figure that owned the shadow. I couldn't see their features in the darkness. They were just a dark silhouette in my obscured vision. They ascended the ladder to the attic and I followed as quietly as possible. The attic was pitch black but I could vaguely see the wardrobe in my peripheral view. The figure stepped into the closet and I followed curious. I opened the door expecting to have trapped the figure but it was if they weren't there anymore. I stepped inside and pushed back the coats.....nothing. A sudden draft of wind blew the doors closed and everything went black.
I tried to feel around the dark room and it seemed like it was forever until my hooves brushed up against something hard. It was rough and felt like rock yet it was a wall, or so I fgured. It was dark, so I couldn't quite see what it was and I continued feeling around. This closet felt larger than it really was and I was scared. I saw a glimmer of light ahead and tumbled forward until I burst through the door that led to...a snowy forest?
I fell on my face in the cold snow and stood up instantly. I was somehow in a dense, snowy, forest. I turned around and saw a door that closed by itself. I wanted to open it but didn't see any handles, I was alone in a forest. My worse childhood fear had been realized. I wandered the cold forest for what felt like ages until I collapsed, freezing into the snow. The cold was unbearable and I was convinced I had frostbite on my everything at this point. I was starting to feel drowsy and thought I was going to die. My eyes went closed and I blacked out.
" Will he be alright, " asked the first voice.
I was vaguely aware that I wasn't lying in the snow anymore.
" I am most certain he will be fine, I may have found him just in time, he almost froze to death, " replied a shaky male voice.
" Is there anything I can do, " inquired the other voice which was definitely female.
" Yes actually, fetch another blanket, we'll have to nurse our guest back to full health, " replied the male voice.
