My name is Lexee or at least that is what others call me. It’s been quite long since anybody called me by my full name and to be honest I can’t remember what exactly it sounded like. Time is relative and for me it always flowed with a strange pace. But even my parents adopted that sort of nickname and called me by it, I can’t say it bothered me since I thought it sounded cool. I still do but I wish I remembered my real name. I know it has to be written down in some birth certificate or a document from hospital, school or any other public institution but I am not willing to return to any of those places. I have my reasons and I am going to tell you about one of them, events that started everything I became and who I still am. Without further delays lets dwell on the story I am about to tell, please keep in mind that it happened long time ago when I was still a filly in her teenage years so some facts are blurry in my memory.
All started when we arrived in Ponyville, I remember we left our home in a hurry bringing only the most important personal things with us along with some bits for a fresh start. It looks as if we run from something but what it was eludes my memory to this day. Each of us, that is my mother, father and I, carried two saddlebags on our backs and as small as those things are they weren’t even fully loaded. Since we are batponies we traveled at night and arrived in the town at dawn.
Tired and sleepy we roamed empty streets in search for a place to stay in or at least catch some shuteye. After few attempts and grumpy responses from the residents father managed to find an empty house somewhere between the library and the forest. He was willing to pay for our stay but there was nopony to be paid, house looked abandoned and its condition suggested no one lived in there for quite some time. Boarded windows, visible slots between the logs, fractured doorframe and roof that consisted of more holes than wood, made it clear the place is rather unoccupied. Parents decided to call it a night and check in the town hall about possible rent the day after, at such early hour there was no point in even trying.
That settled we moved in, took out our blankets and slept throughout the day. Nopony bothered us, not even one walked by that house which should raise some suspicions in us but we were too exhausted by full night flight to even think about it. It wasn’t until the next night that things started to happen, small and irrelevant at first but the more time passed the more they all added up to something bigger. And darker.
We woke up in the late afternoon, having slept for several hours straight did much to restore our strength and energy. Hunger crept on us so we unpacked our rations, military grade food that my mother took with her upon leaving her unit and retiring. Surplus junk nopony wanted but she knew it may come to a good use for us. As we struggled with opening the cans I couldn’t help but to smile joyfully at the thought about a first meal since we have left our home. It was cold, slimy and with little taste whatsoever yet we all devoured it greedily.
Having the breakfast behind us father decided to head towards the town hall in order to settle our stay in the community. It was getting late by the earth ponies standards and we didn’t want to spend another night as illegal residents, even if nopony knew about us yet. After a brief touch up to make us look less like fugitives and more like part of the society, we left our soon to be home heading towards the town hall. We haven’t seen a single pony around the house but as soon as we walked into the still busy streets we were relieved to see the town is alive and populated with various and colourful tribes.
Ponyville indeed hosted all three races of ponies and it seemed every single one of them was ok with that. Pegasi were friends with unicorns and earth ponies, no one seemed to be bothered by others origin. It wasn’t like that in the place we came from, but on the other hoof the place have been at least ninety percent batpony populated and its location made it rather difficult for others to live in. Not to mention other parts of Equestria where the approach towards outsiders bordered with hostility.
We trotted in the direction of the central square next to which the hall was located and as soon as we passed along other ponies we noticed that even their tolerance must have limits because of the surprised and at times fearful looks we received. Being a home for three tribes Ponyville must have seen little to no batponies in its history therefore we decided to take care of our presence among the locals at later time. After all there would be no point in trying to befriend the neighbors if we were to be denied the place we currently stayed at. But the whispers behind out backs made it clear that even if we were let to stay within the town it wouldn’t be easy to break the stereotype batponies were linked to. Even if the quiet words exchanged between the inhabitants weren’t of cruel nature they still circled around one term most often used in connection to our tribe – bloodsuckers. As silly as it was back then I don’t actually find it funny anymore.
Upon reaching the town hall father noticed that it was still open and some ponies were still busy with whatever they came there for. We walked in and couldn’t help but to look wide eyed at the grandness of the building, decorated and carved staircases fought with marble floor and designer curtains for the spot of most beautiful feature of the hall, with complicated columns and massive oak desks taking the second place. I kept on staring in awe and only after a moment I realized I am alone in the middle of the hall.
With panic slowly creeping into my mind I looked for my parents when I heard a voice from behind say something to me that made me jump in fear. Not that it sounded frightening, that was still way ahead of me, but because of its sudden appearance. I turned around and saw a filly about my age giggling at my reaction. I asked her if she could repeat what she have just said because I was so focused at looking for my parents I didn’t quite hear her words. She then burst out laughing and sat down in order to calm herself down. After a moment of puzzled looking at her I realized she wasn’t at all intimidated by my looks, quite the opposite to any other given resident of the town.
When she finally came to her senses, something that must have took her about five seconds but felt to me like hours with all the confused looks all the ponies have been giving us, she apologized for that outburst but what she told me was that she noticed I am looking for my parents and can’t find them all the while they were just in front of me at the clerk’s desk. I looked at her with an eyebrow raised and turned my head only to see she was indeed right, my parents were talking to a clerk at the desk not more than few meters in front of me. It struck me as funny as well and feeling the relief at locating them I also started to giggle, now understanding what she found so amusing about that.
I thanked her for the help and introduced myself as Lexee since by that time I used that nickname a lot. She extended her hoof and said I can call her Venus, I took a short look at her yellow coat and thought the name somehow fits while extending my own hoof and shaking hers briefly. She then said she knew we are new in town because there are no batponies around to all her knowledge and she has been living in Ponyville all her life and that if I want to hang out I can always catch her somewhere around the central square. I thanked her again for her kindness and felt unfamiliar warmth circle within my stomach. I believe it was caused by the fact I have always been an outsider, fate has given me quite unnatural coat for a batpony and as much as it should not make any difference, among kids it always did.
I thought that maybe it was a good sign, that maybe finally I could live a relatively normal life among ponies whose coats represented the whole visible spectrum of colors and that my fiery orange tone would stop making me stand out so much. Or maybe it was something else that started developing already back then but that I have no way of telling. Important thing was that I felt good around her, even if I had just met her. I remember smiling at her and receiving a wink in return after which I said I need to catch up with my folks to which she replied she understood. She gave me a light nudge on the shoulder and turned around, spread her wings with most beautiful feathers I have seen and dashed out of the hall straight into the sky. Still smiling I trotted towards my parents just in time for them to turn around and tell me we were lucky because the mayor herself will see us in a minute. Everything looked as if things would start to get well for us and I had no reason to believe otherwise. I know better now.
While we waited for the mayor’s secretary to invite us into the office I kept on thinking if our lives would really change for the better, thinking more about myself than my parents at that point but I blame it on the recent encounter with the happy pegasus girl. I really should have cared more about my folks back then but I can’t turn back the time and it makes no sense to dwell on it anymore. Jolly smile just wouldn’t come off my face and they must have seen it because it made them smile as well. I remember my mother asking what was I so happy about and I replied I thought I will be making friends around here after all to which they both expressed their content. If only I have phrased that in other way events may have taken a different path but again, what was done is done.
Finally the secretary opened the two winged door leading to the office and invited us in, saying that mayor is expecting us. All three of us walked in and the door shut behind us. If we have been overwhelmed by the main hall then we must have been struck with disbelief at what the office looked like. Sophisticated is a word that does not give all justice to what we have seen but let’s stay at that. Oak was the predominant material everything was made of, from the shiny floor to decorated ceiling with an incredibly sparkling, crystal chandelier hanging high above us, from the bookshelves carved by the best ponies in business to the mighty desk that exclaimed power with the bare looks of it. Everything looked very expensive yet there was no trace of that posh and snobby quality one could find in the capital.
After a moment of admiring I realized why it felt like that, everything that was made here has been made with love and as a gift to the town by grateful citizens, one could feel that by just looking at the furniture or the whole design of the place. How do I know that? Can’t tell for sure but remembering the clerks, the secretary or the ponies going around their business in the hall it became obvious. And the mayor herself seemed to underline that idea, her humble yet wise appearance showed wisdom, kindness and gratitude. She stepped out from behind her desk and came to us exchanging quick hugs with my parents and me. I was slowly getting used to the kind nature of the town but things like that were so unexpected I felt a bit uneasy.
Mayor quickly expressed how happy she was upon hearing from the clerks that a batpony family of three asked for permission to stay in the town and become part of the society. She apologized for forcing us to wait but as everypony these days she was also busy with everyday duties. However she was all ours by then and I could see even my mother lower her mental guard a bit.
Mayor continued to say that as we must have noticed Ponyville is about tolerance, love and friendship and having us within the society would only help the cause. She confirmed that our tribe was a rare sight in these parts of Equestria with only couple of us showing at the Canterlot castle on some occasions. She was aware about the whole stereotype thing and that some of the residents may find it harder to adjust than others but she assured us that with time all will be well, rather sooner than later.
That said she continued to tell us that we are welcomed as a part of Ponyville and that all formalities will be arranged. When she asked if we have a place to stay in, my father started to explain that we arrived at the dawn and upon not finding any place where we could rent a room, we settled in seemingly abandoned house near the edge of the town. Before mayor could ask questions that showed on her face my father raced to explain we were willing to buy that house and renovate it, if only it was for sale and we could afford it.
Mayor looked a bit puzzled at that and said she knew the house he was speaking of however she believed it has been scheduled for demolition because she believed its shape has reached beyond salvage state. Father then explained that indeed the condition was poor but he used to work as a craftsman and had worked on buildings in even worse state, from what he have seen that one could be renewed with proper work, which he was capable of. Mayor thought about it for a moment and decided to schedule a meeting between my father and one of the construction ponies that lived in the town, if they reached an agreement on renovation then the house would be sold to us at symbolic price due to the current state.
I remember very well the happy looks we had on our faces as my mother hugged the mayor and couldn’t thank her enough for such warm welcome we received. Mayor said it was her pleasure and proposed we all went to the pony she had in mind right away as it was getting late and such issues were best solved fast. I bounced out of the office, through the hall and into the street as three of the adults trotted behind. Once on the street I caught a glimpse of Venus gliding above and waved to her to which she replied with a barrel roll and disappeared into the distance. Happiness has never been something I felt too often and it seemed that then it was paying back everything it had in debt. The illusions we sometimes want to believe in.
The mayor was right about everything she said, ponies eventually got used to our presence and welcomed us as their neighbors once they understood that the stereotypes about batponies being bloodsuckers are just myths originating all the way back to the dark ages. Said construction pony, whose name I can’t remember, agreed to help us out and the next day together with my father they investigated the building. He agreed upon the renovation plan my father laid before him and proposed help in finding the necessary materials, which my father gladly accepted.
Since the town was the formal owner of the house mayor prepared the act of property with my parents’ names and as promised sold it for symbolic price of one bit. All of the remaining money were put into the renovation and food to keep us alive, but once the job was finished the construction pony offered my father employment under him. With ponies all over the town always having something to build or repair there was plenty of work for both of them to share. Mother decided to take care of our new home for the time being, military service must have worn her down more than she was able to admit and she needed a less stressing activity for her own good.
During the rebuild of our home I often hang out with Venus, we would play hide and seek throughout the town, tell each other stories of our lives or just glide together in silence as we seemed to understand each other without words. In a way she was like me, also an outcast, always alone with not much to do which struck me as odd since I could see no reason for it. She didn’t stand out with her physicality as I did among other batponies, she behaved typically for her age and there was literally nothing that would suggest she had no friends. I wanted to pursue this further but decided against it as I didn’t want to hurt her. For the time being I was happy to finally have a friend and to be able to enjoy every aspect of friendship I have been denied before. If only I knew better and tried to connect all the odd facts.
Time went by, my father worked hard and made a name for himself in the town and my mother took care of the house and us as best as she could. Every now and then I would go out to hang out with Venus and despite the troubled looks on my parents faces I saw they wanted me to have friends. Maybe they wanted me to make friends with some other kids around, maybe they fought Venus was too mature for me since she happened to be a year older and entering her adulthood soon, but they still accepted my choices and I couldn’t have been more grateful for that. Summer time meant there was no school to attend and I didn’t feel the need to befriend other ponies, Venus was all I got and all I needed. At some point it turned out I needed her badly but I blamed it on my lack of experience with friendship. Every day I would sneak out and meet with her, feeling at peace only when by her side. She seemed to share my feelings and we started and ended every meeting with a hug.
It wasn’t until I caught myself touching while lying on the bed at night and thinking about her in a way I have never thought before that I started to suspect there was something too odd about everything that happened between us. I was never into that kind of things and still am not but it was stronger than me. The more time passed the more touching I would perform, becoming rough and violent in the process and still take more and more pleasure from it. After one particular night when I was lying in bed, all satisfied and hurting from the process, I decided to talk to Venus about it and see if maybe she had similar sensations or if she knew anything that could stop it since she seemed to be more experienced in every aspect. I needed to do something because I noticed that this time I hurt myself enough to bleed. Confused and feeling the fear slowly creeping inside my heart I tried to go to sleep but my thoughts keep on returning to my friend.
After what felt like an eternity of wriggling and shuffling in bed, I started to drift off. Not for long though as I kept on being woke up by nightmares in which I have been stalked by unknown creature that lurked in the shadows behind my window, or so I thought at that moment. It wasn’t until dawn that I realized that the creature behind my window was actually a small shed hidden in thick bushes, glimpse of which I was able to catch from my current position. Couldn’t remember seeing it earlier but I have never ventured into the growths near our house before and the way it was placed made it easy to miss. I pushed the thought away as a trick that my mind played on me and decided to pursue it further at other occasion, another mistake that if avoided could make events take a different path.
I didn’t want to lose time so after quick breakfast I told my parents I am going for a fly to stretch my limbs. In truth that was one of the last things I wanted to do, still feeling pain down below and sore muscles around my hips, but I needed to see Venus as soon as possible. Taking off I forgot all about the small shed and after a short flight towards the central square I quickly spotted my friend sitting on a rooftop of one of the houses. I dived and landed next to her feeling the impact with my whole body.
I cut to the chase immediately, telling her that I was sorry for such personal questions and that I knew I might be freaking her out but it just wouldn’t let me go and I felt as if nopony could help me but her. Her expression hasn’t changed throughout my whole speech and only when I finished she lowered her head and sighed. She told me she indeed had similar experiences but managed to control them after a while, although she never hurt herself to the point of bleeding to which she might have a remedy back at her place. She invited me to come over that evening and said she would pick me up from my place when the time is right. I was so relieved and grateful for her help that I failed to notice the oddities in her speech and proposal. She hugged me briefly and said she needs to go for now but underlining she would come this evening and that everything would be fine. First of many lies that poisoned my heart in the end.
The day went by without anything worth mentioning and halfway through I remembered the shed behind my window. Curiosity took the best of me and I flew straight to it, at first trying to see it from above but thick growths and trees made it impossible so I landed in its close proximity. Immediately I started to feel strange, not knowing exactly what it was and why was it happening but that eerie feeling kept on creeping on my back as if somepony stood there and breathed out cold air on my neck. The fought alone was enough to make my heart skip a bit, I turned my head around only to see my window reflecting the sun. Gathering my courage I tried to convince myself that there is nothing strange about the shed, that the feeling was caused by sleepless night and tiring nightmares circling around that particular place. I took some shaky steps towards the shed and half expected something to happen. But the shed remained as it was, nothing changed around me as well and the eerie feeling wore off.
Having my confidence built up I resumed the walk and my heart started to beat furiously in my chest. I thought it was excitement but I failed to register that despite the sun still shining onto my house the reflection in the window was gone, as if something blocked the rays. I tried the shed door thinking that my heart would explode if a squirrel or a raccoon happened to race out of it but the door wouldn’t move. There was no locking bar or any padlock visible that could have kept the door in place yet still they would not move at all in either direction. Feeling my heart slowing down I made a decision to leave it as it is and the moment I turned around I succeeded in registering the odd phenomenon with no reflection from the window. Curious I tilted my head a bit to see if maybe the angle was not right but no matter which way I moved my head the reflection would not show.
For some reason I wanted to try the shed door one last time and when I was turning around I caught in the corner of my eye the sunlight appearing on the window again. Chills run on along my forelegs because there was not a single cloud on the sky that could cause such play of light and when I faced the shed door I realized that now it was slightly opened to the outside, not more than an inch but I was positive it was shut tight when I first tried it. I felt the blood run out of my face and I started to slowly back away from the shed. I glimpsed over my shoulder and saw the sun was still reflecting of the window pane and it made me move bit faster, suddenly I wanted to be as far from this wooden structure as possible.
I looked at it for the last time and that was when my heart sank. The door was completely open and the door frame was crooked, as if the door has been broken out from the inside. It never made any sound and I never saw it move, one moment it was closed and the next time I looked it was open. I stumbled on something in the grass and that was my hint to leave immediately. Before I stood up I spread my wings and dashed upward, putting as much space between me and that shed as I possibly could with tears flowing from my eyes like waterfalls. At that moment I thought that I would be never coming back to that place. I was so wrong.
I roamed the sky not knowing where to go. Soon I was lost in my thoughts and tried to rationalize what happened, thinking about the possible reasons for the door to open on their own. Not long after I gathered a bunch of possibilities that, if exercised enough, managed to calm me down, be it wind, small animal trapped inside, junk that blocked the door and gave way after my attempt at opening it and even denying own attempts at trying the door in both direction only pushing it inside all the while it opened to the outside. I dismissed the disappearing reflection as a play of light, although I did check for that and my conclusions back then were different.
Blaming all on exhaustion I finally got a grip on myself and headed back home. I didn’t want to check on the shed but I couldn’t just let it swirl in my head and drive me insane therefore I landed in front of the house and slowly walked behind peeking my head over the corner. The shed stood open as I left it but now I could see some things lying on the grass in front of it. They looked like toolboxes and loose tools scattered on the ground and I immediately felt better.
Taking it as a god sign I walked closer and what I saw confirmed my theory, tools must have jammed the door when they fell of their shelves and me trying the door caused enough movement to set them and the door free. Once I left the scene in a hurry I failed to see them fall out. Feeling much better and slightly embarrassed by my cowardly behavior I trotted home and after having a snack I waited for Venus to show up. Sleepless night and long flight took their toll as I doze of soon after hitting the couch. No dreams to keep me awake this time, only a need to switch position after a while that made me open my eyes briefly. If I had been facing the window with a view on the shed I would have noticed the door was once again closed.
Knocking on the door was what brought me back from the dreamless sleep. It was already dark outside and at first I thought it was my parents. Then I remembered father would be gone for the night having to work on an exceptionally large renovation project in the town hospital and mother was to assist him during most of the time. Still she should be back for the night so it must have been still relatively early. Another knocking made me remember that I was expecting Venus to pick me up and a familiar feeling in my abdomen made my hips move slightly. More irritated that scared I fought it back and went to answer the door. It was indeed Venus and irritation gave place to joy as we hugged briefly.
Stepping outside I glanced over the horizon to see the remains of twilight giving way to night. We took off and Venus led the way with me trying to keep up in the continuously growing darkness. I wasn’t afraid of flying at night, batponies had their ways of navigating in the darkness, I was more concerned about bumping into her and knocking her down since I was not sure how did she actually found her way. I remember asking her about that during our flight and she said something about having her eyes always much better than any other pegasus. It wasn’t my main concern at that time therefore I let it be.
We kept on flying for a long time, no signs of twilight anywhere and pitch black darkness broken only by occasional street lamp or a house with lit lanterns inside. It felt a bit strange having to fly this far since I thought Venus lived in the town but I didn’t ask her about it. Soon enough she started to dive and I followed.
We landed next to some house near the forest, much like the one I lived in but with slight differences that made impossible to mistake both buildings. Venus turned around and looked me in the eyes, I still remember her bright green irises so full of life and concern. She started to explain why she has always felt like an outcast and why she had no friends until I showed up. She pointed at her home which after a brief look I could distinguish from the surroundings.
Its condition seemed to be even worse than the house we stayed at on our first night in Ponyville. Broken walls, boarded windows, no doors and partially collapsed roof spoke for themselves. Venus explained it was the reason she has never invited me over, she was ashamed she had to live in such place and didn’t want to speak about it to anypony, she kept all other kids at a distance and with time they all stopped trying to befriend her.
She didn’t know exactly what caused her to approach me back in the town hall but something told her it was worth a try, maybe the fact that I spent a night in similar place gave her courage, maybe she saw I was able to understand her. Whatever it was she was glad she did and tears started to flow down her cheeks. I felt my own eyes getting wet and I hugged her tightly trying to comfort her while she cried onto my shoulder and I fought back the returning feeling in my hips. After a moment I realized what caused that feeling, it was her hoof rubbing against my underbelly but I waited a moment longer hoping she would realize what she was doing and stop on her own.
Shortly after she did and her crying ceased as well, she seemed completely unaware of what she was doing to me and I decided not to bring it up. Venus started walking towards her home and I followed, thinking if she did that on purpose or was it some kind of weird accident. Once inside I noticed the place was a complete mess, debris and litter covered the floor, remains of the roof dangling limply from the walls, all furniture that was inside consisted of a broken down dinner table and a couch which upholstery has been torn apart. Venus blushed and tried to say something but I put my hoof on her shoulder and just smiled gently at her. She nodded and led me towards what must have been kitchen.
While she was checking the cupboards in search of the remedy she talked about in the morning I noticed a picture hanging on the wall depicting a beautiful female pegasus. Assuming it was her mother I asked about her parents and immediately I knew I shouldn’t have. She became still and I heard a quiet sob escape her throat, I run to her and hugged her telling her I was sorry, telling her she didn’t have to answer at all. She hugged me back and told me it was alright, she had to tell me anyway if we were to get out of here. My heart skipped a beat at what I just heard, I tried to break lose and look her in the eyes but my limbs rejected my will to move. She must have felt it and started to whisper in my ear about her family.
She said her father was a guard at the Canterlot Castle and they used to live there, but one night when he was on a patrol he stumbled onto a gang that tried to break into the vault where magical artifacts have been stored. He was alone facing four unicorns, he didn’t stand a chance but still completed his duty preventing the criminals to lay their hooves on some of the most powerful magical items there were. He was killed before reinforcements arrived. His mutilated body was found a month later hung in the Everfree forest, partially eaten away by the animals that live there. I was already scared when we arrived at this place but the moment I heard the story I was terrified. But then Venus continued telling the story of her mother.
After the death of her father, her mother and her have been treated with care by the guard and the princess, father was even posthumously ordered a medal and they as his family have been taken under the wings of military. But mother broke down soon after the news hit her and never really recovered. She has been taking medicine but nothing seemed to bring her closer to peace. She decided they must move out and start everything from the scratch, thus coming to Ponyville as it was as far as her mother could travel in her condition. They settled in this house and for couple of days it seemed that mother’s condition was improving. However one night when Venus was asleep she took her father’s dagger, went outside and flew to the sky. She must have reached the clouds and she used the blade to cut her wrists. Once enough blood poured out of her she lost her lift and dived straight down. Doctors said she died during her descent but even if she didn’t, the hit to the ground would have taken her away as well.
Venus finally let me go and I found myself unable to move, chills run all over my body and I breathed in short and shallow pants. Venus raised her head and looked up, my eyes followed her gaze against my will even if I already knew what I would see. The hole in the roof was not a result of a collapse but of an impact from above, the broken down table stood right below the now open sky. In the darkness I could not see much details but I was sure that light would reveal dried blood and feathers scattered all around the living room. All strength run out of my legs and I fell to the ground, crying silently as Venus walked towards the table and touched what seemed to be a dagger buried deep into the wood. I could not speak nor move, I only watched as she turned around, walked back and laid next to me. Then she wrapped her hoof around me and said something that made my blood run as cold as a stone. She said her mother’s condemned spirit haunts this place and it requires sacrifices in order to be put to rest once more. That was when I fainted but not before I felt her hoof slide down my back and onto my hips and I saw a ghostly figure emerge from the table surrounded by grey smoke and violet aura.
I woke up not knowing where I was or what has happened. Confused I looked around and realized I was at home, lying on the floor in the middle of our living room. It was dawn outside and first birds started their morning songs. Slowly memories came back to me and I relived the events of the night in a flash. Again chills climbed up my back but I felt utterly confused about everything that happened. I remember fainting upon seeing the ghost of Venus' mother but everything seemed so distant at that moment. I started to believe it was all a dream, a hellish nightmare that attacked me while I was napping on the couch the day before. I tried to stand up but electrifying bolt of pain shot out from my crotch and circled within my body touching every nerve possible, confirming that what I experienced was indeed part of reality. I screamed and collapsed onto the floor taking a quick glance at my legs and abdomen but fortunately I saw no blood, nor was I stained with it anywhere.
As fast as the pain appeared it went away and I was able to stand up. Wild thoughts started to eat me from inside, all the implications of the last night made me dizzy and short of breath. I felt I must find Venus and talk to her about what happened and why she did that to me. Then it struck me, I was no longer feeling that urge to see her, I no longer felt that sensation when thinking about her. I sat down and tried to gather my thoughts, to put everything in its place but every attempt at that resulted in puzzles being scattered even more apart. My head started to hurt and I needed fresh air, when I was about to head towards the door I noticed a note on the table. It was from my parents. It said I went missing the night before and they were on a search, if I happened to return before they found me they begged for me to stay indoors and wait for them. My vision went blurry and I cried out of exhaustion, gratitude and guilt. I sat down again just as the door opened and my parents walked in, tired and dirty yet they eyes gleamed with joy upon seeing me. If only they knew what I have brought on them.
After the outburst of happiness from seeing me alive and well the questions arose and I decided I have to come clean with everything. I lowered my head not being able to bear their look and I told them the whole story from the beginning, from the very first day we arrived. How I met Venus, how we became close friends and how we used to hang out together. How I started to feel physical need to see her and what followed including hurting myself. Finally confronting her about it and our trip to her place, the revelations and encounter that followed. What she did to me. How I woke up in our home, confused and not knowing what to do.
When I finally finished I felt relieved, I carried the weight of all those events without even realizing it and at that moment I felt free for the first time since odd things started to happen. I took a deep breath and straightened my back and looked my parents in the eyes. I saw pure shock, terror and disbelief written in them with capital letters. Again my heart sank but what they said chilled me to the bone. My mother was the first to start and she told me that there was no any Venus, that every time I went outside I played on my own. At first they were concerned about it but after consulting it with some doctor they decided to let it go for the time being as it seemed to be an adjustment mechanism for me that would help me to get along in new environment.
But that wasn’t what brought terror to their faces, it was the latter part of my story that made them fear for me. Especially very vivid description of what I was doing alone at nights and what happened on my visit to now questionable Venus’ home. Father expressed his concern about my sanity and although he did it in very polite and kind fashion it still hurt to know they don’t believe a word I said. They were even more afraid I became victim of abuse, maybe have been drugged what would have explained the sick vision I had. I could not believe that all that happened to me was a product of my own imagination. There was no way my mind made it all up, the memories so real, the feelings so true. I cried and begged them to believe me. Then they asked about the only thing that could possibly shed some light on what I experienced, where was that house I visited at night. I opened my mouth to speak, glad they are at least willing to hold a dialogue with me, and I could not find words. I thought hard but there was little to be told. It was dark, I just followed Venus and couldn’t see any landmarks on our way. Only thing I remembered was the edge of the forest and I hold to that clue. After all the forest didn’t surround the whole town but run along one of its edges, there weren’t too many places to be checked until I found that house.
They exchanged worried looks but agreed to let me lead them there. We flew out of the house together and quite soon it turned out that there are only three more houses placed so near the forest and none of them matched the description I laid before them. All were kept in good shape and ponies lived in them without a care in the world. I remembered the night flight took some time and I told my mother that it’s possible the house was outside the town, somewhere along the border of the woods. Again that worried look on their faces but I begged them to try to believe me. They nodded and we continued the search now flying a good distance into the plains. Once we got nearer to the Canterlot and still found nothing I started to feel tired, all the thoughts that circled in my mind started to make my head heavy. No house, no clues. No Venus. I landed and just sat down, my parents joining me in an instant. I honestly did not know what to do at that point, what would become of me. I told them that and started crying. They hugged me and soothed me the best they could.
On our way back home we agreed to seek professional help but after I get some good rest first. My mind was a stir of echoes, flashes of that summer events changing before my eyes and I couldn’t shake them of. We landed near our home and walked the rest of the way. It wasn’t until we were almost at the door when I noticed somepony on the lawn surrounding it. A violet mare just stood there and seemed to be looking into the distance, motionless, quiet. When we got nearer she heard us and turned around. My heart didn’t skip a beat this time. It went into full stop as I felt the blood stop rushing in my veins. I wanted to scream but the air was trapped in my lungs. I wanted to back off but my legs felt as if dead and stiff. I collapsed in terror as my parents watched as I go through a horror, their faces showing concern at first and then fear. My mother grabbed me and my father looked at our guest. It was the mare from the picture I saw in Venus’ home. It was her dead mother.
I saw nothing but darkness and felt as if suspended in the air. I could tell I wasn’t flying because my wings were folded against my sides but still that weightless feel surrounded me. I could move freely but I wasn’t able to tell which way was up and which way was down. I tried to gather my thoughts but my mind went blank. Wondering if I am dead I began to hear some noise, far and quiet at first but growing in strength with each second that passed. I couldn’t place it anywhere, it was as if the noise was all around me and nowhere at the same time. Soon I was able to make out words in it, noise changing from a hum to actual speech. The language was not mine but still I was able to understand it, it consisted of a lot of grunts and cut off vowels. It grew louder, feeling my head with nonsense that made all the sense.
After a moment I saw a distant light appear, small and unable to penetrate the darkness but visible. It noticed me. I felt being moved towards it and I found myself unable to resist. Floating towards it I realized why the voice in my head sounded the way it did. It was going backwards as if a record was being put in reverse. Fear crept its way from my heart and into my mind. The closer I got to the light the more it changed. It turned from bright white to pink, then to red and settling at a deep, dark, crimson hue. Just as if has been flooded with blood, which I knew at my heart was what had happened. I wanted to get out, to turn back and leave this place. I could not. The voice in my head grew loud enough to make my head hurt, static noise accompanied it and made everything even less comprehensible. I felt as if my head was about to explode.
When I thought I could not stand it anymore it went quiet. Eerie silence filled my mind and I stopped floating towards the light. Something moved inside of it, as if passing quickly from one side to another. Somehow the silence felt worse than the noise, there was something sinister in it. Shaking with fear and waiting for whatever was about to happen I heard the voice again, this time crystal clear, loud and as if coming from behind my back. It said “you’re not going anywhere”. My blood run cold and from within the light it came, rushing at me with all the static noise growing louder and louder, trying to rip my head open.
I woke up all wet from the sweat, my heart racing and my breath heavy and fast. I was on the couch in our home with my parents beside me, relieved at seeing me conscious and aware. They told me I have been talking through my sleep, talking in a language they did not know nor heard of but strangely sounding as if talking backwards. I looked at them wide eyed with sweat breaking on my head again. I was about to tell them about the nightmare I experienced bit what they told me tied a knot on my tongue. I tried to say anything but could not, words being trapped in my throat. That was when I heard her asking me if I was alright. Terror crept upon me once more, I started to tremble and upon turning my head I saw Venus’ mother looking at me with her bright green eyes. I felt the world slip away again but my father held me tightly and did not allow to faint again. Before I could say anything he said they already know. I looked at him puzzled and they all started to explain what happened after I went unconscious in front of our house.
My mother held me, the mare trotted to us and offered help, my father carried me on his back inside and at that moment my mother asked who she was. Before the mare could start she somehow already knew, probably thanks to my vivid description of the picture I saw in Venus’ house, and it terrified her. Parents questioned the mare about her daughter after which she broke down and cried. At that point they stopped and decided to let her calm down while they took care of me. After a moment the mare confirmed that indeed she was the mother of Venus but she also said that her daughter has been dead for years. She committed suicide near the place they were living in although she never really believed it. To her it looked like a staged scene and the real cause of her death remains unknown.
Venus never had a father to take care of her and she raised her alone, they lived in Ponyville their whole life and she never noticed anything suspicious in her daughter’s behavior that could point at some troubles. Suicide seemed like the last thing she would do. After her death she could not live here anymore, she moved out and visited their old place only once a year on the date of her birthday. At that moment I felt something click into its place inside my mind and I asked her where they lived back in the day, although I already knew the answer. Mare smiled and looked around saying nothing. It was true, we were living in old Venus’ home. Still smiling the mare said she was delighted to see what we have done with the place, it was far less depressing for her to see it again in good shape and full of life.
I was confused but somehow at peace at the same time. Lots of things were left unexplained and there were lots of questions to be asked but all of us were tired and the day was nearing its end. Father asked the mare to stay for the night and she gladly accepted the offer. I had a lot of thinking to do and having my best friend’s mother at side could help to solve the whole puzzle. For the moment I felt good or as good as I could possibly feel taking into account all the circumstances.
I was drinking tea and looking through the window into the night while my parents were talking with Venus’ mother at the table. I though about everything that happened and still couldn’t explain it. I knew there was still something that I missed and that wasn’t mentioned by the mare. As I looked through the glass into the darkness it hit me. I turned around and asked the mare about the shed, what was it for and why was it so crowded with stuff. All of them looked at me confused. Mare said they never had any shed. My parents asked what shed I was talking about. It took me a moment to register what they have just said. Again I felt that cold feeling creeping in my heart.
I run outside and rushed them to follow me. My father grabbed a lantern and we met at the back of our home. The shed was there and its door was once again closed. No sign of tools scattered on the ground. I was afraid again, slowly feeling the panic grow in me and trying to take over. I explained my previous encounter with the shed and all of them seemed to feel the thrill it brought at them. Walking towards it on shaking legs I decided to face the horror as it seemed there was no point in running away. Presence of adults somehow helped me to find the courage as they walked with me until we faced the door. I tried to open it and to my surprise the door opened on the first try revealing empty shed with nothing but air inside.
The tension that has built up started to fade away. We closed the door and walked inside our home where we talked about the shed for a moment. The most probable explanation was that it has been built during the years between Venus mother's departure and our arrival by somepony willing to work on the house but has been scratched off once the house has been scheduled for demolition. We changed the subject but after a while it started to grow on me again. I felt something did not fit, that I was still missing something. That was when I heard faint static noise again. I looked at Venus’ mother and asked her up straight how had her daughter died. My parents gave me frowned looks but she waved that off and began the story. Story that was a mirror reflection of what I heard from Venus about her mother. I felt the chills but managed to keep my posture. When she was finished I apologized for my bluntness and thanked her for being so patient with me. We decided to call it a night and soon all of us went to beds. My parents settled on the couch giving their bedroom to the mare and I went to my room. I wanted to investigate the whole case further by as soon as I hit the bed I fell asleep.
I was woken up in the middle of the night by the distant sound of the door shutting closed. I stood up and looked through the window. The shed was there, its door opened ajar. Inside something was moving but it was impossible to tell what it was as it was engulfed in darkness and shadows. I ran to the living room but my parents were not there. I ran to the bedroom but the mare was gone as well. Tears started to spill out of my eyes blurring my vision as I dashed outside through the door that has been left open. I turned around and headed for the shed just in time to see its door close, slowly as if teasing me yet fast enough to be shut before I reached it. Oddly enough there was no sound of it shutting as it hit the doorframe. I stood there for a moment thinking what should I do, fearing the worst and feeling the terror paralyze me. I cried silently as I tried to get closer to the shed but my legs would not move.
Nighttime silence was broken by a faint and distant whiz that grew louder and closer as the seconds passed. At first I could not locate its source and that brought the memories of the vision I had after fainting earlier in the evening. But the sound was different, after a moment it started to resemble a whistle. Still unable to move I looked around but nothing was there. I looked into the shed focusing my sight but whatever moved there before was either gone or dead still. The whistle grew louder and lower in pitch but still I could not place it anywhere around me. And that was when I directed my thoughts to the sky.
I looked up in time to see three figures diving heads first in a free fall. I knew what was about to happen and braced myself for the impact with eyes shut tight and tears flowing in streams as I tried to scream but could not. They hit the house with such force it shaken the ground I was standing on, the whistle of their feathers cutting limply through the air stopping dead and giving place to rumble as they went through the roof, through the table and into the ground. I did not find the courage to go and look if maybe they survived, I knew they were dead before they got within a hearing range. Once the rumble died out I heard the static again. I just stood there, crying and wishing all of that was just a nightmare. But my nightmare was only about to begin.
I opened my eyes and looked at the shed, its door was once again slightly opened and the frame was crooked as if it has been knocked out from inside. I felt my legs moving and they carried me to the cursed wooden structure that seemed to laugh at me with its hanging door and askew frame. Pitch black darkness inside started to fill with smoke and violet aura. I felt the familiar sensation in the abdomen and I wanted to scream but no sound escaped my throat. I watched as the smoke materializes into a female body, transparent at first but gaining shape and color as my sanity slowly slipped away. I blinked to clear my vision and the next thing I saw was Venus standing before me. Her smile was beautiful as ever but her eyes were filled with black void. I smiled insanely and tears started to flow again as I crooked my head, took a deep breath and wished her happy birthday in a voice trembling with madness and despair. That was when the static became deafening and drilled into my mind as Venus opened her mouth full of razor sharp fangs and coiled her black as night tongue around my neck. I remember laughing with the tears rolling down my face as she pulled me into the shed and the door shut behind me.
Now, you might be wondering why I told you all that. The truth is I don’t know really. It’s just a glimpse at what made me, as I told you in the beginning, part of the larger story that began before my family and me run away and settled for a brief period in Ponyville. But your time has run out and you must be on your way soon. The look you are giving me makes me want to laugh but I shall spare you that humiliation. After all we won’t be seeing each other anymore and I would like you to remember me as a kind pony that amused you a bit before sending you on your way to the abyss. Sorry for that rope gagging you but I don’t like being interrupted. As for the dagger in your heart, I will need it to slice your wrists so brace yourself as I pull it out. I will leave you strapped to that chair though, you stained it all the way down and I don’t like messy furniture. Don’t worry though, it won’t be bothering you once you reach your destination. Ah, can you hear the door swinging open? Here we go. One…two…three!
