I opened my eyes.* *A brief ray of light clouded my vision. A group of figures bounced among the light, as if they fit in perfectly. Were these figures angels? Had they come to take me away from the world I had come to know? I squinted, attempting to make out these intangible figures through the invulnerable light. However, I came to no avail.
I let out an uncertain grunt. I had full control of my body, however, I was unsure that I could actually move, yet I seeked to take a step forward. It was strange, getting used to something I had always known how to do before. Maybe, this is what a young filly feels like when they're instructed to stand for the first time. If so, I certainly felt like one during these moments.* My concentration was broken when I heard a sudden eruption of laughter, the source sounding not too far from where I was standing. It sounded... almost familiar. *Suddenly, I felt a rush of adrenaline surge throughout my body. My confidence increased in result, as well as my determination to escape this serene prison. With this newfound strength, I bounded towards the source of the laughter, my lips curving upward into a smile, as the volume of the laughter grew louder, and louder.
As I continued to run, I noticed that the light that was once unbearable was beginning to dim, and I could scarcely see a figure that resembled a pony in the distance, and that it was facing the opposite direction. Now, I was in close proximity of the pony. As I took a single step forward, the laughing abruptly stopped. Now, my surroundings were completely silent.
I took another step forward. The pony's hide appeared to be a shade of black, as well as the rest of its body. They could easily blend into the shadows.
I took another step. I began to feel uneasy. Maybe I didn't want to do this. Maybe I could run back into the light, where I felt more secure. But, I told myself it wouldn't make a difference.
I took my last step. I was now right behind the pony. I breathed as quietly as possible, the dread was slowly eating me alive. I wanted so badly to run the opposite way, to rather live in a false, safe, reality, than to face this. But I knew I had to do it. I was the element of Honesty, not the element of betrayal. And I would *never betray my friends.***
I quietly whispered a few encouraging words to myself. I knew they wouldn't help me, and I was growing annoyed at my own fear. I had to do something. It was now, or never. Finally, I silently raised my front-right hoof, and moved it forward to press it against the pony's shoulder.
As I pressed my hoof against the pony's shoulder, I noticed that the skin... didn't feel like actual skin. It was hard, similar to metal. My emotions were divided between confusion, and fear, as I quickly moved my hoof back to my side, and took a few steps backwards. I felt the air being drained from my lungs as the mysterious pony ever-so-slowly began to turn around.
My body froze in terror. Why couldn't I move? Why was I unable to speak? I mean, I was able to whisper to myself before, but now my tongue was as motionless as the rest of my body. My eyes were glued to the side of its head, its face barely visible. I managed to take one last breath of air, before it revealed what was obscure until now.
It had a mare's face, but that was the only part of it that was moderately normal. The shade of black stretched until it reached the pony's cheeks, and then the rest of its face was a sickly shade of white. However, I did not pay attention to the cheeks, nor the nose, mouth, ears, or mane. It was its **eyesthat gained my attention above everything else.**
Her eyes resembled an empty void. There were no pupils, which only added to the pure terror I was feeling as I continued to stare. I wanted to scream, and turn around and buck whatever this nightmare-pony was in the face. I just wanted to run away as fast as I could, but I couldn't. I was forced to stand there. Stand there, and entertain *it.***
Suddenly, the solitary colors that occupied the space around me began to drain, and the pony's hollow expression turned to anguish, as everything around me disappeared, including me.
It was close to an ordinary night in Ponyville, other than the raging storm that had caused the unaware citizens to barricade their homes in fear of a flood. Many ponies were unable to sleep that night, as the roaring thunder and downpour that soon followed restricted them from knowing the condition of their friends, and family. However, meanwhile, in Sweet Apple Acres. . .
Applejack jolted awake from the security of her bed, trails of sweat were traced on her forehead as she fearfully scanned the room with her eyes. She then uncovered her hooves from under the blanket, and stared at them for a few seconds. Suddenly, another burst of thunder echoed throughout Ponyville, Applejack's ears twitched for a second in response, but quickly regained composure.
As Applejack laid back down onto her bed, she noticed her bedroom door slowly open with a cre-eak, and from her perspective, she saw a red bow bouncing over to her side. She smiled, instantly recognizing who it belonged to.
"Applejack?" Applebloom whispered, staring up at her older sister in concern.
"What's the matter, sugarcube?" Applejack asked, turning her body to face Applebloom.
"I--uhm," Applebloom stammered, staring down at her hooves in embarrassment, she'd never thought she'd have to ask her big sister this.
"Heh, I get it. The thunder's pretty scary, huh?" Applejack smirked, the corners of her lips twitching upward in amusement. Applebloom glared at her.
"No! That's not why I came in here. I just wanted to check up on you. After that accident, w-we, w-we thought you'd..." Applebloom whimpered, trying to fight against the tears that were welling up in her eyes. Applebloom strongly disliked crying, but sometimes, she couldn't help it.
Applejack frowned, realizing that her younger sister was having a hard time coping with the close-to-death experience she was forced to face.
"Applebloom, please don't cry..." Applejack hated seeing her sister like this, and the main reason why is because she barely sees it. Applebloom is such a happy, go-lucky filly, and she reminds her of herself. Applejack couldn't imagine anypony who could replace her. But it was too late, and Applebloom couldn't stop the tears from streaming down her cheeks.
"I was so worried about ya! Granny Smith said you were hit in the head really hard, and that it might cause you to forget us. I was so afraid that we was gonna lose you," Applebloom weeped, "I'm sorry for crying, big sis."
"No, don't apologize, sugarcube." Applejack retorted, embracing, then picking up her discouraged sister from the ground, placing her next to her. "Don't you dare apologize."
"Why not?" Applebloom inquired, wiping the remaining tears from her face.
"Because," Applejack began, "Nothing will ever separate me from you, Granny Smith, and Big Mac. Not some stubborn argument, nor any accident."
"A life-threatening accident!" Applebloom retorted, glaring up at Applejack, which made her roll her eyes.
"I know, I know. But the point is, I'm okay, so you don't have to worry anymore, little sis. And even if I may get hurt, Big Mac and Granny Smith will always be here for you, and me. That's what's family's for, right?" Applejack grinned, embracing her sister once more, which Applebloom happily returned.
"Yeah!" Applebloom beamed, as she climbed out of Applejack's bed, and trotted over to the doorframe. But before she could leave, she turned around to face Applejack again.
"Hey, big sis? Can you promise me somethin?" Applebloom asked, a soft smile planted her face.
"Of course I can." Applejack smiled, leaning upright against the pillow.
"If there's anything going wrong, anything at all, you know you can tell me, right? I mean, I know that me and the other Crusaders mostly help ponies with getting their cutie marks, and finding their purposes in life, but we also can help ponies with other problems too! Even if they already have a cutie mark!" Applebloom explained.
"Oh," Applejack gulped. Her first instinct was to agree wholeheartedly, but then, the image of the deceased pony's face flashed in her mind, and then she answered.
"Of course, Applebloom. Why wouldn't I tell you if something were wrong? Now, you should be hittin the hay, it's awfully late out." Applejack concurred, watching Applebloom as she backed out of the room.
"Thanks, big sis! You oughta go back to sleep too!" Applebloom beamed, before shutting the door behind her.
"Heh, I doubt I could fall back asleep after that." Applejack shook her head, trying to keep her mind off of the horrifying dream she had only minutes before.
