Silent Ponyville: "Visage"

What began as a hurried gallop turned to a leisurely trot as Pinkie's headstrong charge to Twilight's house was circumvented by her snapping back to her friendly, inquisitive self.  Rarity, still galloping, skidded ahead of Pinkie as she abruptly slowed down and turned towards her friend and spoke with reassuring optimism.  It provided some much-needed comfort to Rarity.

"So, when did all this start happening?"

"I…I'm simply not sure," Rarity said, befuddled.  "It feels like months."

"Months?  But you were fine the day before yesterday!  Classy as ever!"

"Yes, I was more…composed.  The truth is that I've been having these waking terrors for some time, now.  At first, I could shrug them off, and being with you and the other girls certainly did wonders for my peace of mind, but now it's become relentless!"

"Well, don't you worry!  Twilight has all sorts of info on this kind of thing!  In fact, we were just– " Pinkie caught herself for a moment, "wait…did you say these 'terrors' have been happening while you're awake?"

"Yes," replied Rarity with latent suspicion, "what does it mean?"

"Uh oh.  This time is different," Pinkie began to sound grim, only to revert back to her hopeful tone, "but that might be a good thing!  Besides, I made Twilight PROMISE never to cast that spell again!"

"What spell?  You seem awfully familiar with this malady, Pinkie.  What aren't you telling me?"

"Oh, um, just this whole crazy thing, and – HEY, look!  There's Twilight's house!"

With that convenient departure from the conversation, Rarity and Pinkie Pie had reached Twilight's house/observatory.  Pinkie tried the door, but found it to be locked.  After singing a whimsically descending "hellooo?" she began to knock on the door.

"Is she even home?  I don't remember her saying she was going anywhere.  Spike!  Are you there?"

"I'll peek in the window," said Rarity.

Rarity approached the window, seeing her reflection.  At least, it would have been her reflection, but a cut-ridden pony mannequin with Rarity's cutie mark crudely drawn on its flank stood on the other side for a moment, gazing without eyes at her.  She could not even utter a gasp as the feeling of dread gripped her once again, and her world began to grow dark.  She was going to the "other" place, again.  The window began to crack as the mannequin pressed against it, slowly but forcefully.  Rarity's mouth was agape with terror, and the silence was deafening.

The odious spell was broken by the sound of an opening door and Twilight's voice breaking the silence.

"Hey, Pinkie!" Twilight glanced over at Rarity, who had broken out in a cold sweat, "is…she alright?"

Shivering, Rarity answered in a flat voice: "No.  She is not.  Rarity is not alright."

"By Celestia!  Come inside and rest!  I'll have Spike warm up some tea."

The three entered into Twilight's abode.  Spike immediately grew concerned for the beautiful and elegant Rarity, and thus strove to be as attentive and prompt with his service as possible.  Unfortunately, Rarity could only seem to focus on the strange and blasphemous visions that were becoming all too real for her to handle.  She cupped her tea between shaking hooves as she tried to explain her situation.

"They….they were right there.  They're following me.  They're in my house – but I can't see them!  No…I just don't want to see them.  They must only want to hurt me."

"Wow…I'm glad you caught me when you did, Pinkie Pie," said Twilight, "this definitely seems like another case of nightmares, but she's not experiencing any of it when she's asleep!"

"That's right!  You gotta help her, Twilight!  I know I keep bringing this stuff to you, but you're the best at this kind of thing!  We already know that 'delving' is an extra large no-no, but that's why I came to you: to find a new approach to help our friends!  There's always another way!" said Pinkie Pie, trying her best to keep up everyone's spirits.

"Hmm…let me employ some detection magic.  Hold still, Rarity," requested Twilight.

"Can't…move…anyway," replied Rarity, still barely cupping her tea.

Twilight Sparkle searched for traces of curses, hexes, spells, illnesses, and even poisons that might be present in Rarity, but everything came up negative.  After what felt like hours of fruitless analysis, Pinkie slapped her forehead as she realized something important.

"I've GOT it!"

"What?" asked Twilight and Rarity simultaneously.

"Mirrors!  Windows!"

Twilight and Rarity tilted their heads in confusion.

"I don't follow – what do you mean, Pinkie?" asked Twilight.

"When she looked into the window, she must have saw something, right?  It was like she saw Nightmare Moon in that window!  And considering how much time she spends in front of a mirror or anything where she can check her hair, face, and makeup…"

Despite being unnerved, Rarity could still muster a passively indignant glare.

"Hear me out!" Pinkie continued.  "My point is: whatever is wrong might just have to do with reflections!"

"Hmm…reflective surfaces.  That's an interesting theory, Pinkie!  But how can we test it without hurting Rarity?"

Rarity scoffed as her posh bravado began to return. "Mirrors?  Ha!  That's just silly, Pinkie!  Spike, my dear, fetch me a small mirror."

"Right away!" Spike eagerly complied and returned within seconds with a small hand mirror.

"Just remember, Rarity: we're right here, so you don't have to worry if something happens, okay?" Twilight placated.

Feeling just a little patronized, Rarity dismissed the comment with a "hmph!" and closed her eyes defiantly.  "I am sure that my own reflection can't be THAT ghastly.  Awfully like being afraid of one's own shadow, hmm?"

Rarity's façade of confidence was quickly broken as she gazed into the small reflection to see a young filly's face, freshly sliced and bloody, tears still wet upon her cheeks.  The filly's hair was tousled and the sound of snipping scissors could be heard.  To Rarity's horror, the filly spoke.

"Is this better, Rarity?  I'm trying…I'm trying so hard."

Rarity threw down the mirror to the ground, shattering it into fragments, all of which turned a dark hue of red.  The sound of scissor snips could still be heard all around, and the voice was still present, but faded.

"It hurts, Rarity."

Rarity could only scream "No, no, no!" as she tried to cover her ears.  She didn't even initially realize that she was being shaken and restrained by Twilight, Spike, and Pinkie Pie.  Rarity was breathing heavily and feeling dehydrated.

"Well, that settles it!" concluded Pinkie Pie.

"Spike, go get her some water!" Twilight ordered.

"And a blindfold!" added Pinkie.

Spike dutifully fetched the items and returned.  "Is she gonna be okay?" he asked with great concern.

"I don't know, Spike.  I'm going to have to do more research on this.  For now, we have to make sure she doesn't look into any reflective surfaces!  Pinkie, blindfold!"

"On it!"

"No reflections?!  How can I live like this?  I won't be able to work!  I can't maintain myself!"  Rarity was panicking, growing fervent and pessimistic as the blindfold was tied around her.

"Unhoof me at once!" Rarity cried.

Twilight knew that her friend was not in a sound mental state, and she hoped to Celestia that sleep would be a reprieve for poor Rarity.  She cast a slumber spell upon Rarity, who immediately became groggy and tranquilized.

"This…is the worst…possible…thing," mumbled Rarity as she slipped into unconsciousness.  It was an unwelcome state of bliss, but it was perhaps a small blessing that she did not suffer any horrific dreams as she slept.  However, it was only a matter of time before she woke to the true nightmare.

Bits of chatter here and there.  Voices that sounded like Twilight and Pinkie, and sometimes like Fluttershy, and even echoes of Rainbow Dash and Applejack.  It all gradually became less audible as Rarity woke, laying upon a cold, glass floor in a dark room.  As she regained her bearings, she noticed that the floor beneath her was reflective…the floor was a mirror.  She slowly inched her way around the room, not knowing where she was or how she got there, but only concerned about finding an exit.  To her dismay, each wall she touched was just another layer of reflective glass – she was trapped.  She thought to simply shatter one of the mirrors, but was interrupted by an unnerving cracking sound coming from above…and then the walls.

Suddenly, a crashing sound filled the air as something broke above Rarity.  She screamed and covered her head as glass shards fell around her.  She remained huddled and in a defensive position as mirrors all around her began to shatter, sparing only the panel of glass upon which she crouched.  As the reflective dome was destroyed, a gray light illuminated the surrounding area, revealing a misty, somber parody of Ponyville.  Rarity felt a slight gust of cold as the glass fragments swept past her in a swarm.  She watched in awe and trepidation as the shards formed a statue that resembled one of Rarity's mannequins, though easily seven times the size.  It rocked back and forth as the sky began to turn a dark red, and she heard the sound of scissors snipping below her.

Rarity stood upon a precipice; the one panel of glass upon which she stood served as a narrow bridge leading into the bleak Ponyville.  Encircling the glass mannequin statue was a killing floor composed of constantly-snipping scissors, many of them rusted and caked with old blood.  Traces of baubles, jewelry, hairbrushes, and bones lingered throughout the serrated pit that Rarity had to cross.

"What's happening?  No, this is just a nightmare…please!  Let me wake up!  Twilight?  Pinkie?!  What's happening?!"  Rarity yelled, trying to wake herself up, but it was of no use.  She shed tears as she realized that she was all alone in this forsaken place…no friends, no family, and all too little hope.  Still softly weeping, but gathering what desperate determination she could, Rarity stepped her hoof forward and wished for the wherewithal not to look down.