Nightmare

Gala walked with her siblings along the path to Ponyville early the next moon, no lanterns to light that trail. Macintosh pulled the wagon, Gala to his right, toward the Everfree, and Sweet trailing behind, to ensure none of the precious fruit fell away during the journey.

Macintosh carried a lantern, Sweet and Gala armed with more of the same, the light within carefully protected in case of wind or rain. They also had a flare, in case of… problems.

Monsters lived in the darkness, and they all hated light. Should one decide to attack, the sudden burst of light made by the flare would scare them off… most of the time. Flares were a very common traveling material, even if monster attacks were, fortunately, very rare. It was when they did happen that ponies carried flares. So that the horror of seeing somepony dragged screaming into the dark by some monster didn’t happen. Most of the time.

Gala was especially nervous about taking these trips, though she always took the right side, the side facing the Everfree, the one most likely to be attacked. She mostly did it so Sweet wouldn’t have to. And partly so she wouldn’t relive something. She could still recall it, very easily.

Macintosh and Sweet hadn’t been there, but she, her father, and her true eldest sibling had been. Something had attacked them. And the flares hadn’t done their job.

She had forgotten exactly what had happened from the trauma of it. She was only left with garbled sounds and a single image: a brilliant light, reflecting off something black, and a horrible dark red glow. Her father wasn't so lucky; he still woke, screaming, on the darkest nights. It was why he didn’t take these trips anymore.

She never saw her oldest brother again.

She would sooner not go, but she still went. So somepony else wouldn’t have to, Gala facing her fear and protecting her family from it. Sweet, in the back where she was safest, and other ponies back at the farm, where they were safe. Gala, despite her terror, doing her best to ensure that it would never happen again, or, if it did, that it would happen to her, and not to the ponies she loved.

And, in some silent understanding, that she was… expendable, while others were not.

She relaxed as they approached Ponyville, large and powerful lights set on the sides of buildings. Most of the town was abandoned, the buildings too far away from one another to illuminate easily. Instead, the ponies who lived there were concentrated around something special.

A giant, purple, crystal tree sat in Ponyville, and for whatever reason, it gently glowed on its own. Nopony knew what it was or why it was there or anything about it really, but its light was ever-present. Most of the town had been restructured around it, and the marketplace, where the siblings were headed, was inside it.

The inside was massive, a gigantic open hall. It was always bright, despite there being no obvious light source. A few banners hung high above, decayed to near nothing, and ponies crowded the area. There was a lot more to the structure, but it was left unexplored.

Other places were very dark and often blocked; the obvious example of that was that the main hall had a balcony with a long since destroyed staircase. Ponies simply didn’t really want to go inside, and there were more than a few stories about somepony off to discover to never be seen again. It didn’t really matter to most, and faint curiosity was tempered by the fear of the dark unknown.

Gala helped her siblings set up the stall and then settled behind them, taking out her book and idly reading as ponies came over, looking about the apples before getting into haggling.

“I’ve got six children!”

“No.”

“It’s ten bits, an eleven if ya keep tryin that.” Sweet said, unamused.

“My grandmother is dying!”

“No.”

Macintosh only glared at the stallion, who backed away fairly fast.

“I can’t afford that! My dog has injured my wife and now she cannot work to help support the family and she is craving apples!”

Gala hesitated. “Yes, unbelievable as that sounds.”

Sweet nodded at Gala and then smiled at the stallion. “Fer you, one bit. An thanks fer bein honest.”

Gala sighed faintly as she flipped the page. She didn’t really mind being the living lie detector, preventing ponies from cheating them with sob stories, but she was very bored during this. After the first hour she had finished her book and began wondering how she was going to keep herself from simply falling asleep.

She started faintly when Macintosh’s hoof bumped into her.

“Ya kin go an find something ta do Gala.” Macintosh told her as Gala turned to see him. “I’m takin a short break, an Sweet kin watch th apples.”

Gala nodded, stretching as she stood up. “I’ll stay with her Macintosh. You go and rest. You did an extra shift last night anyway, you deserve one.”

“Keep yer eyes open Gala.” Sweet said as Macintosh disappeared into the crowd. “We got ten apples left, an we don’t got th bits we need yet. We need ta make sure no apple gets stolen.”

Gala nodded.

She soon grew bored again, however, very little happening that really deserved attention. She sighed after a time, and began looking up, toward the ceiling, and then along the wall, idly pondering where some of the doors went, or who put the long-decayed banners up in the first place. Who built this place, and out of what? For what purpose? All unanswered mysteries, and not anything she had a single clue about, but they were fun to ponder.

As she peered around, something caught her eye.

Not far from their stand was a single doorway. Nopony was near it despite the crush elsewhere, as if it was being avoided for some reason. The empty spot attracted her attention, and she wondered: had it been there before?

But what was there soon distracted her from those thoughts. The door was open somewhat, and a black rat sat there, staring at her with a single glowing, golden eye. It was half as tall as she was and just as long, and very black. But what really caught her eyes was the bright red apple it held in its paws.

Her head whipped around, and she saw nine apples. She didn’t even think as she got up and ran at it, intent on getting the all-important apple back. The rat ran into the hall, and moments after, Gala had made the turn into the dark hall beyond. Her family needed that apple!

She could see the rat ahead of her, looking back with its golden eye, the one light in the dark hall. As it spotted her again, it turned and ran ahead, its tail then becoming the glowing sign for her to follow. It was the only thing she could see in the darkness; the tiny, faintly glowing white line that was the creature’s tail.

It took a few moments before what she was doing actually struck her, and she skidded to a halt, already panting from exertion despite running for only a few moments.

Rats were dangerous, she knew that well. In fact, a rat could actually kill somepony, and that rat she had chased had been massive. Three or four times the size of any rat she’d ever heard of. What could that behemoth do to her if she had caught it? Eat her most likely. Let it take the apple.

The tail vanished into the darkness ahead, and Gala breathed a small sigh of relief that it had. Then she looked behind her, and tensed again.

She couldn’t see the door she had come through, though she was fairly sure she had gone in a straight line and that the door hadn’t shut behind her. It should still be visible, but it wasn’t. And now, it was so dark she couldn’t see anything. There was nothing to help her find her way back, or even navigate at all. As she looked around, it was as if the darkness was somehow darker, and she feared.

Anything could be between her and the door. In sudden fright, she whimpered, shrinking back from nothing.

The moment she whimpered, a sudden, though distant, voice snapped, “What’s that?”

Gala froze, her ears going up, listening.

“…What’s what?” a second asked.

“I heard something…Something over there.”

Voices. Definitely not pony voices, hissing, rasping voices. Evil voices. Monster voices. Gala held her breath, not even daring to move, listening for the sound of approach.

“Something ran into here.” rang clear behind her, far, far closer to her than before. It sounded almost surprised. Gala nearly shrieked, but managed to stop herself. How had it gotten so close so silently!

“It didn’t leave.” a second murmured.

“So it’s still here.” a third said slowly, and Gala could hear the growing smile in the words.

A few moments of silence passed, Gala’s eyes uselessly open wide to try and see what was near her. She trembled faintly, terrified, trying to decide if she should just run, or wait and hope they failed to find her in the dark.

“It must be trembling in fear.” a voice said almost mockingly, making Gala freeze.

“Fear of what though?” was asked, the voice drifting past her, helping her relax. It must not have seen her. “…Of what… lurks in the dark?”

“There are many… things one could encounter within it.” a third hissed, and Gala held still, despite the tingling sensation of having that hissed to her, directly. “Nothing that takes kindly to… trespassers.”

“It could have, of course, simply stumbled here. Let’s not leap to conclusions.” the first voice said, orbiting around her.

“Brave or stupid?” the second asked, again, orbiting her. “Why would s, it be here at all? What would rush into the dark?”

Gala flinched at that, hearing the implication despite the save to prevent it.

They could see her. They knew she was here, they were currently surrounding her, and she couldn’t see anything.

“Does it even matter?” the third asked. “Why should we bother ourselves with why?”

“Hypocrite.”

“As if you’re any better.”

“Now, now, look, we have better entertainment.” the first said, crushing Gala’s dim hope that they’d start fighting each other and forget about her. “She already knows we know.”

“Does she?” Something touched her mane. She held still.

“Perhaps she is ignorant yet?” another voice said, and something was definitely touching her mane. She kept still, trying to decide if simply running blind was a good idea. Or rather, if it was a better one than staying near whatever was near her. Would they chase her? What if she ran into something, or tripped? And even if she didn’t… she couldn’t outrun them.

…She was doomed, wasn’t she?

“How? She would need to be deaf.”

“Don’t discount possibilities. She moved here, yes, but she might not hear us.”

“…I don’t care. I’m bored. Time for fun.”

At that, useless or not, Gala decided to take the chance, and ran forward. She didn’t hear a single one react in surprise, and then yelped as her tail was pulled taught an instant later, stopping her.

Laughter ensued as she was dragged back, despite her scrabbling for purchase. All of a sudden, the pull became stronger, and she was nearly thrown backwards.

She rolled, and recovered the moment she stopped, looking around in a panic despite being unable to see anything. But she did.

A leering face fit for the worst of nightmares greeted her, and she screamed, trying to get away. Nothing stopped her, but another, somehow worse, face greeted her that way, and she tripped trying to reverse, her legs tangling themselves in her panic.

And her every action was met with laughter. Mocking laughter. She recovered and ran, or at least she did her best. Which wasn’t much. Her legs burned in moments, and she knew she wasn’t going fast, and even holding back for fear of things she couldn’t see. She closed her useless eyes, and threw caution to the wind, using all of the little she had.

The laughter doubled when she hit a wall she couldn’t see. She reeled back, dazed, only to have something grab her tail, wing her around, and throw her tired body like she was a hammer and it was in some competition.

She screamed as she flew, and thumped into the ground several times, rolling to finally stop, weak, hurt, and exhausted.

“Fifty!”

Something grabbed her tail again.

“Watch this one!”

She was flung again, and that time slapped into something hard, and slid down it to a crumpled heap. She tried and failed to push herself up, her body too hurt and tired to move.

“Thirty. Disappointing.”

“Nice shot though, and if she hadn’t hit the rock, she might have made sixty. Though I would have thought she would get up after that. Earth ponies are meant to be abused.”

“True. Yet, she isn’t.”

She was picked up again by her tail, and gently spun in place.

“You know, looking closer… she doesn’t look the part, does she?”

“No, not really.” Something poked her, viciously, and she gasped. “Look at that. All give, no resistance.”

“She’s already bruising.”

Something sighed. “Disappointing.”

She was dropped, and couldn’t even manage to not land on her head. She flopped over, groaning, wondering when it would end. Or if it was ever going to end.

Darkness all around her, nothing to see, three monsters toying with her. Her strength already gone, nopony to know where she went… Was this to be her fate? The toy of three monsters, either to be forever caught in this abuse or to eventually die at their hooves? If they even had hooves.

“…I doubt anypony could love her.”

One ear pricked up.

“A failure to her own species. Sad.”

Gala coughed faintly, trying to move.

“Her family must be ashamed of her.”

“I’m…” she managed, wiggling to at least lie down properly.

“Weak, soft, useless. You’re like a decrepit old mare despite your youth.”

“I… can…” she murmured, forcing numb legs to try and support her, slowly standing up again. Trying to ignore the pain she felt.

“Your run is nothing.”

“Your body fails you even now, long before any other would have.”

“Your strength is pathetic.”

She stood, and though her legs wobbled, she took a step. Nothing stopped her.

“Look at yourself, panting and wasted after a few moments of terror.”

“You can barely move.”

“You can barely live.”

She slowed, lowering her head, taking another laborious step.

“A disappointment to your family.”

“A disgrace to your kind.”

“A failure at everything.”

Gala kept her head down and stopped, breathing slowly.

“Just give up. Abandon it all, leave your pain behind you.”

“You have a place to run to. The darkness is always accepting.”

“We won’t hate you.”

“I…” Gala gasped, breathing slowly, deliberately.

“We can fix you.”

“We can give you a body to be proud of.”

“We can fill your empty life.”

“I have…. A home…”

“A home where you’re a burden.”

“A home where you’re a disappointment.”

“We can give you a better one.”

“I… have a family…”

“A family that hates you.”

“You make them suffer. But we can make it better.”

“A new family in darkness.”

Gala was silent.

“Say it.”

“Do it.”

“We’re here.”

“We’ll help.”

“New home, new family, new body.”

“We’ll even say sorry.”

“It’s easy.”

“Just want it.”

“Give up, and succeed.”

“…” Gala pushed herself up. Then she turned around, even if she couldn’t see them, to face them. Her heart and mind hardened, her small wait enough for her to regain at least enough strength for this.

“You’re all lying to me.” she said firmly, and somehow… the darkness was less. “My family doesn’t hate me. I have a home. And I’m not a burden, or a failure.” she stated, despite not being absolutely sure in the last. The previous two were enough, and even if she didn’t have faith in herself, her family had faith in her. Sweet had faith in her.

“But your body,”

“Is weak.” she interrupted. “I’m slow. I can’t really run at all. I bruise easy. I can’t carry much. I can’t buck a tree, or carry a full bucket. I get tired in moments and I’m kind of clumsy and I’m weak. I know that. But I have a place, and a purpose, and a family. I’m happy, no matter how hard it gets, or how ugly it seems, or how weak my body is!”

She took a step toward them. “I have everything I need and want, and nothing you offer me is true!” She reared up, and… she shone. First, she was visible, and then it was as if she herself glowed bright, her color reaching out around her.

“Go away!” she screamed, and she flashed suddenly, as if her will was made into light. Three voices yelled in pain, three dark things rushing away from her as she panted and glared, angry that they had even dared to try and use half-truths to make her… whatever. Angry enough that she didn’t even notice her shine until after the sounds had stopped.

Then she noticed, and looked at herself. She glared a little.

That made absolutely no sense whatsoever and she didn’t really like it. It had likely just saved her, but she still didn’t like it.

Ponies don’t glow. Especially not shine like…

Like a star.

She shook herself, deciding to take advantage of it, but otherwise ignore it. It would go away on its own. And, at least for now, she wasn’t easy prey for running into walls, and monsters should leave her alone.

Anyway, finding the way out. She looked around herself, deciding she had to be in a room of some kind; she couldn’t see any walls near her, despite her shine. As she began choosing a direction mostly at random, she spotted a tiny golden dot.

She hesitated, and then went toward it, soon enough seeing the dark rat again, sitting in a dark doorway. Was it… smiling at her?

Then it turned around, looked back, and its tail curled as if beckoning her to follow. The rat moved into the dark, only the faint white tail visible.

She stared for a few moments, but before it got too far, she hurried after it.