Close The Windows

"Calm down dearie, it's time for bed."

Mrs. Cake chuckled as she watcjed the hyper pink filly noice around the room.

"But I'm not tired!"

"Well, what if I tell you a story?"

Pinkie Pies face lit up in excitement at her mother's question. She nodded quickly and dive under her covers. Her mother laughed and sat down in a chair near the bed as the fillys head poked out of the covers.

"Alright, I guess I'll tell you the one about-"

"Wait!"

Pinkie Pie interuppted, pushing the covers down a little further. She looked out the window for a moment. From her bedroom window, she could barely see the trees through the thick fog. She turned back to her mother and giggled slightly.

"Tell me a scary story!"

Mrs. Cake cocked her head to the side and made a questioning face at the filly.

"A scary story? I'm not sure I know one."

"Aww, c'mon, I'm sure you have one, mommy."

Mrs. Cake put a hoof to her chin and thought for a moment. She perked up when she suddenly remembered something. As she pulled herself and the chair closer to the bed, she spoke softly.

"I remember one. An old legend my grandfather once told me. It's called The Lurker From Within."

"Oooh!"

Pinkie Pie squealed, smiling widely. She wrapped herself in her blanket and waited for the older mare to continue.

"Once upon a time, back in the first settlement days of Ponyville, there was a house next to the woods, who's owner was only known as 'Lurker'. Now, the house that he lived in was the first house built in Ponyville, so it was was very old fashioned."

"Like this house?"

Mrs. Cake looked around the room. The carved wooden cabinets and simplistic style furniture were quite outdated, but their family preferred them. She chuckled as she looked back to the filly.

"Why yes, quite like this house. But, Lurker was also never seen outside his house. At least, not in broad daylight. No, Lurker only exited his house at night. One night, two young brothers went out with a plan to meet Lurker."

Mrs. Cake could see Pinkie Pies face changing. Her eyes were now wider than usual, and her mouth was slightly agape.

"They waited outside Lurkers house for him to come outside. And when he did, they snuck in."

"What happened to them?"

Pinkie Pie asked, ducking down in the blankets slightly.

"Nopony knows. But they were never heard from again."

Mrs. Cake stated. Pinkie Pie gasped audibly, but poked her mouth above the covers and quietly asked her mother to continue.

"Lurker was upset that the ponies of Ponyville didn't trust him. He felt betrayed. Three nights later, all the ponies of the village awoke to a horrible blaze on the edge of town."

"Was it his house?"

"Yes it was. But after the fire was put out, no evidence of Lurker was found. But, legend has it that he took to the woods, and comes back every night to look for any colts and fillies who are out being mischievous."

"What does he do if he catches them?"

"Nopony knows, but the most common rumor is that he puts them in a state where they keep reliving the worst moment of their life."

"But, what if a pony doesn't have a worst moment? Or their worst moment is still sort of a good one?"

"I guess he'd make relive an image of their worst possible moment. Like a nightmare that never ends."

Pinkie Pie was now shaking in her covers, but she had truly enjoyed the story. She played down on her side and brought the covers to her neck as her mother stood up.

"Thanks for the story mommy."

"No problem sweetie."

Mrs. Cake tucked Pinkie Pie into bed and kissed her on the forehead before turning to walk out of the room. She got to the doorway and was about to turn off the lights when she heard Pinkie Pies voice.

"Mommy?"

"Yes?"

"What's happens if the colts or fillies run away and get back home? Does Lurker follow them?"

"Yes, he does. But, one way to ensure that he can't get you if you happen to get home, is to shut all the windows, turn off all the lights, hide somewhere safe, and count to ten. When you leave the hiding spot, he'll be gone."

"Ok. Goodnight mommy."

"Goodnight sweetie."

Mrs. Cake smiled and turned out the lights. Pinkie Pie could hear her mothers hoofsteps go up stairs, then stop suddenly. She curled up and rolled over to face the wall. A faint ray of moonlight shone through the window, and Pinkie Pie sat up to look through it.

"He ran off into the woods."

The curious part of Pinkie Pie got to her, and she threw off her covers as she leapt out of bed. As she ran over to the large wooden toy chest in the corner, she heard her loud hoofsteps and decided it would be better to be quiet. She slowly opened the lid to the chest, and started squinting to look for the item she needed. She spotted the item and took it out, slowly closing the lid. She turned the flashlight on and off to test if it worked, then looked back at the small window.

"I can get through that."

She stated as she hopped onto her bed and pushed the window open. She looked around at the dew-soaked grass and eerie night sky for a few moments before fully getting outside. She looked back at the house for a moment, seeing that her parents bedroom window was open. Disregarding it, she looked towards the woods. She slowly started walking towards the woods, all the while repeating the words 'He went into the woods' to herself until she reached the edge of the trees. A small amount of fear came to her, but curiosity pushed it away. She stepped carefully through the woods, shining the flashlight in different directions as she walked. For a reason she didn't understand, the feeling came to her that she should say something.

"Hel...hello?"

The words were timid and weak sounding, but the fact that she received a no gave her some confidence.

"Mom said that Lurker looked for colts and fillies who caused mischief."

"And what have you been doing?"

Pinkie Pie froze in her spot as the words hit her. It was a deep, gravely voice, and the words came from directly to her right. She didn't dare move, respond, or shine the flashlight over to the spot. Her mind was made up. She had found Lurker. The fight or flight response was triggered in her, and she took off running towards her house. She didn't stop until she reached her window.

"Close the windows, turn off the lights, hide in a safe place, and count to ten."

She recited to herself as she practically threw herself through the window. After landing in her bed, she closed the window and slid the deadbolt lock into place. As she looked around the room, she saw her closet, and ran to it as a hiding spot. Once inside, she covered herself in some of the winter clothes that were laying in a pile on the floor.

One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine....

She mentally paused before taking a deep breath and saying the last number out loud.

"Ten."

She slowly opened the closet door. After slowly looking around, she smiled at seeing nothing. Halfway to her bed, she heard her door open, and the feeling hit her. She hasn't closed her parents window. Pinkie Pies ear-piercing shriek snapped Mrs. Cake awake. She opened the door to Pinkie Pies room, only to see her daughter leaping around the room, smiling and giggling as usual.

"Pinkie Pie dear, it's time for bed."