Masks Lie and Nightmares Never Die

/

As the day went on and Applejack continued to be preoccupied, Applebloom decided to gather her friends at their clubhouse in order to them the news. Needless to say her friends were confused by the suddenness of it all.

“So what’s this all about Applebloom? You wouldn’t tell us on the way over here,” asked Scootaloo.

“Yeah, you said it was important,” added Sweetie belle.

“Yeah sorry ‘bout that. I was going to tell my sister first about this, but she was busy with the repairs to the farm. So I decided to tell you guys,” she replied.

Her friends looked at each other with faces of uncertainty before asking together, “About what?”

Applebloom took a deep breath, “IthinkIgotmyCutiemark!” she said quickly.

Sweetie belle and Scootaloo looked at her with confusion, unable to understand what she just said, “Uhh… can you say that again, but slower?” asked Sweetie belle.

Applebloom let out a frustrated sigh, “I…think…I…got…my…Cutie…mark,” she said, very slowly.

Her friends gave her looks of doubt remembering the last time she obtained a Cutie mark through underhanded means, “Pfft, right… and I‘m a princess,” Scootaloo said sarcastically.

“Yeah, how do we know you didn’t use any potions for this one?”

Applebloom let out another frustrated sigh, “Because after the last incident, Zecora made sure to keep the ingredients locked up, so I won’t be tempted to do it again. Besides there’s a reason why I’m feeling nervous you guys. Because I’m not sure if it’s actually a Cutie Mark and I don’t want to embarrass myself again.”

Her friends looked at each other, and nodded before returning their gaze back to Applebloom, “Alright we believe you, but we need to see it if you want our opinion,” said Scootaloo.

Applebloom stalled a bit with uncertainty before showing her friends her flank. The mark in question is an over stylized N with intricate lines sprouting out of it.

“Whoa never seen a mark like that before.”

“Yeah it’s very… intricate,” Sweetie belle added unsure of the meaning of the mark.

“What do you think it means?” questioned Applebloom.

“I’m not sure, but maybe it means you’re an excellent writer?” answered Sweetie belle.

“Nah if that was the case then wouldn’t it be a pencil or a journal?” added Scootaloo.

The cutie mark crusaders would continue to spend most of the day figuring out what the supposed, “cutie mark,” stand for not knowing its true purpose. However, unbeknownst to them the beings that placed that mark are already begun planning their plan of attack.

/

Meanwhile in dimly lit room three figures are standing in front of a desk with a chair facing the opposite direction of where they’re facing, “…So who’s the target for tonight?” asked a voice.

“A young filly named Applebloom, younger sister of both Applejack and Big Macintosh of the apple farm,” responded Paranoia.

“I see…” the voice pondered for a bit before responding, “Panic this one’s all yours.”

Panic was elated by this news, “Yes! I get to have fun first you guys!”

“Panic once nightfall hits, that’s your green light to start the challenge,” the voice said.

“Gotcha… so what does target look like?” questioned Panic.

“The target is colored with an interesting shade of yellow and her mane is colored red. However if that didn’t help the target is wearing a bow as well,” Paranoia explained.

“That’s it? Pfft, and here I thought we’ll be searching for Waldo.”

“I don’t enjoy the thought of kidnapping a child, but I want to show them we mean business alright? So act as antagonistic as possible.”

“Okey, Dokey, Macaroni,” Panic said before giving a mock salute.

The chair turned, revealing the masked face of the nightmare speaking to them. The mask in question is a full face dead wooden mask that is holding onto the wearer’s skin alone. The facial expression portrayed by the mask is disturbing as it is the face of a tortured soul bounded as seen with tape covering the mouth and left eye. To add to the image of horrendous bondage is the carve indentations in the image of chains going across his face three times. However, the most defining feature of the mask is the letters N, and E carved ritualistically on his forehead.

“That’s good to hear Panic, but remember not to harm the girl. There is reason for our actions and causing harm isn’t one of them,” The masked man said.

“Okay okay I get it, don’t harm the kid and everything will be dandy, I got it.”

“Good… you’re dismissed, all of you.”

As the Masked man attempted to resume to whatever he was doing. He was stopped by Paranoia who raised his hand in order to get his attention.

“Yes Paranoia?”

“Forgive me, but I must ask you something milord.”

“Speak, you have my attention.”

“Can you hold still? It would seem Umbra took a liking to your hat again.”

A couple of relaxed ‘caws’ came from the masked man’s hat as they all looked up to see the black to purple bird resting on top of his hat. For a brief moment silence dominated the room they’re in as everyone stared at the crow with mixed emotions.

“Paranoia…”

“Yes, I’ll take care of it. Come here you little trouble maker,” Paranoia reached out and grabbed the bird carefully before bringing it to his chest, “C’mon Umbra, you’re an adult now. Can you please start acting like one?”

The bird in question let out a few chuckles before the masked man made a small cough and brought attention back to him.

“Right, now that momentary distraction is over I’ll reiterate; you’re all dismissed!”

The brothers bowed respectfully before sinking into the shadows of the room and leaving the masked man to his own devices in the dark room as his only exposed eye shined colorfully in the dimly lit room, “I wonder how this is going to play out?”

/

Time has passed back at the Apple Farm, and repairs are going smoothly as most of the barn has been patched up and the house has been cleaned of damaged and broken items, but to Applejack there is still much left to do, “Well the farm is looking better at least, but our good ol’ home still has some holes in it,” Applejack said.

“Eeyup.”

Applejack began to think back to the message. Knowing that her time to find the unfortunate pony marked by the nightmares is at an end she wondered where to start looking, “Hmm… now who yah think this marked one is? Considering the lengths these messenger fellas wentah get the feeling whoever it is closer than we think.”

Having already checked Big Macintosh and Granny Smith Applejack couldn’t find the mark anywhere in the vicinity of her surroundings.

“Dang nabbit! How do I find a mark if I don’t even know what it looks like?” As if to answer her question, Applebloom cheerfully called out to her before running up to her.

“Sis! There you are!”

“Oh, Hi there Applebloom where you been this whole time?”

“I was with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo trying to figure out what my cutie mark means.”

For a moment Applejack’s mind went blank as the words ‘cutie mark’ sank into her brain. It took a soild minute before the mare could make a response, “Uh Applebloom can you show this cutie mark?”

“Sure! I planned on showing it to you anyway.”

When Applebloom showed her flank to her, she immediately paled and her mind raced with panic. There was no doubt in her mind that this is the mark she is looking for, and the marked one just happened to be her younger sister.

“Uh Applejack are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah.”

“Okay, if you say so,” Applebloom then headed into their home, planning to spend rest of the day in her room.

However Applejack has only one thing on her mind, “I have to tell Twilight about this and fast!”

/

With adrenaline in her veins Applejack was already closing in on Twilight’s home. She needed to protect her sister, but she can’t do it alone. Her friends are ready to help, but she needed to get the word out so the team can gather together and face the threat head on. She was so determined that by reached the door she was almost out of breath, but that didn’t stop her from knocking on the door furiously. “Twilight, open up! Things just took a turn for the worse!”

After Applejack yelled it wasn’t hard to hear to Twilight rushing down the stairs and quickly unlocking the door in order to meet with mare face to face. Once the door opened Twilight stepped out with a look of concern on her face, “What do you mean it took a turn for the worse?”

“Remember in that message we got ‘bout a marked one?”

“Wait you mean you found the pony with the mark?”

“Yes, and Twi, it’s my sister!”

Twilight nearly froze from pure shock at this new information, but quickly composed herself, “Spike!”

“On it!” Spike shouted as he went to get a scroll and feather.

“Good we need to tell a princess who’s the marked one is so they can lend us some support.”

“Got it.”

“Applejack did you already tell Applebloom about this?”

“No, but ah just know she’s not going to take it well. She’s going to be scared Twilight.”

“I know, but we’re going to protect her with all we got.”

/

Applebloom was trying hard to sleep, but the terrifying revelation of her “cutie mark” still haunted her. Even though the Canterlot royal guard is here to ensure her safety, she still felt uneasy.However her only piece of mind is her brother and sister, who are just outside her door just in case anypony try to go through her door.

7:58 P.M.

She continued to fight off the temptation of sleep, but she was fighting a losing battle.

8:04 P.M.

Applebloom slowly felt her eyelids shut as she succumbed to slumber.

8:10 P.M.

Applebloom continued to sleep blissfully unaware of a clawed figure stepping closer to her bed. Even in the darkness of her room the figure can be seen giving off a grin that would make skins crawl.

8:11 P.M.

The figure kneel before her bed, and positions its head where its mouth is close to her ear. With a twisted grin the figure spoke.

“I…know when you’re sleeping…”