A Forest of Metal and Scrap
"So this is nice?" Sweetie Drops said as she and her date walked through the amusement park. Next to her was Big Mac, a farmer stallion who had captured the mare's eye for some time.
"Eeyup." Big Mac replied as they walked past a clown pony holding some balloons. Just as talkative as usual.
Tonight was their third date together. Fortunately this time there weren't as many confused ponies staring that them. Apparently a few of the ponies around Ponyville had made the assumption that Sweetie Drops and Lyra were a couple, a fact that had surprised both mares when they heard it. Sure the two of them had been friends for a long time, but they were just that. Friends.
Big Mac had left his yoke at home and instead was wearing a orange and green scarf, to deal with the chilly weather.
For the longest time Sweetie Drops had been hoping to find a stallion to could fulfill her. Some pony both strong, loyal and dependable. While Big Mac fit the profile, Sweetie Drops had been worried to ask him out and it hadn't been until her friend Lyra threatened to tell the stallion of Sweetie's feelings that the mare had done something about it.
As they walked around the Weeping Willows Theme Park, the sounds of laughter could be heard from the children as well as adult ponies as they enjoyed the rides, attractions and food. The park had been created a few miles south of Ponyville and had grown to be quite popular.
A child could be heard crying after being startled by one of the clowns, giving out balloons. Sweetie Drops didn't blame them, some of the face paint on these clowns were frightening, like something out of a horror movie.
"How would you mind if we tried that out?" Sweetie Drops said pointing toward a photo booth. Big Mac nodded and the two ponies made their way to the attraction. While it was easy for Sweetie Drops to step inside, it was more difficult for the muscular stallion, still with some hard work both of them managed to squeeze in.
After putting a token inside the slot the two ponies made various goofy poses as the photo booth flashed and took a series of pictures. Once the pictures were taken a few of the images showed up on the screen inside the booth, causing Sweetie Drops express an annoyed frown.
"Big Mac!"
"Huh," The stallion gave his date a puzzled look.
"Your expressions are too stiff," Sweetie Drops spoke, "You need to loosen your face a bit, you don't need to be so serious all the time."
Big Mac chuckled, "Okay."
Sweetie Drops pushed the button again and another set of photos were taken. This time Big Mac was way more expressive. The mare found them to be rather adorable.
"Now these we can keep," Sweetie Drops giggled.
"Don't worry dear, I'll be back once the week is over," Trixie talked to her husband over the phone, The phone was blue and its cord ran into the phone station attached to the wall of her cart. The gorgony's serpentine mane moving about her head as Trixie lay flat on her bed.
Trixie listened intently as her husband Filthy Rich talked to her. A few trinkets sat on shelves above the bed, each a prop she usually used in one of her shows. Such an item was a spherical lime green crystal grasped by a griffin's claw. Supposedly the sphere would glow and begin to float whenever a ghost was near. Of course that was just something Trixie had made up for the show.
"Like I said this gig is only going to last for a week," Trixie said, "If I don't work every so often most of these ponies would forgot about the great and powerful Trixie."
Filthy Rich talked some more and as Trixie listened, one of the strands of her serpentine mane accidentally tangled itself in the phone cord.
"Yeah, sure I can grab Tiara a present," Trixie said as careful freed the poor serpent.
Her husband said something that made Trixie blush a little.
"Oh don't worry dear, I miss you too," Trixie said seductively, "I’ll be looking forward to spending some time with you when I come back home. Okay, love you dear. Bye."
With the sound of her husband hanging up the phone, Trixie sat up and put the phone back in place. As the mare released a deep sigh, her serpentine strands looked at her nervously. Trixie had to admit that it was difficult being from her family, but a large part of her really wanted to return to show business just for a little bit.
Trixie plopped herself down on her purple, star patterned bed sheets. Turning her head to the right she gazed upon a photograph with her sitting with her husband, Filthy Rich and their daughter Diamond Tiara. While it was a nice picture, there was a space that looked kind of empty.
"I wonder if Rich would mind having another kid."
On another note, were gorgonies even capable of having kids? The thought was kind of a depressing one.
A part of her ached, longing for her husband's companionship. With an annoyed groan, Trixie pulled the sheets over her body and tried to drift off to sleep.
While it was growing close to the day at the amusement park being over, Sweetie Drops and Big Mac figured they would work at least one more of the attractions into their schedule before making their way to the front gates.
"What should we do?" Sweetie Drops pondered aloud as she scanned the park for anything interesting.
As Sweetie Drops looked around Big Mac tapped the mare's shoulder before motioning to one of the attractions. The sign in front read, "Space Tunnel Maze." It appeared to be a black building of sorts with flashing lights and a series of steps leading up to the exhibits entrance.
"That might be fun!" Sweetie Drops smiled.
Big Mac followed as his marefriend made her way to the attraction. The stallion could still remember the day Sweetie Drops had asked if he wanted to go on a date with her, it had been a week after Big Mac had broken up with Sugar Belle. It wasn't that Sugar Belle was a bad mare, it was just too inconvenient for the two of them to date each other with how far apart they lived. Thus they both agreed that it would be better if they split apart.
Then one day Big Mac was taking some apples to the market for sale when he had accidentally bumped into Sweetie Drops. She immediately started to apologize, but Big Mac took responsibility, saying that he should have been paying better attention to where he was going. Then after they had finished picking up the fallen apples she had asked him out on a date.
"Hey Big Mac!" Sweetie Drop's words reminded the stallion what they were doing. Looking up Big Mac saw Sweetie Drops waiting for him at the top of the steps.
With a nod, the stallion proceeded to ascend the steps.
The sound of loud hissing filled Trixie's ears interfering with the mare's dreams of spending some time with her husband. And it had started to get to the good part too.
"What is it?" Trixie murmured annoyed that her mane had decided to wake her up while she was in the middle of such a fantastic dream making her feel annoyed and unsatisfied. Still the snakes hissed at her in an urgent manner forcing Trixie to open her eyes and sit up right.
As she opened her eyes, Trixie noticed a strange green light illuminating the room. It was then she noticed what had disturbed her mane. Levitating in the center of the room was the trinket that was designed to detect stray spirits and apparently it actually worked.
"Well," Trixie spoke, "that is unexpected!"
The interior of the Space Tunnel Maze was disorienting. The "hallways" or tunnels, consisted of long platforms with railings, surrounded by a moving tube with lights peering through numerous holes, giving the illusion of moving through space.
While it didn't bother Sweetie Drops so much, Big Mac found the dizzying movement more than irritating. They had been traversing the maze for what felt like fifteen minutes or so.
"Are you okay?" Sweetie Drops asked as she noticed that Big Mac's normally red face was a slight tinge of green.
"Nope," Big Mac replied.
Looking around Sweetie Drop examined the maze that stretched out before her. The mare remembered hearing Twilight say something about how if you stuck to the right wall of a maze, you would eventually find your way out.
"I think I can find our way out," Sweetie Drops said as she took the lead, Big Mac following closely behind.
After several minutes of following the "right side" of the Space Tunnel Maze, the two ponies managed to reach the exit without Big Mac losing the contents of his stomach. As the passed through the archway something hit the two ponies with full force.
The silence.
While some of the rides could still be heard, there were no sounds of any pony walking around the park. No foals crying. No ride attendants telling tourists to make their way to the exits. They were both completely alone.
"Did they already close up?" Sweetie Drops asked in confusion. Big Mac merely shrugged, not completely sure.
Carefully the two of them walked away from the ride and made their way to the front gate. Much to their astonishment the door was locked tighter than a basilisk's jaws.
"How do you suppose we're supposed to leave?" Sweetie Drops inquired. Scratching his chin, Big Mac pondered Sweetie Drops question. Then a thought entered his mind.
"What about the backstage area?" Big Mac suggested.
"That's a great idea!" Sweetie Drops exclaimed, "There is probably a rear entrance to allow employees and come and go as they please. Maybe we can leave through there."
Now that they had a plan, the two of them began to walk toward where they guessed was the employee section of the park. However, as they walked deeper into the park the temperature seemed to grow frigid. Sweetie Drops drew closer to Big Mac both for warmth and security.
The wind began to howl through the metal pipes of nearby roller coasters and support beams. A few of the lamp post lights began to flicker. Slowly the couple made their way past a Haunted House attraction. Not too far away was the train track the encircled the whole park. It was then that the cackling became very apparent.
"Why hello there," a eerie feminine voice spoke from the shadows, "What do we have here?"
"We're just looking for a way out," Sweetie Drops said, unsure of the strangers intentions.
It was then that a ghostly shape emerged from behind a nearby lamp post. She resembled an earth pony mare with a pale white coat, well technically everything about her was white, even the dress she wore. However what made her stand out was the blue glow to emanated from her form.
The mare looked at the couple before turning her attention to Big Mac.
"Oh, such a strong stallion," The ghost said as it floated over toward them. Sweetie Drops didn't like who the phantom giggled as it advanced toward Big Mac.
"What do you want?" Sweetie Drops growled.
The ghost continued to giggle as if flew circles around the couple. The air growing colder around them.
"Oh, just looking for my future husband," The ghostly mare said as landed next to Big Mac.
"Wha..." Before Big Mac could finish what he was going to say, the ghost touched him and completely enveloped his body in ice.
Sweetie Drops gasped as the ghost lifted the frozen Big Mac off the ground with ease. The phantom chuckled as it took its prize and flew toward the train tracks, flying over the metal fence that kept the railway separated from the park. Sweetie Drops ran over to the barrier but was unable to jump over it.
Slowly the train pulled up, slowing down just long enough for the ghost to climb on board with her captive. The phantom cackled as the train started to move again leaving Sweetie Drops behind.
"No! No! No!" Sweetie Drops cried as she ran along the fence, trying to keep up with the moving train. However she wasn't fast enough and it wasn't long before the train was long gone.
The mare coughed as she tried to catch her breath. There was no way should would be able to catch up with the train. Slowly Sweetie Drops walked over to a nearby map stand and examined the layout of the park.
"Damn it, Celestia!" Sweetie Drops cursed as she realized there were multiple locations that the phantom could have taken Big Mac too, "If only there was someone who knew how to track a ghost through a creepy amusement park."
It was at that very moment that an exhausted blue gorgony came around the corner, "Shoot... did I miss it."
Big Mac stirred from his slumber. Both his mind and body ached as he tried to remember the day before. As his limbs pulled against rope the stallion recalled going on a date with Sweetie Drops, and then...
The stallions eyes shot open only to discover that he was bound to a chair next to a large table. It is cover in old rotten food and around it are three ghosts. Across from Big Mac was the one that captured him.
"Rise and shine hubby," the ghost from before giggled, "Please go ahead and eat up."
Looking down at the plate set in front of him, Big Mac sees a rotten apple resting on the plate. How fitting.
"Moonlight why did you bring this outsider here?" the ghost to Big Mac's right asks. This ghost appears to be a unicorn colt wearing a black hoodie.
"Oh, he's my new husband Grim," Moonlight giggled as she leaned over and placed a decaying carrot on Big Mac's plate next to the disgusting apple.
"You know that can't happen right?" Grim growls, "He is mortal and you're a ghost. There is no way he can ever be your husband!"
"Don't worry I already have a plan for that," Moonlight answered as she placed a surprisingly normal looking radish on Big Mac's plate, "Once we are wed, I will kill him. Then his ghost and I will be married forever."
Big Mac's eyes shot wide open in response to Moonlight's statement.
"That's the stupidest plan I've ever heard!" Grim growled, "It's almost as stupid as my sorry excuse for a sis..."
Before Grim can finish his statement, Moonlight reaches out with an ethereal hoof and slams it against the other ghost's head like a baseball bat, spraying bits of ectoplasm against the wall. Grim's ghostly body falls through the floor.
With Grim seemingly indisposed at the moment, Big Mac turned his attention to the ghost on his left, however all he could see was a floating bed sheet with two eye holes.
The way that this ghost looked at him, Big Mac was pretty sure they had no objections when it came to Moonlight's plan.
"So that thing can help you find ghosts?" Sweetie Drops asked pointing a hoof at the trinket Trixie was carrying.
"Apparently," Trixie answered, "I'm not sure how though. It's supposed to be a fake prop for my act."
Despite wanting to make a comment on that fact, Sweetie Drops decided to focus on the matter at hoof.
"Can it help us find Big Mac?" The mare inquired.
"Probably," Trixie replied, "However, I am still pretty new at this."
The gorgony moved the artifact around until the gem in the center began to glow a vibrant green.
"I guess they must be this way," Trixie said leading the way through the park to wherever the ghost was.
The two walked in silence for a while, until Trixie finally broke the deafening quiet.
"So are you and Big Mac a couple now?" Trixie asked.
"Yes," Sweetie Drops gave the gorgony an annoyed look, "Why?"
"Oh no reason I guess," Trixie answered timidly, "I just thought you would have good for one of the stallions in Canterlot."
This kind of surprised Sweetie Drops, "Wait really? That's what you were thinking?"
"Yes," the gorgony answered giving the other mare a confused look, "Why?"
"Well because..." Sweetie Drops tried to organize her thoughts, "Because, most of the other ponies apparently thought that Lyra and I were a thing."
"Were you?"
"No, not at all," Sweetie answered, "Sure we hang out together but that's because we're good friends. I mean she helped me out during one of the most depressing parts of my life."
Sweetie Drops managed to rub a hoof against her right foreleg. While her coat hid them well, Sweetie Drops could still feel the old scars from the self inflicted cuts she had made so long ago. The mare had seen things when she had worked as a Smile Agent, things that had made her contemplate on more the one occasion the possibility of taking her own life. Fortunately, while her friend didn't fully understand, Lyra had been there for her and had helped Sweetie Drops deal with her own depression.
"Does Big Mac make you happy?" Trixie asks shaking her head to indicate that the two of them needed to turn left.
"Yeah," Sweetie Drops answered, remembering how the stallion had managed to apologize to her with so few words, when they had bumped into one another, "Yeah he does."
"Then why does it matter what the ponies of Ponyville think?" Trixie spoke up, "Most of those ponies are so brainless you can tell them you wrestled an Ursa Major, and they would believe you."
As Trixie said that quietly admitted being guilty of such trickery. Though to be fair it had been all for show, she had expected most of the ponies in Ponyville would realize that and leave it be, not go out of their way to try to find an Ursa Major (which turned out to be an Ursa Minor) and drag it into town.
The gorgony was broken from her thoughts by the sound of Sweetie Drops giggling.
"Oh, I remember that quite well." The mare chuckling warranting a glare from the gorgony.
"I may not have been able to deal with that giant star bear back then," Trixie spoke, "But I could stop it in its tracks now. Just like how I could turn a certain laughing mare into a statue."
Putting a hoof over her muzzle, Sweetie Drops tried to halt her laughter in order to stop antagonizing the gorgony that was being so gracious in helping her find Big Mac.
The two of them stopped in front of a large building.
"Well, it looks like the ghost is in there somewhere."
Apparently the amusement park had deemed it necessary to have a creepy looking pizzeria in the middle of their park. Blinkie's Pizzeria to be precise, the cheapest pizza one could buy without the fear of being killed by your meal. The fact that that was literally their slogan, wasn't necessarily a good sign.
Trixie had taken Diamond Tiara to one for a birthday party one time. It hadn't been a bad experience but the animatronics did make the gorgony feel uneasy. They were creepy looking and it was very unlikely that her petrifying gaze would have any effect if such mechanic monstrosities decided to glitch out and go on a murder spree.
"Are you okay?" Sweetie Drops asked. Apparently Trixie's face along with the faces of her serpentine mane had grown pale.
"Uh yeah... sure..." Trixie spoke, "Nothing to worry about when it comes to creepy robots."
"Oh, don't be silly," Sweetie Drops said, "There is no way any of the robots will go crazy in there. We're dealing with ghosts not exterminators."
The Exterminator was a classic movie that Big Mac hadn't seen yet. Perhaps if she managed to save him, Sweetie Drops next date should be a movie night with the stallion. Sweetie Drops shook her head, no of course she was going to save Big Mac.
Filled with confidence, Sweetie Drops stepped into the pizzeria, with a worried Trixie following behind. Inside there was an arcade along with a stage and seating area. One the stage there were three large animatronic robots. In the center was Blinkie a talking robot unicorn with a blue plastic body, to the right of Blinkie was an mechanical diamond dog known as Gib, and to Blinkie's left was an animatronic tatzlwurm known as Linky.
Above the three animatronics hovered a ghostly figure covered in a white bed sheet. The phantom watched Trixie and Sweetie Drops as they drew near.
"Where is Big Mac?" Sweetie Drops called out to the ghost, but there was no reply. The ethereal being simply watched them.
Sweetie Drops turned to Trixie, who merely shrugged in response.
"Answer me you nonphysical dishrag!" Sweetie Drops yelled. All this did was warrant a menacing chuckle from the phantom.
"Uhhh... I don't think that was a good idea," Trixie said as the ghost slowly lowered instead into the head of the Blinkie animatronic.
"H-H-Hey there k-kids," Blinkie spoke with glowing blue eyes, "It is n-nice to m-M-m-eat you all!"
As the animatronic unicorn spoke the eyes of the other two robots began to glow as well. Almost in a zombie like fashion the machines began to step off the stage toward the two mares.
"I love to eat new friends!" Blinkie chuckled as it lunged toward Sweetie Drops. Remembering her training as a Smile Agent, Sweetie nearly dodged the attack.
"Trixie can't you do something with that gaze of yours?" Sweetie Drops asked as she ran toward the arcade.
"Do they look like they're alive to you?" Trixie called out, "Perhaps that the answer to your question."
Linky lunged at the gorgony causing the unicorn to teleport out of the way. The large tatzlwurm crashed into a table, letting out a terrifying screech as it lifted its body from the wreckage. Trixie was about to send a lightning bolt toward the animatronic when Gib picked up a trashcan and throw it at the gorgony.
Caught by surprise Trixie took most of the impact and found herself flying into a wall.
"Come h-here pretty p-pony," Gib chuckled in a mechanical voice, "You lo-o-ok so tasT-ty!"
While Trixie dealt with Gib and Linky, Sweetie Drops was busy running from Blinkie. As she ran Sweetie Drops was keeping a keen eye out, both for potential threats as well as a means to stop these mechanical abominations.
"H-H-Hey there!" Blinkie said as he jumped out from behind an arcade machine.
Sweetie Drops screamed in utter panic as she slammed her hoof into the plastic face of the the unicorn animatronic. Plastic and metal broke under the impact, causing one of the robot's eyes to flicker before shutting off.
"Ouch that h-h-hurt!" The animatronic stuttered as it mimicked a living being's reactions. As the machine tried to recover, Sweetie Drops spotted a broom in the corner just behind the evil, demonic, contraption.
Sliding between the robot's legs, Sweetie Drops ran toward the broom. She was pretty sure it wouldn't be a good weapon against Blinkie or any of the other animatronics, but she figured it might prove useful. Next to the broom was an empty metal bucket.
"I'll g-g-Get you for t-that!" Blinkie stuttered as the machine returned its attention to the mare who had managed to squeeze past it.
Enraged the robot smashed a nearby arcade machine, the lights of the game system flickering before dying off. Judging by the logo on the side, the game was Pac-Mare, a shame nobody would be able to play it until somepony fixed it.
"How about you take this!" Sweetie Drops growled, as she grabbed the bucket by the handle and slammed it down onto the robot's head, breaking away more of the plastic and eliciting a terrifying screech as blue ectoplasm erupted from the damaged machine. Slowly the animatronic crumpled to the ground as the ectoplasm flew back toward the seating area.
Trixie was having some difficulty dodging the two robots as they both tag teamed her. A few of the tables that the gorgony had been standing on, had been completely destroyed. Linky scurried under the tables, making the floor unsafe terrain for Trixie. Meanwhile Gib was chucking chairs and any other loss objects he would find at the gorgony.
"Look I understand that I'm great and powerful," Trixie spoke, as she teleported out of the way of Gib's razor sharp claws, "But that doesn't mean the two of you need to team up on me!"
It was a shame that they were robots. If it had been a real diamond dog and a real tatzlwurm, Trixie would have been able to use her petrifying gaze to turn them to stone. She could use her magic, however it was difficult to concentrate when being attacked on two front.
Out of the corner of her eye, Trixie saw something glowing rushing toward her. Trixie was unable to react in time as the ectoplasm was absorbed by Trixie's artifact. As the ghostly residue was absorbed the other two animatronics let out a horrifying scream.
"What did you do?" Trixie asked as Sweetie Drops rushed back into the dining area from the arcade.
Breaking free of its ethereal headache, Linky began to rush toward the newcomer, its large mouth held wide open. Sweetie Drops responded to the attacker by throwing the dented metal bucket into its mouth.
"Smash their heads!" Sweetie Drops yelled.
Gib let out a roar, reminding Trixie that the threat of being shish kabobed by an evil, demonic robot was still possible. Using her magic, Trixie grabbed a stray chair and chucked it at the animatronic diamond dog's head. The plastic casing cracking from the impact.
"Whoever built these things did a crappy job." Trixie spoke. As Trixie said this Linky's metallic jaws crushed the chair in its mouth. Apparently the company had done something right.
Sweetie Drops back peddled as the mechanical tatzlwurm scuttled along the ground toward the mare. Looking around the room, Sweetie Drops began to formulate a plan on how to defeat the annoying animatronic. Letting out a loud hiss, Linky launched toward Sweetie Drops.
Using the broom she had discovered earlier, Sweetie Drops planted the tip into the floor and hurtled over the robot, which proceeded to crash into the wall. As the machine's face shattered against the wall, more glowing ectoplasm emerged from the ruined animatronic and entered Trixie's prop.
The ghost possessing the last remaining screamed as more of its ectoplasm was being stored inside the magical relic. This gave Trixie the opportunity to bash the robot's head open.
"N-n-noooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!"
The ghost screamed in terror as the last anchor holding it to the mortal plane was drawn into the artifact. With a flash of light the phantom was sealed away.
"Well, that was impressive," the gorgony said as she admired the wreckage around her, "It certainly helped that you had the assistance of the great and powerful Trixie."
"Or maybe it has to do with the fact that they were made in Saddle Arabia." Sweetie Drops said pointing to a label on some broken plastic.
"Or that."
"So where did you find that item?" Sweetie Drops asked pointing a hoof at the artifact in the gorgony's possession.
"I happened to find it in a Blind Buy Barrel," Trixie answered, "Most of it was full of crappy old junk but this looked interesting."
"You don't strike me as the antique collecting type."
"It was a wedding present." Trixie replied, it had been a gift from a certain annoying librarian.
Sweetie Drops looked around the room, but there was no sign of Big Mac inside the damaged pizzeria.
"Now we just need to figure out where Big Mac is." Sweetie Drops said as she regained her breath.
Both of the mare's ears twitched as they heard to the sound of some pony humming. Suddenly the doors at the back of the pizzeria burst open and a ghost wearing a black hoodie floated through.
"It's great having my head back to normal."
Grim stopped humming once he noticed the mess around him as well as the glowing relic in Trixie's possession, he knew a ghost absorption device when he saw one.
"Nope! I'm good!" Grim said as he turned around and started floating away, "I ain't messing with none of that!"
"WAIT!" Sweetie Drops yelled.
Grim stopped not wanting to be absorbed,"Yes, what is it?"
If a ghost's face could be more pale it would be considering how nervous Grim was at the moment.
"You see my friend and I are looking for a stallion," Trixie said stepping closer to the phantom, "And we were wondering if you might know where he is."
"Oh, him," Grim scratched the back of his ethereal neck, "Yeah I've seen him. Moonlight has him. She plans on killing him so that she can marry his ghost."
"WHAT!" Sweetie Drops yelled.
"I-it wasn't my idea." Grim said waving his hooves.
"WHERE IS SHE!" Sweetie Drops roared with such a volume that even Trixie and her snakes began to sweat.
"S-she's at the merry-go-round!" Grim spoke, "That's where she plans to do it!"
Sweetie Drops growled, kicking one of the animatronic corpses before stepping out the door.
"I guess we better be going now." Trixie said as she followed her friend out the door.
Grim waited a long for the two mares to leave.
"Those two are insane," Grim said as he floated over to a bench and ‘sat down.’ As he sat down Grim contemplated the situation.
Considering their skills and the fact that he a ghost absorption device that they used to absorb Larvae meant they might have a chance against Moonlight. The fact that they were able to handle Larvae meant that it was very possible they could defeat the ghost.
For a moment, Grim considered going and providing Moonlight with some aid, however Grim decided against it. After being separated from her husband by the mortal coil the ghostly mare had grown more and more eccentric. Perhaps with her gone Grim could better enjoy his unlife.
Grim started contemplating what he might do after Moonlight was gone when some loud noises emerged from the room in the back of the pizzeria.
"Great," Grim growled, "What is it now?"
"This is going to be great," Moonlight giggled, "Soon you and I will be bound together for all eternity."
The merry-go-round consisted of birds, clouds, and cows attached to polls that would move up and down when the ride was running. The lights of the right continued to flash rhythmically as if the ride were waiting to start. There were three rows on the circular platform, the innermost and outer rows had the moving ‘mounts’ while the central row had a few benches.
Big Mac was tied and bound to one of the benches.
"Aren't you excited?" Moonlight asked with glee.
"Eenope." Big Mac answered with an annoyed expression. However Moonlight ignored the stallions contrary mood.
"Oh I'm so happy," Moonlight spoke, "It was so unfortunate that I lost my life the day of my wedding. My husband and I were about to go on our honeymoon when I slipped on my dress and cracked my head against the toilet."
Small tears of ectoplasm dripped from Moonlight's eyes.
"But now you're here so that doesn't matter anymore. I've waited for so long and now I'll be happily married!"
"NO, YOU WON'T!" Sweetie Drops yelled as she stepped through the gates to the ride with a tired Trixie following behind.
"Excuse me!" Moonlight growled, her expression growing sour. Unfortunately due to the position of the bench and the way he was tied up Big Mac had a difficult time turning around to see Sweetie Drops entrance.
"You unhoof Big Mac this instance!" Sweetie Drops as stepped on the platform toward the ghost.
"Yeah, I'll be right here." Trixie said as she leaned against the metal frence encircling the ride, trying to regain her breathe.
The ghost smiled at Sweetie Drops, "Oh, and why should I? Does he mean something to you?"
The comment stopped Sweetie Drops in her tracks. What should she say? Should she confess her love now before Big Mac and this ghost.
"Yes," Sweetie Drops said, taking a deep breath, "Yes, he is my... My special somepony."
Big Mac's ears twitched in response to Sweetie Drops statement.
"My, my, isn't that a shame," Moonlight chuckled, "You do look like a lovely couple. Too bad I have to break it all up."
"What?" Sweetie Drops was about to abject, when the merry-go-round started to move.
"Do you really think I'm going to let some love struck mare come between me and my happiness," Moonlight yelled as she floated in the same direction that the attraction was moving, "I have waited centuries to be happy and now that I have the chance, and you just want to take it from me!"
The ghost's ethereal eyes became a bright red and the merry-go-round picked up speed. Sweetie Drops grabbed a hold of a nearby orange cow as it moved up and down.
At this point, Trixie had regained her breathe but was now dealing with the conundrum of how to step onto the moving ride.
"But this isn't fair!" Sweetie Drops spoke as she held on tightly to the cow.
"Really, I didn't notice," Moonlight said as she started to float toward the mare, "But then again I don't think it was fair that I died on my wedding night either!"
Now that the ghost's eyes weren't fixed on him, Big Mac started to examine the ropes that bound him, trying to find a way to free himself.
"Trixie, can't you use that artifact thing?" Sweetie Drops called out.
The gorgony tried to adjust the relic, but while it glowed indicating the presence of the ghost on the attraction, it wasn't pulling the phantom in.
"I don't know what's wrong?" Trixie answered, "maybe you need to like punch her."
Standing up Sweetie Drops tried to charge at Moonlight, slamming a hoof at the ghost's face. Instead her hoof passed through the phantom's form.
"Did you really think you could hit me?" Moonlight chuckled, "I'm a ghost. I have no physical form. You can't touch me..."
Sweetie Drops turned around only to feel something smacking into her face.
"But I can touch you!"
Finding one of the knots in his bindings, Big Mac began to pull at it with his teeth. He just needed enough time to loosen his bonds.
Sweetie Drops tried to fight back but while her blows always passed through, the ghost's attacks hit their mark.
"Why won't you work?" Trixie growled as she tried to figure out what caused the artifact to absorb the ghost from before. Trixie cursed as she tried to think back to any books she may have read pertaining to ghosts.
She remembered phantoms having some sort of weakness. Fire? No, that was, well... Pretty much anything. Silver? No, that was marewolves. Salt? Maybe but that may also have been the weakness for demons.
It was then that the gorgony remembered the conflict from earlier. The ghost had split itself to possess the three animatronics and when each of the machines were significantly damaged some sort of material had spilled forth before it was absorbed by the relic.
Suddenly a realization swept over Trixie. Ectoplasm! The material was ectoplasm! That is what her artifact had absorbed. Now if only there was a way to split this ghost, exposing its ectoplasm.
Straining against the ropes, Big Mac could feel the ropes growing weak as he flexed his muscles. With the knot damaged it wouldn't be long before he was free.
Sweetie Drops screamed as she feel to the floor of the ride. Moonlight stood over the injured mare.
"Oh you poor little lovebird," Moonlight giggled, "I had hoped you could take more damage."
"Leave her alone!" Big Mac growled as he stood up from the bench, his bonds snapping and breaking. All that muscle he had grown working hard on the farm, sure was coming in handy.
Moonlight's eyes grew wide seeing Big Mac free, "Darling! Sit back down this instant! Soon I will kill you and then you will be mine!"
"Probably not," Trixie called out, "You know there is only a 0.12% chance that one will become a ghost after death. Even if you manage to kill Big Mac the percentage would only increase by 0.5, equaling a 0.62%."
"What?" Moonlight said the merry-go-round's speed decreased.
"In other words even if you kill him, there is no guarantee that he will come back as a ghost." Trixie said with a smile.
While Moonlight was busy staring at the gorgony, Big Mac rushed over to Sweetie Drops and picked her off the ground.
"No. No. No! NO!" the ghost cried out, "This-this isn't fair!"
The merry-go-round slowed to a crawl. Immediately Big Mac and Sweetie Drops jumped off the circular attraction. However they were far from safe.
Moonlight turned her anger toward the couple. While the ectoplasm leaking from the ghost's eyes were being absorbed by the artifact, Moonlight didn't care. She had been robbed by fate twice now and she was going to make them all pay.
"I'll make you all pay!" Moonlight growled. The look in her eyes told Sweetie Drops that she meant death.
"No you won't." an unfamiliar voice spoke drawing their attention to an unexpected ghost.
As it turned out the visitor was a ghostly stallion wearing military armor. As he floated closer to the ground the stallion removed his helmet, revealing his face.
"D-darling," Moonlight spoke in confusion, "Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me." the ghost knight said, his mane fluttering in the breeze.
"Wait, so he's the guy she was married to?" Sweetie Drops asked. Big Mac shrugged.
Moonlight floated over to her ghost husband, "But how is this possible?"
"After you died," the stallion spoke staring off into the distance, "I decided to join the military and fought in the war."
"What war?" Trixie asked, before being shushed by Sweetie Drops. Trixie tried to think about any wars that had gone on in the last century, however aside from the whole changeling invasion and Tirek running around taking pony magic, Trixie could think of anything that counted as a war.
"During a great conflict I lost my life," the soldier said, "And for centuries I have wondered Equestria searching to see if you too had become a wandering spirit."
"Oh sweetheart," Moonlight managed to hug her ghostly husband, "I've missed you so much."
"So can we go now?" Big Mac asked.
Moonlight waved them away, clearly no longer interested in killing them. Thus Sweetie Drops, Big Mac, and Trixie made their way to the rear exit.
Back here there were numerous trailers belonging to a few of the other park employees and entertainers. The customer friendly cement paths were now replaced with less professional gravel roads.
"Thank you for what you said back there," Sweetie Drops said as they walked, "About the percentages of Big Mac becoming a ghost."
"Yeah about that," Trixie scratched the back of her neck, "I kind of made all that up."
"What?"
"Yeah, I don't know anything about how often a dead pony becomes a ghost," Trixie replied, "I made that up in the hopes that she would give up or perhaps I would find a way to split her ectoplasm apart."
"Well, thanks anyway." Sweetie Drops said.
"Eeyup." Big Mac nodded.
"It's no big deal," Trixie said, "You two should run along. I'm going to go back to my trailer and hope that my employer doesn't think that the unquestionably innocent Trixie, had anything to do with the whole animatronics mess."
"What do you suppose those two ghosts are going to do now?" Sweetie Drops asked.
"Ghost stuff." Big Mac answered.
"Well, if I was separated from my husband Rich for over a century I know what I would be doing," Trixie said as her insides ached. She was really missing her husband right about now.
"Hey Big Mac?" Sweetie Drops asked.
"Eeyup."
"Do you think we can go on another date?" the mare inquired.
"Okay," Big Mac answered, "but no amusement parks."
Sweetie Drops chuckled, "Alright, no amusement parks."
Grim stood outside of the Haunted Mansion attraction, with his forelegs crossed over one another. Inside Moonlight and her husband were going at it like there was no tomorrow. One of the window covered broke off and fell into a bush right next to Grim. The ghost let out a deep sigh.
"Why couldn't she have been absorbed by that stupid relic?" Grim growled.
The End
Author's Note
Additional Facts:
- The Exterminator is a reference (if it wasn't so obvious) to the movie, the Terminator.
- For those of you who don't know, Gib was the name of my first dog.
- Pac-Mare is clearly a reference to Pac-Man.
- Larvae apparently is Latin for ghost.
- Ultimately I decided I wanted the ending to be kind of goofy, which is why Moonlight's husband shows up instead of Trixie and Sweetie Drops finding a way to defeat her. Admittedly the scene at the end might have been a bit forced, but hey, Moonlight and her ghostly husband have a lot of catching up to do.
- The war that is reference is something I do hope to go into more detail with some of my future Gorgony-verse fics. Let's just say it happened a long time ago.
