A Dance With The Devil

Fourth

Flaura Rosa’s legs trembled a tad, and Light caught her when she fell. She had requested to try walk, if she could even, and he’d accepted it. They couldn’t stay here forever, after all. Thankfully, her wounds seemed to be looking well. Not fully healed yet, no, but alright in the time meaning. They should heal in a few day’s time, he thought, and she need keep care in that time. He placed her back up in a standing position, guiding her as if she was a filly a few years old, wanting to stroll.

He was reminded of that when he saw her try, a foal trying to walk for the first time. It wasn’t an easy experience per se, but once one achieved it, they will never forget it. Seeing Flaura taking her steps made him want to help, but he knew that she would rather not.

Flaura patted a clearing, applying more pressure and bringing her body forward. She winced slightly but never stopped. The earth pony brought out her other hoof and did the same thing as her previous one, this time not expressing anything. It looked to be a meticulous process, walking. But he knew she could do it.

What turned into a slow crawl turned into a moderately normal walk, a little hop once in a while. She smirked at him. “See? I can do it. What do you think of me, a babe? I needn’t your help. I’m more of a stallion that you are.”

He silently snorted at her little jest. “You’ve had your jape. Understand that I was merely worried you would fall again. You’re wounds are not yet fully healed, you know.” She rolled her eyes at that.

“Give not that remark to me, Lightning Glare. I know what I’m doing.” Light nodded, not wanting to argue to her. She snorted.

Whilst she tried to maintain her balance, he sighted a tunnel in this unusually thick forest. It looked to be black but unusually clear, like someone wanted them to go down there. “Now that you can walk, do you want to find a way out of here?”

Flaura nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, please. I want nothing more than to leave, and I’d sooner leave now than later.”

“Alright, then.” He motioned to her legs. “But are you sure you can walk properly? We possibly have a long journey ahead of us.”

“Oh, please. I jog two hours a day. And I barely haven’t breaks of any kind, mind you. Manage this I can, and I shall prove that to you.”

“Well, alright, then. If that’s what you want.” He pointed to a direction. “It looks to be clear there. We’ll head down and see what we can find. If there’s nothing, we’ll come back and start looking the other way.” She blinked in response.

The two plodded the small pathway, walls of black shrubbery seemingly wanting to meet. They needed walk in a single-file line at a point, Flaura taking lead. He checked behind him to see if they had anyone following them. No one. A breeze of air was cold around them.

Her walk seemed to be better, and she seemed have no difficulty in walking now.

Flaura seemed to freeze in place when she chanced upon something on a tree. He moved beside her to see what it was. It was written in black, and it was so dark that even the blackness they were in could do no justice to it. The liquid it was written in oozed, dripping down the bark. Keep going forward, and do not look back.

“Who in the hell . . . ?”

“It’s her,” Light breathlessly declared, no hesitation in his voice. “The writing, it’s similar to Death’s one that I found on my wall. It has to be hers.” She was quiet, gaping at the thing. “What do we do?”

“We go forward,” she said confidently. “If it leadeth us to our deaths, then perhaps it really was all pointless.” Flaura eyed him. “Take not this the wrong way, but I’d go in there and see what is in there for myself.”

He hesitated. “Well . . . if you say so. Let’s just . . . get this over with, I guess.” She scrutinized him through a gaze before she turned away, starting her trek. He gulped, right behind her tail.

★★★★★★★★★

The sight of chaos made her feel a little better.

Starlight Glimmer looked like her lungs broke and was trying desperately to breathe, whilst Luna cycled through dreams, checking them one by one, throwing them away afterwards, having a state similar to Starlight’s.

The princess grunted. “Where art thou?!” Luna demanded to an orb she held. She threw it away to the void.

“Twilight, I’m going to ask this again: what the heck is going on?” Starlight eyed her, suspecting. Twilight nervously chuckled.

“We’re in an important mission,” Luna offered before Twilight could say anything, dropping her act with the orbs. Twilight meekly nodded in feign understanding. “I . . . was taking Twilight around to show her how to deal with fixing nightmares.” Well, she wasn’t technically lying.

“Oh, okay. I just got a little worried there. I thought there was something fishy going on.” She smiled. “And princess Luna, what’re you looking for?”

“I am merely looking for a specific dream we need check, lest consequences may happen.”

“Consequences? What consequences?”

“It’s hard to explain,” Luna said. “I just want you to go back home, Starlight Glimmer. I’ll bring you back and you’ll wake. Tell your friends where we are; it may be some while until we come back. Do you understand?”

“Yes, princess.”

“Now begone.” Luna shot a beam of magic at her, and she disappeared.

“Princess, is there any chance the shadows will show up on any other dream and risk of coming into the real world?”

“If they appear, yes. But the more important question is if they will. I’ve looked over a bunch of dreams and none of them are there . . . She is probably only targeting us.” Luna pulled Twilight closer, checking around her. “Have you ever wondered why I left you here?”

“No. Why?”

“Because of your indomitable determination. You want to find Lightning Glare, no? I’m sure you’re determination will be powerful enough to find him; I just know it. It’s not easy to do this alone, but with you on my side, we can find him and maybe her.”

The dreams abruptly stopped moving. They pinned in place, and suddenly they all dispersed into nothingness as the glow of the stars and galaxies dwindled, leaving them confused. The last star seemed brighter when away from his brothers, when put in a nothingness. Twilight strained to see it as it left them all in the dark. Luna brightened her horn, creating a nimbus azure and bright, and no shadow casted from them.

“What’s happening?”

Luna answered not, keeping sight and inspecting the vastness. They say true silence will drive anypony mad—a silence that can make you hear your own organs, a silence that can deteriorate, a silence that can make you mad. Twilight started to perceive the rushing of blood through her veins and arteries, sounding like a boom, because it was the only thing filling her ears. Her breathing echoed around her head, and she swore she heard moving black things that she knew were not real from the void.

Then light came through. It was weird were it was coming from—a moving thing Her racing blood faltered not, though, for the thing started to fade away but come closer. It came back, the colour red brightness. It was twisting and rolling.

Death was here.

“Run, Twilight! I’ll stall her!” Luna discharged an ungodly amount of magic to her, the explosion so bright that even if she ran away for her life the other direction, everything went white. It took a while to clearly see again. Death was still there when she looked back. She heard the princess fire shoot at the wiht many times, and judging from the continuous fire, it seemed not affect her.

Luna’s attacks could no longer be heard. Everything was silent again, except for her ragged breath and run. She ran and ran. Death landed in front of her, the alicorn stopping.

She waited for Luna to come out and distract her, but she did not come. Twilight wondered how many ponies tried to break free from the iron grip of death. How many did escape? How many will? She thought of of her friends, her dear friends. One day, they’ll be right where she is, in front of Death herself, in the end. She tilted her head curiously at the trembling mare.

Twilight stumbled to her knees. “M—make it quick . . . please.”

Death blasted her. She disappeared into disintegrating smoke, smoldering matter left.

★★★★★★★★★

How long have we been walking? Light asked of himself for the fifth time as he tramped through forest dirt and weeds. His hooves reeked of mud, and he felt lightheaded. Light was surprised Fluara walked with absolutely no exhaustion shown. It was like she didn’t need to rest at all. I guess she really does jog two hours a day. Look at her go.

“Flaura, are you getting tired yet? I don’t know how long we’ve been walking,” he managed. She wheeled around, taking a good look of his pathetic body.

“I think you need ask yourself that.” She stifled a snigger. “You’re getting tired now? Do you want to stop to get some rest or do you want me to carry you all the way?”

“Would you say yes if I requested the latter?” He gave a small and tired smile. She stuck her tongue right out, jiggling her head.

“Come on, you babe. We shall stop once we reach a clearer area, that I promise you.” She nudged him slightly with a knee. “Hurry on.”

He waved her off. “Alright, alright, fine. Let’s go.” The two turned, continuing their trek, deeper and deeper into the luscious black.

The Everfree was a haunting place to be in, even in the day he knew, and especially during the night as well, but it was nothing compared to this forest’s level. Even the moon’s light seemed to weaken, and the stars disappeared all together. He felt scared. But she was here, and Flaura is frankly more than enough for him to say that he’s okay. It’ll be okay.

She reminded him of Auriga a little: the attitude, the outlook of life. No way in Tartarus am I going to tell her. This is all confusing as it is already, he mused, thinking how she would react. She’s stressed, really. And I can’t blame her on that one.

The ruffles of her walk could not be heard. Light saw her lurk in her place, her only movement the rising and falling of her chest, but even that seemed delayed. There it was. A door. Coloured mahogany. Lustrous. Hushed.

Flaura placed a light hoof on the doorknob. Her face was that of concern when she looked back at him, presumably for help. He tensed visibly, silently asking her the same question they had in mind. Flaura blenched her head away slightly. She unlocked the door, opening it.

One moment she was in front of him, and the next she was on the other side of the threshold. Flaura waited for him to go, but he went not—not just yet. He took a step forward. He took a step back. Light felt his breathing quicken. “Come,” she said, her voice a little demanding, “we have to see what is on the other side.”

He took a step forward. He took no step back.

This forest was different, he was sure of it. Many elements were the same, although the colour of the light was bluer. It was just like they were traversing under the sea. “We are where?” she questioned, more to herself than him, he had the feeling. Light focused on the shadows of the leaves around them.

“I don’t know, but it looks like we have to keep walking to find out.” The plan does not need any more discussion, for they trekked out to the light they saw in the distance.

It had been a while long since he’d encountered constellations, and now they were here. Close to all the lot of them were on the sky, shining brighter than any day. This must be the clearest I’ve ever seen them, he thought. Light listed some of their names when he saw them. Cygnus, Lyra, Draco, Vulpecula, Hercules. If you were to go south, then you would see Hydra, Taurus, Gemini, and of course, Orion. It slapped him when he was in full cognizance. Auriga is by Orion. Auriga.

“This forest is scintillating. It teems of life and wonder,” he distracted himself. The mare gave a silent nod. It truly was a beautiful place. Collin. Huh. It was written on the soil, most likely carved from a stone. There it was, written crudely, as if somepony just got here. And it generally faced to his direction too, staring back. Collin . . . The mare nudged Light, tugging him to see. Hunched on the ground be a colt, away.

His fluffy coat waved by wind, right at them. “Hey,” the young one remarked, “stay right where you are.”

They moved not an inch.

The colt stood, Light seeing him properly. He was a youngling, with eyes swarmed with the spirit of inquiry. Short was the colt, shorter than most, but with the way he raised his body made anyone taller take a good look of his purple eyes, an even darker shade of it as his coat, with stripes of black and indigo as his mane. His posture wasn’t swanky, though. Maybe playful was the right word. Light wasn’t sure if the bat pony was actually serious or only playing some game.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“I’m Lightning. And this is . . .”

“Flaura. I am Flaura.”

“Lightning. Flaura.” The colt scrunched up his face. His face broke into a wide grin. “Hello and welcome! My name’s Collin, as you would’ve guessed right now,” he said, pointing at his name. “What’re you two doing here?”

“We’re just trying to find our way back home,” Light said.

“Home?” The colt’s eyes widened. “Do you want to come back to mine? We have a lot of good ponies there that can help you!”

“Any help would do,” Flaura answered. “And are you sure they shall help us?”

“It may take some time, if I’ll be frank myself, but I’m sure you’ll find your home eventually.” He simpered. “Come with me if you want some help. And maybe cookies too, if you’re hungry.”

The look on Flaura’s face spilled of doubt. “I think we just go with it,” Lightning whispered, out of the young one’s earshot. The colt waved merrily from the distance, calling their names. And they did follow him, into this town he spoke of.

“Hey, do you know how you got here?” Collin asked. In truth? Light did not know. He wished he had, but he did not, and that was rather unfortunate.

“No, Collin. We, uh . . . don’t know how we got here.”

“Oooh. Alright!” He swiveled around. “You know, my town has a lot of great ponies! There’s grandpa and grandma and all the others, yeah.” The lot trudged in silence, whilst the colt walked backwards, and he dodged every obstacle like he had eyes on the back of his head.

The waves of light swirled around the air as if they were submerged in water. Many sources they came from, all plastered on boxy profiles scattered around. The place looked to be with many small hills, creating abodes more lofty that others. “Here we are!” exclaimed Collin, waving a hoof to the sable figures.

They were painted in neutral tones, unlike what he expected: the brown of wood. Some of these houses he has no idea if an architect would approve. The houses were kind of silly, in a way. The curves and roofs were odd, like somepony in the inside hit it with a sledgehammer and the result being the damage you see in comics, but nonetheless, Light didn’t want to mind.

Nestled in the trees were long branches that he assumed were reserved for animals, particularly bats. “Do bats stay up those trees?” Flaura brought up, as if reading his mind.

Collin shook his head. “No, silly! It’s for us! My town is mostly made up of bat ponies, so we chill up on branches like that and stay there for the rest of the night.” He chuckled. “Hey, you know, one time I saw a timberwolf maul a bird to death on the ground. Wait, I’ve seen it many times before, actually, now that I remember,” he added nonchalantly. “Grandpa tells me not to look, but I don’t know what he’s talking about. There’d be red paint everywhere!”

“What?” Light whispered to Flaura. She shrugged, annoyed.

“Anyhoo, let’s get that out of the way. See, tha—”

A mango splattered on Flaura’s head, exploding to wet chunks of sweet and sour fruit. She glared upwards to find a pair of bat ponies, snickering under their hooves over their mouths. Flaura’s face and especially ears reddened. “Why, you little sons of bitches, damn you!” The two scoffed in amusement and flew away with ease, Flaura wiping off the mango residue on her face. “I ought fucking find those two and slam their hea—”

“Look, an acorn!” Collin pointed, eyes bright. “Hey, what’re you all waiting for? Let’s get it!” And before they knew it, the little colt was gone, fast in his leave and talk. Light patted her back whilst she continued to rub the rest off.

“It’ll be okay.”

“I know that. Though for now I would consider myself royally pissed at those two,” she spat. Flaura murmured to herself something, making a face.

“I’ve heard bat ponies can be a little bit mischievous . . .”

“No shit, genius.” She threw the bits away.

He shrugged in defeat, hooves in the air. “Yeah, I really do. They can be a little playful. Maybe we should just follow Collin for now, though.” They could hear him talk to the acorn like it’s a new baby who came home from the hospital. Weird.

“I have only met this foal and this is one of the first things I see,” she jested bitterly. They both came over to see him cradle the acorn . . . like it’s a baby who came home from the hospital . . .

“Hey, you two! Look who I found! I named him Ian!” He rubbed it across his left cheek.

Flaura stared at Lightning Glare, giving a neutral appearance. “I have finally seen everything.” She turned around. “You mentioned of ponies who could help us, right? Where they are, show us.”

Collin pointed to a house in the distance while eating a mango he didn’t have before.

Flaura knocked on the quaint, little door. Light was sure Collin was behind him, because he heard his loud and rather slaphappy chewing. “Grandma? Grandpa? Are you there?” from a mouthful he called.

The door opened slowly. An old mare and stallion smiled at the sight of the two strangers. Her golden mane and silver streaks draped down her white coat. He, on the other hoof, was almost all grey in every aspect of his body, his physique still muscular, his veins exposed on his rolled up white polo. But his eyes shone a tranquil green, popping out from the colours rest. For their age, they still looked young. “Why, hello! My name is Athena. Who may the two of you be?” the mare greeted, her bat pony wings stretched.

“Flaura, and this is Lightning,” she said. “We’re lost, and we need ask if you know the way back.”

“You’re lost?” The mare uttered. “Oh, how awful! Where do you live, dear?”

“In Canterlot.”

“And I’m from Ponyville.”

The elder mused shortly. “I’m sorry to say, but we don’t have a clue how to go there.”

Flaura was baffled. “You don’t know?”

“I might have something in the house that might help. In the meanwhile, you two could stay and have some tea. Oh, and we need to look at those wounds there. That’s a lot of leaves and blood I see.”

“I needn’t it,” she said. “I will be fine.”

“I insist.”

“It’s okay.”

“If you say so. Come in, and Collin may show you around.” The colt suddenly appeared between them. The elders made way for them. Flaura kept repeating the word Ponyville when they entered, rolling it off her tongue.

It was more spacious in here than what it seemed from the outside. It looked like a lodge you’d see in the mountains. Warm, orange lights were present, but they were pretty dim, giving off an atmosphere. It was quaint, in one word. Light liked this. This was a house he could live in forever.

But a fast blur dragged he and Flaura around when he needed more time to appreciate the place.

“This is the kitchen—man, I wished grandma would make chocolate pizza, maybe tomorrow, this is the fridge, where I keep all my science experiments, this is a candle: his name is Bob, this is the living room, where boring family talks happen, this is my bedroom, where I sleep and hugsie wugsie my stuffy penguinie . . . And is grandma and grandpa’s bedroom, where they sleep, duh, and this is an empty bedroom: we don’t really use that bed, and—OH, here’s a long list of guys I have around the house: Bob, Twilly, Plate-O, Nickel, Magic Carpet, Bowl—a, and—”

“Calm yourself!” Flaura yelped, sweat on her body. Light’s hoof hurt from all the pulling Collin did to him. He was stronger than he looked.

“Oops! Sorry . . .”

“Collin, Collin, it’s fine,” Light assured. “Just please take it down a notch, would you?”

“Hmmm. Yeah, I suppose. Anyway, wanna see my pet rock?”

“Collin! The tea’s ready!”

He gasped so hard the weather surely was affected. Collin tugged them to the kitchen once more. Presented to them on the counter was three cups of tea, and the colt immediately grabbed one and downed it in one go. Light ignored that and reached out, grabbing one and taking a sip. He took another. It’s amazing.

“Wonderful is this tea!” Flaura complemented, and Lightning Glare said something of the same, basically chugging it and licking it.

The colt chuckled. “Only my grandpa makes the best tea.”

“Why, thank you, Collin. Why don’t you entertain our guests while I help Athena look for some maps.

“Sure, grandpa!”

He smiled before leaving, the grandson giving the same back.

“You can sit over here!” Collin prodded a roomy couch. Light sat, and Flaura did too, having a more relaxed posture. The colt poked his head from behind him. “So . . . Light—wait, can I call you Light?”

“Ponies call me that as a nickname, actually, and you’re free to use it if you want to.”

Collin appeared in front of him. “Good! So Light, I’mma ask you somethings: what do you like to do?”

“Um . . . reading, I guess, yeah. Reading.”

“And what stuff do you read about?”

“Any topic, really. From fiction to biographies to geographies to simple coffee table books, I like to read them all.”

“Welp, that’s interesting, really, having a curiosity like that.” Collin looked surprised all the sudden. “Is there anything you don’t like?”

“Well, if it’s a generally bad book, then I won’t like it. For exampl—”

“Like those really bad fairytales where some dude saves a girl from a monster and she apparently falls in love in him for the sake of the plot?”

Light coughed, then sniffed. “Kinda like that, yes. And don’t tell me you read those kinds of novels.”

“Please, I’d rather get eaten alive by a hungry hippo made of marshmallows and never enjoy the means of existence than read a ‘novel’ like that.”

Flaura gawked at him, turned away, and looked back, a subtle change of her face’s emotion. “
Continue,” she said.

“Collin, what do you like to do?” Light brought up.

“Oh gee, um . . . well, I like doing stuff, I guess. It doesn’t really matter to me, just as long as I’m having fun. I find fun in a lot of things.”

“Like what?”

“Doing science experiments is my favorite one. I remember the first one I ever did: There was an egg that didn’t float in the water, so I added salt to it, and KABAM!” He karate chopped the air like the foal he was. “It floateeeeed.”

“That’s cool,” Light said.

The colt giggled. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

“Are there any other science experiments you’ve done?”

“Many! One was with a balloon, a bottle, aluminum foil, and other things. Then there was this one time I made butter by shaking a jar of heavy cream. It was fun! And I ate it all. It tasted weird.”

“Huh. I didn’t know you could do that.”

“I thought so too. But the world really is filled with stuff like that, you know? Stuff that you don’t know was possible, but is. I find that a lot when exploring.”

“I have to agree on you with that one.”

“Speaking of things that I enjoy, what was your childhood like, Light? How was it?”

“Oh. Um. I mean, it was generally quiet and such. I like to stay at home most of the time.”

“And you’d read?”

“Yeah, I would read. I read a lot.”

“Oh, okay.” Collin smiled wide. “So how’s life?”

“Sad,” said Flaura. “Very, very sad. And awful. And unfair. And tiring.”

“Awwww. Don’t be like that. Just look at the positive side! You’re here with me! I haven’t heard anypony talk like you do!”

Flaura slumped down on the couch, crossing her forelegs, her view away. She looked uncomfortable.

“Have you ever tried to write a book, though?” Collin looked at Light. “I’m sure you have.”

“Actually . . . I never really tried.”

“What?! Why?”

“It’s not my thing, Collin, it really isn’t. I prefer not to be the creator of things. I like to be anything but a creator.”

“And why is that?”

What do I say to that? Either say I’m scared or that I’m to bad to try. “I just don’t find it interesting to write. I have tried to write before, but it didn’t exactly work out.”

He was lying.

“Oh. Well, if you say you’re so bad at it, then maybe you could ask my grandpa for some tips and stuff. He’s really good in writing, even if he’s an astronomer!”

“Well, that would be nice. Also, he’s an astronomer?”

“Yup.”

“Well, I would like to speak to him about that. It would be interesting.”

Collin’s grandmother stepped in the room. “My, it seems that we can’t find any maps in here! I’m very sorry, dears. Tell you what: why don’t you two sleep with us for tonight, and maybe we can find some maps in the library tomorrow? I’m sure you both are tired from your travels.”

“That would be wonderful,” agreed Lightning Glare. It would be rude to reject an offer like that.

“Same here,” answered Flaura.

“Great! You could use the other bedroom we don’t use. Shall we?”

Light and Flaura studied the room. It was clearly still kept clean. There was no dust in sight and furniture was still in here, vintage looking. On the table was an oil lamp and a small picture frame. Light picked the frame up. It was that of a mare and stallion, not Athena or Cronus, but of another, younger looking couple. They looked very happy, hugging each other and pecking their lips. They must be Collin’s mother and father.

Flaura lethargically plopped down on the bed. He noticed only one large one was in the room. “Looks like we need to sleep together.” Light informed. She seemed not care, drowning her head in pillows. Flaura let out a low purr.

“I am tired.” she mumbled from her position.

Light chuckled lightly. “Do you want to sleep now?”

“I would very much like to.” She scooted over to the left side of the bed, allocating space for him. Flaura tucked herself under the comforter whilst Light inserted himself in. They faced away from each other, the two taking some time in arranging the blanket. It turns out Flaura really liked it. Flaura scratched her flank, grunting, then letting go, and all was quiet.

There they lay, waiting for something.

“I’ll . . . turn off the lights now.” Light turned off both lights from the table and the one on the bedside table. He could barely see her, but he knew she was there, staring at him.

“Do you see those shadows moving around the room?” she asked, motioning to the space around them.

Light took a while to study them. “Yes, I can see them.”

He could hear her nod. “I have always wondered why they keep appearing in the dark. Always do they appear after a moment and seem to flash around. Do you know why they do that?”

Light curdled up like a ball. He smacked his lips. “I think I know why they keep appearing.”

“You know? Tell me—why?”

“They’re in your head, Flaura. They’re not actually there.”

She peeped around again. “But I can see them, though. They feel so real and I feel like they could attack me at any moment. I recall of my mother and how she would swat them away.”

Light softly poked her foreleg. “Flaura, do you believe in ghosts, gods, or any of the like?”

“I believe in ghosts, yes, for I have seen them before. And whilst the gods are unmerciful, I believe they exist too.” she said meekly.

“Alright. And have you heard a lot of ghost stories as a foal?”

“I have, yes. All before I started seeing them.”

“That explains it. Flaura, you see ghosts because you believe they’re there. The brain is a powerful thing. Every single thing that you experience, you feel, you see, you smell, you taste, you hear will all be processed by the brain. If you trick it or break it, then your perception of reality will be so too. All those stories from your foalhood made you see those ‘ghosts’ you were talking of. It felt real, and so you brought it with you until this very day. Now you see them in this room, you see them coming closer, but do you notice something? They never attack. Never. They always stay in the dark, it seems.”

Light quickly reached for the bedside lamp and turned it on. Their part of the room was glowed with a strong orange. No ghosts were there, or ever have been.

“See? They all are not there. But in your mind, they do lurk. That’s the only place where they exist. And it’ll stay that way if you let it.”

Light saw the relief in her, and that made him feel a lot better. He was about to shut the light off once more, but he felt a squeeze on his hoof.

“Would . . . would you leave the light on? I am still scared.”

Lightning Glare smiled. He left the lamp right on the same spot.