Silence is...

by Lotus Moon

Rating: mature
Tags: Sad, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Second Person, Horror, Suicide / Self Harm, Tragedy, Death, Alternate Universe, Narcotics
Length: 1727

The world has gone deathly silent. The reason is obvious. But how much longer can you stand it?

It came out of nowhere. No pony saw it coming. It was a quick and swift attack that no pony was able to stop. Silence became the only means of survival. You tried to warn other, but panic took hold and all others were slaughtered. Friends...family...even your fiance...all were ripped from your life. Now only you remain in the silence. You do what is necesary to survive. But how much longer can you stand the silence?

NOTE: this story was inspired by the movie A Quiet Place (which at the time of this story hasn't hit theaters). As I don't know many details of the movie (even with trailers) I don't know how good this story might be. So please bear with me.

Audio Reading done by Eighth Flame and Forgotten Dreams

Published 2018-03-30 18:50:06 UTC
Last updated 2018-03-30 18:50:06 UTC

Madness

The setting is Ponyville. Or what used to be Ponyville. The once bustling, friendly streets are now empty. Buildings that were once homes and shops now lay in ruin. And all the friendly faces you once saw on a daily basis are nowhere in sight. They have been for almost three years now.

Three years...

It's hard for you to believe it had been that long. Three years since the invasion. Three years since the slaughter. Three years since you last spoke a word. Three years since you last heard anything other than the elements outside. How did things go so wrong? Everything was fine and life was normal. You were engaged to a wonderful stallion, you lived in a perfect home, and you had friends who were like family to you. Happiness was in sight. But within the span of a month, it was ripped away.

*****

The invasion came out of nowhere. It was a normal day spent with Sundae Wafer, Minty, and Lullaby Dreamer at Sugar Cube Corner. You were discussing wedding plans for your upcoming nuptials to the love of your life, Blue Winter. But that's when everything started. There was a sudden earthquake as if something had crashed into the ground somewhere. Once it was over, no pony thought anything of it and we all simply returned to our business.

Three days later, newspapers started mentioning strange creatures appearing. It was unknown where they came from or what they wanted. Only that they seemed to attack without provocation and even the royal army didn't seem to be able to stop them. At some point, newspapers stopped coming. The train never came through again. Every pony started growing concerned about our world but we tried to keep hope alive that we'll get answers soon. Never realizing we'd get all the answers we needed.

The creatures descended upon us without warning. Only a horrifying shriek and the sounds of ponies getting slaughters alerted us to the danger. They were enormous, ghastly things that seemed to be the size of an Ursa Major. With skin that looked of a smooth yet slimy texture and claws that could slice through anything like butter, their mere presence caused immediate panic. Pegasi and Unicorns tried to fend them off, many dying in the process. Spells seemed to have little effect on them and even the strength of the Earth ponies had no effect on them. Through the initial chaos, you frantically ran around ensuring the safety of your loved ones.

Many unicorns had to combine their magic in order to have some chance of stopping them. Even with the help of the Elements of Harmony, it almost seemed impossible. Soon, Princess Twilight Sparkle put a protective barrier around all of Ponyville...but that only lasted for so long. During this time of crisis, many hoped the other Princesses would come to our aid, but they never did. Either they had to deal with invasions elsewhere or...they were dead. By the time we were afforded some semblance of safety, you noticed that during times when there was silence, the creatures paid no attention to any pony. But before getting others to realize this, the barrier collapsed and Ponyville was under siege again. It took almost no time at all before everything fell apart. Ponies doing all they could to defend themselves and being killed.

You grab your friends and Blue, hiding out in your home for what seemed like forever. Once everything was finally over, silence took over. Looking outside, you see the once lively town littered with corpses of longtime neighbors and friends. None of you wanted to believe with was real, but it was. The instant you heard Minty about to let out a torrent of sobs, you silenced her, using your magic to scrawl out a note to all of them saying:

"These creatures seem to respond to sound. So if we stay silent, we'll be safe."

This became the first of many notes between the five of you. Thanking Celestia for your home is mostly covered in carpet, with the exception of the kitchen and bathroom, living in silence was relatively easy. Though the lack of actual speaking tested all of your limits. When supplies started to run low, you'd use a spell that made each step you took silent. There were points where you had unwanted sightings or encounters with creatures due to unexpected sounds that drew their attention. But you always managed to stay silent in their presence till they left. This went on for about six months, though after that, tragedy was on your heels again. The first tragedy came when Minty and Sundae had a disagreement that went from words on parchment to hoarse verbal communication. The first time they had spoken in months. You tried silencing them, but it was too late. The creatures were coming and nothing could stop them. Swift like a storm, two of your best friends was torn from your home. The last thing heard either of them were screams for mercy, apologies to each other, and finally blood gurgling in their lungs as they were killed.

Lullaby was nearly inconsolable after the tragedy. Crying as silently as she could into pillows till she fell asleep, wandering around the house in a nearly endless daze, losing weight and sleeping over her new reality. You and Blue did all you could to keep her from practically falling apart at the seams. After a while, notes weren't passed anymore. The three of you could communicate with just your facial expressions. But even with that, you soon blame yourself for not being able to see Lullaby breaking her silent resolve. On a cool fall day, you sat on a hill with your friend in hopes of brightening her mood but then you hear soft snickering turn into crazed laughter from your remaining friend. You attempt to stop her, but the look in her eyes tells you that she'd rather accept death than go on in this silent world. Giving her one final hug, you retreat back to your home and don't look back as you hear a monster devour her.

Now it was just you and Blue. Supporting each other, you survive the best way you can. But food and water from all over the town are growing scarce. Raiding Sugar Cube Corner, diners, and even other ponies' homes were starting to turn up less and fewer resources. You two had even managed to eat nearly all the apples from Sweet Apple Acres (the ones that hadn't gone rotten at least). By now it had been a year since everything went to Tartarus and you do your best to ration your meals to better survive till help came. Keeping your dwindling hope alive. But soon what little hope you had left was dashed upon coming home from an almost fruitless food run to find Blue Winter dead. You wondered how until you saw a bottle from next to him...a bottle of medication. He had committed suicide. As badly as you wanted to scream out in sorrow, you held it in as your tears silently fell. Not wanting to leave him where he was, you brought him to your favorite hill in Sweet Apple Acres and laid him under a withered tree, saying your silent goodbye.

Later that night, you make a memorial to your friends and beloved to never forget them.

*****

Having lived through so much up till now, going through more loss and sorrow than you thought you would, you wondered how you managed to keep your sanity. You lay on the floor feeling a restless tug at your being. Your mind wrestling with thoughts that hadn't surfaced in a long time.

'Why am I still surviving? How did I keep my sanity through all this? Why am I still living in this decaying town? What's the point now? I've lost every pony I love. No pony has come...maybe they never will. How can I know if any pony is even still alive? Three years and not a single other pony has appeared. Even the Princesses haven't come. They're dead...I know it...every pony is dead. Except for me. I may be the last pony alive..maybe even the last creature alive. Ponies, Dragons, Griffins, Changelings, Yaks, and even the creatures of the Everfree Forest and beyond Equestria must be dead. Maybe some Pegasi survived by staying in Cloudsdale...but I doubt it. The only creatures that could possibly have survived are the Hippogriffs if they escaped underwater to Seaquestria. Celestia only knows. I could've tried to find them...but Mount Aris is so far away. I'd never make it. Especially with how little food I've eaten. Hardly anything left and I'm so hungry. I should just give up...maybe I could join my beloved...yes. That would be nice.'

You get up and walk to Ponyville Square. Looking around the town, you reminisce about all the good times you had living in Ponyville. All of Pinkie's parties, Fluttershy and her animals, Applejack and Rainbow Dash's competitions, Rarity's designs, Twilight's castle...which lay in ruin. You visited it a few times but never ventured in for too long for caution's sake. Finally arriving at the Square, you look around and envision how your home once looked as tears filled your eyes. Feeling strong in your resolve, you deactivated the spell that silenced your hoof steps and lightly heard them clop against the solid ground. Taking a deep breath, you opened your mouth. Your voice came out hoarse and it took a while for you to recognize it as your own till it was strong enough to echo through the empty town. Your first scream in three years and soon to be your last as the monsters bear down on you. You close your eyes as the echoing roars and thundering steps get closer. The last thought to flash through your mind is the comforting thought of your friends and beloved waiting for you.

"Lullaby...Minty...Sundae...Blue...I'll be joining you soon. We'll never be apart again."

Author's Note

Yes, I know this story is kinda...well..rough around the edges and everything. But I did try my best and I did say the movie this was inspired by hasn't hit threaters yet and it's hard to get a full grasp of it from just the trailers