"..."
Crystal was sitting by herself on a bright wooden bench in Ponyville’s park, enjoying the fresh rays of sunshine beaming down on her little furry self. Her mind traveled far and yet it felt relaxing, she dreamed with open eyes about the furthest reaches of Equestria, Empires and kingdoms and anyone who might be living there. Crystal enjoyed writing stories about what she dreamed, of what she felt, it gave her a feeling like no other, especially when sompony read her stories. She bristled at the soft breeze, glancing down at the bright-yellow butterfly that flew under her nose. Crystal watched the butterfly lift high into the blue sky, a smile growing when the butterfly lowered herself on Crystal’s single raised hoof. The pretty little thing began getting comfortable on the warm fur. She didn’t say a word, watching the buttery wings flap contently. Because she was a quiet girl.
“Cryst!” A chocolate-furred colt with a propeller hat exclaimed by Crystal’s side, making her jump while two other fillies rubbed their ears with hooves.
“Geesh. Couldn’t ya contain yourself for later, Button?” The other filly who was cream-coloured and had two pink bows tied in her mane groaned at the colt.
“Sorry, Sweet...” Button apologized bashfully, rubbing his neck. Button Mash was a friend of Crystals, as was Cheesy Glow and Sweet Licks, “Anyway, we wanted to know if you wanted to play ball with us.” Crystal looked at the beach ball kept under Button’s hoof. She agreed and they went off into the park to play.
Despite the butterfly having flown away due to the small scare, Cryst was happy to spend time with her friends, it was where she wanted to be most all the time. The filly stretched her back and bounced in place to show she was ready.
“Catch!” Cheesy exclaimed as she hit the ball across the air towards Crystal who managed to pass it along to Button, covering her mouth with a hoof to giggle as she watched Button miss their toy and flop onto the green grass. He pouted with audible grumbling.
“Aww, you pressed the wrong button, Mash!” Cheesy giggled as she hopped alongside Button. It wasn’t the first time Button tripped on nothing. Crystal, while smiling from the funny little accident that happened, decided not to make fun of Button any more than the other two were. Because she was a quiet girl.
Button smirked and got back up in an instant, getting back into the game. They were all having fun, prancing around as they played across a bridge built over a small water stream separating town from the park. Eventually, they got themselves into Ponyville, continuing to play their game, galloping around a mostly empty cobbled street. Some adults watched the four with kind smiles on their muzzles as everyone was resting on this hot day under the shade that most house hay roofing provided.
The sky had only a few clouds but pegasi were long done with positioning the fluffy white pockets of water in the bright greyish sky. Not even birds filled the sky. Crystal smiled up at the beauty above, she always wanted to be up there some time. Everything looked peaceful, still, quiet. All except for the three giggling foals.
“Over here, it’s a little colder!” Button waved to the fillies as they brought their game onto a new street. There was nopony but them on that street so they wouldn’t be able to accidentally disturb anypony.
Crystal was looking around with a big smile, recognizing they were closer to her favourite place in town: Sweet Apple Acres. Sweet Apple Acres was just that, an apple farm where the most Delicious apples in Equestria were grown. She was getting a little hungry and made a mental note to go there with her friends to enjoy some of Granny Smiths prized fruits. While the farm was close to the notorious Everfree forest, Crystal was never afraid to go to the farm alone. Tales of the spooky forest filled with monsters didn’t scare her.
Between her musings, Crystal noticed in time the ball flying at her and hit it back with a smirk, “Nice, Cryst!” Sweet congratulated, passing the colourful ball along. Cryst felt a light chill along her fur, a pleasant sensation and change of pace from the day-long heat. It was definitely less warm here.
Suddenly Crystal felt her ears swivel and she looked around in confusion. She peered at every corner of every alley without moving from her spot. She felt an odd tingle on her back, neck and tummy. She said nothing to her friends however, she did not want to ruin the fun and worry them. Because she was a quiet girl.
Time passed as the ball was passed along, the youth having fun, friends enjoying each other’s company. The air felt a little colder, but no wind went across the street. Buttons ridiculous propeller on the hat was spinning as he tried to catch up with the ball, Sweet’s bows bounced together with her and Cheesy was catching her breath, giggling loudly with happiness and excitement. Something light fell in one of the alleyways, nopony but Crystal noticed. She glanced back at her friends before trotting over to investigate, slowly looking around the corner and seeing nothing but darkness with a slit of light on the other end of the alleyway. Crates and barrels stacked the walls. Something flew above her head and landed in the alleyway. It was the ball they were playing it.
“Whoops.” Crystal heard quietly from far behind her.
“Well done, Button. Sorry, Cryst, could you please get the ball for us!?” Sweet asked. Crystal smiled and nodded in response, slowly stepping into the sunless alleyway and lifting the ball with her hoof before throwing it out, “Thanks!”
Crystal smiled and went to rejoin her friends but her hooves were stuck in place. She felt something wrapping around her, something solid and rough like rock yet flowing like water. The warmth was gripping her painfully and tightly, she felt so cold on the inside. She began struggling and trying to turn her head to look but her neck was unmovable. Her joints twisted forward as she was lifted off the ground while slowly getting pulled back into something. She watched as the fillies ran by the alleyway after the ball, laughing to themselves. She wanted to call out to them. To scream and cry. But she didn’t.
Because she was a quiet girl.