I peeked around the crumbling marble wall, trying to ignore the shiver that ran up my spine as I pressed against the sludge-caked wall, and it was all I could do to keep my heart from leaping into my throat. I snapped back against the wall, creeping as far from the corner as I could without making noise, and sank to the floor with a hand to my chest.

“That bad, Mary?”

Her voice was nothing more than a whisper, but between my hammering heart and the blood pulsing in my head, it sounded like she was screaming to the world. “Shhh!” Shakily, I climbed back to my feet and slid the dagger she'd given me out of my belt. “There's like, a million, corpses out there… Are you sure this is the only way into the castle, princess?”

“Well, yeah, for you and the rest of us that can't fly,” the dragon whispered as he crept up to the corner and snuck a look for himself. With a sigh, muffled by the tiny cloth bandana he wore, he shot a glare at me that I could only describe as incredulous. “A million? Really? There's like, ten at most. Maybe two more around the next corner.”

“That's ten too many!” I slapped a hand to my mouth, eyes wide, as the adolescent dragon, princess, and the rest of our small group glared daggers at me. “Maybe they didn't-”

“...kill…”

I screamed and swung the dagger, shivering as the blade sank into the undead pony's skull. It wasn't particularly well-aimed, or aimed at all, really, but a dagger to the head was a dagger to the head. I gagged as the rotting stallion-- Yup, stallion, definitely a stallion, oh god whydidIlook!?-- sank to the ground in a growing pool of viscous sludge that had once been its blood.

The rest of the team took up their arms and rushed to meet the swarming mob of undead. I tried not to watch as swords, magic, spears, and a hammer tore through what had once been living ponies, but grim fascination won over as usual. Despite my reservations about fighting myself, it was still pretty fascinating to watch a battle this close, no matter how one-sided it was to watch a group of pretty well-trained fighters and mages apply their trade. The reanimated corpses fell in moments, overwhelmed by the presence of mind that actual life granted, and left us to clean up.

“Shouldn't we…?”

The princess frowned and inspected the undead. “We can't. We don't have enough time.” Her ears folded back as she turned back to me. “I want to do something for them, too, but… We can't risk lighting a fire. We have to get away before the next bell tolls.”

“R-right. Yeah, I know…” I swallowed the bile rising in my throat and turned away. “Okay… Okay! The courtyard should be safe now that we've got all of those out of the way.” I scanned the small group gathered around me and took a deep breath. “I-if we're going, I guess we should g-go now.” They all watched me expectantly, even the princess, waiting for my command. “L-let's finish this…”

I turned back and crept around the sludge-stained wall, careful to stay in the shadows as my friends followed behind me. My hand traced the marble at my side as my heart pounded in my ears until the nine of us stopped at the great golden doors to the castle's throne room. My breath hitched, growing shallow as I reached for the faded, golden handles. This was it, the end of it all, right behind these doors. I can't believe I'm doing this. Why am I doing this? Have I gone mad? Where did my life go wrong?

I groaned, scratching at the tangled, greasy mess of orange curls that stuck to my face just like the three-day-old, grimy tee shirt that clung to my body. Not that I particularly cared, mind you. I didn't have any plans to leave my room, let alone my house, for more than a few minutes at a time, just as I hadn't yesterday or the day before, so there wasn't any real need to clean up. Besides, I wasn't even that dirty to begin with. It's not like I went outside or exercised or did anything really strenuous to work up a sweat.

I leaned back in the pleather of my computer chair, grunting as I shifted and unstuck my legs from where they'd been sitting. I wasn't really doing anything at the moment, just sitting and waiting for the time to pass while my favorite game was updating. None of my friends were online, all of them either at work or off doing something else while the game was down for maintenance, so I was left to browse and idle until somebody popped up to chat with.

I hated maintenance days and the boredom that came with them. I had an entire library of other games to play, most of them I'd bought, installed, and never touched, and shelves, both digital and physical, of books that I'd picked up but never started to read or started and never finished. I could practice drawing, or maybe get back into writing, get off my ass and actually try and better myself. I had a world of possibilities, and wanted to do at least some of them, but…

Every time I thought about actually doing it… The interest was gone.

I sighed again, staring at my meager reflection in the computer screen, and opened a new window. Well, if none of that appeals, then there's at least one thing that I could do to pass the time. My fingers danced as I browsed, scanning the videos that pulled up and watching the auto-play previews until I found one that suited my desires for the moment, then carefully, gingerly, pulled my panties down around my ankles.

The girls on screen were talking, one an amazon of a woman easily over six-and-a-half feet towering over a girl barely taller than my five and an one. The dialogue was probably cheesy, and would have been typical of videos like this if I'd had the video unmuted, and I would have skipped it to get right into the fun, but the behemoth woman had the tiny girl up against the wall at eye height in a grip that made my thighs twinge. I took a deep breath, dragging my fingers across my thigh.

“Mary?”

I gasped, smashing the close shortcut as fast as my shaking hands would allow, just as my mom opened the door at the top of the basement stairs. “Mom! I swear to Raptor Jesus if you don't fucking knock!”

“Marilynne Rose! Don't you threaten me!” I groaned as she descended the stairs, trying not to make the underwear around my ankles as conspicuous as I knew they were. “If you don't want me to catch you jilling, then lock your door first.”

“Mom!” My face burned. It wasn't like this was the first time she'd barged in on me while I was trying to masturbate, and I really didn't care if people caught me naked considering I didn't have a whole lot to show off, but there was always something embarrassing about being caught doing something the whole world tells you to hide. “What do you want?”

My mom shook her head with a smile, tossing about the carroty-curls that I had inherited from her. “What'll I ever do with you?” I glared, pulling my shirt further down my legs, and she laughed. “You know I used to wipe poop out of-”

“Mom, I swear to fucking god!”

“Fine, fine. Could you run to the store for me? I need some beef for dinner tonight and I'd go myself, but…”

She held a hand to her stomach, swollen with child, and I knew that I didn't quite have a choice in the matter. Even if I didn't want to go, even if I hated my mom, which I didn't, I couldn't force her to walk to the market like that. “Fine. Whatever. Could you leave now? I need to take a shower first anyway.”

She chuckled and leaned down to kiss my forehead despite how much I squirmed away and tightened my shirt against between my legs. “Thanks, sweetie. I'll leave the money on the counter. Do take your time in the shower though, honey. You might wipe down every time, but that doesn't stop you from smelling like sex.”

“MOM!”

I glared the entire time it took my mom to hobble up the stairs, ignoring the shame burning in my cheeks. I love my mom, I really do, but sometimes… I groaned, kicking my panties away, and stood with a stretch. “Well, I can always finish when I get back.” I glanced at the door and took a tentative sniff under my arm. “And I guess she's right…”

It took some effort to find clean clothes, the majority of my laundry sitting in a haphazard pile in the corner of my room, but after sifting through the clean clothes in my laundry basket I was at least able to find something that kinda matched. Short sleeved, white blouse, bought by my mother; a decidedly cute, pleated skirt in plaid, also bought by my mother; white socks, graciously borrowed from my mother's supply; and fresh panties with little colorful flowers bought in bulk for cheap by my mother. Sure, they were cutesy and childish, but they fit and were comfortable. Besides, it's not like I had anybody I was planning on showing them to.

Bundle of clothes in hand, I made the quick journey up the stairs and to the bathroom, thankful that whatever mom had been doing before coming to embarrass me was once again occupying her time. Probably sending faxes and filling out paperwork.

I let a small smile creep up, a rarity in recent days. I was glad that her job had been so understanding and allowed her to work from home with a borrowed fax machine. If they hadn't… I don't think we would have made it on just her maternity pay alone. I gave her shit, but I really did love my mom. She understood and supported me when I dropped out of university. She never forced the subject of getting a job and only asked me to help her with shopping when Miss Jasmine from next door wasn't available…

The bathroom door closed behind me with a click, closing me in the only other sanctum I had other than my room. I dropped the clothes on the counter, carefully avoiding the little puddles of water splashed around the sink, and kicked the shower on to full blast through the fogged shower door. With the water heating up, I was once more left alone with my thoughts, so I tossed off the dirty tee and stared at myself in the slowly fogging mirror.

It was amazing how much I took after my mom. Same high cheekbones and round face, freckles literally everywhere, and curly orange hair marking me forever soulless. Wistfully, I poked at the budding mounds of flesh on my chest. Well, mounds was a strong word. I may not have gotten her breasts, barely even able to call the little peaks more than just a nipple, but… I slapped my ass and laughed as it jiggled. “Thank you, mom, for this at least.” I slapped myself again, biting my lip as the sting sent sparks to my thighs, then frowned as the fog finally consumed the whole of the mirror. “Fine, take away all the fun.”

The shower was quick, mostly because I knew that, if I indulged for too long I'd inevitably devolve into finishing the job from earlier, but it got the job done and a quick towelling and dressing left me ready to face the day. A quick trip back to my basement to don a pair of sneakers that didn't fit my ensemble at all, but were much more comfortable for the walk to the corner market than my loafers, and to stuff my phone in one of my skirt pockets and I was set to leave. I resurfaced from my lair back up in the relative freshness of the rest of the house, resolving to clean up and aerate the room once I got home.

“Hey, mom! You need anything else while I'm there? Don't wanna have to go again since… You know…”

A flash of orange peeked around the corner as she slid back on her office chair, a bright smile lifting the corners of my mouth up with it. “No, dear, but you really should wear a bra with that shirt. You know how much dark nipples show through.”

“For fuck's sake, mom! I'm tryna be nice and you're just embarrassing me!” I glared at her, but not before glancing down at the pair of dark splotches just barely outlined in the plain white of my blouse. “Jesus, I hate you!”

“I love you too, Sweetie. And, hey, if you don't care, maybe that girl that you keep calling cute will be working the checkout.” She winked and I burned. “You never know. She might enjoy the show.”

“Fuck you, I'm leaving! Don't complain if I die of embarrassment on the way there!”

“I love you, Mary!”

I frowned, just about to slam the front door as I stuffed the twenty and house keys from the counter in my skirt pocket. “Love ya too, Mom.”

I sighed and locked the door behind me. “God I really wanna strangle her sometimes.”

I glanced up and down the street, thankful that it was calm and quiet. The trip to the store wouldn't take more than an hour around, but it wasn't exactly the time I was worried about… “Sometimes, I hate that you love me so much, Mom.”

“Oh, hey Mary. Running errands for Missus Rose today?” I nodded as the register beeped, scanning in the five pounds of beef I'd walked all the way here for, and cursed my mom's terrible luck. “That's so sweet of you. You must really care for her. I know I'd be lost without my parents.” She laughed and I felt my stomach tighten. Why did she have to be so damn nice and cute and just…

“Ugh.” I glanced up, eyes wide, and had to hold back a sigh of relief that she hadn't heard that. God, how could I have almost messed up a conversation with the one person that was nice to me. “Yeah, she's great.”

“Oh, I know. Your mom is such a sweetheart. I love mine to death, but I'd gladly trade her for yours.” She laughed again, the soft, sonorous giggle making me blush. I glanced up as she rang up the can of citrus energy drink I'd graciously decided to splurge on with the extra five I'd found buried in my pocket, and dropped my gaze immediately. Catherine, or Cathy as her nametag read, was everything I'd never be. Tall, light-haired, and beautiful with lightly-tanned skin as smooth as silk. She had a perfect hourglass figure, and, even if her butt didn't quite match up with mine, her breasts… I dreamed of being able to bury my face between them and just doze forever. “Is that all, Mary?”

“Yeah…” She smiled as I handed her the twenty.

“Your change'll be thirteen twenty-seven.” She counted out the bills even as she kept talking, and I watched the plump, crimson-stained lips through my bangs. “You should join me at the karaoke bar sometime. I go with friends all the time, but I'd love to have you join me. I bet you'd have a wonderful singing voice.”

“M-maybe… I, uhm…”

“Well, you give it some thought and tell Missus Rose I said hello.”

I frowned, but nodded, still keeping my head down. “Y-yeah. I will.” I swept up the grocery bag, ignoring the shake in my hands, and rushed out the automatic doors and back into the warm spring air. “God, I'm fucking worthless.” A shuddering sigh hissed through my teeth as I took that first step home, keeping my eyes down and watching the sidewalk at my feet. “Can't even look her in the eye and I think I could ever have anything more?”

The concrete of the parking lot gave way to the bright green of newly growing grass as my brisk walk carried me into the little suburban residences that would eventually lead me back home. A quick glance up as I came to a crosswalk showed the quaint, uniform rows of houses that came practically point for point in every lower-middle-class subdivision across the country, barring the few individuals that had the money to expand and rebuild that occasionally dotted the identical rows. “M-maybe…” I mocked, my voice high and nasally. “For fuck's sake, Mary. Can't even talk to her. Why don't you just fucking shoot yourself?” I sighed, reaching into the bag and pulling out the energy drink.

At that, I smiled. It wasn't often you find cash in your pocket when you rarely had your own spending money to stash in them, so getting to treat yourself once in a while without pleading to your struggling mom felt pretty good. A lump formed in my throat. “Fuck… Goddamnit, I should've just…” It took everything I had not to let the burning in my eyes build any further. Of course, I hadn't thought to just give it to mom. Why would I? I'm just a selfish, anti-social girl who can't think of anything but herself.

I took in a deep breath, shoving the thoughts deep down as usual, and popped open the tab. “Well, I may be a worthless piece of shit, but I do what I can.” I took a sip and smiled. “At least you taste good enough to drown away the sorrow.” My foot hit pavement again as a shadow loomed, and the only warning I had before I hit the sidewalk was the shriek of a horn as a bright red pickup tore past me.

I screamed, the driver swerved, then peeled off down the street, horn still blaring. Tears blurred my vision as I stared, dumbstruck. “Fuck you cuntbag! Y-you almost fucking killed me!” I screamed again, stumbled to my feet, and threw the spilled can of citrus at where the truck had fled to. It bounced harmlessly down the road, and I was left shaking and crying. “Fuck you…”

My breath hitched as I swallowed air. “C-calm down… Calm down, Mary.” I wiped my face with my now-free hand, clutching my left and the bag of groceries to my chest. “Can't let mom know. Sh-she's got enough shit…” I sucked in a lungful of air and exhaled slowly. “Come on, you're almost home. Don't fuck this up.”

The rest of the walk went by quickly as I practically ran back to the safety of home and by the time I reached the door I was out of breath. “Okay... Put on... a face and... don't tell mom.”

The door unlocked and mom's face greeted me with a smile. “You okay, sweetie? You're panting.”

“Y-yeah, I'm fine.” I chuckled and pushed past her to set the bag, the change, and my five on the kitchen counter. “Just… Got nervous and hurried home. You know how it is.”

“Of course.” She sighed and hugged me from behind. “I'm sorry. I know you don't like going out alone and I wouldn't ask you if I had any other choice.”

I swallowed to stop my stomach from churning and forced a laugh. “I know. A-and. I don't mind. You know I wanna help.” Another chuckle, awkward and strained, and I pointed out the extra five. “I, uhm, found a five in my pocket and bought a drink. I hope you don't care.”

My mom pulled away and turned me around, and I hoped that I hadn't been crying enough to have my eyes start to puff. “Mary. You know that you don't have to ask. I give you extra money 'cause I want you to get something for yourself.” She smiled and I looked down. “It's okay, sweetie. I know you're just worried, but it's okay. We're not that poor.” I smiled, and a genuine laugh teased out. “There we go. Now go on back and finish what you were up to. I'll have dinner ready in an hour.”

“Mom! For fuck's sake!”

The basement door slammed shut as I stomped down and kicked off my sneakers. Having a nice fucking moment and she ruins it. I huffed and fell into my chair, yanking a bottle of water from the mega-pack settled off to the side of my desk, and sank into the plush pleather. I had the urge to reopen the closed window and actually continue, but I couldn't bring myself to actually follow through. Something about being told to finish rubbing one out by your mom after failing to have a decent conversation with the girl you liked followed by nearly getting creamed by a retard in a pickup just killed the mood.

“Fuck. This is just fucking great. Now I'm bored and I can't even masturbate to pass the time.” I leaned back, glaring at the cement ceiling and crossbeams. “Where did it all go fucking wrong?”

I coughed, biting back the tears again. “Maybe I should've been hit by the truck. At least then mom wouldn't have to deal with a failure like me. Too scared to talk to a cute cashier, too scared to go out in public for any length of time, too scared to fucking find a job to help the one person that gives a shit.” I squeezed my eyes shut, biting back a sob, and rubbed my face with a hand. “No, mom would be fucking devastated if anything happened. Guess I just get to be a fucking worthless sack of shit until I can finally get my shit together.”

I sighed, listening to the hum of my computer in the background as my anger swirled in my head. “Such a goddamn coward.” I cracked my eyes and almost lurched in my chair as the ceiling spun, swirling together almost as if it was bleeding into a mass.

“What the fuck…?”

“Do you... ...work?”

My stomach heaved, the colors around me fading as whispers teased at my hearing. “Mom? Mom! I-” I choked as I stood, and had to stop to breathe to not vomit. “M-Mom! I-I… Something's…”

“It has… ...anything… ...can do…”

“Mom! Help!”

“Look, something’s happening!”

The room spun one final time, all color and definition gone, before a flash of color and flickering light seemed to almost pop into existence. My body felt like lead as I dropped to my knees and puked, heaving up what little food I had eaten the day before into the softest grass I'd ever felt. My vision swam, my head throbbed, and it took all that I was not to fall face-first into the pool of bile I was dry heaving into.

“Oh my, I didn't think it would have this kind of effect on them. Please, somepony get them some water!”

I tried to look up, to search for that strange, ephemeral voice swimming about my head, but every little shift nearly sent me careening to the floor.

“Don't worry, you'll be okay. The effects of the spell should wear off shortly and then you'll be right as rain again.”

I squinted, holding myself still, enough that I could finally somewhat figure out where the voice was coming from, and slowly, carefully lifted my head.

“Oh! Thanks, Spike! I can always count on you.”

I wobbled back onto my rear, shivering as more grass, damp grass, tickled my thighs. My eyes still swivelled, trying to focus, as a blur of purple reached out towards me. I strained, squinting harder, until the purple became less and less fuzzy and muddled, and followed it up a lanky arm to a strange purple face. It smiled, razor sharp teeth glinting in the flickering light, and my stomach dropped. I shook, tearing up again as warmth trickled down my legs and onto the grass, as the very large, very terrifying monster reached for me.

“I think it's trying to say-”

“eeeeeeeEEEAAAAAUGGHHGAAAAAAAAAA-”

Author's Note

New story, new drama.

Been writing this for fucking ever, rewriting it a million (5) times, and working on it in chunks because of my shit (read: nonexistent) writing schedule. So far, I have 5 and a half chapters written out for it, not including this prologue, and I plan on releasing them every two weeks/month or so depending on how quickly I can get the next few chapters done. I want to release them faster (because, honestly, I absolutely adore this story), but that depends entirely on whether or not I can force myself to write while at home. Sadly, my job isn't exactly conducive for writing while working, since it requires the use of my hands at almost all times, but I try my best.

For now, enjoy.

P.S. - I plan on releasing chapter one next week, hopefully. Assuming I don't forget.