The Lighthouse

by StandInTheSun

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Horror
Length: 1057

Strange things are happening at Open Ocean's lighthouse.

A story about a lonely pony and the strange things that happen in his lighthouse.

Published 2021-11-21 09:50:00 UTC
Last updated 2021-11-21 09:50:00 UTC

Day 1

Open Ocean stared at the beacon of the lighthouse. The room around him was lit orange from the setting sun. He lit his horn and tapped it to the crystal that served as the beacon, and focused his magic into the tip of his horn. He felt the light bleed into the crystal, and he let it drain into it for a little before removing his horn and looking at the now lightly glowing beacon. All that was left to do was flip the switch at the top of the stairs and the spell would be amplified by the crystal, creating a beam of light that would reach out to the ocean and tell any ships passing by that land was dangerously close.

Ocean trotted away from the beacon, flipped the lever, and trotted down the stairs, gazing out the windows he passed as he descended. The sunset turned the ocean outside the windows into a prismatic sea of fire.

Ocean reached the bottom of the stairs and promptly collapsed into bed, sleep finding him easily.

BANG BANG BANG! Open Ocean was violently pulled from his slumber by an incredibly loud knocking at the door that seemed to echo through the whole tower. He leapt out of bed, his mind still fogged from sleep, and accidentally tangling his rear legs in the sheets.

"Coming!" He called, before seething to himself "If I could untangle myself from these blasted sheets!"

After a few seconds of thrashing and bucking, Ocean freed himself and made the short trot to the door, still partially asleep. He yawned as he swung the door open, being greeted by nothing but the dark night, the scent of saltwater, and the sound of waves crashing against the shore. As he stood, confused, the cogs of his mind began to turn, and then he realized.

I'm on an island. Alone. The nearest pony is miles away. He gulped and shut the door, sliding the lock into place. He slowly returned to his bed, pulling his sheets over himself again. Sleep was harder to find this time.

Author's Note

Wow! Multiple chapters!

Arrival, or Day 0

Open Ocean stood at the front door of the lighthouse that was going to serve as his home for the foreseeable future. The structure loomed above him, casting a long, imposing shadow. It looked tall enough to pierce the sheet of grey clouds that blanketed the sky above it. Ocean looked up at the beacon, thinking about the last thing keeper he was replacing had told him;

"Try not to go mad from the loneliness." The words bounced around in Ocean's mind as he glanced behind him, a small worm of worry beginning to grow in his heart. He shook his head and dismissed the thought. I'll be fine, He pushed the door to the lighthouse open with his magic and stepped inside, looking around at his new room.

It was a modest living space fit for a lone pony, containing a desk, bed, a closet, some cupboards, and a small stove. Stairs wound up the inside of the building, going up to where the beacon was. Ocean lit his horn and trotted over to the bed, setting his saddlebags down and looking for a light. There were a few hung around the room, and Ocean lit them with his magic before looking up the stairs.

I've got some time to kill before I need to light the beacon, but I suppose a little exploration wouldn't hurt He thought to himself as he trotted over to the stairs and began to make the climb.

A few moments later he reached to top, which was a large room with the lighthouse's massive beacon right in the middle of it. Windows lined the room, and on the far side of the room was a door that led to a balcony that wrapped around the lighthouse, giving ponies a place to stand while they watched the ocean or cleaned the glass on the outside of the beacon room. Ocean trotted across the room and pushed the door open, stepping outside.

A few seagulls that had been perched on the railing squawked and flew off as Ocean exited the lighthouse. There was a slight breeze that carried the scent of salt to Ocean, and the grey skies were oddly relaxing to look at for Ocean as he took a deep breath of fresh air and stared out at the calm ocean.

"I think I'll be alright," He wondered aloud with a sigh as a turned to go back into the lighthouse.

Author's Note

I am very good at making up pony names on the fly, and they are extremely unique. /s

As always, criticism appreciated, written at 3 am, you know the drill :twilightsmile:

Day 2

Open Ocean was roused from his sleep by the squawking of seagulls outside his home. He sat up, casting a glance at the locked door, remembering the events of the previous night.

What was that knocking? He thought to himself as he made the journey up the stairs to the beacon room.

It must have been a dream, after all, I am alone on this island. He flipped the lever at the top of the stairs, dimming the light.

I'm alone, that I know of, The thought crossed his mind as he was draining the magic from the beacon crystal.

He brushed the thought aside as he trotted back down the stairs, rummaging around in the cupboards for breakfast. he settled on toast, that he took upstairs and ate on the balcony while watching the ocean.

His day from there was fairly boring. He went back downstairs, and unpacked his saddlebags, and packed his clothes away into the small closet that was in his room. The rest of the day he sat in silence, still stewing about the strange knocking he head heard the night before.

When the food comes, I'll ask for a radio, though I don't think I'll get much out here. Ocean thought to himself.

After lighting the beacon for the night, Ocean remained at the bottom of the staircase, staring at the door, which had consumed his thoughts for the day. He shook his head and turned to his bed, drifting into an uncertain sleep.