WARNING
The following of this story will contain violence, graphical scenes, gore, and strong language! And certainly not for children at the age of ten or younger. Viewer discretion is GREATLY advised!
STAR SHIMMERING PRESENTS
AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF’S DARK HEART
STARRING
David Kessler
Jack Goodman
Twilight Sparkle
Rarity
Applejack
Pinkie Pie
Rainbow Dash
Fluttershy
Spike the Dragon
Princess Celestia
Princess Luna
Princess Cadance
Shining Armor
Zecora
Edited by - STAR SHIMMERING
Story-written by - STAR SHIMMERING
David let out a groan as he slowly lifted himself off the ground. He rubbed his head as his eyes opened. Looking around, he finds himself in a field of cool grass, staring up at the blank blue sky, confused and disoriented. He breathed in the cool, humid air. Refreshing but left more questions in his mind. Right-hand moves first just to be sure the ground was real, tugged on the blade of grass and dirt, confirming it felt indeed real. While gazing at the widespread field, David recalled quickly what had transpired: the theater, his talk with Jack and the victims he killed, he was turning quickly, his vision going dark.
And now…here.
“But how did I get here? I couldn’t have gone that far from the city have I?” asked David under his breath, bringing his hands up and staring at them, “Am I alive or dead? Or maybe I am dead, and I'm possibly…in heaven?”
“Ha! Not even close, David.”
Alarmed by the sudden familiar voice, David whipped his head to his shoulder. Standing beside him was the spirit of his dear friend Jack Goodman. As if his deceased figure couldn't be more rotting, he looked like he was going on three months. If Jack’s face could still form a smile, it would be. The diffident specter walked around the grassy field taking in everything he was seeing then shook his head slowly.
“Well, this sucks…” Jack was disappointed.
“Jack…what happened?” David asked, looking at Jack with a worried expression. Jack turned his shoulders facing him.
“Well, you killed an entire group of people watching that porno movie in less than three minutes. You took out at least ten cops. Oh, and stayed alive long enough to hear the love of your life confess to you before being shot by multiple officers.” Jack answered as he trotted back to David’s side, looking back at the field and forest.
David raised an eyebrow. “But if that's the case, why the hell am I still here?”
Jack turned his head at him. “That’s a pretty good question, David. Why are you still here? — Why am I still here?”
“Well, I don't know! I was hoping you would tell me.”
“Well whoopee freaking do David, I don’t know either. I’m just as confused as you are.”
“Ugh!” David began pacing back and forth, ramming his hands into his head in aggravation. “This is wrong, all of this is so wrong. I’m supposed to be dead except I’m not!”
“Shame…” Jack sarcastically muttered. David turned to him and sighed.
“Wait, if you're still here, where are all the others? Shouldn’t they still be around too since I’m alive?”
“Oh, no, they’re free alright. But by the time I could have my turn to reach the bus of the afterlife I end up here instead..” Jack told him in aggravation.
“Where did they end up?”
Jack chuckled, shaking his head. “I honestly don’t know… I mean I’ve never been there before. I’m still an undead after all.”
“Yeah… I’m sorry Jack. I know how much you wanted to be freed from this curse.” David said, casting his head to the earth’s floor, “I thought it would work.”
“No, let’s not rake up old stories…” He told David with a big friendly grin, or at least he tried to. “You’ll have your chance David but until then let’s focus on what we should do now. Like figuring out where the hell we are.”
Jack looked at the landscape they were standing in, but only noticed a large event horizon line in its horizon. From a mile away something caught him and David’s attention. The outline of its silhouette was barely visible but it looked like what they believed to be a castle sticking out of the side of the mountain. It's kinda like the images of the castle David had seen through children’s books, novels, and television shows.
“You see what I’m seeing David?” Asked Jack.
David nodded his head while responding. “Yeah, I see it.”
“What do you think?”
“Rapunzel’s castle,” David joked, causing Jack to swiftly turn at him.
Shaking his head he chuckled.
“There isn’t a woman named 'Rapunzel,' in London; and haven’t you read the book? She only has one tower.”
“Yeah but who knows, this could be her new one.”
“Yeah, yeah, sure..” Jack was not amused. David looked back at the faraway castle, a thought struck him.
“Should we go there?” Asked David, turning to his shoulder at his un-dead friend. Jack shook his head.
“Hell no, do you see how far it is from us? It could take up a whole day, and it’ll be a colossal waste of our precious time.” Jack responded, turning to the forest up ahead. David crossed his arms raising a brow at him.
“Well, what do you suggest then?”
Jack points his bony finger at the tall pillared trees. “I suggest we go in there. The sun will be setting soon and you’ll change; the better you’re deep in there, the better you are away from anyone you won’t potentially kill from your reach.”
“The woods?” David felt uncertain about this. “This is stupid.”
Jack chuckled at his buddy, nudging his shoulder onto his.
“Come on David lighten up will ya’, where’s your sense of adventure?”
David shook his head at the ridiculousness of his friend’s question.
“That’s the thing Jack: I hate adventures..”
As he went, David walked into the forest. His eyes studied each tree he passed by, quite in awe at how the trees seemed to hang against each other and the vegetation grew thick in every direction. David stumbles through the forest on shoeless feet, watching his every step carefully, fearing to step on pointed thorns or twigs. Since he didn’t have a watch he couldn’t tell what time it was. It felt like he had walked for hours before something in the sky caught him and Jack’s attention. It went by too fast and was too far for them to see but it sounded like a small jet from afar. In that millisecond David could make up a cyan streak that left a… rainbow trail, as far as he could see.
Refraction of light perhaps? David wondered as he stared in awe at the bright colorful rainbow trail that said streak left behind. David walked further down the path with no sign of that mysterious jet from before. Making his way through the bushes David noticed a small glimmer of light piercing through leaves. Slowly the light started brightening as he moved closer, and closer. David dodges bush after bush pushing through the file’s exit, though when he did his eyes were assaulted by the sun’s rays. Bringing his arm up he shielded them from the light that had increased while picking up the sound of birds chirping, and a breeze blowing gently on his face. Patiently he waited for a moment before slowly opening them, adjusting his vision to everything that was loaded into view.
Far from David’s position he saw a bridge on the other-side leading a thin rectangular-shaped road that takes a small turn then goes straight until it ends at what looked like from afar an abandoned castle. There were plants, grass, and trees growing from the inside behind the brick wall. It probably looked like that for a very long time, quite ancient in his case. Onward David made his way out of the forest, following the path along the bridge, took a round turn, approaching the ruin-castle.
“Damn. Seems like someone didn’t have the greatest honeymoon.” Jack said approaching the stairs studying its broken features. David scanned his surroundings, a sense of caution welling up in him.
“You’d think someone could be living here?” David asked as he looked around, trying to spot any citizens. Jack shook his head.
“Naw I don’t think so. This place looks too crippled up for anyone to still be around,” Jack replied, looking around himself, “and even if someone lived here they’re probably dead.”
David nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right..”
David walked up to the front door of the castle, then without hesitating—brought his foot up kicking the door open, continuing forward with Jack behind him. Entering a long passage the end were stairs climbing up to two more from side to side. The two darted their eyes from left to right as they found four paths leading to long carpeted hallways. Glancing up David noticed two long rectangular flags hanging from the ceiling, each having their color. The one on the right was a blue flag with an image of a light blue horse, with sparkles going around the waning crescent moon. Although after looking deeper he realized it wasn’t a horse, rather it was… an Alicorn?
Yes, David thought, it is an Alicorn. He looked to the flag on the left and sure enough, it was the same as the other except this one was hued in two shades of yellow with the image of an Alicorn. As white as snow with the sun radiating from above. He continued to gaze until he pulled his eyes off of them, looking forward, continuing to wander through the ruins.
He came to see nothing except debris and destruction. Did a battle take place here? If so then what could've caused this?
“David.” David heard Jack calling, pausing him from his tracks and turning to his left. Due to his decay and rotten skin, it was hard to tell what expression he was making. But judging by the look he gave him David already knew.
“The night is coming,” David said, “a full moon night right?”
Jack nodded.
David sighed, rubbing his hand on the side of his neck to ease the fear progressively withering up to his nape. He needs to find a place where he could lock himself away and he must search quickly. It is only a matter of time before the beast is unleashed yet again…
Twilight Sparkle stared into the mirror admiring her hoof-stitched costume that she had finished successfully. She had a tall pointed darkish blue hat with a crescent moon floating below the four stars looping around it, bells chimed around the edge, the tip of her hat, and the ends to her robe in every step she took. She wore a fake beard, a gold amulet around her neck, and a clouded robe hued in three shades of blue.
“Ugh, come on, Twilight. We're gonna be late for the Nightmare Night festival.”
Hearing her assistant calling from down below she wasted no time and walked her way towards the stairs. Posing with her head raised with pride on the second step of the stairs she shows off her homemade costume to the little drake.
“Huh? Are you that one kooky grandpa from Ponyville Retirement Village?” Spike guessed the memory of the old pony from the retirement village was the first thing he thought of.
“I'm Star Swirl the Bearded!” Said Twilight.
Spike blinked looking at her with a blank expression.
“Father of the amniomorphic spell?”
Spike’s bewilderment increases.
“Did you even read that book I gave you about obscure unicorn history?” Twilight reminded him pointing her hoof at the little drake. Spike raised a claw as his brain tried to think of any excuse for his laziness until a knock at the door interrupted him.
“That sounds important.” Spike yelped, dashing by her to head for the door. As soon as he pulled the door open he jumped and felt his heart leap out of his stomach when his mind thought he was standing before Nightmare moon only to find three little fillies and Granny Smith standing outside of the door.
The trio’s faces smiled at the little drake and began to sing the old song. “Nightmare Night! What a fright! Give us something sweet to bite!”
“Hi, everypony,” Twilight greeted with a smile, “Great costumes. Happy Nightmare Night, Granny Smith.”
“I should have been asleep five hours ago,” Said Granny Smith.
Twilight’s horn glowed with light as she passed down one piece of candy each for the three little fillies bags. Pushing through came a young colt with a sword in his mouth as he swung it in the air, he wore a light red bandanna wrapped tight over his head, a small black eye patch over his eye with a skull stitched on it, and a buttoned-up short sleeve shirt.
“Pipsqueak the pirate, at your service. It's my very first Nightmare Night.” Pipsqueak said.
“Since you moved here from Trottingham?”
“No, my very first Nightmare Night eve—” Pipsqueak was about to finish only to be interrupted by the squawking sounds of Pinkie pie bursting forth wearing a chicken suit.
“Enough chit-chat! Time is candy!” Pinkie pie said, mimicking the movements of a chicken by pecking the floor.
“Pinkie Pie, aren't you a little old for this?” Twilight asked.
“Too old for free candy?” She squawked. “Never.”
Twilight groaned, lighting up her horn as her magic brought up one piece of candy out of her bowl levitating it towards the excited party pony then dropping it in her bag.
Twilight raised her hoof in a pose showing off her costume. She swirled her head around while keeping her eyes on the party pony “Do you like it?”
“Yeah! Great costume, Twilight! You make a fantastic weirdo clown!” Pinkie responded before pecking all the candy in the bowl and disappearing within seconds.
“A clown?” Twilight was irritated as she looked down at her costume taking the fabric of her robe in hoof, “Look at the borders on these robes. These are hoof-stitched!”
“It's a great costume! Huh! Grandpa!” Spike teases walking past her. Twilight growls in frustration following behind to catch up to her assistant. Suddenly her trotting hooves hauled, her ears perked up, fully alarmed she scanned her surroundings. Finding none but more fillies passing by with their friends and families.
“What was that just now?” Twilight said under her breath, darting eyes from house to house, “it almost sounded like—“
“Twilight come on!”
Twilight turned to her left seeing the little drake standing not too far, waving his claws for her attention. Shaking the alarming caution out of her system, Twilight walked forward catching up to her assistant's side. With hope to enjoy her nightmare night with her friends while also consumed in wonderment of whatever it was she heard just now…
