A lone figure stands in a tall watchtower at the top of a large hill. His eyes scan across the horizon watching the world below quietly. The dusty and dark land below, barren of all but the toughest life. As the sun sets behind the horizon and darkness claims the land hundreds of thousands of ghosts slowly drift across the land. The ghostly ruins of a city slowly form from the darkness, like a fog, giving a reason and rhyme to the motions of the ghosts. The lone figure sighs as he watches them putter around, following the path of their last days.
Down below a figure wanders forwards towards the ghostly city, a light shining under their cloak. The figure on the tower jumps from the walkway, its wings spread as it falls, gliding down with the wind. The figure lands just in front of the other, with its wings spread to stop them from advancing.
“Go no further. This is not a place for the living.” The first figure says as they toss their hood back revealing their slit eyes and sharp fangs. “Continue on and you will die.”
“I know that,” The other figure says, using their magic to toss off their hood. “But I have to go there. If I don’t, then the love of my life will die!”
“There is nothing there that could help them.“ The bat pony says, standing to their full height, towering over the unicorn.
“I need the Tear of Stars to break a curse that’s killing her!” The unicorn shouts, as she lunges forward, her voice cracking a little as she does.
The bat pony growls and uses his wings to send her flying back, “Go no further.”
“Fuck off!” She screams, her horn fires off several magical knives at the bat pony.
The bat pony bats away the knives like they’re nothing but tiny rocks. His jaw widens and a screech bellows forth bringing the mare to her knees, continuing to hold her ears even after the screech ends. Eventually she stands up again glaring at the bat pony.
“You cannot pass, to do so will kill you.” The bat pony says as his wings spread again to block her path.
“I don’t care! I’m going to march into that city, take the Tear of Stars and march back out.” She shouts as her horn lights up again. She vanishes in a flash of light only to reappear a moment later right in front of the bat pony.
“You cannot use magic to get past me. I am the Watcher, the guardian of this place.” The bat says as his eyes glow. “Now turn and leave.”
“I will not!” Her magic surges and pushes against the bat, trying to push him out of the way but failing to move them at all.
She lunges forwards and wails on his chest, as she cries, tears flowing down her cheeks as her hits slow down. Eventually she just cries into its chest. They don’t move in the slightest, simply letting her cry against them until her tears stop. Only then does the bat put his wings around her, and rub her back.
“Come with me.” They say after a moment.
The bat pony slowly leads her up the hill to the watchtower, and up the steps to the viewing platform. He stands there looking out at the ghostly city, silently. After a few minutes it speaks up.
“This is the city of Perdita,“ it says as it continues to look out at the city. “Only the dead may enter. Not even ghouls may enter intact and they are as close to dead as they can be.”
“I need the Tear of Stars, it’s the only thing that can break the curse on my lover is that gem.” She says as she stares out at Perdita. “If I can only find it I can save them.”
“I am afraid that I cannot allow you to enter. The Tear of Stars is not something that a mortal can hold.” It says as it looks at her.
“I don’t care, I can handle it!” She says as she turns towards the stairs.
The bat is in front of her before she can blink and stares down at her. “I cannot allow you to do this.”
“It’s not fair! I have to be allowed to try!” She shouts as she rams her horn into its chest.
“You can’t hurt me, no matter what you do.” It says as it pushes her back, not a single scratch on it. “Please stop.”
Haunting music plays through the air as she turns to the rail and jumps. Her jump is stopped short by the bat who grabs her with its hooves and carries her back up to the viewing platform.
“Let me go!” She screams as she tries to lunge back towards the rail.
“I cannot. The drop will kill you.” It says as it holds her there.
“Please! Let me go!” Her magic flares wildly as she struggles hard against his hooves.
“Calm yourself!” It’s voice causes her ears to ring with how loud it is.
She doesn’t stop as her magic spikes, forcing his hooves away sending her tumbling down towards the ground with a scream. As she plummets her magic flails wildly and surrounds her, slowing her to a stop just above the ground. As the bat flies down towards her she releases the magic and charges toward the city racing faster than ever before. The bat charges after her screeching loudly but its screech does nothing to stop her.
Eventually the batpony stops following her, and when she turns back her body lies at its hooves. She gasps running back to her body, trying to press her hooves against it only for them to go straight through.
“I’m sorry.” The bat says as it hangs its head. “I tried to warn you.”
“I… I’m dead?”
“Yes.”
She begins to cry again as she looks down at her body. As her ghostly tears fall from her cheeks they form a small crystal that glows brightly, each tear adds to it slowly making it grow bigger. Eventually she notices it and looks down at it.
“What’s that?” She asks with a sniff.
“That’s the Tear of Stars. It only appears when a newly formed ghost cries.” The bat says, shaking its head. “I truly am sorry.”
As she stares at it a hoof gently comes to rest on her shoulder. Looking back she sees her lover, staring down at her with loving eyes. The mare leaps up at her lover and wraps her hooves around. They both look at the bat pony who nods to them. They slowly turn and walk away before vanishing into the ghostly clouds of the city.