The Carnival of the Damned

A cold Autumn breeze swept through the door as Rose entered the small coffee shop in Ponyville. Shaking her windswept mane from her eyes, the mare looked about with a sigh of relief. The cafe was peaceful, only one or two other patrons lingering over a cup of fresh coffee as the scent of pastries wafted overhead.

“Rose! Rose!”

She blinked, looking to the small ghost waving frantically from her position behind the counter. She smiled at her old friend, quietly making her way to sit at one of the empty bars tools lined up to the counter.

“Hello, Okiku. A slow business day?” The small ghostly filly giggled, shaking her head as she did so.

“Oh! Not at all! Any day is a good day when coffee is involved.” She gave her signature double nod, beaming with joy. “But what brings you here? I haven't seen you wandering about town since last year's Hearth's Warming. Nothing is wrong, is it? Is there trouble in town? Wild, vicious creatures? Meep!” She dove behind the counter as the unicorn shook her head.

“No, Oki. Not at all. Fall is upon us and I fear I have run out of tea. I came by only to purchase more. Afterwards I shall be on my way once again.”  The little pony looked up, clearly relieved at this news.

“Oh! That's all? Great! I'll bag some up right away. Any particular flavors you would like?”

“Just Chamomile, please. Perhaps some Earl Grey as well?”

The white apparition smiled.

“Coming up! Oh! Please try this as well. It's new. Harvest Spice Tea. Very popular with the customers so far.” She set a mug of tea in front of Rose, the steam rising as though fog over a lake.

“Ah, thank you. It smells delightful.” The filly beamed with pride, floating away to box up the ordered tea as Rose drank in the cafe's silence. Fall had always been a season for reminiscence and reflection; the past year having been fraught with disappointment and sleepless nights. She had remained an inhabitant of the Everfree Forest, still observing and documenting the strange species that had also made the land their home. Yet of recent it seemed that there were no more creatures to discover. The only ones easily found were those she had written numerous papers and tomes about already. Anything else, 'if' anything else was to be found, remained ever elusive. She sighed, looking down at her reflection in the tea, catching glimpse of the pendant still suspended about her throat.

“If only...” Years had passed since her harrowing ventures in the fabled land of eternal night. So much had been discovered about herself there. The curse, the blood... She cringed recalling with disdain the altar and the sickening scent of her own lifeblood flowing out. If not for the constant presence of the gleaming pendant, she would have long ago convinced herself that it had all been nothing more than a dream.

Yet there were so many species there. So much she yearned to know. 'Ah, if only I could go back. Just once more...' Ancient Blood's voice rang clear and deep in her thoughts.

'These entities are not like those of your realm. They will stop at nothing. They shall hunt until death...'

A strange twinge in her heart, yet she knew his decision was only for her safety. If her blood had been an antidote, the cure to that olden curse, she was better off here, near the company and safety of others. Her own kind.

She sipped her tea, glancing out the window at the sun lazily beginning it's nightly descent over the forest canopy. A blur of brightness in the trees, just a flicker, catching her eye instantly. Rapidly she ran through her mental recollection of the various species in the Everfree.

“Can it be? Something new?: Instinct and curiosity overtook her, as she bolted from the chair and out the door. If a new species had been spotted within the Everfree, she must find it.

“Rose? Rose! Meep!” Okiku flailed her small hooves as she watched her friend dash down the street. “You forgot your teas!” The spectral figure pouted, looking down at the package of assorted teas she had boxed up for her friend. “I even made a pretty bow...” Floating to the back room, she called into the kitchen.

“Mister Ryn-Ryn! I have a delivery for you to make!”

A gruff of annoyance as a dark blue pegasus peaked around the doorway.

“What is it, Oki?” He sauntered out to the counter, clearly resenting being sent out on such short notice for a small errand. The little ghost didn't seem to detect his reluctance, smiling happily at the other.

“Yay! You're here!” She held up the large box. “Miss Rose was here for more tea, but then she just ran out the door without it.”

The pegasus raised an eyebrow.

“Here? Rose actually coming into town is weird enough, but...she ran out?”

The filly nodded twice.

“Uh-huh! Uh-huh! See?” With a pout she pointed to the still steaming cup of tea on the cafe's counter. “She even left her drink!”

Ryn's eyes narrowed as he picked up the box and hurried out the door, Okiku waving from a window.

This behavior was highly irregular for Rose, he thought, not able to help the feeling that something was terribly amiss. With an increasing gait, he hurried out of the town toward the Everfree Forest.