Author's Note
The only reason this story exists is that I had a vivid dream where I was looking out my window and saw a man with a gun trying to break in. He was telling me to open the door but I declined until he got angry and started fiddling with the doorknob in an attempt to get in.
Before anything else happened, I woke myself up. Pretty odd but scary experience.
One Bad Night
If a stranger tells a mare that she's pretty, it should be taken as a compliment instead of a red flag.
Serene awoke with a start, lurching forward on her bed in mild alarm. It was quiet with the light of the moon beaming through her window and illuminating the bedroom floor. Something wasn't right. Serene was a light sleeper; anything could have woken her up, but it was usually peaceful and quiet where she lived, just outside the village; seldom would there be anything that could stir the mare's sleep; and when something did, Serene grew anxious.
"Something... something isn't right," Serene muttered, her voice nothing more than a faint whisper. "Ugh! I wish this feeling would go away. It's been bothering me ever since I got home. How can I work with this chill? I hope I'm not getting sick..."
Serene was troubled; a brisk chill had endlessly rippled through her chestnut-colored coat ever since she left her appreciation party. She never felt this way before, and she wished that whatever it was would pass quickly.
"I better go check on that noise," she said wearily, yawning from lack of sleep.
Lifting the covers from her warm body, Serene sat her hooves on the cold bedroom floor one by one. She was in a nightgown, a nightcap, and wore sleep mask around her forehead, a tool given to help her sleep more easily. Next to Serene's bed on the right was a nightstand with a three-pronged candlestick and reached for it, lighting the candles carefully before heading outside her bedroom door.
When Serene steps out to the dark hall she lifts the bright candlestick in front of her to see what lay in the darkness. She paused and stayed still and quiet, pricking her ears and straining her eyes for any source of danger, but as she waited in anticipation, nothing seemed to be happening.
Still not convinced she could just go back into her bedroom and sleep the night away, Serene gradually marches forward, making sure her hoofsteps didn't create much racket while she makes to the top of the stairs and staring down lifting the candlestick to illuminate the murky blackness below.
Still nothing. Everything seemed to be fine.
"Must've just been a bird or something," she reckoned to herself, turning away to head back to her room.
Then a soft bang made the mare stiffen and freeze like a statue. Serene's heart jolted, pulsing madly as she attempted to figure out what the noise was quickly in her mind.
"Another bird?" she asked herself. She shook her head. "No. A deer? Maybe. It has to be."
Perhaps it was just a woodland creature. Serene and the village she lived beside are next to a forest. It was common to get visits from animals.
"A curious animal must have gotten brave and knocked on my house," she said with a sigh. "Ye-yeah, that must be it...isn't it?"
If she was to trust her judgment, Serene knew she had to go downstairs and scare off the woodland creature so it wouldn't bother her all night. She had embroidering to do, and she won't have enough energy tomorrow if that racket kept her up.
Serene groaned unhappily, missing the warmth of her comfy bed. "Better get this over with."
Slowly and carefully, Serene made her way down the stairs shivering as the chill of the atmosphere began to eat away at whatever warmth clung to her coat. Making it to the base of the stairs, she shuffles toward the front door but not without turning her head to look cautiously out the window from one of the corners.
Serene's scarlet eyes widened, and she felt her body stiffen once again as a deer suddenly flew past her window. A noiseless scream escaped her lips as Serene fell on her flank, her chest heaving as she tried to gulp in air. The candlestick had fallen beside her. Quickly, she put the candle lights out with her panicked breath.
For a minute or two, Serene did not move. Then, after gaining some courage to stand she trotted back to the window to make sure the deer was gone, but her eyes locked onto something else. There was a figure; a silhouette wrapped in moonlight, who cast a long, daunting shadow over her house. She couldn't see who this pony was or why they were standing perfectly still just a few feet away from her house.
"Who is that?" she muttered, still shaking from when the deer spooked her. "Is...is that a stallion? Why is he here so late at night? Is something wrong?"
As she pondered the eerie stallion's identity, he began to move toward her front door. That chilling discomfort Serene felt was back stronger than before. It seemed he has not caught sight of Serene poking her head from the corners of the window.
Though she could not see his face as it was obscured by the moonlight shrouding him, Serene studied him: the stallion had a silver-gray coat, coppery mane, and a lanky tail. He was bare; he had no possessions to speak of. The only thing he did was stomp the dirt in front of her door as if digging for something before stopping abruptly.
"What is he doing?" she whispered to herself. She tried to control her breath and lower her voice to not alert the stallion standing mere inches away. "Please leave..."
Her wishes were dashed the moment she saw him knock lightly on her front door. Serene did not move for a couple of heartbeats in the hopes the stallion would get bored and leave, but there he stood as still as a statue. Serene could even hear him breathing; it was irregular and odd like he was out of breath or something. His ears were spasmodic, and his fitful tail twitched whether, from excitement or annoyance, Serene did not know, though she hoped for the latter.
As she watched on, Serene knew that the stallion wasn't going away if the occasional knocking was any indication; he was quite persistent and patient despite his conspicuous body language. She quickly ducked away from the window as the stallion turned in her direction. She managed to narrowly avoid his shining, golden gaze.
Serene sighed exasperatedly still hearing the soft knocking. "For the love of... What does he want? Since he won't take a hint, I'll have to tell him to leave. I don't have to open the door, just in case..."
Taking in a deep breath, Serene quietly sat her candlestick on the floor and made her way slowly to the front door.
Alright, let's get this over with.
"Ye-yes?" Serene asked warily. "Who is it?"
Seconds pass until the other voice responded. "Hello?" the voice said with a muffle. It was smooth and deep. "Hey, can you help me?"
Help? she thought in confusion. Why did he come to me if he needed help? There are a lot of good, honest ponies in the village, and yet he chooses to come here instead?
Gulping and trying in vain to steady her breathing, Serene asks, "Who are you?"
"I'm a traveler," the stallion replied simply. "I was resting in the village after losing my map and my way."
"You've been to the village?"
"Yes, I have. I'm not from around here, honest! Could you please help me?"
Serene squinted. I didn't say I didn't believe you. "Okay... And what did you need help with?"
"Just with finding my way," the stallion said with a sheepish chuckle. "It would be easier for the both of us if we met face to face, without the door between us, right? It's a little weird speaking to one another like this."
Serene narrowed her eyes. "Perhaps. What's your name?"
For a little while, nothing happened, Serene didn't hear an answer for almost ten seconds.
"Sunstar," the stallion answered. "Can you open your door? I really need help."
He sounds genuine, Serene thought as her suspicious gaze began to soften. He could be lost, but if that's the case, why didn't he go to any of the villagers for aid? That doesn't make sense.
An abrupt knock tore Serene from her thoughts, and she jumped back with a shout. In her fear, she stumbled and knocked over the candlestick.
"Hey, are you okay?" Sunstar asked worryingly. "You don't sound alright."
Serene cautiously made her way back to the front door. "I'm fine," she said with a long sigh. "Anyway... Why haven't you asked any of the villagers for a map or something?"
"Well... everypony was asleep when I woke up, except for the receptionist. I asked her for some directions, and she told me that she had never been out of the village and that she didn't have a map. She directed me to you."
"Why?" Serene questioned, sounding puzzled.
"Because you aren't originally from the village," he answered. "I was told you once lived close to the equestrian capital and moved here for some peace." He chuckled. "I guess wherever you came from must have been quite... chaotic."
You don't even know the half of it, she thought crossly. Always some disaster or dilemma happening... I couldn't get any work done.
"Well, I do know the area, and I can direct you to another village or town," she offered.
"Yes, that would be great," Sunstar said happily. "How about you open up? We can...talk while you draw up a map."
I was thinking of just telling him about a town located not too far from here. Now he wants me to whip him up a map. That could take the rest of the night, and I'm tired and anxious as it is...
Serene hesitated. "I-I don't know if I should do that..."
"But, Gracie," Sunstar began, "I think it would be best if we both worked on the map."
Serene stiffened. Wait a minute... How did he know my nickname? The only pony who calls me that is Mr. Coal, and he turned in after the party finished.
"Um, hello? Is there something wrong?" Sunstar asked hesitantly.
Serene was as quiet as a mouse. Sunstar somehow knew her nickname, but he couldn't have. He missed the party, and he didn't mention Mr. Coal, only the hotel receptionist. How could he know?
Serene never heard of Sunstar before, and she didn't know what he fully looked like; he was just a silhouette in the moonlight. He'd only know if he stayed in the village long enough. But no pony had mentioned anything about Sunstar.
If that's the case, then... how long has he been around the village? Is he a creep?
Serene took in a long breath and exhaled. "Sunstar," she started, "how do you know my nickname? It's weird you know."
"Look. I need help." Sunstar glossed over the question. Another knock came from the other side of the door. "Can you open your door, please?"
Serene disregarded Sunstar's question which sounded more like a demand. "I don't remember hearing or seeing you in the village before, so how do you know that name?" Serene pressed. "Were you stalking around the village?"
"I'll explain if you do the map," he bargained.
Serene shook her head. "Sunstar, I don't know if I can trust you."
"But you can," he said briskly, sounding slightly irritated. He knocked harder on the door. "I need help. No pony else can right now. Open your door already."
He's becoming persistent..."How long were you around here?"
Sunstar sighed. "Are you going to truly be this stubborn? Would you turn down a pony in need?"
"No, I wouldn't," Serene retorted. "But I'm not stupid. It's the middle of the night, and a stranger I've never seen or heard before is at my front door. He knows my nickname and is asking for directions which he won't leave unless I help."
"I'm not a guard or anything like that, so you can trust me," he reasoned softly. "You're being paranoid and it's clouding your sense. I won't hurt you. I promise."
Serene shook her head, trying to shake off Sunstar's calming, soothing voice. "I don't believe you, and I'm sorry, but I won't help you. Please leave. Maybe in the morning somepony will help you, but it won't be me."
There was silence for a while. Serene thought Sunstar had finally stepped away and left. Her hopes were dashed as a loud knock began to beat at the door.
Startled, Serene says, "Leave now, Sunstar! Just wait until morning. I'm sure somepony else will help you!"
"No," he said simply. "Come on...let me in. You can trust me."
Serene furrowed her brows. "I said no!" she spat angrily. "Leave!"
"Alright, alright, I tried to be nice about it," he muttered darkly. "I don't need a map. I want something. If you won't give it to me, I will have to take it."
"What're-"
Before Serene could get the question out a loud bang rattled the front door. The abrupt force surprised Serene and she staggered and fell on the floor in terror. Scrambling back up she made her way to a closet and brought out a bat.
"S-Sunstar, stop it!" she wailed. "What do you want?!"
"Let me in," was his response. "I swear you can trust me. Open the door and let me in. I'll forgive you if you do. Come on...let me in."
"I'm not letting you in, now leave! I am armed!" she warned. "If you won't leave, I will make you!"
"Do you think that'll work?" he asked in his soothing voice. "I'm a unicorn. What could an earth pony like you do? You'll just make things worse for yourself in the long run, and I prefer it if you had lots of energy when I get my hooves on you."
"Sunstar, this is your last warning," Serene cautioned. "Leave!"
"Pretty mare..." he paused as he drawled out the words. "Won't you open your door?"
A loud banging followed by a sharp, splintering crack came from the door; its frame was damaged, sending wood flying everywhere. Serene gasped and skulked ungracefully from the door, tripping over the candlestick, and taking refuge in the shadowed corners of her home: the kitchen. At least, with this, she'll be able to get away from Sunstar for a short while.
But that horn is quite meddlesome. It produces light and he'll find me in time...
Another horrifying bang erupted from the door as Serene witnessed its tall wooden frame burst and fall to the floor. Then, standing ominously where the door once stood was Sunstar, his body cloaked in shadows and his golden eyes gleaming lustfully.
He steps in and takes in the fresh, sweet scent wafting around the air. "Your scent is intoxicating. You know... hiding from me will only make things worse when I inevitably take you. Come on out, Gracie! Wherever you are!"
Sunstar began his search for Serene; he scanned around the living room, his glowing golden eyes darting madly in his search. His ears flicked constantly, and his front hooves stamped the floor in agitation.
"Gracie," he purred, "come out and greet me as a good hostess would." He waited but there was no reply. "You know, I like you a lot, and when I finally have a good moment to be with you, you turn me away. I am a little disappointed, but I know how you'll make it up to me."
Ponyfeathers, Serene cursed silently. She was tucked in a dark corner of her kitchen. He knew more than he let on. Why did I answer? Perhaps if I didn't, he... No. I can get out of this.
As she tried to figure out how to escape, Serene saw Sunstar's silhouette peeking into the kitchen. She saw his golden eyes and shuddered; they were hungry for their prey. She clutched the bat against herself somehow thinking Sunstar would go away if she willed it to, but her plea was for naught as Sunstar stepped into the kitchen.
A faint yellow glow began to emit on his forehead, his horn. It lit the area under him rather than illuminating the entire kitchen. With a flick of his head, the light traveled in a small orb that hovered around the kitchen, shining its light. It was odd. It would have been easier to just light up the entire area and save Sunstar the trouble, but something else prickled at the back of Serene's mind and once she had realized, it was already too late.
The orb of light flashed, dazing Serene with its dazzling gleam. It was only for a second, but that brief moment lit the entire kitchen before the darkness quickly swallowed after. Serene could hear Sunstar chuckle.
He knows I'm in here. He sees me...
Another flash erupted from the bright orb. It came every few seconds. Serene was right. The hunger in Sunstar's eyes when he entered the kitchen should've been a dead giveaway; he had known she snuck into the kitchen. He was playing with her. But the only question was how.
Maybe... maybe he knows some other way. Serene shuddered. He said something about my scent. He knows it well. Too well. I don't want to think about how...
"You have until the count of three to slither from that corner and surrender; to prostrate yourself in front of my hooves," he declared with a sickly smile. "One."
I will have to fight him, even if he's a unicorn. He knows I have a weapon, but he doesn't think I'll use it; that I'm too frightened.
"Two," he called.
Alright, here we go.
The orb of light flashed one more time before dying, leaving the darkness to fill the kitchen.
"Three..."
Three!
In an instant, Serene shot from the darkness surprising Sunstar and striking him so hard with the bat that it shattered in a deafening crack. Sunstar let out a shout of pain as Serene attempted to gallop past him to escape. A sharp tug swept Serene off her hooves as she crashed to the floor. Looking back, she saw that Sunstar had recovered, glaring at her with a sneer. His horn glowed yellow, and Serene looked down to see her right hind leg was wrapped in its eerie light.
She felt another tug. Serene was being pulled toward Sunstar; she flailed and struggled helplessly in the magic pull, but to no avail. What else could she do? Before she knew it, Serene was flung toward a wall as a shrill wail escaped her lips; pain shot through her flank and dropped to the floor in a heavy thud. Sunstar's magic was strong if he could lift and fling a full adult pony.
Serene scrambled on her hooves in a defensive crouch, eying Sunstar warily as she glanced at the kitchen's exit. She could try and escape and go to get help.
That wouldn't work, she thought sadly. He'd just catch me before I could get out of the house. Maybe if I hold out long enough, help will come.
"Gracie, why don't we start over?" Sunstar suggested with a tip of his head, hope filling his tone. "I'll forgive you for wacking me with a bat and you'll forgive me for coming on too strong. I think.... yes, I think that would be the correct, and smart, course of action. What do you say?"
Is he serious? Serene thought bitterly, her chest heaving as pain throbbed on her hind legs and flank.
"Sunstar, if that's even your real name, I want you to leave my house and never come back." Serene sighed with tiredness and fear. "Why are you like this? Do you want to do this?"
"Of course," Sunstar said, leaving no room for hesitation which Serene flinched at his eagerness. "You come over to me and tell me your sorry. I want you to whisper it in my ears. I want you to mean it."
Serene looked revolted. "And what if I don't want to do that?" she questioned the stallion with an edge to her voice. "I want you to leave."
Sunstar narrowed his eyes. "If you don't, I'll take you. I'm giving you a chance to not make things harder for the both of us. It's easy, no?"
Serene glared at the smug stallion. He acted as if he'd already won; he believes that Serene has no out, and, to an extent, he was right. Serene wasn't a fighter, nor has she ever fought before. She embroiders! She makes cute designs on cloth for a living, she wasn't a black belt in any form of combat.
Although fight may not be wholly ingrained into her being, she did have the option regardless, and she would use it anyway. Seems like a smart thing to do, especially against an intruder looking to force themselves upon you.
With that in her mind, Serene readied herself in a defensive crouch, prepared to fight until she couldn't.
"You aren't going to 'take' me so easily," she spat crossly, the tiredness fading to be replaced with determination and anger. "I'd rather have my neck broken and twisted before let you have your way with me. So come on!"
Sunstar glared at Serene, his eyes a mixture of reproach and intrigue. "That can be arranged," he said simply. "I gave you a choice and you didn't take it. That's fine. You'll regret it."
Before Sunstar could say anything else to threaten Serene, the mare suddenly sprang forward leaping onto the stallion and barreling him over on the floor. Stunned, Sunstar let Serene tussle him around before pushing him away with the use of her back hooves, sending him crashing into the kitchen table.
Momentarily victorious, Serene scrambled to her hooves and attempted to make a run for the front door, but her hind leg was caught in a yellow glow, violently yanking the mare off balance and throwing her against a wall. A sharp crack like a bone caused Serene to shriek in pain.
Struggling to her hooves and through wobbly vision, Serene saw Sunstar rise from the now destroyed kitchen table with a burning glare in his golden eyes. Serene tried to stand up, but an intense pain shot up one of her hind legs. Unable to force through the pain, Serene crumbled to the floor with a grunt, gritting her teeth.
Sunstar wrenched my right hind leg. I can't move!
"What's the matter?" Sunstar asked, his voice in mock concern. "Is your leg hurting? Aww, that's too bad. It's okay. Come here, I'll make it all stop. Then you can apologize for the inconvenience."
Hay-brain, Serene thought crossly.
This was it, the end of the line. Sunstar was just too strong for Serene to fight against. She could feel her legs buckling to the ground as the adrenaline that coursed through her veins begin to die away to be replaced with tiredness; the aching mare found herself enervated to resist any longer. Still, though her body has given up the fight she held a fiery gaze that could burn through any coat, and it must've worked as Sunstar met them with a flash of hesitancy; even this look of defiance did not last long, and the stallion quickly recovered from the glare.
"This has been all well and good, but it's time to give up," Sunstar said, looming over Serene. "It was a good struggle; you should be proud."
Just before Sunstar could reach a hoof to Serene, a flash of bluish light engulfed his and her vision, and Sunstar found himself forced away, slamming into a wall.
Serene's blurred vision adjusts, and she sees another stallion looming over her, but this time was one she recognized and respects.
"Mr. Coal!" she exclaimed happily. "You came to help. How did you know I was in trouble?!"
"I saw that stallion sneaking off in the dead of night and followed him," Mr. Coal began to explain. "When I headed outside, I heard a large cracking sound and hurried out of the village. I saw that your door was broken down and heard the sounds of a struggle, so I galloped as hard as I could. Good thing too; I got here just in time before Gild did anything."
Serene looked puzzled. "Gild?" she asked, squinting her eyes. "That's his name?"
Mr. Coal nodded; his face grim as Gild recovered. "He's an elusive criminal who committed multiple acts of sexual assault and abduction; he's being hunted by the royal guard as we speak, so he is always on the move. Gild is a very dangerous individual."
Gild chortled. "Thanks for introducing me. You look familiar. Aren't you that retired royal guard Soot Coal?" He sidesteps to the kitchen entrance. "If so, your penchant for fire magic is quite revered even by Princess Twilight Sparkle."
"I am," he answers. "If you're smart, you'll leave this place and never come back."
Gild scoffed. "What makes you think I will?" he spat. "You are an old has-been spending the rest of his days in some backwater village."
"I may be old, but my magic is far stronger than you think," Mr. Coal retorted, his horn glowing a bright red. "Are you sure you can take me on? It won't be a fight of strength; I'm no royal guard, so I'm not bound by any rules; I can scorch your flea-bitten pelt and I won't be reprimanded. The world doesn't need you."
Serene could see the confident smirk on Gild's face shift to an apprehensive scowl. He bowed his head in submission, backing out of the kitchen and slowly retreating to the house exit.
"Keep your pelt, you old codger," Gild said, his face beginning to sweat. "Seems that you are the one on top of the food chain around here, and I can respect that. I'll leave now that I know you live here, but I wish you didn't interrupt us; that was quite rude."
Without another word, Gild's horn illuminated. A flash of golden light engulfed him and then he was gone as though he was never there, to begin with.
Mr. Coal sighed and helped Serene gently off the floor. "Are you okay?"
Serene nodded. "Thank you for helping me. If you didn't get here when you did, Gild would've had his way with me."
"I'm just glad you're safe. I'll get the guys over and help repair or replace anything broken."
"Oh, you don't have to do that, Mr. Coal."
"I insist. Think of it as another way of us expressing our thanks to you. Head to the hotel, tell Misty I sent you and to give you a room free of charge, and get some rest. Our village doctor will be with you first thing in the morning. Let us give you some generosity."
"I... I, um... thank you, Mr. Coal!"
"Please, call me Soot, Gracie. Also, members of the royal guard will arrive soon, and you'll have to answer a few questions. Nothing too big."
"Alright," Serene says. "Thanks for the heads up."
With no other words said, Serene shoots Mr. Coal a polite nod and thankful smile as she heads out of her home and begins trotting to the village. Just before she enters the village, Serene turns her scarlet gaze out toward the wilderness wondering where Gild would strike next.
"Hopefully he'll be caught soon..."