The Lost Tapes : Join Us Apple Bloom

Six years earlier.

Adam smiled at the Apple Bloom plush in front of him at the local store. He secretly was still a pretty big fan of MLP. Always in love with the details of the plush toys especially, they looked so lifelike and full of spirited energy.

Seth laughed from behind, placing a friendly hand on his shoulder.”Hahaha, it's cute, but ya can't ride it.” He teased as Adam rolled his eyes sarcastically.

“I wasn't looking at it, I'm just bored here!” He defensively replied while his friend slid both hands into his pockets.

“Dude, we can go now if you're in a rush.” Seth nudged his friend's side.

Adam snorted with annoyance.” Didn't you drag me here to pick up something for an art project?” He followed behind his buddy closely, both nearing the front door of the establishment.

“Science Project, I'm having my things delivered. Some are machinery.- I couldn't possibly just pop that in my pocket. “ Seth made sure to joke as his friend shook his head with a sigh.

“Got time to work on those college projects even with…” Adam was cut off by Seth rushing outside, the blinding light of the sun outside stunning him momentarily.

“Especially now!”

Adam snapped out of his bewildered stupor visibly shaken by the current events. Coughing aloud, he rushed into the kitchen, fire had spread across the counters, and swiftly engulfed the top of the ceiling. He had absolutely nothing to fight these flames back, with little choice, he rushed to the front door.

Hands fumbled and pulled on the knob with all his might. The metallic orb heating up in his grasp, the door suctioned tightly to the frame unable to budge. He was trapped in this hellish tinderbox, his heart shattering into a thousand pieces.

He gasped for fresh air as smoke burned his throat painfully. He began to stumble as his vision became more hazy and out of focus. Falling in front of the TV, he felt an odd compulsion to push the tape back into the VCR.

The click echoed around him, smoke suffocating as he trembled with faded strength. Barely able to press rewind on the machine before the world faded to darkness. His head fell to the floor with a loud pop, followed by silence.

Adam coughed aloud in a scratchy and almost squeaky voice. His eyes slowly began to focus on the trashed room around him, no sign or scent of smoke present around the house. Had he beaten the death trap, if so.

How?

He had a vague idea, but the mere concept that he actually rewound reality with a children's tape scared the heck outta him.

“I …hate fires.” Adam coughed gently in a higher pitched voice. He could feel his voice cracking.

The smoke must've injured his throat during the blaze. Trembling, he stumbled to his feet, barely making it to the kitchen as he turned on the faucet, letting the water flow. Lowering both hands, he cupped some water quickly while taking a cooling drink.

The liquid slowly slid down his throat, feeling like shards of glass. Gagging up a little bit of water, he coughed frantically, trying to catch a gasp of fresh air. Adam had no idea what was going on, but that tape was bad news. He had to get rid of it.

Stumbling back to the living room, he wasted no time in ejecting the cheap pink plastic from the VCR. Clutching it by the sides, he held it up to his eyes, feeling an odd energy wafting from within. Regaining his strength, he smashed the tape against the nearby wall, watching as it exploded into a few dozen pieces across the filthy floor.

“Happy trails ya'll.” He spoke in a slight southern drawl for a split second. He shook it off just as quickly.

He wasn't sure why he thought it was appropriate to say, but it had just felt right.

Sliding down the wall afterward, defeated and trembling from exhaustion. He took slow, steady breaths in the hope that his strength might return. Struggling to keep his eyes open and mind from shattering, he pondered if he indeed used that tape to alter his fate.

Or maybe he just died, and this was just a crappy afterlife?

Mind racing out of control, he felt his vision begin to blur once more. The faint footsteps of a child growing near, the blurred visage of a young girl skipping into the room excitedly. She kneeled down in front of him, voice a distorted collection of whispers and static.

“You don't think it's that easy, do you?” She collected the pieces of plastic off the floor humming, without much effort piecing it back together with ease.

“Let's not throw anymore tantrums, hmm?” She held the now repaired tape at her side, face a blur of colors as she inched closer.

Kneeling in front of him, an icy chill filling the air of the room, “What are you? A baby?” She placed the tape onto his lap.

Her eyes glowed a bright white hue, blinding Adam as the world faded away.

The only sound left was that of static.