Paranoia

PARANOIA

by: NazoPureChaos

I looked at my mug of cider, considered taking a swing, and set it back down. This was the... fourth time I almost took a sip, then decided against it. Why though? It was just cider. Harmless, fermented, apple cider. Supplied by the Apple Family, to boot. I had had my hoof wrapped around a mug of grade-A apple cider, and I couldn’t drink it.

I turned my attention to the party my idiot friends dragged me to. I mean that literally, the two of them actually pulled me by my tail all the way here. All around me ponies were taking huge gulps of the foamy cider, sitting with the hooves wrapped around mares, or vise-versa. Some, who had already exceeded the limit on liquor, were trying to convince a group of mares to accompany them back home. To the mares’ credit, they looked very displeased. A large circle was gathering around the stage, a congregation of mares and stallions. I looked over to investigate, and it appeared some drunk fillies began to do a striptease with their Nightmare Night costumes. It was rather superfluous, doing a striptease, as ponies spent most of their time naked. I groaned; I recognized one of the mares: one of my friends who dragged me here -- Ambrosia. She died her mane, which was usually chocolate brown, a vibrant purple. My other friend, Stargaze, sat down next to me. He was a unicorn, with a dark blue coat and white mane. Ambrosia was an earth pony, and I was a pegasus. I could tell by his eyes that Stargaze was inebriated. He gestured to Ambrosia.

“Now -hic- that is a mare I wouldn’t mind getting to know -hic- better. Get what I mean?” It was no secret that Stargaze had a major crush on her, although it was rather amusing that Ambrosia had absolutely no idea. I slapped him hard.

“I think you need to ease off on the cider, Star,” I told him in a serious tone. He just stared back, dumbfounded. He then noticed my untouched mug of cider, and scolded me.

“You haven’t even had any? C’mon colt, what’s with that? You do not know how to have fun,” he said, shaking a hoof at me. On the contrary I did know how to have fun. In fact, I was the one who usually planned our get-togethers. I’ll admit it: I am not a big fan of Nightmare Night. I find that there are more constructive ways to use my time than to play dress-up. Not to mention what happened last Nightmare Night, with Princess Luna showing up and causing a raucous. Not that I mean anything against the Princess of the night, but she could have been a bit more tactful. And I suppose my nyctophobia played a role in my not liking Nightmare Night. A fact that my drunken friend did not mind reminding me of.

“...Just because you’re afraid of the dark--”

“I am not “afraid of the dark”, I am afraid of what’s in it. Besides, it’s a phobia, it’s irrational. I know nothing will attack me, I just get this feeling...” I trailed off.

“Why don’t you prove it?” said a voice smooth as silk. I turned around to see Ambrosia, now completely undressed, trotting uneasily towards us. I thought about what she offered.

“...How?” Before she could answer, Stargaze butted in.

“Stick him in his room and turn off all the lights!” and he fell to a bout of obnoxious giggles. Yeah, very funny. Haha. Ambrosia seemed to consider my offer. Then, a devilish grin came upon her face.

“I’ll give you two-hundred bits to spend the night in the Everfree Forest.” My eyes bugged out, and I spit the one sip of cider I had taken. She thought my eyes bugged because she mentioned the Everfree, but what shocked me was the money she offered. Two-hundred bits? Even with nyctophobia, that would be worth it! Still, the Everfree is filled with all sorts of dangerous creatures... but that money! Could I... could I actually spend a night in there? Maybe... but I don’t think that’s their best offer. They are drunk after all, so why not take advantage?

“I... I don’t know. There’s a whole lot of dangerous crap in the forest. Maybe two-hundred bits isn’t worth it.” It worked like a charm. Stargaze poked his head above the table.

“Three-hundred bits!” he exclaimed, then looked to Ambrosia for confirmation. She nodded in approval, and he looked like he was going to faint. I doubt that was because he was intoxicated, but instead because she approved something he said (which in itself was probably because she was drunk herself). Three-hundred... Celestia that was a lot of money. Screw my nyctophobia, I could suffer some fear for three-hundred bits!

“Deal!”

o.O>-~~-<O.o

The night was cloudy, blocking most of the stars from sight. Only those that were strong enough were visible, but just barely. The moon existed only as a glowing patch of light beyond the cloud cover. The darkness of the night was nothing compared to the back of the Everfree Forest. Everything that happened in the Everfree was outside the control of the Princesses: the weather moved on its own, and created itself without the use of pegasi. Creatures wandered, untamed and feral, reduced to their most basic instincts. Trees, bushes, weeds, and all manner of foliage grew wild and tangled, making the forest hard to traverse. There was a path that led through the Everfree, void of most danger that the forest held. This path led to the most interesting of relics: The Ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. Nopony knows why the castle exists in the malignant forest, but most associate its collapse with the corruption of the Everfree. It is this ancient relic that is my goal. My plan was to take the path to the castle, find somewhere to bunk, and stay there for the night. I should have had no problems, as nothing lives, or even enters the ruin. Heh, if only I knew why.

Stargaze and Ambrosia had been kind enough to escort me to the edge of the forest. From where I stood, it was dark and menacing. I began to have second thoughts, my nyctophobia clawing in the back of my head. I shooed it away, repeating the amount they owed me when I came out, like it was a ward. On my back was a sleeping bag, and I carried a lantern in my mouth. I also had a pair of saddlebags strapped to me, one filled with water and the other filled with a couple daisy sandwiches.

“You have fun now, you hear?” Ambrosia said to me.

“And no doubling back, or the deal’s off!” warned Stargaze. “We’ll know, we’re gonna stay at your place to make sure.” I felt heavily pressed to point out the flaws in that logic, but decided to tease him instead.

“Alright, just make sure you and Ambrose don’t have any fun in my room ,got it?” It worked beautifully, his dark face turned a deep shade of red.

“Don’t worry, we will try stay off your bed.” retorted Ambrosia with a suggestive smirk. I gawked at her, and Stargaze turned even redder.

“You know what? I think I’m going to go in the forest... and leave you two to eachother.” I should have hugged them, told them I much I appreciate them for everything they’ve done. I should never have gone into that forest at all, and just accepted a punch at my pride. Pride wasn’t worth what was about to happen. I waved at them, and took my first steps into the black unknown.

To say the forest was quiet would be a lie, but the only description I can come up with is that it was silent. It wasn’t silent though; everywhere there was the rustling of trees, and the howling of wild winds. I could hear creatures moving around me, but they made no noise. I should have been happy that nothing was waiting for a midnight snack, but the lack of life disturbed me. Never before had the forest been silent, even a silence as odd as that. Perhaps it was the faint ringing only present when there is nothing else to hear, as I heard it beyond the life circling around me.

Whilst the path was void of most monsters, there was no lack of obstacles present. Overgrown tree roots, softened ground, and a blue plant known as Poison Joke. It was a peculiar plant, tainted with magic of its own. From what I knew, it only grew in the Everfree Forest, where it thrived in the equally tainted soil. Touching caused the individual to be overcome with symptoms that ended in a rather bad joke. I tiphoofed around patches of it, careful to avoid it; the last thing I wanted from this endeavour was to end up the punchline of a plant.

Eventually I found the castle. The few remaining towers lay in the middle of an open patch of land. The ghosts of rooms still existed, nothing but crumbled walls and remnants of decor. In the Main Hall there were a few potted plant sitting on a pedestal, with five more pedestals jutting out from it at odd angles. What a peculiar piece of art. I unfurled my sleeping bag in a corner, and pulled out a daisy sandwich to munch on.

I set the lamp down next to me, and laid back against the cold stone wall. I watched the moon as I pondered what to do to pass the time. I could see shadows moving outside, and the silhouettes of trees coupled with the growling of beasts became one living organism, hunting me. I scooted closer to my lamp. It’s just a forest, and I’m in the one place those creatures leave alone. Repeating that comforted me, until my mind came up with a query that sent a chill down my back: why did those creature avoid this place? Because...

Because...

Because this is the Royal Princesses original home. It is sacred. Yeah. Something like that...

What was that? Against the dark outline of the trees was a light. It was moving slowly, and seemed sentient. I groaned in aggravation. It was most likely Stargaze and Ambrosia, deciding to give me a good scare. Well, we’ll see who scares who. I quietly snuck out of the large room I was in, and tiphoofed around to a place where I could spy on them. They must have been standing behind it, because I couldn’t  quite make them out. Their lamp moved off into the distance, and I slowly followed them. Stargaze must have lost track of me, because they were moving away from the castle. Either that, or he didn’t expect me to actually take refuge in a creepy stone building. I followed the light some more, and they began to stray from the path. What were they thinking?! It was dangerous out here, especially at night. I now had a new motive to follow them: make sure they didn’t get themselves injured. I had to pick up my pace, as they began to move faster. Their light stopped in a very small clearing, and I caught up to them.

“Hey, what in Tartarus is wrong with you?” I called out to them. But... there was nopony there. It was just a ball of light, floating. Damn it. I turned around, prepared to trek back, when I realized I was lost.

In the dark.

In the Everfree Forest.

Of course, all of this ceased to matter. I didn’t even get a chance to take a step when the ground underneath me collapsed.

o.O>-~~-<O.o

I woke up to an extreme pain in my right side. I tried moving, but the pain turned into a sharp stab when I did. I sucked in my breath, and heaved myself back onto my feet. Holy Luna’s moon, that hurt! Almost immediately after I rolled onto my stomach however, the pain dimmed immensely. Careful examination revealed that I had landed on my wing, snapping a few auxiliaries and rendering it useless.

I took a gander at my new location. When the ground collapsed, I had landed in some sort of stone passageway, hidden underneath the Everfree Forest. A pile of dirt and matted wet grass lay beneath the hole, and rain poured down from above. How long had I been unconscious? I stared at the break in the earth, and groaned despairingly. With my wing broken, I couldn’t merely fly out of here. Damn it! What was I supposed to do? Nopony would hear me calling out to them, cause nopony went into the Everfree at night. And what would be the probability they brought rope with them?

No, I only had one choice: find a way out through the creepy underground passage. And it was creepy; the stone walls were slick with water, and vegetation grew out of cracks. Cobwebs en masse hung from the ceiling, and I got the feeling this place hadn’t been traversed in centuries. In fact, it was so old it may even be apart of the Royal Castle. That would be a relief, a huge relief. The only problem was I had no clue as to which direction to travel.

I chose one at complete random, and began walking. The whole structure shuddered, and I feared it would collapse again. And it did -- a few yards in front of me. The ceiling bulged, and poured dirt, grass, bushes and a few trees into the tightly pack area. Well, I guess that way was blocked off. And this place could come down at any minute, so I really needed to get out of here. I turned around and galloped the other direction.

I didn’t make it far before I became overcome with disorientation, my vision moving in-and-out of focus and something ringing in my ears. The suddenness of it made me fall to the ground. Every movement I made felt delayed, and I could not regain my balance. Ugh, what in Tartarus was going on? This must be some sort of aftershock from the fall. Maybe I had a concussion. Oh, praise Luna. My vision returned to normal, and I managed to pull myself up again. Okay, no going fast. Not right now.

The hall made a sharp left, and ended in an ancient wooden door. I opened it warily, and was instantly reminded me that I no longer was in possession of a lantern. It was dark behind the door, black as pitch. I looked into it, and froze. Anything could be in there. I wouldn’t be able to see it, it could just walk up and kill me, and I’d be none the wiser. I should turn back... wait under the hole just in case somepony wander up to investigate. It would be worth a shot, right?

The walls shuddered, and dust fell from the ceiling. Okay, right. Scary room is better than sudden death. I walked in very slowly, overcome with ernest trepidation. Rightfully so, as I would find out.

I found that my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, quicker than I would have imagined. It was a room, with four sides and a door on the adjacent wall to where I entered. Instead of leaving, I spent some time searching for something I could use for light. There was nothing; not a lamp, no candles anywhere, absolutely nothing to even light in this hole room. Whoever created this place wanted it kept dark. It was becoming harder to breathe, and I tried taking deep breaths to calm myself. Damn it, I needed to get out of here. I made for the other door, hoping some form of light existed beyond.

Then the door behind me slammed shut.

I scurried under a table in the room, every part of me shaking in fear. What in Tartarus was that? It was just the wind. It was just the wind. Yeah, but what if it wasn’t? NO! It was just the wind! Something could be out there. Waiting. Hunting you. NO! There’s nothing in here but me. Nopony but me. It was just the wind, a draft from the hole I made. Do really believe that? YES! It has to be right. It has to be the wind.Well, you’re wrong.

“No I’m not!” I yelled to the voice in my head. Great, now I was talking to myself.

“Yes, you are.” My blood turned into ice as the voice answered me. I became light headed, and felt ready to faint. Perhaps I should faint...

“I won’t let you.” Oh Celestia, it could hear my thoughts. The voice almost seem... familiar. Like I knew it from somewhere. It felt comforting... but also malignant, and destructive.

“Oh, don’t be like that, not if you want me to help you,” it chuckled darkly. I swallowed, and my mouth went dry as I tried to speak.

“H-help me?” It chuckled again. Its laugh made my skin crawl. “Can... can you get me out of here before this place collapses?”

“Collapses?” It seemed very confused by this word. It was nice to know I was seeking help from a disembodied voice that didn’t even know the definition of collapse.

“Before I came in here, a part of the hall--”

“Yes, yes, I know. Near miss there, wasn’t it?” Well, now that you mention it, I did get really lucky there. If I was only a few more feet closer, I might have received some major injuries. “Or was it?” Huh? “Did that cave-in really happen?”

“Uh... yeah, I saw it happen.”

“Are you sure?”

Damn it was being difficult. Of course it happened, I almost died in it. How could somepony say it didn’t happen? That was like trying to prove Celestia didn’t exist because you couldn’t see her raise her Sun. It just doesn’t work. The voice seemed to find my thoughts funny, and burst out in unprecedented laughter.

“Oh... the irony. You say you saw it happen?”

“Yes,” I spat at whoever was talking. It was really starting to piss me off, which was good, because my mind had been distracted from the abstract darkness around me. “You said you could help me. Can you?”

“Well, that depends. What do you want?” It replied slowly. I really, really need a light source, like a candle... or something.

“Light? There’s a lantern on the table you’re under.” Wait. No there wasn’t, I checked everywhere. I was desperate, and I wouldn’t have given up unless I was absolutely sure there was no lantern. To prove it wrong, I crawled out of my space and slid my hoof across the desk. See? There was noth-- my hoof hit something metal. It was a bronze lantern. But... how... that wasn’t possible. There was nothing here, I double checked.

“Are you sure?” It repeated. Yes, I was sure.

“Perhaps you just couldn’t see it?” What? Now it was just talking to hear itself speak.

Oh? So I didn’t... block you from seeing it?” Now I realized: the voice was just toying with me. It couldn’t help, there was nothing it could do. All it was doing was distracting me from escaping.

“So that collapse, I didn’t conjure it up to make you come to this room?” No, no you didn’t. This was--

“--A coincidence? So there is no chance that I’m--” Just in your head? No. NO! You... you don’t exist. Can’t exist. I can’t? You can’t. But I do. Not possible. But it’s all here, in your head. My breath quickened, and I began to panic again. No! Get out of my head, you don’t belong in there! I grabbed a tinderbox that somehow I missed earlier, and lit the lantern. Light, I needed light. Light was good. Breathe in, breathe out. Now to get out of this room. I ignored the sour taste of metal in my mouth, and pulled on the door with my good wing. It didn’t move. Damn it, the door was locked, and there was no key. I didn’t have any other choice but waiting by the hole. Damn it!

You sure? I can open that door for you. No you can’t, because you don’t exist. You are merely a spectre brought on by my fear and paranoia. There was no answer, and I sighed in relief. Now, to get back to the hole. But was it really safe out there? That entire hallway still held the potential to collapse. Then again, so did this whole place. Realizing how completely off my rocker I was, I began to trot back when something howled from behind the locked door. Oh Celestia, no. I backed away slowly, not losing eye contact with the wooden structure.

The door shattered open, and a humongous gust of wind emptied into the room, sending it into chaos. I waited for the dust to settle, and stared in disbelief at the broken door. There you go; one open door a la carte. You did that? You made the wind break down that door?Why yes, yes I did. Then how do I know that really happened? You claim you can make me see things, how do I know that door’s really open? Oh, my dear little pony, just because I made it doesn’t mean it’s not real. So... the door’s open? I didn’t know how to react to that. I should’ve just stayed by the hole, I realize that now. But then, I was consumed by the hope that I could escape.

I walked through into an very old library. After my entire body passed under the doorway, I heard it slam behind me, and jumped in fright. You said you opened it! You tricked me! Did I? I said I can open the door for you, but I never said anything about closing it behind you. So, playing dirty huh? What do you want, you said you could help me escape. Oh, I can. Then how!How about we make a deal? Hmm? What’s the catch? Oh, but you haven’t even heard my offer. I can get you out of here, but on one condition. Oh? And what’s that? Escape. You escape, and I’ll get you out of here. But... that doesn’t make any sense! That’s contradictory. Oh, what fun is there in making sense? I gave you my offer: escape, and I’ll get you out of here. Or, you can sit here and rot. Your choice. Okay, I’ll do it. How do I escape? Well now, that’s up to you. What does that mean? Give me a hint! But there was no answer.

I focused on the library I had entered. There was not an inch of wood or paper that did not contain dust, and most of it was also covered in cobwebs from spiders long dead. Several of the bookcases and been shaken from their foundations, and gave in to gravity, scattering old tomes across the tiled floor. I waved my lantern in front of the closest bookcase, searching through the names of books forgotten by time. “Heart of Darkness”, “Where Have You Gone, Where Have You Been?”, “The Poison Joke Bible”, “The Chimera”, “Into Beyond”, and much more. None of it useful. There were also crates scattered around. I opened one, and found it empty. Some part of me wonder if it really existed. Maybe it wasn’t there. Maybe the books were not there. No, they were there. They had to be, else none of this was reality. I need to believe this is reality to escape. And I need to escape to “get out”.

A mare screamed in torturous pain, and something began to pound on the door behind be, creating cracks in the woodwork. It felt like my heart stopped but I ran, cantering into the maze of bookshelves. The incessant pounding continued, and no sooner had I found a corner to tuck myself into then I heard the hinges give way and the door fall with a loud thud. A gust of wind blew past me, knocking books off the shelves and blowing out my lantern. I couldn’t see anything, and the darkness warped my vision. It was like I was staring at the world through a bowl of water; everything began to sway, and the darkness started to attack me, grabbing at me and clawing at my skin, its touch colder than ice and it reached into me, grabbing my lungs and it began squeeze, and with it’s grasp around my lungs it began to suck the breath from my mouth and it protruded through my every thought--

I heard the screech of metal on stone on the other side of the bookcase I was hiding behind. It wasn’t real. This was merely another fabrication of that demon. Nothing is out there, there is nothing hiding in the dark. This is not reality. But, it said that just because it made it doesn’t mean it’s not real. He was lying, trying to screw with my mind. The noise grew closer and closer to the section I was in. Am I really going to take that risk? There is a chance that the monster doesn’t exist... but what if it does? I need to get out of this library I need to-- to escape. Luna’s plot, that son of a bitch. I stood up with trepidation, careful so as to not alert it to my presence. I took the maze one step at a time, searching my trajectory for something that would make noise in order to avoid it. The freaking thing made a gurgling sound as I rounded a corner. Holy Tartarus that thing was closer than I thought! I risked picking up speed; the last thing I wanted was for it to catch up to me. I made it to the end of another section. Then it spoke to me.

“Come join us!” The monstrosity’s voice was guttural, and stuttered like it was painful for it to talk. The thing bumped against a shelf near me, and sent books toppling on top of me. I kept my mouth shut, and it seemed oblivious to the inconsistency of falling tomes.

A high-pitched whine filled my ears, and it disorientated me, and I stumbled into a bookshelf, sending it crashing to the ground. No, no, no! With my vision still swimming, I couldn’t make out enough to stand up! Damn it, that creature is going to find me! I kicked wildly as I tried to find leverage.

“Why do you run from us? Please, join us!” It gurgled again, and I became self conscious of the fact every part of me was exposed. My skin was crawling with bugs, and with forceful determination I pushed myself off the once-bookcase. Abandoning all pretense of subtlety, I just ran. I crashed into more shelves as I went, tossing books and knocking as many over as possible in an attempt to obstruct its path. An intense alarm rang in my ears, and I knew it saw me. Second after second flew by, and I counted them as one more second I was still alive. I tried desperately to shake it off my trail, but the creature of Tartarus was an expert hunter, and followed me relentlessly. I could hear its numerous legs thumping against the floor as it cantered after me.

Then, everything stopped. The noise, the creature pursuing me, everything. It all became silent. I stopped as well, and tried to to bring down my heart rate, which was beating faster than a rabbit’s at this point. Where in Celestia’s asshole did that freak of nature go? This wasn’t good. Unless... it wasn’t real after all. Perhaps the voice had mercy on me. I gave myself room to calm down. I needed to be level headed if I was to get out of here alive. I was overjoyed to find I had kept hold of my lantern the entire time, and set it down next to me.

But I had no more tinder boxes. Without a tinderbox, I was stuck in the dark again. No more light source. I could feel the dark closing in on me again, the hair prickling on my neck in a fruitless effort to warm me. No, no. Go away! Stay away from me! But the darkness cared not for me, and it clenched me in its clammy grip again. I froze in fear, or perhaps the darkness injected me with paralysis poison. It squeezed the air from my lungs, sucking out through my mouth, leaving me to suffocate.

Dust swirled in a horizontal twister towards me, spiraling through the shelves and carrying books in its wake. What it did leave behind, however, was the sexiest cylinder I had ever seen -- a tinderbox. I popped the top off, and lit the oiled wick in the lantern, warding off the darkness claiming me. Whew, that was a huge relief. I brought the lamp up to light the path in front of me.

And came face to face with a pony. To say it was a pony was akin to calling a cat a mouse. It was not actually a pony, but instead a long string of ponies and creatures alike, all of their bodies mutated into one long, thin creature. I could make out griffon claws, and lion paws, and somewhere there was a manticore’s tail. The source of the metallic screech was a large blade that replaced the missing limb of the frontmost equine. The equine also had both of its eyes carved out. I concluded that the monster was blind, but at that moment I was not a smart pony. If I was, I might have been able to sneak past it. What I did instead was scream as loud as possible. The pony’s head snapped to me, and smiled wistfully.

“Join us!” With no other choice at hoof, I swung the lit lantern at it, and the thing reared away from it. I then smashed the lantern on a standing bookshelf, lighting it on fire. I bucked the bookshelf hard, slamming it onto the creature. It writhed underneath the flames, sending more bookshelves on top of it. The fire jumped from bookshelf to bookshelf, hungrily eating everything in the vicinity. It dawned on me that I was also in the vicinity, and made a break for it. One of the creature’s limbs hit me, and the claw from a griffon’s hand slashed a huge gash into my back left leg. I roared in pain, but kept on running.

At the end of this library I could make out a ornate metal gate. I limped over as fast as I could (which wasn’t very fast), but there was no way to open it. Without a mechanism to open it, I was stuck in here. I could either burn to death, or whatever that thing would do to me. There has to be something to open it! I cantered around the outer edges, staying away from where the fire was spreading.

There were no alcoves, no secret hidden places where a lever was concealed. Nothing! Damn it! There has to be! Hey, voice! I can’t escape, there’s no way to open the door! Help me! It didn’t answer. Fat lot of help you are! I made a deal with you! I yanked books off the surrounding shelves in anger. Celestia’s Sun, answer me! The fire grew even closer, and pretty soon it was going to close off all escape. I screamed in anger, ripping the books off shelves with force I didn’t even know I possessed. I wasn’t sure why I was taking it out on the books, but-- one of the books didn’t comply with being thrown. Instead, it only moved a few inches, and stopped. It was attached to a string, praise Celestia and Luna! I heard a clicking sound as a timer counted down the seconds until the gate closed again. Ah shit. I made for the gate, but I couldn’t run fast with my bloodied leg.

Click click click click click click

The bend was in sight, I was almost there. Hot damn, I need to move faster!

Click click click click click click

I rounded the bend, and there it was. The gate was open, but by now it had closed halfway, and gaining.

Click click click click

A few more yards! Come on!

Click click click click

Just a few more feet, I can make it! I have to make it!

Click click click click

Fuck, I have to make this! I ignored all the pain in my wing and leg,and every part of my brain screaming not to do this. I charged at the shrinking hole, and dived through it. I howled in pain as I landed on my wing.

Click click thud.

I lay there, shuddering at the pain pulsing through me. I did it. I made it. I escaped. You hear me, you son of a bitch! I escaped! Did you? What? Yes, yes I did! I escaped from that, whatever-in-Tartarus-it-was! I did it! Now get me out of here. Are you sure you escaped from it? Yes, and that thing was real! You see what I went through, you sick-minded freak? I nearly died getting that gate open! What gate? That gate you--

I turned and pointed at the gate that just closed behind me, but it was no longer there. In its place was another door made of rotted wood. Then, even that glowed a faint blue, and vanished. The voice laughed at me.Oh, when will you learn? Your mind belongs to me, you see what I want you to see. I slumped to the floor in defeat. I had gone through all that for nothing. It wasn’t real. Wasn’t it? No, it wasn’t. And you know that. Oh, but just because I made it, doesn’t mean it isn’t real. Whatever. I made a deal with you. I escaped, and you promised to get me out. That I did. I knew where this was going. What else do you want? I didn’t mean escape the creature. What? Then... what did you mean?I meant escape me. B... but how? How do I escape you? I don’t even know what you are! I suppose it would be fair for me to give you a hint. But, how desperate are you to leave? Will you be willing to do anything? Yes! Just get me out of here!In a few years I will return, and I will have something to ask of you. If I show you the way out, you must swear to me that you will do anything I ask of you. I would like to say I put some thought to request, but I answered almost immediately. Yes! Now get me out! Good. You see that orb?

The room I had trapped myself in was small and cozy, the only source of light was a yellow and red orb resting in a pedestal in the center. It was... I couldn’t describe it. It was beautiful, it was horrid. Staring at it filled me with overwhelming emotions: deception, anger at everything, a selfish want for the sphere, malicious intent, betrayal, and the want to betray. Smash it! the voice demanded in ernst, and without question I brought a hoof on it, and with a blast of light it shattered.

o.O>-~~-<O.o

When the flash of light disappeared, I was standing in the Everfree again, in front of a large tree that had been converted into a home. Alien masks lay at the entrance, and there was a light inside signifying somepony was home. I staggered forward, but tripped over my feet and cried in pain when I landed. I didn’t have the strength to pull myself up, so I lay there, hoping the pony inside had heard me. There was a creak as the door opened, but it wasn’t a pony. A black and white creature walked out, and I recognized it as the zebra that visits town on occasion. We stood there, staring at eachother and I mouther, “help”. She nodded and cantered over to me. She prodded me a couple of times, which annoyed me, then spoke.

“Oh dear one, what have you been through? Who could have done this to you?” She sighed and continued, “Stay here and I shall be back, with somepony who can do what I lack.” Yes, thank you. Leave me here, I’m fine. It’s not like I’m injured or anything. Still, she galloped away. I had lost track of time entirely, so I had no idea how long she was gone. But she returned with the one pony I didn’t expect.

Princess Luna flew over to me the moment she saw me. She looked me over in horror.

“What has happened here?” she demanded of the zebra. The zebra shook her head solemnly.

“Of that I have no clue, I am as baffled as you.” I tried so hard to speak, to tell them what happened, but I couldn’t. I was too exhausted. Luna walked out of my sight, and I wondered what she was doing. Then, I was airborne, being lifted onto her back. I felt her wings spread out as she prepared for flight, but all three of us were distracted by the voice’s discordant laughter. The zebra grew visibly afraid, but Luna was overcome with anger.

“DISCORD!” she screamed in her royal Canterlot voice. I regretted not being able to cover my ears.

“Why yes, dear little Luna?” he returned playfully, undeterred by her.

“THIS FOAL’S WELFARE IS BY YOUR DOING, IS IT NOT?” So I’m a foal, am I?

“hmm... I might have had something to do with it...” he chuckled knowingly.

“MY SISTER WILL HEAR ABOUT THIS, AND SHE WILL NOT BE PLEASED!” He dismissed the threat with another bout of laughter.

“Oh, that’s... too funny. While you’re at it, tell Tia how much I miss her, will you?”

“ENOUGH! EXPLAIN YOURSELF! WHY WOULD THOU DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS UNTO A CHILD? WHAT HAVE YOU DONE! ANSWER ME!” Undying hatred festered in her eyes as she spoke.

“Ugh, Luna, darling, you’re as grim as your sister. Do you two realize how lonely it is being imprisoned in stone? Luckily for me, my beautiful mind isn’t. Instead, it’s imprisoned in the Everfree Forest! Oh believe me, I have fun here, but you see, I can’t turn ponies into stone, can I? But I can torture them.”

“DOES THOU SAY THAT YOU--” Luna began, horrified and extremely pissed at the disembodied spirit. She was however, interrupted.

“The orb is broken, Luna.” I could imagined the creature the voice belonged to narrowing his eyes in malicious glee.

For a split second, the anger on her face gave way to terror, but was gone in an instant. It made me wonder if I actually saw anything at all. I began to wonder, was any of this real? I mean, the odds that the Princess of the Night would come herself to care for little old me, somepony she had never even heard of? What were the chances of that happening?

“I would love to stay and chat, you’re such a wonderful listener, but if you don’t mind, I have some chaos to reek.” There was the sound of rushing wind, and Luna relaxed.

“Is he gone, has that monster left? The one whose sanity is bereft?” Luna nodded at her.

Yes, he has. Now, I need to get this poor foal back to the castle, and I request that you come too. Preferably before his sanity goes bereft as well. Come closer, it will be easier if I teleport the three of us.” There was a flash of light, and we disappeared from the haunted forest.

o.O>-~~-<O.o

I woke up in a five-star bed, wrapped in bandages and with my leg and wing propped up. After straining myself more than I should have, I pushed myself toward the door. That thing was still screwing with me, and I needed to get out of here. I made it to the door, and prepared to open it when voices stopped me.

“Should we alert the Elements?” said Luna’s voice.

“No.” Celestia and Luna were outside my door, talking. Celestia and Luna! Both of the princesses!

“But, they may be able--”

“I said no, there is nothing they can do.”

“The orb is broken! Perhaps they can--

“They can’t. The Elements have already done what they are capable of. Leave them to their happy lives, as we both know things are about to change around here.”

“I still believe they should know about what is coming. They can prepare.”

“And they will, when it is time. We all have our parts to play in what’s coming up, and ours is to keep silent and let events unfold.”

“Yes sister.”

“Now, I do believe you have a pony to look after?”

“Yes sister.” I heard two pairs of hoofsteps, one leading away, and there other-- oh crap! I scrambled to try to get back in the bed, but made it as far as the edge before Luna opened the door. It was the first time I was able to take in her dark beauty; the grace of her flowing mane, speckled with the stars of the night sky, and the fairness of her dark blue coat, gleaming in nonexistent light. But something was wrong, she was dejected. She straightened up, and put on a smile when she saw me, but I had noticed.

“Well now, dear one. How are you feeling?”

“Broken.” I answered, my voice hoarse.

“Right now, the zebra alchemist and I are designing a potion that will erase your memory tonight. But I will not administer it with your approval. Do you give me permission to wipe your memory of this horrid night?” A potion that will take away the events of tonight? It almost seemed too good to be true.

“Just tonight?” She smiled warmly at me, as though it would help relieve my tension.

“Just the last few hours.” I was so tired. Everything... I wanted it all to go away. That would be... but I didn’t want to lose everything. Not my friends. But she said only the last few hours. She also said they were designing it. So now it came down to one question: did I trust the Princess?

I nodded slowly, so as not to give myself a headache. Wait, Ambrosia and Stargaze. They will wonder what happened to me. If they awoke the memories I’m about to lock away... no. I need to tell them. Tell them everything. I crawled over to the desk in the room, and drew out several sheets of paper and a quill. Where should I start? I could start from the collapse... but this began before that. This began with a bet. This began because I couldn’t drink a mug of cider.

I looked at my mug of cider...

o.O>-~~-<O.o

Now, Ambrosia, Stargaze, I beg of you to listen to me. I have written this down for you both, in the hopes that you may understand my plight. What I went through... nopony should ever have to go through that. Please, whatever happens, DO NOT LET ME REMEMBER. Right now Princess Luna is preparing the amnesia potion, alongside that zebra from the forest. I don’t remember her name-- it isn’t important. I am going to willingly take this potion, because I do not want to remember anything about this night. Luna assures me that it will only erase the last few hours, but even now my mind is plagued with doubts. If it does come to pass that I do not remember you... forgive me, I’m finding it hard to write. I love you both, and I wish the best of luck in your relationship. And please, don’t ever forget me. Ever. Even when you’re old, with foals and grandfoals, remember me. If I do gravitate back to you both, then great. Perhaps Luna is right, and this potion will only erase the past several hours. I suppose I will never know. Just... remember that I love you.

Your dear friend,

Willow Wing

[A/N: This was made for EQD's Nightmare Night contest. Those who wrote for it know about the 10,000 word limit. Yeah... wasn't too happy about that. I’m not exactly pleased with how this turned out. I had to cut a lot of the plot out because of the word limit, and other parts were rushed to get this in on time. I was trying to make this a horror story, but I think I cut too much out to make it much of anything... anyway, I'll be glad to hear all of your criticisms, I thoroughly enjoy reading those. No, seriously, I learn a lot from reading what you have to say! As for my excuse for Discord being OOC, well, I wrote 57% of this at night while I was sick with the flu.

Well, see you in the beautiful light of day! Or not...