Kure

Chapters

1: Cleo's
2: What a Birthday
3: The Clock Strikes at Midnight
4: Midnight Nightmare

1: Cleo's

Hell sneezed, making what mane she had fly around because of the wind.

"Ay! Ay Ooves, wanna come to Cleo's before oo git ah'n ol' cold?" asked a filly. She tilted her head in questioning and smiled showing the only couple teeth she possessed. Hell knew that unpunctuated voice anywhere. She looked over to Dizzy Doom. The filly was green and yellow. She was yellow and green, a green dapple - her undercoat a light green and dark green multiple ringlets covered that. Her mane twisted and flew as if it were Celestia's, with a mind of it own in the wind. It was longer than all the other fillies and most of the mares in Ponyville, its dark yellow at the base and pale yellow at the ends.

Hell sneezed again. "Cum'n, Cleo's be closa den Earf Ail n'd warma," the little pony grinned. Hell didn't know what to do, she was supposed to go home but that was a long way away and she was freezing, she had only just stopped and began muttering to herself when she heard the little filly. She looked opposite Dizzy and than back at her and said, "Ah guess Ah'll cum, Ah'm so cold.…" She started trotting towards Dizzy than yawned tiredly.

Just before she reached Dizzy, the little filly turned and started trotting off, leading the way through the few small streets and around a couple corners. Hell slowed her pace and shortened her strides so that she wouldn't overtake Dizzy, who was almost in a canter while trying to stay about a head infront. That made Hell feel somewhat awkward considering the facts that Dizzy isn't a slow filly, she is among the fastest and her strides were longer than most of the other fillies and colts.

They came to a sudden stop at a plain wooden plateau. Three small steps sat infront of them, making the trip up to the higher leveled plateau easier to reach. 4 posts lined the plateau's rainy edge, holding the roof framework in place. The door on the other side of the stairs' posts and plateau was split in half, from left to right forming a stall door. There was no door handle though so Hell thought it was one used similarly in the bars, or for pubs where it is on a spring hinge, so that it swings back into place once someone walks through.

Without thinking any further Hell walked onto the plateau, shook herself as dry as possible and knocked. There was no response for a couple of minutes. In that time Dizzy had sludged her way up the stairs and next to Hell where she shook herself off, flicking mud all over the devilish pony and the plateau.

"Ah didn't think ya were that muddy" she said looking at Dizzy dopily and flicked the mud off of her face. Dizzy shrunk back a little and couldn't help herself grinning.

There was a series of metal and wooden clicks than the bottom door swung outwards to its right, almost hitting Dizzy in the muzzle. She shrank back just in time for the door to miss her. Hell couldn't help herself, she doubled over onto her back in laughter. "Teach… Yah ta… git… in the… way" she said in between breaths. There was a small giggle from the doorway so both Hell and Dizzy looked in.

Cleo stood right there. Hell just stood there and watched the little filly who may as well be Dizzy's twin. Their coats were the same but Cleo's mane and tail were shorter, straighter and red with 3 black stripes. The giggling stopped and Hell got back up to her feet.

"Can we come'n" Dizzy asked, first to break the silence that fell so quickly upon them. Cleo moved aside to the left, leaving a gap large enough for Dizzy to fit through.

"Sure DD" Cleo finally said breaking the eye contact between her and Hell. She turned her head to face the inside of the house and nodded as if lifting a hoof to welcome her was too hard. To Cleo, Hell was a creep and being such a high rank as she was, she didn't want to be seen with her. It might ruin her reputation and relationships. She thought of herself as a pure and righteous filly.

To Hell, Cleo was just plain stuck up but she admired the fact that even in the worst situations and meanest she was still calm and friendly, unless she was being threatened. Cleo looked more innocent than what she was and that was the opposite of Hell. As much as they weren't friends, DD was slowly but surely binding them together and soon they would be a trio of best friends, unable to live without each-other.

Dizzy walked past Cleo, through the door than turned around, "stop dawdling Heauw," than continued. Cleo didn't move from her spot, her eyes now on Hell once again.

Hell closed shook her head and rolled her eyes as if to say 'fine…!' and walked through the door slowly. Wow she thought, Dizzy really was her only friend but she sure did know how to get around with everypony and make friends, this place was huge. It may as well have had a couple pools in it, Dizzy was already stretched out at the far side of the room, infront of the fire-place.

There wasn't much furniture, a hoof shaped lamp in each corner, to the right wall a doorway with doors much like the door the Dizzy and Hell had entered. A midnight blue coloured couch in the far left corner, it could easily fit 7 ponies. In the left corner, almost right next to the fireplace was a long bench and behind that was the kitchen. 5 stools stood on the outside of the bench. A large chandelier hung right in the centre of the room and below it was a bed of vines and plants which produced lush, plump fruits and many sweet smelling fragrances. It was obviously their prize possession. In the far right hoof corner there was a spiral stair-way. The walls were lined with vines and plants. Behind the plants and vines you could see the paint, a completely white base colour with Multicolour circles to add colour and light.

Something brushed across Hell's hoof. She stepped back rapidly and looked down. It was a small, thin, fluffy black cat. It meowed showing its glossy white fangs and pink tongue. The floor beneath it wasn't wooden. Hell looked under her hooves, slightly rearing to see properly. It was all grass. She looked around and found a wooden path. That’s probably why the room was soo bare considering how large it is.

Cleo walked past her, her head held high as usual than she stopped to look back at Hell. "Pa doesn't like it when people are on his grass-" she looked down and tapped a hoof on the ground "-that’s why he built the path." she smiled slightly, ever so slightly and than turned and continued walking towards DD and the fireplace.

Hell half hopped and half cantered onto the path and made her way up to Dizzy. The fires provided a warmth that she wouldn't have had at home. She gasped inwards, home. Her guardian would be worried sick and frozen without her body warmth. Well there was nothing she could do with out going back into the storm now and that would probably result in her death.

She sighed outwards and stretched out beside Dizzy. She enjoyed the warmth.

Bang!

Lightning cracked. Hell jumped from her position infront of the fire. The light around the house went out.

After about 5 minutes they flicked back to life. Hell found herself walking for the door she entered with Dizzy. She opened it and walked out. Wind rushed through her mane again. She closed her eyes and tilted her head to the sky. The smell of rain filled her nose. She opened her eyes and lightning cracked again. The rain wasn't light. She was surprised she hadn't heard it earlier, from inside the house.

2: What a Birthday

Morning came sooner than Hell had expected. What she didn't expect was that she had fallen asleep infront of the fire. The flames were gone and so was the heat. All that was left now was the chill of the morning air, the dampness of the floor and the darkness of the unlit house. Sunshine rays filtered through the large glass sheets that were set up to be the roof.

She stretched. The grass felt soft and cool at the end of her hooves. She pointed and flexed her hooves in a massaging movement to enjoy the grass. It was too good for her not to decide to roll in it. She dragged herself onto the grass and rolled in it. It relieved her of those morning itches and was soothing and cool at the same time.

"Hell?!"

A voice pierced through her thoughts and made her jump to her hooves. She looked around and saw Dizzy standing on the stair way. She stared blankly at the filly till she continued with what she had started.

"I thought you wewe up in youw bed, so I stawted talking to you and what do I find, you'we not there," Dizzy proclaimed with a raised eyebrow. There was a pause. "How did you get down here?" she finally asked slowly, breaking the silence. She's always been the pony to break the silence.

"I slept down here" Hell said with a look of confusion.

"No. you didn't Hell, you came upstaiws with me and we shawed the guest woom" Dizzy stated with a note of concern and pride. Hell had no idea where the pride came from until Dizzy asked "were you making me a birthday present-" she hopped down the stairs "-were yah, were ya, were ya?"

Oh crap Hell thought, that’s right, she's twenty today… "Umm, yeah, I was now shoe" she said as a cover up of everything. That would be the reason as to why she was all of a sudden more formal and punctuated with her words, she still has problems with her r's though. She nudged Dizzy's shoulder, pushing her away and around. Dizzy argued and retaliated for a minute than gave in. it definitely wouldn't benefit her if she got her way in this, that she knew.

Hell walked back to the fire and sat down. She stared at the black coals. How could she have been upstairs when she was here the whole time, wasn't she? And what upstairs? She turned slightly and looked up. WHAT?! Wasn't there sun a second ago? Rain was pounding on the glass, it looked like it was going to break under the pressure of those trillion large droplets hitting all at the same time. The clouds were darker than ever, would the rain ever stop? By the looks of things the other weather control pegasi ponies probably couldn't evan get anywhere near the clouds without being pounded back down to the ground. She would be one of them one day. She would one day be one of the top flyers like Rainbow.

She shook her head and went back to Dizzy. What is she going to make her for her birthday considering she can't go outside without getting beated and batted by the rain. She stared into the dead fire once again. 5 minutes went past, than 10. her staring became more intense and she grew deeper in thought.

Cshi!

A small spark bursted into flames just above the coals causing Hell to loose concentration and leapt backwards. The floating flame splashed into the coal. It found nothing to consume so it died out soon after.

She jerked her head from side to side and looked around. Nopony stood in the room apart from her. She shook off her unease and lied down. She tucked her legs under her body and once again went to focusing on Dizzy. She had no idea what to do so she plucked a few flowers and leaves as she thought. That’s it! She dropped the leaves and flowers. She plucked the petals from the flowers and rearranged them and the leaves into the words 'happy 20'th Diz'. Finally inspired, she cantered through the door to the right of the entrance door to the house. Something told her that was the study, they shouldn't mind if she used a paper and a pen/pencil.

The doors swung open at her touch and swung themselves closed again after she entered. She attempted to stop and tripped over her fore-hooves, causing her to face-plant.

She landed with a heavy umph.

After she got her breath back she started to laugh, why, that hasn't happened to her since she was about a month old. She got back to her hooves still laughing and searched the area briefly. She didn't really have to look far or for long, they were both on the desk and many of them.

She grabbed a black pen and a piece of A3 paper and set them down on the ground. She sat down in front of them, positioning herself comfortably encase she would be there for a while.

Almost half an hour went past and she had a perfect portrait of Dizzy Doom form the shoulders and wither up. The lighting, and the shading was perfect. The shape was right and all of her characteristics were perfect and was plainly Dizzy.

"Perfect" she said to herself as she held up the portrait to inspect it. It was truly a work of art and even she admired it.

She cantered back out to the fireplace where she left the word "happy 20'th Diz" written in petals and leaves. She scooped them up, they were in the wrong place. With her wings she brushed them over to the small couches and rearranged them into the letters and words she had made before, right infront of the chair. Carefully, not to step on any letters or accidentally blow them out of place she stepped over the words and place the portrait on the chair. She fixed it so it faced outwards than backed away, also as carefully.

"I wonder what she'll think, its really not that grand,-" she paused in thought "-I wish I could've done something else, or at least get something else for her…" She sighed.

Hoof-steps interrupted her string of continuous thoughts and concern. She swung around to look at where they came from. The study? How? There was nopony in there. "Er… hi?" she thought was the best way to start the unwanted conversation, unsure. She really didn't want to talk to who ever this was. "Um… can I help you?" she asked, still unsure. The figure, a black stallion with a white mane and tale, didn't respond. So Hell slowly went back to what she was doing whilst trying to ignore the figure.

Oh, right she thought, that's where I was. She turned to the stairway and started off in a canter. "Dizzy?" she called. No response. "Diz?" she repeated and came to a dead stop at the base of the stairs. Still no response. She began to shiver and sweat broke out on her brow. This isn't happening she told herself and soon enough came another voice into her head saying: oh but it is…

Hell jumped backwards as the voice faded. She looked around for the figure, it too was fading now. Hell's eyes widened in shock and fear. The light around her dimmed.

She gulped than shook her head and took a deep breath to reassure herself that it was all a dream. She told herself she was imagining things and Dizzy was fine. She looked up the stares and began to climb them. 1 step, 2 steps, 3 steps she counted to herself to take her mind away from what had just happened and laughed to herself.

There was a licking sound when she reached the top of the stairs and then a harsh hiss. Hell's head snapped around to the sound and gasped. Her mouth fell to the ground in horror. That couldn't have been Dizzy, could it?

"Wake up alweady!" a voice said giving her a violent shove. Hell opened her eyes. Whoever was standing infront of her was fairly blurry. She blinked a number of times and waited for her vision to fix itself on the figure. DIZZY?!

She jumped upright and scampered backwards. "Dizzy?... But… but…" her mouth was hanging loose again.

Dizzy looked at her in confusion "calm down, you look like you've just seen a ghost, oh, by the way, happy biwthday" said the mare, grinning broadly.

"Wha-?... You'r not far off the mark… aren’t you dead?" Hell asked now backed up against the wall, still trying to get further.

"What?! Do I look dead? Awe you okay?" Dizzy's green eyes were studying Hell closely, flicking over every muscle and expression she tensed or changed.

"Bu-… I saw you… upstairs… and the cat… you were dead…"

"No Hell, I am wight hewe and I am fine, don't wowy, the lightning pwobably twiggewed the change in dweam" Dizzy flicked her gaze to the portrait and back to Hell. "You should sit down with me beside the fiwe, Cleo offewed to make us some hot chocolate, said she'd be down in a sec."

Hell took a deep breath. "just a dream" she muttered to herself and waked over to the fire.

"I liked the present you made" Dizzy said staring into the fire and smiling.

"Huh, oh yeah, that, I'm glad you like it" Hell said in an attempt to calm herself. She sat beside Dizzy enjoying the warmth of the licking flames once again. Her mind was still racing and she still jumped from the slightest movement. Again and again she told herself that she was just dreaming. Deep down she knew it was true but something told her it wasn't, or at least it won't be.

Hoofsteps striking metal sounded from behind. Hell sung around still unnerved but she really didn't have to because she knew it was only Cleo.

"hey guys, sorry, I am a little bit late" she looked up and her hoofsteps stopped suddenly. She stared in their direction, at Hell. "Are you alright?" she finally managed to get out after a long threatening silence. Hell nodded slowly and went back to sitting down. Cleo just watched than shook her head and continued making her way to the kitchen in a trot, following the path.

Ting, tang, tong, cling, clink.

Heaps of metal and glass sounds came from the kitchen but Hell forced herself not to look in the direction. She knew there was nothing that would endanger her and her friends.

After about a minute of clinks and tings Cleo came out to Hell and Dizzy with 3 cups of steaming hot chocolate. Cleo didn't have wings to support them or a horn to use magic, she was a n earth pony, so she just put them on a tray and carried them over to the other 2, along with hers.

They thanked Cleo and sat there in silence, enjoying the warmth of both the fire and the chocolate. This silence wasn't deadly, it was soothing because there was a natural cause behind it; enjoyment. As gloomy and rainy as it was this was probably the best day of Hell's life.

"Oh, umm-" Cleo broke the silence "-I almost forgot,-" she licked her lips, getting the chocolate off "-happy birthday!" she said setting down the chocolate and jumping out of her seat onto Hell. Yes, Hell and Dizzy have the same birthday.

Hell sat there, eyes wide. She didn't know weather to hug her back or shove her off. Blindly she hugged Cleo back.

The rest of the day was spent inside by the fire. Cleo told the girls that her parents were out and were supposed to come back but the rain broke before they could come back. So they stayed at the friends that they had visited. That was why she was lonely when Dizzy and Hell came to her door.

Nothing much happened apart from short stories of their past which Hell couldn't really invite herself into. She didn't know anything from her past, all she knew was that she was a freak. She sat there and listened to their stories and thought about how lucky she was to have these two as her friends. Than the thought had occurred that they were all mares now so when there was a pause she said "Mares we are now, have a happy marehood" with a grin. She put her hoof up and they all did the same.

The next couple days past just as quickly and got boring, with nothing to do, Hell found out that she couldn't see the upstairs room because magic made it invisible and compressed unless you were in it. That is also why the rain hit the lower ceiling.

3: The Clock Strikes at Midnight

Day 4 in Cleo's house. The rain was only just starting to die out and the weather control team had managed to get as high as the lower range of clouds. The fire had died out because the wood had run out and now the house was chilly and damp. Everything about the past couple days gave her something to think about, not much but something. She really had no idea what was going on, all of a sudden she is having nightmares, sleep walking, apparently, and can't help thinking about the boys in her old, recently graduated class.

Hell stared down at her flank. She got her cutie mark only just after Dizzy, if not at the same time. Her cutie mark was a black X, except it had two lines that came down from the left. They weren’t straight lines, more like claws, the two that came down from the left and at the end was wobbly marks, like dripping blood. The one that went straight down from the right was straight. There really wasn't anything fancy to it. There wasn't with Dizzy's either. Hers was pretty plain, it looked like a green diamond which is known as a doom seed which was interesting, to Hell anyway.

She reached over and felt her cutie mark with her right foreleg. There weren't any bumps where it was but that didn't matter, she still knew where it was by heart. She remembered the day that she got her cutie mark which also reminded her of the dream she had last night. It had consisted on the memories of her childhood, all she had to remember anyway. She told Cleo and Dizzy she would be upstairs as soon as she got the dream out of her mind. Well that didn't exactly work, she's thinking about it again.

Tuesday Morning and Hell didn't want to go to school, she was supposed to be helping AJ with Applebuck Season anyway. She insisted but AJ just said no and that was that. She couldn't help AJ. Earlier AJ said that she was too young, had to be at least a yearling. Hell just snorted at the idea and shook her head. Now she was trotting her way to school, grunting all the way. It was sport day and it was ridiculous that she had to trot all that way from home into town and to school, especially in the summer heat that’s coming up quickly. Even for one as 'young as her'.

Almost an hour had gone past and she finally reached the bridge leading into Ponyville. It wasn't what it used to be, according to AJ. Apparently the town thrived once, before Hell came.… Well it thrived now too Hell thought bitterly. She still wasn't happy that AJ wouldn't let her help with Applebuck Season. She let Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and even Rarity help but not her.

"Its only a stupid Wednesday" she said to herself, "it's not like I haven't missed almost every other day of the week every other week." She huffed and moved her shoulder blade, shifting her saddle bags. After the short lesson she has to attend she has to go to Rainbow's for flight lesson and Rarity's for beauty tips and to be the model for her new designs. She had to learn to get a better taste or something like that but she didn't see why, like, the mare was almost crazy when it came to fashion. Literally, she was nice and all but gosh could she go on and pick out the smallest of stains, or even a single hair out of place.

Hell shivered. She hated having soo many jells and clothes thrown onto her all at the same time. At least Rainbow was more considerate. No offence she thought towards Rarity, she meant it in the nicest of ways. Besides, what was wrong with her taste and her behaviours and stuff anyway. Its not like Applejack's never eaten a bug or buried herself in the cemetery. She's done that before, surely, hasn't she?

When AJ looks at Hell in disgust because of what she does when she is mucking around, it hurts. She feels the slightest tug of rejection, every time. Sure she would learn someday, maybe, but why, half the stuff she did didn't seem gross to her. And what's wrong with her choice of clothing again? Too dark or something? She could wear bright colours but black makes her look different, not like she looks different anyway. She stands out that is something Hell doesn't take notice of anymore, well soon won't anyway.

Hell learned not to care about anypony's negative or 'scary' thoughts about or for her apart from Dizzy's through the months and year. Especially after Applejack left. She said it was work but Hell really didn't know what to think.

She reached the school and walked into the building, nopony was there. "What the? I am only a couple minutes late, they are supposed to be here still." What's going on, was she telling the time wrong from the sun? she looked down on her right foreleg, her black bracelet shone, oddly. Her dress was turned into shorts and a short shirt that attaches as a one-piece of clothing over her back. Rarity's idea. She said she looked terrible with the dress that laced all the way up her right hind leg. It was a short dress. Shorter than the ones Rarity usually made.

Hell shrugged, maybe we get today off. She turned and made her way to Rainbow's. rainbow lived in the clouds which is common sense. She's the leader of the Weather control team so she would have to call out to Rainbow for a bit of a boost to get up there first. When her home cloud came into view she saw a black pegasus thing land abruptly and shoot off in the opposite direction of Hell, pushing back on their wings for a boost in speed. The wings were not quite pegasi wings. They looked more angular and bent more. They looked like they had extra joints.

Hell reached the cloud and shouted as loud as she could "RAINBOW?!" she didn't look up, but there was no response. "where is everypony?" she asked herself than called out to Rainbow again. Still no response. That's it! She was going up there no matter if she fell half way up. If this was a trick to get her up there well it worked but now Hell is angry. She was good at gliding but not lift off, take off, what ever you call it and gaining altitude.

Hell crouched as she remembered how Rainbow took off. Maybe not a good idea, she told herself, last time she did that it didn't end well. Luckily it was on a cliffs edge and it was a big one either wise she would have gone splat, and luckily Rainbow was there to help her.

She trotted away from the house a fair way than turned. She half galloped and half cantered back towards the house whilst flapping her wings, trying hard not to let them hit the ground. She got the feeling of the momentum than put them up, ready to make the first few beats for lift off. In the middle of a stride she brought her legs forward and crouched when they came into contact with the ground. Almost as instantly she bounded off the ground like she had springs and pushed on her wings to get down so she could have even a couple metres of height between her and the ground. It worked, now to keep herself up.

Her wings were shaky and faltered every few minutes and she made her way to Rainbow's house slowly. She beated the air with her wings constantly. Barely stopping to glide and rest. It made sense though. She had the smallest wings out of all the ponies in Ponyville if not all of Equestria.

Hell shook her wings at the thought of herself back than.

She landed heavily on Rainbow's doorstep. Her forelegs almost gave way under the impact. She could have sworn the house was lower, oh well, it was a cloud after all. She shook her fringe and short mane. She may as well have been related to Zecora, so she was told. Apparently her mane was a matt of fur, just like hers. It didn't matter, Hell liked it.

Hell, crinkled her nose, poked her tongue out and opened her mouth in distaste. There was a terrible smell that came from the house. That wasn't right. It usually smelled like flowers, surprisingly. Hell always expected it to smell odourless. Like clouds. Maybe a little bit of damp smell but nothing more. Now there really was and a damp smell but what damp smell.

Nopony came to the door so Hell slowly opened it. She didn't want to be 'breaking in' as some ponies would call it.

"Rainbow?" she asked slowly and looked around. Nothing moved in the house. "If you plan on jumping out on m-" she cut herself off with a gasp and her mouth dropped. "No, nononono, this isn't happening" she said, again, just like the previous couple nights.

"Its just a dream, I will wake up soon." She raised her right wing and brought it down over her face. One the count of three she told herself, one… two… three! She lifted her wing. Nothing changed. She dropped her mouth again. "Come-on!" she moved her wing infront and out of her vision several times, still nothing changed.

She lifted her left hind led subconsciously. It hit her left foreleg causing her to mouth to gag as she crashed into the hard floorboards. She bit her tongue. The taste of blood quickly rushed into her mouth.

Her muzzle came into contact with Rainbow's bloody snout. Tears flooded Hell's eyes. There wasn't really much left to Rainbow. Her mouth was wide open in horror. Its like she died screaming, but silently. There was a cut along her muzzle and chest that stretched to her ribs. Blood stained the floor under her body. Her right foreleg was obviously broken, the bone popped out. Her wings were featherless and in a slump against her back. Her flanks were shredded, strips of skin and fur stuck to her, still barely attached. The rainbow in her mane and tail was short, obviously torn out and was now black and red.

Hell couldn't bare the sight anymore, she backed out of the house. Something in her enjoyed it but most of her found it repulsively mean especially for the fact that whoever done it just murdered not only an innocent pony but also her teacher. A fire lit inside her, she wanted revenge but something cooled it. She knew it wouldn't end well.

Reluctantly Hell turned. She stretched her wings with a quick graceful flick-of-a-movement. She snorted and lowered her head in a challenge while she hooved (pawed) the ground. She leapt into the air and off the cloud. Her wings stretched to their full length and this time didn't falter. She landed on the ground with a light click of hooves and cantered her way to Rarity's.

As she made her way through the streets, she noticed that nopony way out which made things all the more scary. Was it her again or was it something worse. Pony's tended to keep their distance from her but never recoiled all the way back to their houses, and they definitely didn't hide in the shadows. Hell raised her chest. Cantering through the ghostly town by herself made her feel like 'the lone ranger'. A saviour.

She rounded a few more corners and saw Rarity's house. She sighed, relieved that this house still looked the same and smelt the same. About 5-hoofs away a head popped out from the side of the house. It was the strange figure again. The fire built up in her again. "HEY!" she shouted. Well she couldn't exactly tip-toe over too the weird lookin' pony, no, weird was an understatement, PHYCO and say BOO! The head turned in her direction, noticed her and before she could make out his/her face, they disappeared. "That’s just not on!" She tossed her head as if saying no and pushed herself forward with her wings just as she had seen the pony do at Rainbow's. It really did work. She was already in a gallop after him/her but the second she pushed on her wings the movement gave too much speed almost causing her to loose her footing and almost trip and face-plant. That’s been common during the last couple days for her, face-planting and going flank-over, but she couldn't do that now. No way. Rarity and who knows who else depended on it.

All of a sudden, no more than a couple hooves infront of her came a purple tail and an orange flank. The crash was inevitable. There was literally no way to avoid it. She was already too close and too fast to go around or jump whoever it was. Dust flew everywhere and the other pony was gone, the one she had been chasing.

"There you are" said a voice behind Hell. She got up slowly, dusted herself off and than turned around.

"Scoot?! Wha-? How? Aarrgh!" There was a pause than Hell's eyes widened, "what do you mean there you are?"

"I have been looking for you all morning, an-" Scoot started but Hell cut her off.

"What do you mean, and why? I am supposed to come to yours after Rarity's…"

Scootaloo shrugged, "meh, you can catch up with her later, me and Iron Blade have been waiting for you" she started walking off and turned around. "Ya coming? Or not?"

Hell nodded and started following Scootatoo. Who was this Iron Blade? She had to figure out a way to get back to Rarity. They got up to Scootaloo's porch and Hell said "oh crap," just loud enough for Scoot to hear. The filly turned around, and twisted her head, as if asking what. Hell pretended to apologise deeply which she actually was, in a way, and said she forgot something at Rarity's and it is important to her. Something AJ gave to her and told her not to loose. She said she'd be right back and she bolted around the corner and out of sight. She phewed and continued to Rarity's house.

She wasn't actually friends with Scootaloo. Scoot was nice to her and all but she could tell making friends with Hell wasn't in her best interests. The name said it all apparently.

She rounded the last corner and there was Rarity's house, still untouched. Hell walked up to the veranda and carefully walked across it to the door. She knocked. The response she got was a moan. She knocked again. Another moan, this time louder. Hell took a couple steps back, maybe she should leave.

The door swung open and two eyes stared at her. It was slightly dark. Hell went to walk inside but stopped in mid-air when Rarity shouted "no! you mustn't come in!" she said with a note of fear and her eyes twitched. Hell put her foot back down and took a couple steps back.

"Aaarrrgh, RUN! You stupid filly!" she screamed and clutched her head. She tugged at her ears and screeched louder and louder with every second, than it stopped. Rarity was in a bundle on the ground.

"Rarity?" Hell questioned. There was a moan. Five seconds later her nostrils flared and her head shot up. She was on her feet quicker than Hell thought of the graceful-attempting mare. She came dangerously close so Hell backed up, almost falling down the stairs. Rarity's eyes were like Hell's now. Blunt and slit-like. The mare turned her head from side to side playfully considering something, she looked hungry. Her nostrils were large and she was inhaling Hell's scent. Hell jus continued to back up until Rarity pounced on her like a cat. What she hadn't noticed was the Fangs Rarity now had, they sliced Hell's neck.

They both tumbled to the ground and Rarity's fangs sunk deeper. Fear spread through her whole body. Rarity had her binned down and water was pooling on the ground.

Hell squirmed and Rarity flinched.

"You are mine! All mine!" Rarity sneered into Hell's face. Hell growled and pushed her legs under Rarity. With a powerful push she through Rarity off of her. She scampered to her feet and fled in the opposite direction of Rarity's cottage.

Rarity followed in hot pursuit of Hell to the edge of Ponyville. She didn't dare continue through the Everfree Forest. Even as evil as Rarity acted and Hell looked, they both still thought twice about the Forest. Hell hid there for several minutes till she was sure Rarity had retreated. Even with the security of her thoughts she stayed on the fringe of the forest. At least until some twig snapped. That means there is something else in the forest with her. Twigs just don't snap by themselves.

Hell turned around and scanned her surroundings. Nothing. She scanned the area a second time. A few pairs of glowing red eyes stood out. But what form owned them?

Wood logs and branches moved and snapped and leaves rustled. The trees! The tree's were alive. Figures by the hundreds began to appear. All coarsely shaped and devilish. One in particular stepped forwards. Eyes glowing a dangerous and bloody red. Its bulk and size told Hell that he was the leader.

The creature sized her up than barked. The last thing Hell saw was the fangs from the leader clamp down over her head.

All the thoughts flicked through Hells mind time and time again till the clock began to strike. Hell felt oddly dizzy until the 6ths strike.

4: Midnight Nightmare

The clock stoke 12, midnight. It stuck 12 times. That was odd though, it hadn't ticked at all or anything before and than bang…! Its working again.

Hell didn't know what to do apart from possibly sleep. But she couldn't. she knew only too well that she couldn't. she raised herself. She looked around to find something to do to take up her time. She turned around in a half circle than headed for the door. She couldn't hear the rain anymore so she suspected it had most likely stopped.

Reaching the door she unlocked it and pushed through. Well the rain had almost stopped but that didn't make any difference to the wind and dark grey skies. Hell raised her head like she had done the previous night when the rain had calmed a little. The moon was again full.

Hell's nostrils flared. There was a faint smell of smoke. She couldn't understand how that was possible though, what with all this rain. She blew out the terrible smell and opened her mouth to breath through it instead. There was a small tingle in her hide and it got stronger and more painful with each second til finally she yelped and bolted for the rain.

She gritted her teeth and looked back at where she was standing. Nopony was there and the pain wasn't exactly subsiding. She looked down at her flank. Her cutie mark which was on her left flank was glowing a deadly and bloody red. Steam wavered up from it whenever a rain droplet touched it. Without loosening her clenched jaw, Hell looked around for a bucked. No doubt it would be full of water. She looked all around her, left and right, up and down, round and round. Nothing. Really, nothing. She turned around once again. Her flank hadn't ceased in pain but it sure was getting on her nerves.

She began to walk away from Cleo's. She decided that the rain was light enough to begin her journey home, to the Apple Farm, hopefully Granny Smith was all right. Since Applejack left on some business trip Granny Smith has been taking care of her. Well, Hell was taking care of her. It didn't really matter though, apart from the fact that she would probably be frozen half to death. Hell cringed at the thought. She looked up and paused for a second. Somepony stood infront of her, she could barely make out their shape but she knew they were there. Hooded slim and probably tall.

Hell shook her head. No. it was just her mind playing tricks on her again, she was seeing things. Nothing's there she told herself and kept walking. After a few steps she hung her head low and dawdled. No more than 5 seconds after she put her head down she saw two hooves within her distance of sight which was based on all the mist and grey clouds. She looked up. The figure infront of her wasn't too tall. He was obviously male, hooded and slim. He was watching her through white pupil slits.

Suddenly he began to back up quickly. Her flank stopped burning. Many thoughts went through Hells mind till she remembered his eyes were slit. Her eyes grew wide and she too backed up but slightly. She shuddered and straitened herself. What was he? Who was he? Why was he there? Why did her flank start burning? Was she dreaming?

"Wh-who are you?" they both said and Hell shuddered.

There was a pause and Hell didn't intend on breaking it. Apparently neither did this strange hooded figure. For all Hell knew he could be a vampony, hell, with eyes like that, there was no doubt, but then again… if that were so, what about Hell… what was she? A freak. A pregnancy gone wrong. That's all. She breathed in through her mouth once more and stiffened her jaw than walked towards the figure. He backed up a couple wobbly steps than stayed put. At least until she reached him. All Hell managed to make out under the hood was a pony with white slit pupil, a black fringe that sat jus under his eyebrow and was basically a left side-fringe. And last, the two jaw dropping black horns that were identical to Hell's.

"I thought I was the only one" she whispered to herself after he once again stumbled backwards but this time he turned and took off away from her. Hell caught a glimpse of his cutie mark. A mechanical black and red heart with a blade through the centre of it and a vine that wraps around both the heart and the blade. It was very detailed for something that is supposed to be simply designed and placed on the pony's rump. But than again, hers isn't too simple either.

She stood there for about half an hour contemplating with herself weather he was real or she was hallucinating. She eventually just dismissed the idea and hung her head once again and continued on her way to the Apple Farms. She passed many gloomy houses and the bridge and the landscape slowly changed. It want from many houses, open grassy areas, and towny to very leafy, hilly, tree galore and rural.

A few stray apple trees past her and she knew that she would soon walk through the gates and be home. The clouds slowly began to lighten up as she walked.

Hell stopped and looked up, infront of her was the Ranch. She stood there for a couple minutes daydreaming and thinking about what poor old Granny Smith would say and do. She really couldn't afford making the old gal' rage. It just wasn't right. It was plain mean and cruel. Hell cocked her head, she had an idea. She looked around, perfect. Flowers flowed all around her. She hadn't noticed them before but now she had. And she had an idea that involved them. She bent down on her fore knees and began picking them. There weren't many but there were pink, yellow, purple and blue small flowers. Some looked like mini snap dragons.

She tugged on one of the purple ones. It didn't budge. Hell looked at it weirdly than gave it another tug. Still nothing. She brought her legs out infront of her and heaved on the flower. It stretched out like a slinky than flung back into place and deeper, pulling Hell down with it. The ground shook and all the leaves flew about. All of a sudden gravity was gone. Either that or Hell was falling.

She turned her body and looked to the sky. She was definitely falling. Leaves were falling into the ground with her. She was falling fast because now the whole from which she came through and the sunshine was coming through was now minute. Within seconds that too was gone. Hell continued to fall. Hell fell for about half an hour than decided she was bored. She didn't know that the earth was that hollow and deep but all she knew was she was bored. The flicker of fear that she felt during the first 30 seconds of falling was gone.

Hell poses as she falls, taking on every momentum and action she can, she thought of Pinkie Pie while she was doing it. The funny little pink mare would have done the same no doubt. About half an hour of that passed than she reeaaly got bored. She looked down. What the heck? She was going to fall straight into some glowing light thingy. Unless she is hallucinating again, it wouldn't be the first.

Hell tried running back up on the air, no luck. Maybe she couldn't fly because the area around her was too confined, oh wait, duh! She gave up trying to up and started to attempt to make her way across so she would miss the flashing light thingy. She didn't really want to touch it. Still no luck. She was headed straight for it and nothing was stopping her pathway down.

Her hind hooves were the first to touch the light. A tingling feeling shot through her body as it was soon engulfed too. Light went black and she must have passed out.

"Yo, tahme, tah wake up" a voice said.

"I think she's dead" said another one.

"Yo fool, yo're crazy, can't yah see she's a breathin'?" said the first voice.

:Er yeah but…"

Hell opened her eyes and the second pony that was talking stopped.

"Your right" he said bluntly and walked away.

Man Hell though, he didn't look too young or so good for that fact. She squinted, blinked again and looked around. She felt sore. She gagged. Her tongue was dry and so was her mouth. "Wha-what happened?" she managed to ask, closing her eyes firmly again.

"Well, ah was just mindin' meh own business in mah paddack when yo done come down outa nowhere with ah loud fump" said the pony that remained. He had a really bad accent. "Thah names Horde by dah way." He turned around, lowered his head and began nibbling at the grass.

Hell tried to stand, she felt her legs wobbly underneath her but they didn't quit on her. She stretched her wings fluttered them lightly to take the weight off her legs a little. "What are you doing?" Hell asked slowly with a careful eye.

The pony lifted his head,. "wha-da-yo-fink? Ah'ma grazin'n" than he dropped his head and continued 'grazin', what ever that was.

"Where am I?"

"Man what the hell-"

"How do you know my name?" Hell cut him off and stiffened. The pony looked at her in confusion. "Hell" she said "how did you know it?"

"A-Ah didn't" said Horde. His coat was a plain brown, nothing attractive to it and it was more like a door mat. So scruffy and un-kept. His mane was odd too. His legs sure didn't look like Hell's or operate like them. They were thin, lifeless, stiff, knobby from the joints and weird looking.

"Anyway" Horde said slowly, eying her, "yo're not from ere ahr yo, this is Earf. 'N' yah might wanna get used to it."

Hell stammered and stumbled. What? She could be on 'Earth', she had to be in Equestria. It just wasn't possible. Hell began to shiver violently. Sweat tricked down from her brow. How was she going to get back?

She could ask another question about what they had seen before or what would happen to her but she couldn't bring herself to say the words, let alone speak at the moment. Maybe Dizzy was playing a trick on her but if so, why did these ponies look weird?

Hell looked around. There were heaps of ponies all around her but they were separated by a fence. There was no houses and all the ponies looked the same, brown-coated. Some of them looked like they varied in size dramatically and the rest were about the same height as Horde. She looked back at the scruffy pony and noticed something else. His tail wasn't as thick and beautiful as most of the ponies in Equestria and his muzzle was longer. Almost like a snout except it didn't get thinner on the way to his nostrils, and his head was flat. Hell reached up and felt the dip in hers. Everypony has a dip, its why our eyes ar so large and beautiful Hell thought to herself. She looked down at Horde's disgusting tail again.

She gasped. No cutie mark. What type of a pony doesn't have a cutie mark? And another thing. What is this bug that keeps flying around Hell's head and making a buzzzzzing noise. Hell looked around for the creature responsible. She didn't see anything except the a tiny insect that looked slightly like the ones that Rarity, AJ, Rainbow, Twilight and Fluttershy had found at the edge of the Everfee that made the town as well as Equestria have to start all over again with their cropping. Except this one didn't have as large eyes, they were tiny, and so was the creature.

Hell shook her fingey-mane and looked over at Horde again. He was swishing his tail from side to side. Obviously trying to bat the creatures away. Hell watched closely. She couldn't do that. Apparently there was no reason to in Ponyville. Nothing bugs them so much that they have to shoo it away.

It didn't matter. She was hungry. An apple tree stood about 12 hooves infront of her. She walked over to it. The shade was nice there but she was hungry so she didn't stop. She stood on her hind-legs and jumped. She just missed. Meh, she could jump better on all fours. She got down on all fours and sprang herself up like Pinkie Pie usually did. Nope, still just a bit short. She flexed her wings and raised them. She bounced again and this time she boosted herself up with her wings as well.

Apple for, umm- she looked at the sun, made out her bearings for the time and decided: -dinner. Dinner?! It was morning when she fell, wow, she must have slept for a while. Oh well. She crunched on the apple. It wasn't very tasty but it was probably better than the grass that who knows what pony had stepped on.

She went around the tree, picking all the apples from the lower section of the tree until she was full and the sun had truly gone down till morning. She looked at her fore-hooves and shook her body. There wasn't actually any bearings needed in Equestria but Hell was glad Rainbow had taught her that there were bearings that could be used against the sky.

She settled down on the ground, folded her legs under her and arched her neck. It wasn't really comfortable but it was better than sleeping standing like the other ponies were. She closed her eyes and slept.

The birds chirped weirdly in the morning. Their tunes weren't the same as Equestria's. They were the slightest bit more jumpy, un-tuned and there wasn't really any beat or rhythmic notes to the tweets or melodies.

Hell shook her head and opened her eyes. The sun was bright. Clearly she had slept in again. Luckily she had gone to sleep under the tree on the west side so she was in the shade. She stood slowly and stretched her legs. They were stiff from the position she had them in during the whole night. Nothing to worry about though, with a bit of running around they would be fine.

Hell stretched her wings and took bounced into the air. Before she could gain anymore than a couple of metres in altitude something grabbed her right hind hoof and pulled her back down. She landed with a loud thump and her eyes closed with the impact. She didn’t land flatly, she skidded across the ground instead which made a graze mark across her chest, right shoulder and the right side of her neck. Her hind legs were in a tangle, one underneath her body and the other didn't even make it 5 hooves closer to her body.

Her vision blurred to black briefly and an ache descended from her head all the way down to her hooves. No more than seconds later every thing was back to normal.

She tried to stand. Putting pressure on either of her hind legs hurt now and she just fell back down again. "What just happened?" she said softly. She blinked and placed her fore-hooves infront of her like a cat would when its bored except she didn’t put one hoof over the other. She kept them spaced out with her head in the centre. She raised and lowered her shoulders like a hunting lion except this was to get her wings ready for the quick movement that is supposed to result in her flying. She wasn't entirely ready to do it so she counted to three and was about to lunge herself upright when something sharp either bit or stabbed her right leg.

Hell jumped slightly. That hurt. She turned around with a frown on her face and looked at the culprit. "HORDE?!" her face changed from anger to what the hay? The pony had changed. He munched on Hell's leg like nothing even as she kicked and squirmed. He didn't say anything except "zommm" and than the occasional "beee" and "brains" drawing out the 'ai'. The brains part was said with curiosity though.

Hell had enough of just trying to avoid his bites so she booted him in the face. He fell backwards and blood poured out from his snout. No reaction though, he just got up like usual and began walking towards her again. Hell screamed and ran for the other side of the paddock but her right leg kept faltering, causing her to stumble every time she touched it. She tried to throw herself onto her front legs and spring herself up into the air but the same thing happened just like before. She was thrown down to the earth. By that, Hell officially couldn't use her now broken right hind leg.

Hell whined and turned her body around. She gasped at the sight that stood infront of her. She wanted to run but she couldn't. and she knew that too well.

It was the other pony. Not Horde. The other one. He really wasn't pony. His eyes were gone, all that was left in their spot was two deep black wholes. Black blood spilled from them. His teeth were few and those that remained were purely sharp. Weather broken or sharpened, they were never-the-less sharp. She thought his coat was scruffy before well the sight of it now changed her mind. It looked like there were punctures all in it. Lots of fur was torn from his coat along with flesh. Big matted heaps stood out along his neck, cheeks, rump, underbelly and legs. The blood was black and there wasn't much of it. His chest wasn't heaving meaning her wasn't breathing. If her wasn't breathing though, why was he still alive. His nostrils didn't become larger than recede, also indicating he wasn't breathing. His hooves were chipped and the wholes that went through his body were deep and hollow. He really wasn't supposed to be alive but he was. He was an un-dead horror. A zombie.

Her vision faultered just like before than was gone again.

Hell shook her head, she used to think zombies were cool but the sight of this one and its intentions were clear and frightening. She squirmed and attempted to batter away the pony with her remaining fore hooves and left hind hoof. The pony was slow in his reactions but quick in his movements. He lunged his head forward to bite her. Hell's left hind hoof made contact with the side of his muzzle and edge of the cheek and she flung his head away with all her strength. It made her body jump and move slightly. She looked up over her belly. The pony was lifted off the ground with the impact and he crashed to the ground near the apple tree.

Horde wasn't there. Where would he have gone? She asked herself unsure. She yawned and decided she was too tired for this so she let her head fall back against the ground for a second. "Found him" she said with a quick frightening sigh and bolted upright before he could bite her head or neck. Horde didn't have a mouth. It looked like somepony cut it out. All that was left were the bone teeth, black and pointed. She held her right hind leg off the ground so she wouldn't disturb it more than it already was. Yes it hurt but she just had to deal with it.

Horde approached her slowly. Slower than the other one anyway. His face was in some sort of snarl but Hell couldn't tell for sure because like the other pony, he had no facial features and he was a dead wreck. He smelt of a day's death. Lucky it wasn't more. There was an odd growling noise.

"Well that settled it, he's growling" Hell said as she hopped backwards, away from his lunging distance.

Sharp object imbedded themselves into her flank. Hell screamed and yelped at the same time. She forgot Horde's friend was still in that same paddock. Horde charges at her, jaws open wider than normal. A surge of fear washed over her body. She thought that the two ponies would finish her there.

Something smashed into Horde sending him in the left direction and away from her. Hell squealed because the pony's sharp teeth ripped through and down her hide. All of a sudden that pony was gone too. Hell looked around and stumbled forwards, face-planting at what she saw. That stallion. He was many, many hooves away, hooded and standing hunched but she still knew it was him. She blinked blankly and he was standing straight and tall as usual. She heard hooves behind her. Sharp objects once again tore at her flesh but it was along her side. She flinched. She couldn't move anyway.

The stallion reared and flares out his odd wings that were concealed beneath his hooded robe. He charged towards Hell, towards the pony that is tearing out at her flesh and fur. He stops right infront of the pony and forces his eyes infront of Horde's bottomless black pits. The hooded stallion raises his right for-hoof high and slowly. Horde shivers than the hooded stallion clamps his hoof down onto Horde's head. It hits the ground than there is a sickening crack and Hell flinches. She looks back and finds the hooded stallion's right hoof inside Horde's skull.

Flood flows from Hell's sides and her breathing becomes difficult. She tries to laugh but her eyes are filled with tears. She felt so helpless, so sore, so weak, so scared and so happy just to be alive. And the strange hooded stallion that she had only met once, had saved her.

Hell gulped. She heard something behind her. It sounded like it was a rusted old metal hinge or two. The hooded stallion obviously heard it too because his ears were in that direction. He turned his head to look behind them.

Hell attempted to stand. The stallion noticed her movement and helped her carefully. They hadn't said anything to each other since they met in Equestria so why he had just saved her was out of the question. They both turned and looked in the direction of the noise. An odd form on two legs with arms came into the paddock with a large silver bucket. He was snarling about something. A figure from the far right side of them bolted toward the creature. It didn't have hooves and its face was short. It's muzzle was cut off or something.

Hell looked at it carefully, taking in every detail then it clicked. Twilight had mentioned something about creatures that looked like this. They were called humans or something and they had become extinct millennia before the ponies of Equestria. The ponies of Equestria's ancestors used to need the humans hands to survive. The original earth ponies anyway. The others were in hiding because of being hunted till the war between them and the humans.

The figure that had darted past them was Horde's friend. He didn't slow down as he neared the human. The closer the pony got the more the humans expressions changed. He must have noticed the change in the pony. His scowl turned to an wide-eyed, open-jawed shot of fear that sent him running. He didn't get far before the pony jumped un-naturally onto the human. Hell shivered as she heard the shrill inpony screams of the creature. It batted and beat at the pony but stood no chance as all emotions and feelings were gone.

Hell looked at the hooded stallion who stood beside her, than back at the other pony. What's happening? She asked herself.

"Iron Blade" said the stallion, he had a nice calm voice. It wasn't rough like she imagined.

"What?"

"Iron Blade" he said again and looked at her. "It's my name."

"Oh" Hell blushed. Oops, she couldn't exactly think straight. "W-Who are you? How did you know I was here and in trouble?" she paused than: "Why did you save me? And what happened to them?" Four questions all up. She didn’t think she would ask that many in a row or talk to a stranger with so many words after their second short meeting. Something made her feel welcome in his presence though. Almost like they knew each-other for years and it was a reunion or something. She gulped. Unsure if she had done the right thing.

Iron paused. He discarded the questions about himself and skipped to the 'what happened?' part. He sighed and didn't take his eyes off of the other pony that was devouring the human. "Well, there are evils beyond the borders of Equestria right?" He didn't expect an answer but Hell nodded. "Well, that was a zombie pony. Even in the borders some terrors live. Well, this is what started the war with the Pony's and Human's. Zombies. They were here originally from the humans animal testing labs. And got out. But don't worry. You won't become one unless you are bitten by one of the carriers. All the others are just minions who tear at you're flesh until you are weak and full of fear, than they burn you're soul and drink you're blood. The carriers have eyes, unlike the minions." He paused so it could sink into Hell's mind. "The magic ponies used them to start the war so that they would live and the earth ponies wouldn't be slaves anymore. They made a potion to change the zombie pony to attack any human that they came into contact with. No… matter… what… so we got the zombie's of now. The original one's from the human labs were more like vampony's except normal, with a brain and could go in the sun but they desired flesh of all sorts, not one in particular."

Hell raised an eyebrow in concentration. She nodded. "Oh, so they were originally ponies that developed a craving for flesh because of the humans experiments and the magic ponies used that against the humans and altered it so that they would do what ever possible to achieve that goal, even through death. So, in order for that to happen, they had to alter the ponies brains, remove most of it so it wouldn't know pain or anything. Right?" Hell asked standing as tall as she could.

Iron nodded, his eyes still on the other pony. "We can only kill them through smashing their head and we had better go" he said bluntly and began walking off.

Hell stood there for about 5 minutes than began to hop, ever so slowly using her wings a lot to keep both her balance and her weight light.

They moved together in silence for several minutes. The process to get to the other side of the paddock was agonisingly slow and even if this creepy zombie pony had just fed, it had still attacked Hell and she didn't like having it anywhere near her with out something between each-other. Every minute or so she would look back at the creature. It was on the far right side of the paddock. With the other horses. They cowered from the creature but were curious to see what had happened to him. He just hoofed at the ground and snarled with the occasional hunger play bite. It was rather weird. Shouldn't he have been trying to eat the ponies? He went crazy a couple times and tried to jump the fence to get them but his dead form couldn't lift himself. But then he would calm down and beckon them towards him again, playfully. It was like a game. The hunter's game to see if they prey who is usually dumber will fall for it… not bad….

Hell snorted as a disgusting scent filled the air. The scent of something that had died years upon years ago. She crinkled her nose and opened her mouth to breathe through it instead. She tasted it too. She poked her tongue out in disgust and tried to scape the taste off with her teeth as she pulled her tongue back in pressing on her teeth. Nah, that didn't help. She tried several times but she still tasted it so she just went to breathing through her nose again.

Hell struggled to keep up with Iron who seemed to be ignoring the smell. She turned to look at Horde's zombie friend. He had left the other horses and was closer to them now, but he had his head down and stood still where he was. Hell gulped and she felt the fear inside of her rising again. She really didn't want to die at the age of 20. she had so long left to live and if she lived it right there would be no regrets. The perfect life. She turned around again, the creep was even closer. Way closer.

Hell gulped again and turned to look at Iron. He stopped suddenly. Hell waved a fore-hoof infront of his face. It didn't disturb him at all. She pushed her body into his which hurt but at least it got his attention. He looked at her and back to where he was staring. Hell just stared and waited for him to explain even though she was scared of the Dæmon behind them.

Iron lowered his gaze. "I-I feel like I am attached to you by soul, that's how I knew you were in trouble. And I knew how to defeat them and knew where you were and how close you were to being attacked through you." He looked over to the troubled mare. Her brow was raised in confusion and disbelief.

"Didn't anything happen when you were first ripped from the sky?" Iron asked.

Hell thought for a minute. Her vision faulted twice, that’s all. Oh she thought. "My vision blurred, blackened gave me a head and body ache than was back to normal." There was a pause than Hell asked "Was that you?"

Iron nodded slowly. "You see, I am a soul thief. I feed on souls but I am connected to yours and can access your soul and sight at any time in the present but apart from that I feel what you feel. It has no affect on me but I can still feel it. Zombies have no soul so I can't eat theirs to kill them and I can’t control them either but I can detect them and they find my soul quit a distraction. They love the power and reality of it’s evilness." He turned away than nodded ahead and crouched.

Hell looked ahead. She couldn't see anything but the deathly smell was by far stronger. Her fear flared so high that she jumped for the sky but didn't make it very high before she saw millions of sharp glistening objects in front of her but at ground level. Zombie teeth. She began to sweat and beat her wings against the air desperately to get off the ground.

Iron was off the ground and beside her in the air in no time at all. In fact he was higher than her in no time. He urged her on but she couldn’t keep up or even get close to him. She tilted right unconsciously. When she realised she was on a lean she looked at her right wing. It wasn't in good shape. It didn’t bend and flex in the expected spots. Not too many feathers lined the base of her wing and it looked terrible and sore. Come to think of it, Hell found it some what more sore now.

She grimaced. She remembered the first crash landing she had because of Horde. Scraped up all her right side. The cut along her side pounded. For the first time in years she thought she was going to fall, unable to hold herself to the sky due to functioning errors in her sides and wings.

Hell looked up. She could feel herself sinking. Feat engulfed her. She closed her eyes and took in her last breath before her wing truly stopped working on her. Leaving her with heart and severe chest pains.

She heard Iron say something but she couldn't understand or do anything anyway. The last thing she remembered was the breath-knocking impact of the ground. The many snarls of triumph. Sharp jabbing object pierce all over her body, they yanked and ripped and tore at her form. The burning of her soul. Her high pitched last scream from the eternal pain, fear and then the darkness that followed to nothing.