Another flash of bright white lightning revealed 2 alicorn fillies, both of which had an umbrella, their only shield from the heavy forest rain. A large gust of wind blew strait toward the two, which blew Namira's umbrella off her back. She tried to hold on, but eventually, the umbrella part snapped off, swirling around in the whirling torrent. She sat there, being drenched. But then the rain seemed to stop falling. Namira looked up to see her long time friend, glimmer, standing over her with her umbrella.
" This stinks. Hey how much longer until we get to the party?" Asked the slightly shy alicorn,barely visible in the night.
"Let's check the slightly creepy invite sent to us by our anonymous host." Said glimmer, barley audible in the storm.
"Oh. We're here. Party's in that castle." Glimmer pointed a hoof at an old abandoned castle atop the mountain.
"Wait glimmer. Isn't that place haunted?" Asked a nervous namira.
"Seriously? That's just an old pony's tale. It's not haunted. Trust me."
"Ok then..." Squeaked Namira. The pair then galloped up the dirt road and climbed the slick stone steps to the doorway. Upon reaching the doorstep they noticed a brown box with a note tied on.
"It's for us." Said glimmer, picking up the note.
"It says 'wear me'." They glanced at each other.
"Wear me." They said in unison, glimmer opening the box with her magic, a dark purple surrounding her horn. Inside were two masks, one a fox mask, the other a plain green mask, both covering nothing below their muzzles. The pair stepped inside only to meet an empty stairwell in the center, a door on the right, and a hallway on the left.
"Hello, is anyone here?" Glimmer called out, hoping they hadn't arrived too early.
"Why hello Glimmer." Sounded a voice from the living room down the hall. Namira and Glimmer trotted down the hall and into the living room, four others already awaiting their arrival.
" Princess Cadence, is that you?" Asked Glimmer.
"Why yes indeed. But according to the invitation, we're supposed to use mystery names. Mine's... She sighed. Lady quietbottom." Cadence blushed in embarrassment.
"My name is duchess-" Luna's face was completely red. "D-d-duchess gummybuns." Sputtered Luna.
"I'm professor pent." Said chrysalis.
"I'M DERPY HOOVES!" Shouted the gray mare. Luna, annoyed and embarrassed, backhooved Derpy.
"What's the name on your invite!?" Shouted a commanding Luna.
"OOOhhhh,I get it. It's guy farting." Said derpy with not a care in the world.
"Princess hotbun at your service." Said Glimmer with a bow.
"I'm randy butternubs." Said Namira, tossing the invite over her shoulder and sitting down on the couch next to chrysalis.
"So, who's our host anyway?" Asked the star princess.
"Nopony knows." Replied cadence.
"Maybe it's a hot stallion with big money." Said Luna.
"Tut Tut Princess Luna. What would your mare friend trixie say?" Said Namira.
"Trixie and I broke up a long time ago.Duh." Said Luna.
"Now's my chance." Said derpy.
"No.bucking.way." Shouted Luna.
"But I can make you happy." Replied Derpy, taking Luna's hoof in hers.
"Give UP you bitch!" Yelled Luna in her canterlot voice, slapping derpy.
"Okay." Whimpered a disappointed derpy,walking over to admire a painting. Little did she know, there was an envelope taped to her back.
"Excuse me guy farting, but there's an envelope on your back." Said cadence.
"Where, where?" Said derpy trying to get the envelope.
"Here, let me." Said Glimmer, reaching up to get the envelope.
"Did YOU put that envelope on her?" Asked cadence, eyeing Luna.
"No." Said everyone on the couch.
"What does it say, princess hotbun?" Asked cadence. Glimmer began to read.
"I am your host. I am a ghost. By the time you finish reading this, I will have possessed one of you, and will youse your body to murder everyone in the house." Read Glimmer, who got an " I told you so " look from Namira.
"No no no NO! We have to get out of here!" Screamed derpy, who bolted toward the door, tugging on the brass handles.
"Derpy wait! It says anyone who tries to leave will die!" Shouted Glimmer. But it was too late. Another bolt of lightning shot down, then the power went out. When it came back on, derpy hooves was nothing more than a lifeless skeleton.
"She's DEAD!" Said everypony.
"Oh come on you guys. Glimmer, you remember when I pulled this trick on your birthday. I used the fake skeletons to make you think every pony was dead. Classic move." Said namira, holding derpy's skull.
"Namira, I swear I'm not pranking you. Derpy is dead. At this, Namira frowned and dropped the skull. Five minutes later everypony was sitting down in front of the stairwell."now,time to find out who's hiding a ghost inside their mortal body. Chrysalis use your ghost detecting magic to screen everyone." And so the scanning began. She started with Luna, who blinked when the spell was cast. Next cadence, who blinked also. Lastly, Namira,who's red eyes remained open while the bright green magic hit her. "Hmmm..." Said chrysalis. "Whaddya mean hmmm?" Asked Namira, shooting the changeling queen a death glare, her crimson eyes pulsing purple for a moment (like when Trixie was wearing the alicorn amulet, but backwards).
"Nothing..." Said chrysalis, sending Namira a return glare.
"So, who's the ghost?" Asked The young princess, eager to put an end to whatever was going on.
"Umm...I don't know. Cadence and Luna were clean, but I couldn't get a reading off your filly freind. Something was blocking my scan spell." Replied chrysalis.
"I have an idea." Said the pink crystal pony. "If there really is a ghost killer, we should find a light so if the lights go out again, we will be able to see who killed who." Said cadence, proud of her brilliant idea.
"That's a good idea. Namira, Chrysalis, you take the dungeon. I will search this floor. Got it?"
With that, Namira and chrysalis slowly trotted down the spiral steps to the dungeon, chrysalis' green magic lighting the way. Once the pair reached the bottom, they began their search. Namira approached one of the cells, and saw nothing save the rotting carcass of a peagasus, wings severed off and laying next to it. Queen Chrysalis however, was having much better luck. A solitary box sat in the corner, wet and stained red from blood. Chrysalis carefully opened the box with her magic, revealing a single candle.
"Namira darling, I found it." Called out Chrysalis. The black filly had to wrench herself away, as seeing and smelling a body just made her hunger pangs that much worse. She arrived at the queen's side, taking the candle in her magic, her horn glowing a bright crimson, matching her 'dragon eyes'. She quickly lit the candle, illuminating a small area.
"Namira, HELP!" Yelled queen chrysalis. The shadow princess whipped around to see her queen, her adopted mother after her brother's defeat, get sucked into the bloodstained walls.
An air-splitting scream erupted from the dungeon, a black filly emerging from it's beckoning darkness, crimson eyes filled with pure terror.
"TEAM ASSEMBLE! HURRY UP!" Screamed the filly, galloping around in circles. Glimmer erupted from the upstairs bedroom, jumping off the railing, landing on the couch. She quickly ran to the side of her quivering freind.
"What happened down there!?" Asked Glimmer, fearing the worst. "Where's Chrysalis?"
She gulped. "THE GHOST GOT HER!" Shouted Namira.
Glimmer backed away. "Don't you mean YOU got her, GHOST." Challenged Glimmer, her mane sparking, the telltale sign of her 'other self' coming to power.
"Look. Maybe if we stayed in a group, we would have better chances. It can't take us on if wer'e in a group." Said Namira, clutching Glimmer. Suddenly, a scream came from the bathroom.
"Cadence, Luna, are you okay?" Shouted glimmer, trying to overpower the screams. After the screams ceased, Cadence and Luna emerged, both panting and sweaty.
"What in equestria HAPPENED in there!?" Asked Namira, curious as to what was going on. At this question, Luna's face went from dark blue to pinkie pie pink.
"Umm...nothing important! Nothing at all!" Said Luna, smiling sheepishly. "Is anypony hungry?" Asked Luna, trotting over to the dining room, wanting to avoid any questions of what exactly happened in the bathroom. "Jeez where's all the food? This is like a poor pony's castle!" Complained the moon princess.
"Chill out girl." Said Namira, trying to get Luna to cool down.
"Glimmer, did you find any candles upstairs?" Asked the black filly.
"No." Replied Glimmer.
"Well, I dropped a candle downstairs, but their's no way I'm going back for that." Said Namira, quivering.
"Hmmmm...let me remind you all that the invite said the ghost will posses one of us." Said Glimmer, glaring at her long time freind.
"So that means someone at this table isn't who they appear to be." Challenged Namira, her red eyes scanning everypony at the table.
"That's right 'Namira'." Growled the star princess, her mane sparking again.
"So let me ask you a question only the REAL Namira could answer. Who is always next to me in my reoccurring elevator dreams." Asked Glimmer, obviously suspicious.
"A zebra shaman." Replied Namira, the question very easy.
"Okay your Namira. But answer me this Luna-" glimmer started to say.
"Why did you break up with Trixie? Only the real Luna would know that!" Interrupted Namira.
"As if you would even know the answer to that, Namira!" Retorted Princess Luna.
"Okay you're right, I'm just feeling gossipy and wanted to know what happened." Said Namira, wanting to hear her tragic tale.
"IT'S NONE OF YOUR BUCKING BUISNESS!" Screamed Luna.
"Sound's suspicious. I bet YOUR the ghost!" Shouted Glimmer, pointing a hoof at her older sister.
"She did it! She's possessed! Tie her up!" Yelled cadence.
"Oh she is, is she?" Asked Glimmer.
"SHE KISSED ME ON THE MOUTH! I was like go away Trixie, but she was just like your not ready for me! What does that mean you guys!? What does that bucking mean." Yelled Luna, tears streaming down her checks, staining the carpet.
"Before we tie up Luna, let me ask you this. What did I write you on your happy birthday card, two years ago, word for word." Asked Glimmer.
"Glimmer, there's no way I would remember that." Replied Cadence.
"I remember that." Whined Glimmer, blushing as she put her fox mask back on.
"Your not princess Cadence! Tie you up!" Shouted Namira, conjuring a rope with her magic.
"Stop, LOOK!" Screamed Cadence, pointing a hoof at the ceiling. A streak of swirling white came out of the ceiling. Diving for the guests. Every pony crouched behind the table, all exept Cadence. The ghost then swirled around and dived through Cadence, melting her flesh.
"AAAAHHHHHHH!!!" Screamed Namira and Glimmer.
"This wasn't s-s-posed to h-happen." Stuttered Glimmer, her body shaking with fear, the world spinning around her.
"Wait WHAT?! You WERE pranking me back you!" Said Namira.
"Yeah. The whole thing was a setup. The doors, derpy, chrysalis, it was all a prank. Oh no, they should be in the closet over there." Said Glimmer, pointing to a closet at the far end of the dining room.
"Guys, guys!" She called, galloping to the closet.
"Come on you guuuYYAAAAAAAHHHHH!" Glimmer screamed, having opened the closet door. What was inside was horrific. Derpy hooves and queen chrysalis' remains were smeared all over the walls, wings and horns severed and crushed, guts and bones laying all over the floor.
"THAT'S IT! I'M CALLING MY BUCKING SISTER RIGHT NOW!" Screeched Luna in her canterlot voice, levitating a black iPhone 4S. The lights went out.
Luna screamed as she ran, being chased by a streak of white.
"Sis, what's happening!?" Asked Glimmer, wanting her sister to be ok. No response came from Luna. Another clap of thunder, and the lighs came on.
"WHERE'S MY SISTER!?" Screamed glimmer, racing over to Namira.
"Look." Said Namira, her soft voice now hollow, filled with emptiness. On the wall was a painting of Timber wolves running accross a field, now with Luna in it to, still levitating her phone.
"Glimmer, I'm scared." Whispered Namira, pushing her face into Glimmer's light blue mane. The crystal chandelier started to shake, and a deep laugh sounded thorough the house. The pair of fillies turned to face the closet, only to see the ghost spiral out of the closet and at them.
"RUN HOMIE RUN!" Screeched Namira, tugging on Glimmer's purple dress. The two bolted for the door.
"OPEN IT!" Yelled Namira as Glimmer tugged and pulled on the handles. Locked. The ghost entered and carried the two to the top of the stairwell, only to throw them down onto the wood railing at the base, the collision breaking and splintering the wood, peircing their flesh. Glimmer got up, ran up the stairs, and dove into the mansion's library, poking her head out the door.
"Run Namira, HURRY!" Shouted Glimmer. Namira came into view, hobbling up the steps on three legs.
"Ow! I think I broke something!" Howled Namira, limping as fast as possible, her wings, with one being fine, and the other smaller and twisted in it's socket, were of little help. But, she wasn't fast enough. The ghost easily caught up with her, snatched her up, and carried her twards the ceiling. Glimmer reached out and grabbed onto Namira's hooves, pulling as hard as she could, hoping to wrench the filly from the ghost's strong grasp.
"Don't let go!" Whimpered Namira, a tear rolling down her cheek.
"Oh no, oh no no no!" Shrieked the filly, her grip on her freind slowly weakening. At last, she had to let go. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." She whimpered, trying to hold back tears as she let go, falling onto her back. All she could hear was the pained screams of her freind as the library door swung shut and locked, trapping her inside. She sat on the library floor, burying her face in her hooves, trying with all her might not to cry. Risistance was futile.
"Cadence, Luna, derpy, now Namira?!" She sobbed. But a sound behind her silenced her sobs. She got to her hooves and turned around to see veins of green hair coming out of the walls and snaking twards her. A ghostly figure came out of the walls, light blue with red glowing eyes. She simply stared at it, those luminescent orbs penetrating her very being. Something inside her told her to stay, to be embraced by this creature, whilist another part told her to run, to run and never look back. She made her choice. Levitating a chair with her magic, she slammed it against the weak, cracking walls. A hole just large enough for her to fit in was created. She tossed the chair at the creature, but it went strait through. Glimmer quickly crawled through the hole, but got stuck at her hips. She pulled and pushed, but was still stuck. She could feel the monster's hair twist around her legs. She had to do something. Quick. Using her magic, she was barely able to push herself through. She was now in another room. Glimmer looked over at a wall to see a flock of ravens leave a painting and dive for her, their sharp beaks peircing her flesh. A few seconds later the whole room was alive, the wooden floorboards trying to eat her. A ladder was at the far end of the room, leading to the observatory. It was her only chance. Glimmer, with newfound strength, forced her wings to carry her to the ladder, barely dodging the hungry floor. The star princess clung to the ladder, and climbed. Emerging in the observatory, she ran blindly to the glass wall. It was a dead end. Hopeless, she turned and slumped against the wall, ready to meet her bloody demise. The ghost, long and thin, loomed above her. But, it wasn't a ghost at all. Namira threw off a white sheet to reveal her, and all the others, on the back of discord.
"BWAHAHAHAHA! Gotcha Glimmmer! Two for two!" Chuckled Namira.
"WHAT!?" Yelled Glimmer.
"Oh come on. I figured out your plan months ago, so I flipped the script!" Said Namira, her voice bearing satisfaction.
"So everyone's okay, Cadence, derpy, Luna, and Chrysalis?" Asked Glimmer.
"Totally. See?" Said Namira, the entirety of Discord's body coming into view.
"Ew. Discord, you can phase people into your body?" Asked Glimmer.
"Why, yes my little pony, it's all in the magic." Replied Discord, snapping his eagle claw. With that snap, every pony, including Glimmer, was atop Discord. Glimmer turned to face Cadence.
"Wait, but Cadence, you melted." Said Glimmer, raising an eyebrow.
"It was a wax dummy, dummy. Namira switched me out while Discord was distracting you." Said Cadence. Matter of factly.
"Oh man, you got me AGAIN. With the hair and the house coming alive and stuff." Said Glimmer, waving her hooves.
"The what now?" Asked Namira.
"With the house trying to eat me and stuff." Replied Glimmer.
"Naw, you must have been so scared you imagined that part." Said Namira.
"No, I'm pretty sure I didn't." Retorted Glimmer.
"Haha nice try Glimmer. Lets get out of here, Discord." Said Namira.
"Of course, my little pony." Said Discord sarcastically. But with that, they took off into the beautiful spring night.