Paranoia Ingredient

{----- [[[[[-It's Always more Fun when the Night is Young-]]]]] -----}

"T-then what happened?"

"This story's getting pretty scary..."

"Aw, come on guys. It's not even scary at all!"

I didn't know whether I should have continue telling the story or not. Whether she thought this was a simple mare's tale or not, it was all true; it was history. "Oh, um...are you three sure you want me to keep on going?"

The most confident of the three listening ponies, Scootaloo, quickly sprang from the floor in a heartbeat. "Yeah, Fluttershy! We're not scared at all!" The orange colored pony glanced back at both of her friends: Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, and saw that they were still shaking with a sense of fear, just a bit.

"Scootaloo, how can you not be scared? I mean, true,  it doesn't sound like much, but-" Sweetie Belle looked as if she couldn't find the right words to use, all with a brief lowering of her eyes, yet she still continued to smile at her fearless friend.

Apple Bloom investigated the problem by lunging her head toward Sweetie Belle and whispering into her ear, but I assumed there was no response from her, since Apple Bloom pulled away; looking at me, as if asking if I knew what was up with Sweetie Belle.

Upon witnessing the scene, Scootaloo's expression suddenly switched from her usual smiling, eager-to-try-something-new-to-get-her-Cutie-Mark face to one that closely resembled one that I've only seen once, and wish I could erase from my mind.

She realized that they were both younger than her, and from that, she understood how easily younger fillies could be frightened.

She simply sat back down with the others and chuckled, eliminating all traces of sadness from her face.

"Heh, sorry."

The one word she chose... It was like she completely ignored the fact that something could have been troubling one of her friends. She didn't even sound sincere.

All of the nearby windows were all pounded by relentless rain, creating a pleasant, but quiet type of noise. Thunder bellowed commands throughout the sky, lightning, tardy as it was, made up for lost time.

Acknowledging this, I also saw that it was now perfect dark outside; the perfect time to make this story a lot scarier. I'm sure they'll be fine; I mean, they are growing up pretty fast.

"A little darker outside than normal. I swear it's never been this dark before."

"Well, that's not a very clear answer, but this story is a legend all around Equestria. It's crucial that every pony knows it." I smiled quite happily as the three girls did the same.

Even with their troubles, they know how to work things out between each other.

I continued to tell the story. "Ahem, okay. Remember how I said Princess Luna was full of remorse and darkness?" The ponies nodded their heads in agreement, Scootaloo a little hesitant.

"Well, when everypony realized that Princess Celestia was absent from her position..." I paused to create tension, and the girls did react to it.

"That's when Princess Luna appeared. Except...she wasn't herself anymore. She was the same way she was when Princess Celestia banished her in the moon." That easily grabbed their attention; it's only times like this when their eyes are glued to me.  "She came equipped with accessories that resembled battle armor: a helmet, hoof bracers, and razor sharp thorns attached to her wings." I decided to read straight from the book now, as I lowered my head into it. "Her overall shades consisted of black and a dark violet." I paused to take a deeply needed breath of relief.

When I took my eyes off of the book, I saw that Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and even Scootaloo were struck with a loss for words.

"Black?"

"Purple?"

"Armor?" They all spoke as if they rehearsed their responses, like they knew what I was going to say.

"Yes, and a long robe of darkness appeared just as she did, behind her. It then spread out to the entire hall."

I continued telling the story with more passion in my voice; I was really getting into it, even though I had experienced Nightmare Moon's daunting presence first hand. "It was the-"

Before I could finish my sentence however, "Fluttershy?"  Sweetie Belle asked if the curtains from the windows could be closed. I guess she was getting shivers, either from the story, or the cold air. (I was feeling the temperature drop too.)

And so, I keenly obliged to actually close all of the windows. Where did this sudden, yet violent breeze come from? A few hours ago, the temperature was as balanced as it could possibly be (well, maybe not that much). The rain stopped, by the way.

How were the windows even open anyway? They were shut tight about an hour ago when it started getting really dark out.

I reached my front legs out to pull the first window I saw shut. But...something wasn't right about this.

With my head outside, I felt the bitter intensity of the sudden drop in temperature. And not only that, but outside? Outside, it was dead silent, a bit unnerving.

But, the next part was my imagination for sure.

As my mind continued to wander about, getting lost as it ever-so-easily does, my trance was broken when an ear piercing growl made its way into mine. It was right next to my ear, I just know it.

I panicked and pulled my head back into my home in a heartbeat. I did, however, succeed in closing the glass doors as a result of instinct. The curtains were still open, though, and I could still see outside.

I didn't know what was in the distance (nor did I care), but two red spheres, almost like candles, floated in the distance, remaining stationary as I tried to take my eyes off of them. It was harder to do so than one may think.

That was the end of my dream-

-Nightmare? I tried to forget all about it immediately after I stopped daydreaming.

"You were right, Sweetie Belle." I said without looking back at her. "It hasn't been this cold in a long time."

A rocking chair stood in the corner of the room, draped across it was a thick, green fleece. I grabbed a corner of it with my mouth and flipped my hair by jerking my neck one-hundred and eighty degrees.

It still lay comfortably on my back! I was quite surprised;

Equestria had to skip last years' Winter Wrap Up due to...well, everything I was telling (and have yet to tell) those three young girls. Speaking of that...

"Now that that's fixed, care to hear the rest?" I noticed no immediate response, that being unnatural with those three.

The girls were already gone. I didn't hear any hooves moving across the floor or anything.

"Oh, no!" It was my sworn duty to keep an eye on them; I'm trying to be more like Rainbow Dash: assertive and reliable. But I soon gained confidence, and started thinking a little more on the bright side.

I wasn't been able to do that since that night, four years ago...

"Don't get started up with that again, Fluttershy".

"Come on out, guys, please. I'm really not in the mood for hide-and-seek!" I was on the verge of turning the entire room upside-down looking for them.

.................................................................

About an hour or two passed by, and I was panicking. The girls know me almost too well; they knew I didn't like it when I failed a request someone gives me, even if the favor was unintentional or not.

"Uhm...Fluttershy?" A voice! It sounded like Apple Bloom's. "If yer lookin' for us, we're up here." My eyes opened wide.

It was her, and she had already climbed up the stairs going to the second story of the cottage. Very...ninja-like of her.

Hehe, lucky they came up right before I was about to make a total mess of the place. I would have had to stay up all night cleaning, and I was still really tired from the previous night's crazy events...

................................................................

The recent weather issues Equestria had been having (like fluctuating periods of rain) has sent the land to a state of worry and paranoia.

A royal decree was put into effect: Everypony was given strict orders to stay inside their homes as a safety measure. However, pegasi's were kind of screwed with this measure; their homes were in the clouds. Most of them found shelter, like an earth pony friend they could stay with, but some had to relocate, leave everything they ever lived for. Such a tragedy...

So now, me and the 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' (such a cute little game they played) were stuck in my house until, well, I didn't know how long it was meant to last.

"Sorry we didn't tell you we wanted to go to bed." Sweetie Belle popped up from behind Apple Bloom, looking at me with the biggest smile I had seen on her face yet.

"Now that I think of it, it is their bedtime."

Scootaloo came too, kind of impatient, as per usual. "What? We?" She kindly exclaimed. "I wanna hear more of that story!" I started to climb the stairs myself, when Scootaloo stopped me as I was about to proceed from the first step.

"Pleeeeease?" Scootaloo tried the 'little filly eyes' on me, but she knows that they didn't work as often as they did when she was younger. I mean, it was obvious that they're far past the time they finally got into their double digits now (I have yet to ask them their birthdays. Just a side note.)

"Sorry, Scootaloo, but it's time for bed. I may not be one of your parents, but you all still have a bedtime." I guided her up the steps until we came to the apex. "I'm really sorry-"

The four of us reached the hallway, proceeding into the room at the right. Neither one of them complained a bit. Scootaloo was a little disappointed because I ended the story early, though.

"But I actually have a lot of work to do, and I can't really get it done if I'm playing games with you guys all the time, even if I enjoy them."

...............................................................

There! All tucked in and ready to fall asleep, after they shared with me what they've learned today, at least; they had seemed to taking after my friend, Twilight Sparkle. She always wrote a letter to princess Celestia concerning her findings about friendship.

What surprised me is that they've taken it upon themselves to keep such a promise. Maybe I should start writing to the princess too? I could inform her of what the little guys learn about friendship every now and then.

"Fluttershy?" Apple Bloom slept in the middle, between Sweetie and Scooters (a nickname I keep forgetting to use to joke around with Scootaloo.) "Yer so kind. I know I keep on sayin' this every night, but thanks...so much for lettin' us stay here."

She's so cute. They all are...

"Oh, it's really no problem sweetie-"

"Huh... What?" Sweetie Belle awoke from the time she dozed off when she heard her name. "What now?"

My choice of words was not the smartest ever; I should have remembered that she's really sensitive, like me.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." She dismissed the attention her eyes gave me with another big smile, like the one before.

"It's alright mom-I mean...Fluttershy. I'm just glad to be in bed, I'm super tired." She stretched her two front legs. "I didn't even think I could fall asleep that fast."

Did she just call me...mom?  I was caught blushing a bit when I heard her mumble the word.

I thought Scootaloo was asleep, but she was wide awake, eyes closed however. She was tired too; I could tell. She giggled a bit at what was said before. "But really Fluttershy, I'm glad too. It's like...a sleepover that lasts forever!"

Apple Bloom had the irresistible urge to comment with confidence. "Hey! Maybe our special talent could be sleeping!"

Sweetie Belle's pupils grew large upon hearing 'special talent'. "If that's the case, then why haven't we gotten our Cutie Marks yet?"

"Beats me." said Apple Bloom. "Maybe we have to go to sleep-"

"A gazillion times!" silently and kindly interrupted Scootaloo, whose eyes were now as big as cherries. The three girls laughed all in harmony.

"Who knows? Maybe you'll have a dream about what could lead you to getting each, and every one of your Cutie Marks."

It was getting dark really fast, even the light from the moon seemed like it was quickly going away, like a cloud was blocking it or something. But I didn't bother to look outside the window.

"Look, I know you all want to stay up and discuss your plans on how to get your Cutie Marks, but you all really need to go to sleep if you want to have the energy you need for them."

Scootaloo opened her eyes briefly, "Oh, okaaay." and shut them almost immediately after. I knew she was joking around.

"Hey, Fluttershy?" asked Sweetie Belle with the utmost grace. "Could you sing that song for us again? You know the one that goes..." She stopped herself. "I...can't remember cuz it's been so long."

That was true.

Normally the girls would be too exhausted at the end of the day to need aid to fall asleep, but I think 'The Elements of Harmony, Script Five' must have made them all a little uneasy, even brave, fearless little Scootaloo.

"Sure, that's fine." I agreed. But hopefully they won't have any nightmares from the incomplete story.

I inhaled a collection of air and thought of nothing but nature and animals (it always comes to mind).

"Hush now, quiet now..." They were, already getting comfortable because of such a soft voice I had.

"...It's time to lay your sleepy head."

"...Hush now, quiet now. It's time to go to bed..." I concluded, and laughed silently under my breath, smiling.

"Works like a charm!"

What could I say? Turns out the girls were in fact exhausted as they usually were. Although I had more from the song to offer, they were already sound asleep.

I noticed that the blanket they shared was removed from their grasps, so I draped it over their bed and tucked the blanket in between the mattress and the bedframe, going all the way around the bed (again).

"I truly love you girls as if you were my own children, although I don't really know what that's like." I wanted them to hear me say that.

Apple Bloom has this weird snore of hers that actually helps the other two fall, and stay asleep. That, and it tells me that they're all in their deep little slumber, hoping that they dream about how they can finally achieve their Cutie Marks after all their years of searching. I actually find their devotion kind of inspiring.

I decided to keep their nightlight on, in case they wake up and try to embark on their next little adventure, though they couldn't go out even if they wanted to.

They've actually been really good about not somehow devising a plan to sneak out at night, though.

I silently sighed as I left the room, and headed down the hall and stairs.

...Flashback time...

After the girls' only home (my friend's old tree house) got burned down because of an accident they caused (that just happened to involve highly flame irritating sulfuric acid, don't ask me why), no pony would offer them a place to live. I guessed they feared that the same, or worse, would happen again.

But fortunately for the girls, they know that they can always turn to me if they ever need help. I took them in from the depressing streets. It was good too, because this was a few days prior to the Princess' royal decree.

...Oh, God it was horrible. The three were homeless for months, performing all sorts of (I hate to say it) stupid tricks just so they could hope to earn the smallest bit.

It was essential that they stay together; otherwise, all three of their lives would fall apart.

It was impossible for them to survive forever, and the reason why I didn't know about their situation sooner was because of the whole thing with Nightmare Moon and all of that crap.

But one benefit came from that experience. They bonded with each other, as if they were family. They were inseparable partners.

They've already been through so much hell, I just wish I could have been there for them sooner...

I just want to forget about it all... All the sadness and frustration...

And the reason why my friends couldn't take them in was because... I couldn't even remember why they of all kind ponies couldn't.

I haven't seen any of them in Celesia knows how long. I missed them so much...

I pondered my mind long enough; I was going to make myself feel depressed again. I was already starting to feel the cold tears of internal solitude roll down my eyes...

"Okay, Fluttershy. Just get yourself to sleep, like the girls..." I miserably told myself aloud. "It's your bedtime too, you know."

Without second thoughts, I curled up on the sofa next to the door and started to get comfortable, and fast. The room was partially illuminated from what faint moonlight was present; I closed my eyes to aid in leaving the real world.

Then, a recurring thought came to me, what happened earlier. I started to feel it again, with more aggression this time around.

"Why in the world is it so cold all of a sudden?" I couldn't really provide an accurate answer, nor could I even think of the concept of an 'answer'.

Well, I was wearing my fleece, but even that wasn't helping, not even a bit. Maybe I just needed to close the windows entirely...or something.

But I thought I already did that... Didn't I?

I just simply wanted to drift off to sleep, but when I opened my eyes back up again, I saw nothing.

Total darkness...my worst phobia.