Willow Tree Asylum

Chapters

Into The Willow Tree Asylum
Unwanted company
The One Who Composed The Melody
Memories Of A Psychopath
The Flickering embers
The Face In The Mirror
The Package
The Broken Chair
My Dark Solitude
The Torturous Silence
Stripes Of Ash And Pearl

Into The Willow Tree Asylum

“Is it on? Is it on? Oh…hello fillies and gentle colts, this is your favorite weather pony Sky Streak. Today we are investigating the willow tree asylum, Keep in mind every pony that this asylum is abandoned and there is no living thing inside at this moment.”

“Celestia opened this place after princess Luna was banished to the moon; the reason was simply because the legend nightmare moon went into people’s dreams and created horrifying nightmares that made people insane.” Sky Streak opened the door to the main atrium. “Once this asylum was the biggest in all of Equestria, and housed over 400 ponies in need.”as Sky Streak trotted the atrium he noticed a mohagany door, and on it a golden doorknob with a treble clef resting on its front. Sky Streak's curiosity peaked and he motioned his hoof toward the doorknob, but when he rested his hand upon it, a pony slapped his hoof without hesitation.

When Sky Streak looked up from his pain he saw a pony that looked rugged with mustard colored skin and a bright blue vest that read willow tree staff “Are you insane?" said the anonymous pony. "No pony ever goes in that door.” he left an eerie tone in his voice that was supposed to give a warning, "What are you doing here?" Sky Streak questioned, The pony looked enthusiastic about the comment. "Well if you must know, i am the chief janitor at this lovely asylum." The camera pony, Capture Shot made googely eyes at Sky Streak. but Sky Streak ignored the remark and rudely told the pony “Anyways we are here for an interview of the asylum, not of some crazy old pony” Sky Streak left a chuckle. You could tell the janitor's emotions went from complemented to offended. “Some say that they hear noises from this room in particular, I remember working here 13 years ago,” Sky Streak rolled his eyes. “I will say it again we are here for an interview with the asylum not”-

Capture Shot suddenly slapped his hoof on Sky Streak's back “Do you hear that?” he asked. Sky Streak brushed to the side and looked at him “No I don’t hear anything!” The janitor hoofed Sky Streak’s mouth “I think I hear that noise too.”A sigh aroused from Sky Streak “fine open the door then.” The janitor did not hesitate, he pulled out a key ring that looked as if it was about to burst, then the melody could be heard to Sky Streak “wait I can hear it, but it sounds like a song to me.” The janitor mumbled to himself while searching through his keys and the Capture Shot just looked around as if he were trying to catch something on tape.

When finally the janitor screamed “I found it!” All three ponies awoke and stood up in unison, Capture Shot said in excitement “Well open the door!” the janitor twisted and pulled the key but no luck, "Ha.. it looks like those bones are to weak to open that door, huh?" The janitor turned to face Capture Shot "I will have you know, back in my day i was the strongest in all of ponyville; maybe its rusted on the inside." Capture Shot grabbed the key ring. "Here let me try old coot." Capture Shot twisted, but nothing again, and then it was Sky Streak’s turn. “Look guys it’s probably not the right one, maybe we should just”-

“KERCHUNCK” their eyes widened and Sky Streak twisted the doorknob and looked back to see them standing far behind him, scared of what’s going to pop out. Sky Streak slightly opened the door to get a peek inside, but all he saw was a huge cello standing upright against a corner. Its shadow was moving which told Sky Streak that there was a fireplace or some source of light. With a shaky and scared voice he spoke “Hello, we heard music from this room, any pony here?”

There was no answer, but he knew that there was something or some pony in there. The janitor asked with a concerned tone “Ya see anything?” Sky Streak shook his head “But I’m quite sure some pony is inside that room” this brought confusion and an awkward silence to the quite hallway. Sky Streak found a sudden courage and moved toward the doorknob. "What are you doing?" whispered Capture shot loudly. Sky Streak looked back for a second, but did not answer as he twisted the gilded doorknob.

The knob was cold which sent chills of terror down his spine. He then proceeded to open the door all the way ajar, His eyes grew a custom to the dim light that was only made by the fireplace.

Unwanted company

Sky Streak suddenly heard a scratching as if some pony was writing on paper, this startled him and he fell to the ground leaning sideways on the hardwood floor. The scratching paused, then began again. Sky Streak focused his vision back at the cowards standing at the door with shaking knees.The scratching just kept continuing, each step that Sky Streak took made a creaking noise that was extremely loud. But the scratching just continued, Sky streak was now behind the chair that was in front of the desk. Sky Streak looked at what was being done “So you’re making”-

The agile pony jumped from the chair without hesitation and pushed both his hooves to Sky Streaks throat. “WHAT MORE DO YOU PONIES WANT FROM ME, JUST GO AWAY!!!!” The mysterious pony had widened eyes, Sky Streak became teary eyed “I’m sorry please let me go, I’ll never come back, I swear I won’t!” The janitor pony heard the commotion and instantly ran inside to tackle the anonymous pony, but failed because of his frail bones. Capture Shot stood there with terror and watched this happen.

Then the distraught pony turned back toward Sky Streak and looked at him carefully, he saw his deep purple eyes and then instantly resided from choking him. Capture Shot went to help the janitor as Sky Streak brushed off his own tears. The pony walked toward the hearth and sat in front as if almost in a hypnosis, it was like nothing ever happened.

The janitor grabbed Sky Streak by the hoof “we have to get out of this place now!” Sky Streak looked at the janitor “well obviously this person had a bad history; maybe we should interview him instead of this asylum”. Capture Shot beamed with joy. “You know, that’s not a bad idea.” The janitor felt ignored, “I tell you he is Crazy, C-R-A-Z-Y.” Sky Streak had a sudden remark of interest in this pony, and he also wanted to know why he let go of his neck.

Capture Shot walked to the desk and pulled out a music box, the pony looked up at the Capture Shot with an intimidating look. “Don’t touch that you ignorant, bastard!” the camera pony instantly stepped away from the object. Sky Streak trotted toward the hearth to sit by him, the pony scooted further away. “So first off who are you”, the stallion did not respond but simply stared into the fire, “hey listen I’m tired of standing here without an answer”, there was a long pause until the pony turned his head toward Sky Streak's. “Then get out, I didn’t ask you to approach me here in the first place” Sky Streak was enraged by his demanding tone. “Well it’s not my fault my curiosity was peaked, besides this asylum has been closed for 40 years” the pony this time instead of fleeing the statement, looked at Sky Streak and answered back “Learn to control as I have or life is going to be too much for you to handle.”

Sky Streak paused for a second and then ran away from the topic “who are you?” the pony answered in a low grumbling voice “You honestly expect me to give you my name, even though we have only known each other for less then 5 minutes?” Sky Streak nodded his head slowly. “Fine, my name is Stereo Note.” Sky Streak’s eyes widened “That name, I know I have heard it before” Stereo Note fastened his eyes toward Sky Streak. “I’m quite sure you haven’t.” Capture Shot finally busted a comment “well Sky streak and I were wondering if we could get an interview” Stereo Note turned his head awkwardly and stared at the Capture Shot.

“Yes I believe I should tell my story, but the camera has to be off.” Sky Streak reached his hooves to turn off the camera, and then turned back to see stereo note back at his chair. “Have other ponies interviewed you stereo note?” Stereo Note shook his head “has any pony "tried" to interview you.” Stereo Note nodded his head. “Then why are you letting us?” Stereo Note grinned “you just remind me of some pony that I used to know” Capture Shot felt uneasy by that statement. “Hey guys I think I’m gonna get some fresh air, oh and try to find that old fart.” “Alright just don’t take too long.” Sky Streak blurted. Stereo note grinned. “Yes you look quite pale, maybe you should.”

Capture Shot left the door cracked open to make sure it wouldn’t close on him. He eventually did find the janitor after scrambling around the hallway, he was seated on a bench in the courtyard, he approached the janitor and questioned him “why are you so afraid of Stereo Note?” he looked closer and saw him crying, this made him even more concerned. Capture Shot leaned in closer “tell me” he pleaded. The janitor rose from his state of terror and showed some courage “when I was in my youth, I needed a job to get the horse drawn carriage for my very special some pony. So I found a job application for the willow tree asylum, my brother had been working here for a couple of years so I figured it would be a nice opportunity to work hoof by hoof with the Stallion I respected the most.” There was a long pause until Capture Shot asked “did you get the job?” the janitor nodded, “I got the job, I was the janitor while my brother was a mental doctor so I rarely got to see him at all, then that fateful day came. I had heard rumors of some pony killing 24 other ponies. I tried not to pay much attention to the gossip of the asylum, and then my brother was assigned to him as a mental doctor” the janitor began to cry once again, “my brother came to that pony for an appointment and then”- Capture Shot bent closer, “tell me!” the janitor wiped away his tears and shook his head “he brutally murdered him, Stereo Note brutally murdered my brother in front of my own eyes!” Capture Shot’s eyes widened as he reached his hoof for his walkie talkie “Sky Streak get out of that ponies’ room now, do you hear me, now!”

Sky Streak looked toward the door, and immediately began galloping towards it, but Stereo note had beaten him in this test of speed he slammed the door shut and went back behind Sky Streak in a matter of seconds. Sky streak looked at the stallion in horror. But all he did was smile psychotically, Stereo Note began trotting slowly toward him .He then reached his hoof and brushed Sky Streak’s mane “now there are no interruptions, now I get to stare into those deep purple eyes. Yes, I need those eyes. Sky Streak began screaming cries of help, save me etc. but he was now in Stereo Note’s possession, he could not escape. Stereo note let out a laugh. “It’s amazing how much you look like her!” Sky streak stood to his hooves and shot the first blow to Stereo Note’s face. Stereo Note fell back and Sky Streak reached for the keys “there is no escape!” Stereo Note screamed. Sky streak shook the keys trying to find the right one but it was gone. Sky Streak looked at Stereo Note and saw him with the key on his tongue. Sky Streak began to cry as he slid down the door, Stereo Note trotted back to his hearth and stared straight into it. “Now, why did I refrain from killing you” he asked in a caring tone. Sky Streak slid his eyes in between his hooves, and stared straight at stereo note “because you like me and you will let me go now?” Stereo Note grinned at him “because it would just add to my enormous sentence, that’s why”; Sky Streak stood to his hooves still shaky “you could have killed me!” Stereo Note stood to his hooves “ah...But I didn’t, and now don’t you feel excited to be alive.” Sky Streak was not impressed with his sudden remark. Stereo Note walked to his piano and began playing a tune out of the blue, he closed his eyes and struck the keys with elegance; the tension in the room was now lifted and the melody filled Sky Streak’s soul with happiness, and peace of mind. “What a lovely tune” Stereo Note struck a wrong chord on purpose and stood on his hind hooves, the vibrations echoed throughout the room, and made an awkward silence “a lovely tune, A LOVELY TUNE! This is the tune that got me here in this spit soaked shit hole, how dare you call this tune lovely!” Sky Streak ducked his head under his hooves, but then suddenly arose. “What do you mean get here?” Stereo Note grabbed an extra chair, “you might want to have a seat, you’re gonna be here a long time with me.”

Capture Shot grabbed his equipment, and lifted the janitor to his hooves “Listen, my friend is trapped inside with a homicidal maniac, I’m scared for him; you have to find a spare key to the room” The janitor just shook his head, “I can’t find another key, that is the only one ever made, I’m surprised that he even broke the spell that princess Celestia put on the doorknob” Capture Shot now knew there was nothing he could do, fear was all he had on his mind, he knew that Sky Streak his best friend, was doomed.

The One Who Composed The Melody

Confusion drifted about, as the dark, grey, clouds moved ominously above the janitor and Capture Shot. “huh, I thought the thunderstorm was supposed to happen on Tuesday?” The janitor responded without eye contact "Weather moves on its own here." Capture Shot was shocked on the inside but pretended not to care; for the janitor's sake. He tried to brighten the janitor’s hopes on a new topic. “Tell me more about you working at the asylum.” Capture Shot commented again, but the janitor just sat there uninterested by the question that he was given. “Listen, I know you miss your brother, and seeing Stereo Note didn't help but right now, its up to you to gather up some courage, and get Sky Streak back. what do ya say?!” the janitor turned his head slightly "Kid, if you were in my position you would be doing the same thing, you can't break pain, unless time passes. and unfortunately the wounds that murderer left are scars." The thunder roared in the distance. “ oh I see, You're a coward!” Capture Shot yelled. The remark bursted throughout the entire courtyard, and sent echoes back toward both of them. But the janitor did not move or flinch. Capture Shot began to cringe under all of the stress and ignorance that was being developed; when he could not take the pressure anymore, he trotted to the janitor and took a swing of the hoof to his stomach, the janitor took a big gasp of air, and immediately fell to the ground curling up like a ball. “My best friend is inside that room with a maniac, and the most you can do at this moment is sit on the ground and think about things that have already passed; you’re such a filly, now if you will excuse me I have to go help my friend.” Capture Shot got to his hooves and began galloping. The janitor did not move or yell in agony instead he opened his eyes to see that the Capture Shot left his camera. “Well spoken, well spoken indeed. But the janitor did not get up; he tried to hold in the tears of his brother’s death but he could not any longer. He began to sob and cry, as he did the thunderstorm approached and brought a downpour, which soaked him to the bones and sent multiplying chills down his spine.

Capture Shot began to stop because he now realized that his adrenaline had gotten to the better of him, and controlled his mind. The camera pony stopped in front of the door and sat on his flank, sobbing. “Why, why did this have to happen to the nicest stallion in all of Equestria? Oh dear celestia, why? The camera pony began to reminisce over the faint and dull memories that meant the most in the predicament they have encountered. Capture Shot could do nothing but sit there, petrified of when the horrendous torture will befall upon Sky Streak.

Stereo Note trotted slowly towards his chair by the hearth. Sky Streak looked at him with curiosity, and saw the reflection of the fire in his eyes. “Tell me how you got here stereo note.” He remained silent. “Please, tell me” Stereo Note brought his hoof to his face and motioned to speak.

The janitor let the cold, hard, drops fall on his face as punishment. He thought to shroud himself in a dark depression until the rain froze him to into an eternal sleep. He was beginning to close his eyes for the last time and take his last breaths. He no longer felt any cold sensations in his body, instead it was a warm invitation to the next world he needed to encounter. “Now you can finish your task Stereo Note, mine has been fulfilled.” he slowly whispered as he left Equestria.

Capture Shot raced back to the courtyard where he had left the fearful janitor behind. But came back only to see a lifeless corpse curled upon the grass. Capture Shot rushed straight to the janitor’s neck; to make sure he still had a pulse, but the janitor he once knew was long gone, and now there was no hope for his soul as well. The asylum bells rang which told the camera pony that it was still in the dark grey evening. The bells gave off an eerie ring at the end, which could send shivers down any ponies back. But it gave him release from his stress now he could focus on the main mission; Getting his best friend back.

He slowly dragged the carcass to a closet nearby and set him gently onto a shelf, He turned to see that the clouds have disappeared suddenly and brought in a blinding sunlight. “What, but it was just raining a minute ago?” He was very confused and stunned to see sunlight; it felt like it had been days since he had seen it. The warmth and glow was what he longed for in this dark grey place.

The bell gave its final ring, and the silence that had rung his ears before, was now back to torture his mind. A thought aroused in his brain which disturbed the silence; maybe there is a way back to the cell. He glanced at the door in front of him; it read "Kitchen" He opened the door slightly to get a quick glimpse of what was inside. But the horrific smell had beaten his sight. He instantly began to gag as he wandered about the kitchen, his vision had taken control as his senses returned he spotted 9 dead corpses on top of one another. He hoofed his mouth because he had felt a sickening feeling in his stomach, which he had tried to contain. But the sickness became too overwhelming; Capture Shot kneeled and threw his fluids on the dead ponies. Capture Shot clenched his stomach as he fell to the ground and began to breathe softly. He laid there for a few minutes he knew he had to get out. But just then he felt the tug of a body, he instantly screamed; shortly after he then fell silent and listened, he could hear the moaning of some pony. “Hold on!” he began digging his hooves at the lifeless bodies, ripping at flesh it didn't matter to him, he just needed to hear some pony's voice. Capture Shot just kept scratching until he reached a pony with her eyes still open.

Capture Shot lifted her from hiding, she was wearing a fancy outfit, Her eyes shinned a brilliant color of orange; they flickered back and forth as she was shivering . “Who did this to you?”the pony mumbled a few words that were not understandable. "speak!" he screamed, she broke out with a shaky answer “Don’t trust the one who composed the melody.” She closed her eyes and deceased from consciousness.

He laid her gently back from his hooves onto the ground. “The one who composed the melody.”

Memories Of A Psychopath

Stereo Note was darkened by shadows that crawled upon him relentlessly, His sparkling emerald green eyes were the only objects radiating light; and even those beautiful eyes were tormenting and threatening enough. he released his hoof from his face and glared with a psychotic smile at Sky Streak Tell me little pony, what is your name?” Sky Streak widened his eyes in surprise, “Oh.... i haven't told you my name yet?" Stereo Note shook his head slowly keeping both his eyes peeled onto him. Sky Streak paused, then spoke in a soft, shy voice. "Sky Streak..... It's Sky Streak." Stereo note put his hoof on his head and became confused. “Sky Streak; now where have i heard that name before?” Sky Streak's mood brightened. "Maybe you've heard of me, I'm the lead weather pony in Equestria, even princess Celes-"Stereo Note stuffed his hoof into Sky Streak's mouth, "DO NOT SAY THAT NAME TO ME; EVER!" Sky Streak swiftly nodded his head in understanding. Stereo Note walked as if he were a corpse and his psychotic smile smile turned into a devastated frown. “ So Sky Streak, how's the weather in ponyville hmm?" Sky Streak shook his head. “I will be asking the questions; stop sidetrackng me.” Stereo Note sat back in his chair. “Well, ask away to your little hearts consent, it would be my duty as a host to answer any question.” It did take long for Sky Streak to come up with a question; because he did ponder for a while whether it was appropriate for this matter. Finally he asked; “Are you from here?” Stereo Note was not to thrilled by this statement, you could tell by the eyebrows coming together to form a dark trench that showed anger and frustration. But the trench disappeared as a smirk ran across the edge of his mouth. “Yeah, I'm from baltimare” Stereo Note said sarcastically

Sky Streak was now realizing that Stereo Note had been dodging the question to stall and keep his real identity a secret. The asylum bells rung once again, but this time there was a crash of thunder that shook the confided room. But this action did not prevent Sky Streak’s first question. “I will say it one more time stereo note are you from this world or not?!” another jolt hit the asylum which at the time made his question more threatening to stereo note. “ O.K Fine, fine.” He took in a long breath and finally exhaled it out in words.

“I remember the wind was cool that day, for it was autumn on that precise day. Yes I remember, I trembled and shook under the frost bitten wind that also brought tears to my eyes. But the tears on that day were meaningless and bland. The leaves fell off the trees; which meant a sign of death in my opinion. As I trampled into my house I was greeted by a loud hissing noise that seemed to make me flinch. I quickly looked to my toes and saw my own four legged demon, snowball.”

I brushed him aside with my foot”- “ a foot?” Stereo Note gulped and said “Its nothing”

“I sat down at my rough couch and took off my beanie, letting loose my bad hair day. I looked at my broken fan, then looked toward my change jar. I pried open my pocket to find a 10$ bill in my palm. I got up and put the couple of bucks I had made in the small glass jar. I had figured since I was up anyways that I should go to my room. I walked to my doorknob and heard rattling coming from inside my own quarters. A strike of fear and adrenaline hit my body instantly; I reached for my other pocket and pulled out a small switchblade. I held the small blade to my nose and breathed quietly. I used the other hand to grab a hold of the doorknob; I busted the door open causing the large echoes to creak throughout the apartment.” Stereo note looked towards Sky Streak with unemotional eyes and saw that Sky Streak was looking with the exact opposite reaction. “Was it a ponynapper?” Sky Streak asked in suspense.

“No, it was a flock of birds that somehow managed to fly in from my slightly opened window. The feeling of adrenaline had vanished suddenly and I found myself even more exhausted than before. I had to do the impossible to get the birds off the bed. In the process of shooing the birds away, they managed to leave a present behind; with the bird’s claw it scraped my family portrait and threw it to the ground. The glass shattered making my heart stop, I slammed my door shut and closed my window then went to retrieve the broken pieces, the portrait was not from too long ago; it was actually taken 3 months earlier, but my mother is gone and now that’s left is my own drunk abusive father. Just as I was thinking about him the doorbell rang. I jumped to my feet and rushed through my door to see who it was. But it was my father right on schedule, sometimes I think I shouldn’t open the door and leave him out there to beg for mercy. But its not what my mother would have done. I grabbed the door and twisted the lock to let my father come inside; he greeted me with “you got any money on you?” in order to protect my hard earned money, I shook my head in disagreement. His eyebrows bursted with energy as he swiped his palm across my cheek, his hand was cold which brought a strange sensation to my face.”

“He walked past me not even pretending to care this time. What was a cold sensation, now was a frost bitten serpent that shattered my heart in crystals. Despite the pain I managed to return to my feet. As I looked toward my room I saw that it was now ajar, quite strange because I had closed the door when I went open the front; now I realized he was in my room.”

The Flickering embers

The asylum bells rang, but into a melody that was now apprehensive; it gave off an eerie, high pitched, noise that would cause any ponies’ heart to tremble, But this did not stop Sky Streak from getting the information he so desperately needed.

It seemed as though Stereo Note got side tracked by the grotesque humming of the bells. “Well it looks like its twelve o’ clock.” Sky Streak was pushed of his train of thought abruptly by this statement. “Twelve already,” Stereo Note felt his stomach demanding the slightest taste of food. “How about I get us some dinner?” Sky Streak stood to his hooves in a festive manor; “How can you get food?” Stereo Note smiled violently and trotted to a nearby closet sitting next to the hearth. He opened the door slowly, “Today we will be eating one of my personal favorites.” The dead bodies rumbled and thumped as they landed on the hardwood floor; blood oozed from their severed heads slowly making the cinnamon floor, turn into a crimson red.

Sky Streak screamed in horror and began to gag on his air. He managed to mumble, “Please tell me these are fake, please!” Stereo Note simply shook his head and walked to the vermillion stained ground; to pick up a severed head.

“It’s a delicacy to eat the eyeball first” he reached his hoof into the tortured skull, and yanked the cord that connected the two. Stereo Note then grabbed a wooden bowl from beneath his mattress; and then placed the horrendous object inside. “Soups on.” Stereo Note said without a hint of emotion. Sky Streak grabbed the dusty bowl. And with one look inside; he began to break into a cold sweat. He was so hungry, should he manage to eat the eyeball and be satisfied? Or should he refuse and starve to a dead corpse in this cell? Sky Streak swallowed his pride and began to munch on the eye of a once living, breathing, innocent pony. The eye popped while he was nibbling, and squirted blood throughout his mouth. The blood began dripping out of his mouth and into the bowl below; He told himself he couldn’t swallow. But eventually the blood became too much to handle in that ponies mouth and it came back out, but this time also with regurgitation.

Sky Streak was now more, queasy than he had ever been in his life. His stomach was a rocking ocean of misery and his mind felt like it was becoming as twisted as the murderer sitting in front of him.

Sky Streak looked at Stereo Note with fury. “That, was the worst thing i have ever eaten in my life.” Stereo Note bursted into a laughter that caused the walls to rattle; But Sky streak remained silent. Stereo Note's laughter turned into a frown “You know, there are worse things to consume than a dead, mangled carcass.” Stereo Note proclaimed. Sky Streak looked at stereo note with one eyebrow raised. “You just have not consumed pain or bitterness like I have… yet. Stereo Note grabbed the mangled corpses and placed them back inside the closet; while doing this he also saw that his fire was burning down, he stared at the burning charcoal. "Oh dear it seems i need more fire," Stereo Note looked at Sky Streak almost instantly.He crawled back as Stereo note got closer, "ah-ha" Stereo Note reached beside Sky Streak to pick up a log, and throw it into the hearth. Sky Streak watched as the embers flickered throughout the room. Stereo Note sat back in his chair and stared as well.

“When I saw that my door was ajar after I had closed it, I was confused. But then all of the thoughts came together. My father was in my room. I stood to my feet despite the fact that it was soar that day, and I bolted to my room; the pain that was sharpened had now disappeared. I blasted the door open and saw my father collecting my own hard earned money for his own narcotics. I rushed to his back and began striking him with seemingly powerful blows, apparently it was enough to get his attention; and before I knew it I was kissing the hardwood floor with my hands tied behind my back and my arms being stretched enough to bring tears to the strongest man alive.

“YOURE A STUPID BOY, WHO NEEDS TO LEARN HIS PLACE!” Much to my surprise, I got out of his tight grip and wrapped my hoodie sleeve around his neck tightly and brought his head back.

“YOURE WHAT TORE THIS FAMILY APART, YOU BROUGHT PAIN TO THE PEOPLE THAT CARED FOR YOU THE MOST, AND NOW ITS TIME TO REPAY THEM!” I felt my arm gripping more and more tight as each second passed. I reached for my pocket once more and pulled out that switchblade; I could feel sweat drip down his pale white face. I then held the switchblade towards his neck slowly, until I saw her; my mother. The figure was faded but I could recognize her in a heartbeat. She simply shook her head in front of me and grabbed my arm to let loose of my father’s neck; and when I turned to look back, she was gone. My father stood to his feet and approached me, his fist was clenched which could only mean one suggestion, he was going to attack me; and sure enough, I was right. His fist hit my stomach which caused what little breath I had in my lungs to whither instantly. I laid down on my bed grimacing, and clenching my stomach. He felt as though his aggression was not yet complete until he saw my blood, I could tell by the indignant feeling in his dark hazel eyes. He yanked my arm, which caused me to fall to the ground; he slammed his elbow into my pelvis. The instant he hit it with all his might, I knew it was broken. He figured since I was distracted he could reach for the small pocketknife laying open on my bed. He drove the knife into my ring finger; I screamed in agony, and begged to find compassion in his stone cold heart. Eventually he released me from his strong grip, and he then stood to his feet to leave the room with my money jar.”

The hours swept by as I laid there on the soft white carpet; sometimes I would turn my head to see the other side and noticed that it was rose red. My finger no longer felt pain, but it was the complete opposite for my shattered pelvis. I could tell it was around 9:30 because sunlight crept through my covered windows, it was reliving to feel the small amount of glow that illuminated the room with warmth and comfort. But the absolute best part is that my father leaves for work at 9:30, I could hear keys rattling and the front door opening and then shutting which meant my father would be gone for the rest of the day.”

“I pushed and struggled to try and get up with the support of my bed, but it was no use. So I crawled my way to my bedroom door. The pain was excruciating but I used my hands to drag my limp torso and legs. As I pushed my arms with each stroke I saw myself losing blood from my sawed off finger. This did not stop me from reaching my kitchen. I grabbed the lower cabinet and with all my might pushed myself up to reach the countertop.”

“It felt as though I could slip any second and damage my bones even more, but I reached the top of the counter to stand, the agonizing pain grew each time I stretched my body upwards. I limped to my couch and took seat next to my cat. Which of course hissed at me right on schedule, only this time I didn’t smack across the room simply because I was too weak to do anything. I grabbed the remote sitting next to me and clicked the power button; it was tuned to a kid’s show that I did not want caught in my brain, so I turned to grab the remote again but only this time I saw that my cat was nibbling on it. “Well it looks like I’m watching the hub.” A show that was very uninteresting popped up so I chose not to pay much attention to it.”

“I awoke with a sudden burst of pain in my kidney; I leaped off the couch and fell on the coffee table. Then I looked back and saw that snowball had taken my comfort spot, usually I would have done something about it, but I simply didn’t have the energy at all. After looking back I realized how hungry I was, I stood and limped towards the kitchen. I let my hand sweep across the cold surface and collect crumbs to sweep off the counter. I then reached to open the fridge and an arctic chill hit my spine and caused me to make a quick decision. I pulled out some milk and poured it into my glass. While drinking I got a quick look at the time and saw that it was 4:30, instantly the milk became sour in my mouth and I spit it inside the sink.

“Dammit, how could I have let myself sleep for this long? I grabbed my glass and placed it into the sink as well; I waddled to my couch to turn off the T.V., and then bolted to my room to hear the doorbell ring 5 minutes later.”

The Face In The Mirror

Capture Shot reached his hoof toward the pony but instead of a warm grip, all he felt was dark bitterness that had devoured her innocent soul. "Please don't die on me ; please!" Capture Shot scraped through more ponies, to find one living breathing mare, or stallion, but none of the bodies moved or made any sounds. He stood to his blood-soaked hooves and looked at a mirror tilted on a corner, Capture Shot paused for a moment to stare at himself. "Oh dear Celestia, why has this forsaken asylum turned me into a monster.... WHY!!" he slammed his hooves on the ground; using all his might. Capture Shot grinned as he stared back into the mirror, His frown was replaced by a disturbing and insane smile. "I'M NOT GOING INSANE!" He looked to his left and right and saw a door. He stood to his hooves slowly and trotted to the rusted knob; when he opened the door, he saw vast rows of cells that had been exposed to oxygen and collected rust. There were no ponies anywhere to be seen. “C'MON, C'MON, WHERE IS THAT BLASTED CELL” He thought as he bursted the doors open, He stopped in his tracks when he noticed something posted on the wall it was a sign that labeled different blocks throughout the asylum. This brought his spiraling senses and thoughts to a sudden brake, his insane smile vanished as he payed close attention to the sign "G block? how in equestria am i in the G block?" Stereo Note had noticed the sudden slam in the middle of his speech to Sky Streak but he ignored it, Sky Streak was too absorbed in his life to think about anything else so Stereo Note continued.

“The door opened with a crash and I heard footsteps throughout the apartment. I did not want to open the door to see who it was, even if it was my father. “WHAT THE HELL IS THIS SHIT!” I heard my father scream from the hallway. I could hear the footsteps getting closer to my room. I shuddered, of course I was petrified of what was going to happen. Would he beat me again? The door slammed open , but this time I did not have protection; I was invulnerable. He stared down at me with his dark reassuring eyes. “Go look at what is on in the living room!” I cowardly stepped forward and moved my feet slowly, he pushed me faster each time I tried to slow down”

“Were you watching this boy?” I looked closely at the screen and saw bright colored ponies talking in some field. “NO!” I replied, he shook his head “Well thank god, I thought you were going to turn into a faggot” he grabbed the remote from my cat with ease, the cat objected with a loud growl. “Shut up, ya stupid cat.” He switched off that girly show that was bothering him so much; grabbed his flask and took a huge swig of it; shortly after he let out a sigh that smelled like snowball’s bad breath. “Is that it?” I asked. He waved his hand and plopped on the couch “Whatever, go to ya room.”

“I walked back to my room and noticed that my wounds were feeling better; so I figured I could write down some ideas for music. I reached for my pencil across the room and sat gently at my chair. The seat was wooden and hard, so I put a pillow on the chair. Now that I was comfortable, I could begin. I fit my pencil in my left hand and was about to stroke it when I heard the front door slam open, it was my father’s drunk, drug dealing, child abusing ass holes you wouldn’t call very good friends. “Well it looks like I’m staying in my room the rest of the night.” I turned my chair to look out my blinds and saw endless strands of rose, lemon, tangerine, and lavender. I glared to the sunset that day for a long time, until I began to weep for my mother. I begged and pleaded to hear her soft melodies she would sing to me before I fell asleep, I wanted to feel the warmth of a real hug; not the bitter coldness of a smack to the head or the marks of choking around my neck. It was loneliness, I did not have friends or colleagues that I could talk my problems to; I was fed up of this grown man’s nonsense. I grabbed my chair and threw it against my wall; the impact broke the chair on the spot. I grabbed my own hair and tossed myself to a corner. I did not cry, how could I; my father was not worth the tears that I have shed. I screamed to the skies begging a pleading for a sign. And sure enough, I was greeted by one.”

“What did you hear?” implied Sky streak. Stereo note turned to face his dead hearth.

“Music.”

“I could hear a faint melody being played on a certain string instrument; my eyes looked up and I had gotten out of the corner to search for the source; but after hours of trying the melody withered away. I now realized how tired I would be for school tomorrow.”

"Inside my dream, I saw myself floating in an unreal mass of nothing, when I looked to my left i saw a door. I floated towards the door and tried to twist it; but it would not budge at all. When I looked back to the place i was, i saw a creature that made my heart sink. It looked like a goat, with a dragon's tail and a lion's paw. i moved my hands with fury and tried to swim away from the beast that was getting closer."

“I woke to an alarm splashing my face with reality, I told myself to stay in a warm embrace that engulfed my body. But all good things come to pass. So I got up and made my way down the narrow hallway I passed so many times; my father had already gotten up and left to his occupation; but the strangest thing happened, the television screen was tuned into the hub, remember the one show with the ponies?”

“ I left the television on and tried to ignore it, I grabbed my breakfast and slammed it to the table; the sounds irradiated from the monitor even louder and they became even harder to ignore; and then I heard, music. I turned my head toward the television set reluctantly. Instead of seeing some girly show of ponies prancing, I saw beautiful melodies and music beyond my own comprehension. Their magnificent sounds brightened my soul; just like when my mother was alive.”

“I shifted my head back and forth to watch their beautiful singing, when I looked back for the last time I saw the ending credits. Did I just watch a little girl’s show? But it was so good, one thing was certain I absolutely did not want my father to find out about this. I reached my hoodie sleeve back and saw that it was ten. “ it’s time to go to school.”

“I opened my door to find the frost bitten wind had seeped through the apartment, I walked outside and felt for sure there would be storm approaching in the near future. I walked hastily to my front door and slid it open to let the breeze seep through. At first it was a cooling sensation that calmed my senses as slid past my front door. I put my hand on the cold metal railing and walked down my broken steps with caution.”

“Walking to school had usually been a breeze, but today showed signs of overcast weather and very horrendous winds. The fall had just arrived in this windy city; and it had never been so windy as this. The clouds aligned in an almost ominous position. As I stared about the clouds I ran into a man dressed in a very expensive suit, he wore a dark mahogany beard aboard his chin, and his eyes shimmered a bright grey. He stared at my tumbled body but did nothing to help me in any way; all he did was stare at me with curiosity. He spoke in a rusty voice, “What’s wrong with ya pelvis lad?” I looked at my purple stained bruise on my left hip. “None of your business.” I grabbed a hold of the rusted pole beside me as I stood to my toes almost losing my balance. “Did ya fall lad?” I walked away from the bench leaving his question to flow in the wind. “Fuck off you creep!” I yelled from beyond his arms reach. “You got nowhere to go lad!” I looked at my wristwatch; I was already late for school. “I’m going home, just try and stop”- I was interrupted in the middle of my sentence to feel my arm being pulled behind my back and in an instant I was on the ground. I managed to mumble a single sentence, “How did you?”-. He pulled out a golden badge; which could only mean one problem. “ The name's officer McMareson boy, now you’re gonna tell me where your abusive, drunk, scumbag of a father is.”

The Package

Capture Shot glanced at what was in front of him. Two doors stood tall and firm, blocking Capture Shot's view. He slammed into the door with all of his might; but failed. Capture Shot slid to his hind and curled into a fetal position. "So this is it... I'm just doomed in here, why us, WHY US?" He once again looked at his bloodstained hooves. "Maybe this is all just in my mind, maybe I'm just dreaming." But a sudden smash caused his thoughts to erase and head to stand up swiftly. The door which he had tried to unlock; opened. He slid to a corner and did not move. Capture Shot looked towards the ground and saw a single hoof stick out. His eyes widened and he galloped toward the door only to be greeted by a mare, she wore a white uniform and a hat that read "Willow Tree Staff" He could not believe his eyes. "Welcome to the Willow Tree Asylum, Are you here to visit?"

“When I didn’t answer the officer he smashed my face further into the concrete, “Ill say it one more time lad, where’s ya dad.” I turned my face slightly to bite his thumb, he flinched his hand and let out a grunt; but strangely he did not release me from his strong hold. I kept struggling, yelling for someone to help, but unfortunately for myself not a lot of people walk down this street. When I was about to tell him, he released me and sat me up to put handcuffs on my wrists. “Alright just tell me me where your house is, eh?”

“He took me to his car, and for the first time in my life I felt like a criminal; I promised my mother on her death bed that I would not end up on a police car. It seemed like an easy promise at the time, but when my father hitched a ride on the wrong bandwagon; and I shortly followed. While we were driving down the highway I contemplated about my mother once again. Even though it was only three months ago, it felt like centuries have passed since I embraced her. I felt a tear crawl its way past my eye and down my cheek.

“Okay here we are at your home.” I did not respond, instead I let my frown show my boiling emotions. He grabbed my wrists and released my handcuffs in that instant I realized I was free, I grabbed my satchel and sprinted to my front door.”

“I was relieved to see the cop car flee from my house, when I entered the house I was greeted by snowball, but instead of showing hate and resentment. It showed warm compassion by rubbing my leg with its soft face. Normally on this rare occasion of kindness I would reward him with some catnip or a treat; but a long morning of justice and law had pushed my limits and I was beyond exhausted.”

I trembled and stepped on misc. objects in the hallway as I passed. But I eventually got to my damp room. I shrouded myself in a blanket; that’s where I would usually think the best. Now I had to decide to betray my father and be free from abuse, or stay with him and suffer the consequences. I kept telling myself “What would my mother do?” but in the end she probably couldn’t have decided either way.”

“I ripped the blinds off my window but instead of finding a warm summer light, I found a grey autumn daybreak. As I cried my ear started to give off an annoying static sound, and then that static began to play a smooth melody; the same one I heard before. My eyes looked up, I tossed my blanket aside and grabbed out a pencil to write the chords playing in my head. It felt as though my brain was being tossed around like a football in my head. And when the melody ended it would just repeat itself; instead of feeling the smooth melody like I did before; it was now a curse that had been playing again and again in my head. When it repeated itself for the third time I rushed to the kitchen to grab some headache pills, but it did not go away. I squeezed my hands on my hair, grimacing at the unknown pain. When I looked toward the television I saw ponies, yes the same ones as before. When I got closer to the television, it felt as though some puppeteer was controlling me by invisible strings; and before I knew it, I was sitting on the couch watching a show meant for little children. But when I put my mind into the actual plot, I noticed that the melody had vanished. I thought long and hard to myself, “Was it the show, or the pills?”

“And why did the melody submerge itself in silence yet again, this was so bizarre, but I also wanted to refrain from it, to me the thought was dangerous. I arose from my soft couch to hear a knocking at my front door.”

I stopped in my tracks to look through the front door to see who it was; it was my dad’s partners in crime. Of all the people to show upon my front door, it had to be the criminals. I did not want to upset my father again; so I opened the door to talk to them. “Hey buddy, ya dad home yet?” I shook my head, they pulled out a package from one of their plastic shopping bags. “This is a present for ya dad,” he grabbed me by the collar. “If you open this ya dad is gonna be pissed!” he dropped me to my feet and handed me the package abruptly. The three giants left the apartment complex; and unfortunately for my father I inherited my mother’s curiosity.”

“I closed the door and locked it thoroughly, then I placed the package carefully onto the coffee table. My cat had appeared on the table to sniff it and rub its face against the edges of the box. I swept him aside and grabbed my pocketknife to cut the edges they ripped off easily; I then unraveled the bubble wrap to find a cheap looking DVD. This actually surprised me, I was expecting narcotics or pills, but it was just a blank DVD. I grabbed it swiftly and sprinted to my room; I then put the DVD inside, and waited for the horror I was about to see appear in front of me.”

“But instead of a swelling mass of pain to my eyes it looked as though it was filmed at a church, the bright lights shimmered off a woman in a ivory cloak that stretched to her toes. As the cameraperson boggled with the view, I had gotten a clear image of the woman; yes it was my mother. I had never seen a more beautiful woman in my life. Elegance illuminated from her pale face. Then the camera switched from my stunning mother, to a tall dark haired man standing beside her. I squinted my eyes to get a better view and that man was my father, strong, handsome, with a bright future ahead of him. They sang a song together; their sound together brought tears to my eyes, but when I listened closer I definitely recognized that melody, it was the same one that had been playing on and off in my brain.”

“I took the DVD out and without any warning, the melody played in my head once more. I cringed under the pain and began sobbing, just begging and pleading for the melody to go away. I turned my face to my window and looked towards the sunset, it was the only thing to keep me calm; but now my inner calmness was engulfed and swallowed by emotion, it seemed they were the perfect couple; but it was shattered because of my existence; this is my fault. I gazed at what I thought would be my last sunset. The tears dried on my face and they just stopped appearing; I reached my pocket for the knife that had held so much aggression and pain. Now was held to my throat.”

“The police busted my door and standing in front of him was the man that I hated the most, the detective. He stroked his rugged face and stared at me with a puzzled look, “Well lad, it looks like you’re in a bit of a predicament eh?” my face turned from no emotion to a face of sheer rage. When out of nowhere a policeman caught me and pushed my face on the ground.”

“We’re just here to ask a few questions before we get started with our mouse trap.” The policeman held my face up and the detective kneeled and met me half way. “What time does your dad get home?” while being pushed to the ground I had gathered enough spit; after he asked the question, I spat on his dress shoes.” He jumped back at the surprising information,” Fine I guess we’ll have to wait for ya old man, eh?”

“I heard a knock on my front door, it could only mean more police or my father had returned.”

The Broken Chair

7 Months later…

“Sounds drifted off and about under the crackling of rain; the city that doesn’t sleep. I lifted my hand out and caught a drop of water in my palm, I tilted my hand side to side manipulating that drop; then it disappeared, I watched as the bus came to pick me up right on schedule, but instead of a warm humming sound, a cold splash drenched my body as it passed me by, I did not yell or scream at the bus instead I let the drops fall from my hair onto my crimson nose. The bench was creaky and noisy which had grown my impatience so I stood to my feet and decided to walk to the penitentiary my father had been locked in.”

“The prison was a few miles away, I glanced around from my black hoodie and saw that everyone was looking at me with fear, I could see mothers clenching their children’s hand tighter, I saw grown men clench their teeth in front of my presence; this is what I wanted. I loved to see people wither away and cower in fear at my attendance, it made me feel feared and shunned by everyone.”

“On my way the rain had cleared, but behind it the gloomy skies still hung over the god forsaken city that I had to endure. The prison had come to my clear sight of vision and I started to sprint towards the glass doors that kept me from my father. An officer greeted me and told me that detective McMareson was here to see me. I stopped in my tracks and gave a glare to the officer, I could see his hands reach for a baton at his side; I am intimidating to even an officer of the highest rank, I kept walking forward. The warm air hit me and it felt simply divine and I closed my eyes to feel the warm embrace hit my face, but the warmth of it stopped suddenly as a hand placed on my left shoulder; “Its good to see ya again lad, its been seven months hmm?” I could feel my eyebrows coming together as I turned my head by instinct. “I’m not here to see an overgrown ginger, I’m here to see my dad.” He broadly laughed at my insult as if he brushed it aside. “So lad, ya grew a foot or two eh?” I did not respond. He stroked his beard gently and pushed his lips to the side.”

“Alright, lets go see ya dad eh? Would ya like that?” I nodded my head slowly at him, with curiosity at where he was exactly taking me.”

“This way.” He led me down a dark corridor, which had lamplights on both sides. It felt as though I was in a scary movie. He opened the door and I had found myself in a glass room filled with guards. It didn’t surprise me much. “Your father will be here shortly lad, just wait.” Although that day I had bitterness tampering with my heart every second, the officer was right; I did feel anxious to see my father after seven months. I looked to my side and heard footsteps behind, my father walked slowly onto the seat across from me, handcuffed. My father was not the person I had loved or remembered. He wore a red bandana and tattoos marked his emotions with sharp ink across his neck and arms, his tattered ugly blue uniform made him look even more like a criminal. I could hardly bear to look at him, until he spoke.”

“I missed you.” Those words shot through my heart faster than a bullet, but yet the words were so simple and dull. I maintained my composure and remained as though I was unaffected on the outside. “Eh? Ya not gonna say nothing back?” instead of answering him, I kept my face hidden inside my black hoodie pretending not to care. There was a silence between us; until he tried to break it with a very cliché conversation starter, it was almost laughable. “The weather’s pretty dull eh?” The silence arose again after I did not respond.

“Ya doin well at school?” That is the question that broke the strong wall blocking my connection to him. “You know what dad, I haven’t gone to school in two weeks; you know why? Because I cant fucking pay for textbooks, or lunch, or choir activities after school, I cant even get a job to help pay the big ass rent that’s due tomorrow. I AM FUCKED BECAUSE OF YOUR STUPIDITY!”

“The look of shock on his face gave me a sudden feeling of guilt, but it was the cold, hard truth. He needed to know what was happening to me. “You’re right. You are in this mess because of my mess ups.” I was engulfed with emotions from my heart that it seemed to swallow my mind in the process. “OHH, so now you want to admit your wrong doings, you think that you can say sorry and my world will become bright and sunny. Well I have something to say to you! Those times ARE LONG FUCKING GONE!”

“I saw my father bite his lips and cringe his face, and for the first time in my life I saw a single tear crawl its way down his face slowly. “I know, you don’t deserve me as a father I mean look at me, I’m in prison, with people I don’t even know. Because of my mistakes I have to stay up every night in this jail making sure I don’t get stabbed to death. But most importantly because of my mistakes I have caused your life to take a turn for the absolute worst.”

“I looked at him with rage. “Cry me a river, cry me a fucking river; I don’t need sympathy from a father who beat his son.” I saw tears fall from his face like shooting stars, but instead of wishes coming true, these shooting stars represented failure and depression instead.”

“One more thing before I leave.” He looked at me with red swollen eyes. I tossed him our family photo. It scraped as it flew across the table. “You have more use for it than I do, also you see that woman on the picture; you forgot about one more mistake you made… its your fault that woman is dead!”

“He leaped from his chair, grabbed my hoodie and screamed in my face. “CANT YA JUST SEE THAT I’M FUCKING SORRY? IS THAT NOT ENOUGH? DO I NEED TO FUCKING STRECH MY ARM TO THE MOON AND GRAB IT, JUST SO SOME SELF ABSORBENT ADOLESCENT BOY CAN FINALLY APPRECIATE ME?”

“The guards rushed in and grabbed his arms to lift him and lead him out the entrance where he came from, as he was lifted in to the hallway I heard him scream to me, “YOU WERE A MISTAKE! A SHITTY EXCUSE FOR EVEN A MISTAKE!” he struggled and wept as he left my sight into a hallway of darkness.”

“I pushed my chair in with a slam that caused it to smash into pieces; echoes creaked there way down the halls. I stood to my feet and proceeded out of that place; that was the last time I would dare step my foot in there…ever.”

“That night, I could not sleep. Memories of that tragic incident with my father flashed swiftly through my head with a never-ending cycle of pain. I dozed off many times but as soon as my head told itself that it could go to bed, my heart would display that one single moment. I tumbled over onto the ground and felt its chilling sensation run through my bones. Through the small hole in my roof I could see the majestic moon displaying its radiance throughout the starry night. I blinked my eyes back and forth to tell my tears to come out, but my eyes had given enough tears this evening.”

“I couldn’t explain why I was thinking about my mother, but her loving warmth always seemed to creep into my darkest situations. To me it was reminding me to always keep a smile on my face, I could imagine her sitting with me, and her deep, black, raven hair to cover my shoulder, to look into her stunning violet eyes.”

“Then at the worst possible time; it happened, the melody began to play. I slammed my ears shut to try and block out the repetitive aria, but it seemed to be playing through my mind. I rushed to my feet and swiftly flew down my hallway to the kitchen. I kept opening cabinets until I found it lying on the counter. I twisted the cap open in a frantic motion and swallowed two pills. I knew it would take some time before it set in, but it was driving me insane. It kept playing and playing, then it became unbearable, it began to sound like static and switching radio stations at the same time. The pills weren’t working, so what stopped it last time. It all became clear to me. Some how someway my brain was telling me to watch that show that had broken the melody before.”

“I ran to my laptop, and searched the show. Results came up and I found myself watching the first episode, then the second, then eleventh, then fifteenth. I could not believe what I was doing, but my melody had vanished right on schedule.”

“I closed my laptop for the night, but instead of falling asleep, I climbed my roof and gazed at the dark jeweled sky for comfort and peace, why this show out of every single cartoon in the world appealed to me? It was because they had something and that was peace and harmony. Something that my grey tinted world lacked.”

“I had a reputation to defend, especially at school. I didn’t care for my education whatsoever, but I went there to hang out with my gang friends from time to time. I had respect and I obtained that title for simply not having a future ahead of me. My father was in jail for twenty-five years and my mother was dead. After my father had been thrown in jail I told myself I had no future, to this day I still believe I have nothing to live for.”

“Hey man, it’s been five days since I’ve seen you; how’s it goin? I glared at my friend with rage and intimidation. “It’s been just peachy keen.” Of course it was a lie. I couldn't tell them what I was doing, they would just laugh. No, The entire world would be laughing at me for one thing that I enjoyed to watch and I would lose my intimidation, and my motivation thats why I chose not to go to school.”

“Days crept by without warning, with fall came winter, with winter came spring. One day I awoke to the sound of mockingbirds cuddling in their warm nests without a care in the world. I was envious of those birds. To fly away from problems with the flick of a feather, it was all too impossible for me and the more I pictured it, the more distant to reality it became. I hate spring.”

“I awoke and tumbled out of my mattress with the blanket still gripped to my back. It was half past eleven; and I realized I hadn’t eaten in days. My stomach swayed back and forth aching as I opened my fridge. Nothing. I reached down in my pocket and pulled out a ten-dollar bill from work. “Well I guess I could get something to eat.”

“I opened the door and the sunshine leaped into the small apartment, when this happened I received a pain in my eyes, one more painful than I had ever experienced. I stepped out of my door and closed it with a loud shut. I noticed my neighbor looking at me with amazement that I was actually outside. I chuckled at the expression she had on her face. The sun was blinding so my eyes squinted automatically by instinct, it was intimidating to step out into a world I haven’t seen for months.”

“I kept my eye out for my gang members I did not want them to find me, that would be the last time I come outside ever again. I walked into the store and ordered my food then I sat down at the table closest. For some odd reason I always enjoyed being observant while I ate; my heart stopped suddenly as I saw three fellow gang members outside the window in the alley with one single pistol in each of their hands. The leader of my gang held his pistol to a boy on the ground and shot him right in the forehead, when their bloodthirsty eyes looked up from the alley; i was making direct eye contact with them.”

My Dark Solitude

“Emotions and fears rapidly swelled in my stomach. I can tell you that I had lost my appetite right then. As my brain forced my feet to move, i bumped into many people in the restaurant and into the streets. I couldn’t look back, I would see them, no second thoughts; I had to get to my house… alive. The street home was busier than usual and I found myself hopping over cars, and leaping over metal fences. I realized that I was on a street just a few blocks from the forrest that surrounded the outside of my neighborhood.When I glanced to my right and saw the three criminals just down the road I cut across the street and into a ditch. I couldn't cut across and take the risk of them seeing me. A brilliant idea came to mind. I would hide myself in an abandoned shack just outside of the forest."

“That place was my sanctity, my peace; it was like my second home back when I was young and my mother was alive. When my parents would argue or fight, I would take a book that I had rented and run to this burnt down, mossy, shed and open my mind to something more uplifting. Books were nice. I could read books forever, To see characters come to life in vivid imagination was absolutely breathtaking.”

“SO… you decided to run here eh?” My heart stopped and I turned with widened eyes to see them standing before me with clenched fists and handguns. “I’m guessing you want out of the gang right?” I nodded my head slowly. "I hate you Marcos, you did nothing but ruin my life even more by taking my place." Marcos let out a breif sigh before speaking “Well I think you know the punishment for that; Hold him.” Before I had the opportunity to strike or think; I was grabbed by a fellow gang member. I struggled and bit their thumbs but it was useless. “You were always the eye of this gang, so lets see how you can do without it.” I was leaned against the cold rundown wall that looked as if it were about to crumble. The man grabbed hold of my eyelids and forced them open. I screamed for mercy as tears ran down my face, “Please Marcos! Please!” He pulled out his switchblade and held it against my dampened eye.”

“And without hesitation he flicked his wrist and swiped my right eye. They let me fall to the ground. My teeth chatered and I clenched my pupil trying to stop the bleeding. The leader snapped his fingers “Johnny, you know what to do.”

“Johnny kneeled looked at me with his innocent blue eyes and whispered, “I’m so sorry.” When I closed my eyes I saw darkness, when I opened my eyes from a sharp pointing to the stomach, he held that gun to my gut. A loud shot made echoes even louder than the thunder itself; fear had taken over my pain only for instant, I looked to my stomach to see my white shirt become crimson. When I gazed back up at johnny, I noticed a small palm pistol and a shell laid beside him. My head was smashed into the ground as Marcos leaped out of the shack. The other two shortly followed.

"So this is it, I told myself. I would die in the only place I found solitude in my life. Maybe the world I know isn't so great."

The clouds rumbled, and thumped as the dark grey sky shook, I looked to my hand gently leaning beside my head. I stared at the ground for quite awhile; I Then noticed my world spinning, the clouds moved in swirls and my vision blurred."

"Crying, Unfortunately that was all I could do. I have cried so much the past few months; over my father, over my future, and most draining; my mother."

"I jumped from the sound of crackling thunder. The pain came back as I tried to maneuver onto my right leg. I let out a grunt to try and ease the excruciating pain. I looked at my hand I saw that it was bloodstained. "I didn't get shot did I?", I then lifted my shirt only to find blood still fresh dripping down my flesh. I titled my head and leaned on a tree to gain some balance and try to stand to my feet. As i was standing I could hear just a faint playing of music, then it hit me; the melody is coming back."

"In alarm, i tried my best to lean on branches and stifle my way out of there. I felt rocks crumble under my feet as i stepped out of the abandoned shack, but the melody continued it would not stop, each time i stepped closer to my house and away from the forrest it would raise to an ear throbbing volume. It was unbearable, so i decided to take my chances and step into the willow tree forrest. Somehow I just knew it was calling for me, the melody, the pain, the wounds, meant something. maybe it was my fate to subconsciously trample into that forrest.

The Torturous Silence

“I could here nothing but the leaves crumble under my feet; there was no wind, no thunder or lightning just silence. It was intolerable to me, the thunderstorm had vanished without warning and I couldn’t stand to listen to the crickets humming, or to hear a ring in your ear when there is no sound. Silence was the ultimate torture; Silence drove away happiness laughter and joy. It had come to mind that, in my city; there wasn’t laughter anymore. there was nothing but anger and silence.

“But now the more i thought about it being torturous the more I longed for silence, not the fake silence; the true silence that I could find when I part this World. The kind of silence that is peaceful and relaxing; but it seemed that melody was refusing to calm down and let go, it played over and over. The more I listened the more I thought about my mother and sleeping in her warm embrace in silence.

The thought was broken by my left eye noticing a single willow tree standing tall and firm on a single hill against the ominous grey horizon. the branches were twisted like a twizzler, but spread open like a blossom at the top. It was a wonder how one tree could stand above all and grab my attention. I lifted my hand to touch the trunk. It was soft, yet rugged. I felt its cold trunk and it was surely dead and When I pressed my head against it harder; the melody vanished surprisingly.”

“I opened my eyes more and trembled backwards onto my spine causing nerves to shoot up to my brain. I winced at the pain and looked to my stomach, It was stained a dark red; I then glanced back at that tree, “How on earth did that stop the melody?” I pondered.”

“My eyes shifted furiously throughout my field of vision and I became dizzy. “I’m going to die!” I thought. although my heart objected telling me “Maybe this was supposed to happen; maybe I was supposed to die by this willow tree.” it was an unending conflict that I had been feeling for months.

“No. I told myself to get up, listen to my brain and run. No matter how much pain i felt, I had to keep running faster. The pain was destroyed by anxiety and adrenaline; simply intoxicating, the speed, the wind blowing in my hair.”

As I was running, a memory came to mind and All of the sudden I was reliving my fifth birthday. the area where i could not see was covered in white like colors were splashed on a pure white canvas, It was strange; but I guess people who are close to death always imagine things from their past. I saw balloons of every color spread upon the tables and people cheering my name, singing happy birthday; when I turned to my left I looked at the boy, he was sitting in a fettle position. When i saw the boy step closer he opened his mouth and began to giggle, than laugh.The balloons seemed to float away as he laughed harder, but only certain colors of blue and yellow. How bizarre, I don’t remember any balloons floating away I noticed reassured myself to reality.”

I felt my arms being scratched by the branches and vines and trees. It was a feeble effort to stop me in my tracks until a root sticking from the ground caught my foot and lowered me to the floor with a quick force.”

“The impact caused what little blood I had to splatter onto the grass instantly, what was strange was that my stomach did not ache anymore, instead my legs and arms grew numb and soar.”

“At last I would accept my fate… I was dying; and the sooner I accepted it, the sooner I could see my mother again. Perhaps that was what I wanted, I didn’t know. I was scared to die, even the bravest of warriors cringe from fear at the thought of death. everyone is afraid of death in one way,that was just the way things were.”

“It was coming quicker than I had expected, I began to cry and sob it was so sudden to think back at my life and see only seven months of torture; seven months go by so quickly and unannounced. What with my mother dying and my father going to prison… oh well I could be spared without thinking I decided to close my eyes and accepted my fate without fear; just pure, rich, silence.”

Stripes Of Ash And Pearl

“An aroma beseeched my nightmare, I could smell something from beyond my realm of thought… wait… you cant use your senses when you’re dead; I told myself abruptly. I could feel a warm cloth stretched across my body, I could taste the saltiness in the air around me. Why was I coming back? I felt my arm twitch, and my leg shiver. “Please no!” I yelled in my head, “Just let me go, please!” Reality was seeping through my hope of the afterlife, I felt helpless.

“The aroma became more potent as my body began shuffling; I could also hear a faint tap across my ear of something coming closer to whatever I was on. I tried opening one eye, but it wouldn’t budge. Maybe it was that annoying melody again… no. I did my best to force open my eye once again but it was futile. I needed a boost, probably a sudden shock.”

“The sound stopped, I shrunk in fear; waiting for something to happen then a voice spoke,

“I have noticed you are awake, so please get up for Celestia’s sake.”

My eyes opened automatically and I lifted my torso to pull myself up, while doing this a sharp pain caressed my stomach and I immediately fell back again.

“Please Do not move, Pain still does hurt you.”

“I had regained control over my eyes, and I peaked through to get a glimpse of what or who was talking. It was a zebra?!! She wore strips of ash and pearl across her body and her mane. She also had a certain symbol on her backside along with golden rings constricting her leg and neck. But her eyes shimmered through the gray ash to release a sparkling teal. I could tell that we made eye contact and that this was the first time she had seen me awake.

“Where am I?” I asked speaking with weakness. She stared at me for a very long time until answering.

“The Everfree forest is where you are now, if you want more ponies head into town.”

I gave her a suggestive look “ Town? How can you talk? Who are you? And Please tell me you aren’t rhyming like that on purpose.”

A silence grew, until she kneeled beside me and gave a sturdy look.”

“You are not from here I could tell, I gave you a magic potion which granted you a spell.”

“What do you mean?” I answered softly.

“She did not say anything, but instead pointed to a mirror that stood upright against a wall; I stood, but felt awkwardly smaller, and wobbly. As I got closer, I noticed my hair in a spiky formation; with colors of obsidian and dark teal. The mirrors reflection caught my face now and one thing that had not changed were my eyes; the sparkling green emeralds made my face shine from the dark gray surrounding my face with darkness. Now my whole body could be revealed… I was a pony.”

“WHAT THE HELL AM I?” I shouted.

“Normal is what you are, also look at your wings they can fly you pretty far.”

Sure enough she was right once again, I turned to my side to glance at my bandaged, folded wings.

“I’m a Pegasus… A PEGASUS!” before I could say anything else, she grabbed my wobbly hoof and tripped me on purpose.

“Balance you must learn; then comes freedom you will earn.” She spoke with professionalism and pride as if I was the student and she was the sensei.

“I lazily stepped to my hooves once again. Walk, I told myself; the first steps I took were terrible as if I was constipated or something of that manner, but shortly after I had gotten the hang of things really quickly to her surprise; my teachers always told me I was a quick learner.”

“You’ve taken the first step how proud you must be. Now lets unravel your wings and then we shall see.”

“I quickly took off the bandages wrapped around my waist and let them drop to the floor, my wings felt a cool breeze seep through the ruffled feathers. I opened them slowly and saw that one of my feathers had a deep red stain.”

“Now flap them so I can see, if you are ready to face Ponyville without me.” I tried my hardest to get a flap, but I did not know which way my wings could maneuver; so they did not move one inch.”

“It seems you’re not ready I gave a good look, instead of trying hard just read this book.” She dumped a gigantic book on the ground, it hit with a loud thump and made my hooves lose balance and fall once more.

“ Obscure Pegasus History For Dummies.” I read aloud.

“I was offended by this insult, did she think I was stupid. I asked for another book but it was the only Pegasus book she owned, so I opened the first page and read to myself.”

“ Hours passed and about halfway throughout the book I shifted my eye to stare at that zebra.”

“Hey, what’s your name?” I questioned.

“My name is Zecora, I’m from beyond this land and my journey stretches far and wide as the way it was planned?”

“Oh,” I said “ Well, what do you think would be a good name for me?”

She stared at my behind for some reason it felt quite awkward.

“To discover your name we first need a mark, but we will save that for tomorrow now it is dark.”

“I noticed that she had her own mark, it was a symbol of the sun I guessed, then I took a quick look at mine; blank.”

“How do I get my mark?” I asked with curiosity.

“She turned her head slightly, “To receive a mark on your behind, you must perfect a talent to make it shine.”

“That was just the thing; I didn’t have any talents. My whole life I was wondering how I could make a difference in people with something that I was good at. But I could never reach my talent and I did not know where to start. This whole transforming into a pony was a clean slate; I could start over fresh. But how I got here and how I could find a talent was a mystery.”

“I kept my eyes glued onto the pages of my book but my mind seemed to wander into deep thought. Why and how? That’s what I want to know. Why did I end up here? And how did I end up here? It seemed so fake, I couldn’t believe in ponies until I turned into one. Maybe this is a different universe; I don’t know.”

“Dinner is cooked, you can stop reading the book.” She announced from across the room.”

“I stood to my hooves, “Boy I’m starved…” she held out the plate to my hoof and I took it without a moments hesitation. When I looked down I just saw flowers and grass.”

I acted with courtesy “this is a nice decoration; but where’s the food?”

She looked at me with surprise “This is the food that I made for you, it’s a special recipe of blue.”

“I looked to my plate and saw the wildflowers show off their elegant blue. “I’m supposed to eat flowers? Where’s the me-.” It had become clear to me that I was an herbivore; not an omnivore. I could not eat meat.”

“It wasn’t a problem for me, I was already a pretty strong vegetarian. But I had just never eaten flowers right off the branch, so I was still concerned about the taste.”

“I put my mouth to the plate and ate a flower and it was great! I don’t know if my taste buds changed at all when I transformed but it was amazing, soon enough I was licking my plate clean.”