Chapter 6
I'd never seen Pinkie Pie so... somber. It was a little worrying, and considering the last twenty-four hours of my life, worrying was exactly what I didn't need. The rest of Twilight's friends, Zecora and I all gathered in the waiting room, making a small circle out of the seats. Everyone seemed to be focused on Zecora, but I was more inclined to watch Pinkie Pie for a while longer. She didn't seem to have the same twitchy feeling that I did, which was, hopefully, a good sign.
“I'm sure I don't need to tell you this; but something with Twilight is quite amiss. Young Pinkie Pie came straight to me; after your meeting with miss Ditzy,” Zecora explained.
“I was wonderin' why you'd off and ran out the door when things started getting' weird, Pinkie,” interjected Applejack. “Why didn't you say anythin' to us?”
Pinkie Pie looked up in surprise. “I did! I mean, I am! This is me saying the thing that you think I didn't say about going to see Zecora and finding out about all the weird creeptastic stuff going on!” She looked like she was going to say more, but Zecora raised a hoof, and she fell silent.
Ok, now I was really worried. It usually took food or a hoof in the mouth to stop Pinkie's verbal freight train.
The zebra continued, “In truth the delay was all my fault; It took quite some time to explore my vault. I'd heard, of course, of the troubles at hand; but those stories come from a distant land.”
I was waiting for her to finish her story, when Rainbow Dash interjected. “Wait, wait, wait. A vault?! You have a freakin' vault?! What for?!”
“It's what she calls her library,” said Fluttershy. I jumped a little, mainly because she was right beside me, and I forget she's there. She noticed my startled movement, and in true doormat fashion, apologized. “Oh, I'm sorry.”
There was some commotion as the group got sidetracked with the fact Zecora had a secret library stashed somewhere, and Fluttershy new about it. So much so that I got a little twitchy. “Will you all shut up?! I think we have more important things to discuss, like, I don't know, your friend in the hospital?!”
The guards gave me a look, and started walking towards me, but seeing as how everyone came to the consensus of “solve the problem” and settled down, they stopped halfway. Of course they just sat there and stared at us. Nothing creepy about that, boys.
Our Everfree native cleared her throat, and pressed on. “The stories come from a time long ago; they speak of madness and things below. The answers you seek are better left unsaid; be careful the things you let into your head. But it does not mean that help does not exist; it simply lies in the things betwixt. I can and would take to to where a 'cure' rests; but not all of you may come. It is for the best.”
Half the girls looked like they had headaches just from listening to her talk. Dash, especially. Since nopony else was saying anything right away, I asked, “Can I come?”
Zecora considered me for a moment, then shook her head. “It is best you avoid the realms that we travel; if not, then your mind may further unravel. I would take them to where these hidden beasts dwell. To avoid further contact, you would do well.”
After the three seconds it took to decipher that, I sunk further into my seat. “Don't poke the hornets nest after you're already stung. Got it.”
She just nodded, and smiled slightly. Then Rarity spoke up. “So why is it that only a few of us can go with you? We all want to help Twilight!”
Rainbow Dash jumped into the air. “That's right! I'm not leaving my friend hangin' when I can do something about it!”
“I don't think you should go, Dashie,” said Pinkie Pie. Everypony just kind of looked at her for a moment, Dash especially. The pegasus' mouth hung open in surprise. “Look, this... thing that Twilight's going through. Zecora explained some of it to me. I didn't get most of it, but the basic gist is... she's dying.” A collective gasp shook the room, and even the guards turned a paler shade of white. Of course, my first thought was “Well, FUCK”. But I didn't say that out loud. Pinkie pressed on. “Somepony needs to stay here and watch her. There's some... stuff you're gonna need to do, and I don't think any of us can do it. Well, maybe. I don't know. Like I said, I don't understand all of it, really. But something's... after Twilight. It's trying to kill her, and from what I can tell it's doing a really good job. We need somepony here to keep her alive. And sane. And you're probably the best for the job. For a few reasons.”
Either they'd never heard her say so many words at once they could actually understand, or the words “She's dying” actually started to sink in. One way or the other, everypony seemed to be getting the basic idea that this was not going to be a grand epic adventure. Rainbow Dash just fell to the ground, slowly, and sunk into her chair with a nod. It took a moment for anypony to say anything, and I was honestly surprised when it was me. “Ok, so who is going?”
Zecora looked around, nodded at a few ponies, and then looked to Pinkie Pie. “Me and Flutters and Zecora, I guess. Applejack and Rarity, I'm super sorry, but there's not a lot you can do. Maybe just try to keep Spike's head above ground? He can't be handling this any better than we are.”
The two mares in question nodded. “Of course,” Rarity said. “We'll keep an eye on little Spikey-Wikey.”
------------------------
After the little pow-wow we all had, the girls kind of huddled together to discuss the finer points of... whatever the hell they were planning. I found myself just kind of sitting back and watching everything, like usual.
It was starting to become a really annoying pattern. Whenever something major happened, it was always these girls that went off and fixed it. Everypony else just kind of sat side-saddle or did what they were told. Mind you, I'm not exactly jealous of having to face down ravenous monsters and insane gods and beasts from other worlds, but this time, I was kind of involved. And it didn't seem like I was doing much of anything, myself. So I decided to make myself involved.
“Zecora? Is there anything I can be doing? I mean, I know I can't go with them, but... well, I'm kind of involved now. Which I'm guessing you've already figured out.”
She nodded. “Indeed, I had pieced together your plight; I expect these events gave you quite a fright. I understand your need to act... and I have a task for you, matter of fact.”
My ears perked up. A small spark of hope flared in my stomach. Finally, a chance to be proactive about this whole “not losing my mind” thing. “Yeah? What's that?”
“The task I have is of importance most dire; for you, there is no priority higher. Now heed my words, and they will ease your strife; I daresay they may even save your life,” she said, taking a step towards me.
“Y-yes?” I said shakily. Somehow I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to be proactive anymore.
She stood muzzle to muzzle with me, and grabbed the back of my head with a hoof. Pulling her mouth to my ear, she said:
“Don't. Go. Home”
Good gravy.
What is it about simple 2 or 3 word sentences that make them so f**king terrifying?
That was shorter than I expected it to be.
5010998 Au revoir, Aurora. It's already too late. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
5010998 SPOILERS!!! I'm still waiting for s8 to come on Netflix!!! (I don't have cable, so even sharing titles of episodes is a spoiler to me)
4352401 You mean... Tick Tock?
This sentence right here is why the side characters should be given a chance to shine in the show.
I felt a twinge.
I don't feel.
I'm not supposed too.
You broke me at the second chapter.
My MPD is going to freak.
Keep it up.
Just finish the story.
Remember.
They will follow you.
So will I.
5102858
You can probably find them online to watch (and you don't need cable to watch them. I mean, I have satellite and can watch them-Space gets it and I would assume Sci-Fi in the US would get it too, along with BBC America, I think)
HOLY SHIT
My MPD read this before me? UNFAIR
THIS scared me to hell and back! reading this at midnight. Can't tell you how many times I looked over my shoulder reading this. You even got him to FEEL? You deserve a favourite, just so I can open it for when he reads. I want him to cry at this chapter.
I'm not crazy, you'd understand if you knew what MPD means, plus, i finally got a way to stop him dealings with my friends! Yay!
Seriously, finish it.
He read Cupcakes, and he's been.... Rather keen to try it out, to say the least.
May God, and the Princesses try and save you if you don't.
So much for sleep tonight. Guess I'll just be reading pony until daylight.
Oh wow, now this is a sudden twist. So Twilight is dying, RD is in love with Twilight, and Roseluck shouldn't go home otherwise things happen. I'm really loving the vibe of this story.
5102948 Let me clarify: I don't have cable, satellite, Hulu, or trust for any pirate websites. Netflix is my only option, and I need to wait until about Christmas 2014, maybe even March 2015, for the episodes to come on Netflix.
You've definitely kept the H.P. Lovecraft vibe going here. I like how creepy its getting, especially that last line.
If Zecora's not rhyming, then there's definitely some very bad juju going on.
5102809
Do not build the seventh row.
5103052 Juju? You mean mojo, right?
Dat cover picture
Very nice ending!
Of course, if it were me, I would just go home, find the thing, and beat it up.
But that's just me.
5103145
You really didn't get the "eldritch abomination" thing, did you?
This is the only error that caught my eye.
should be
5103145
Ahh, yes. Go home and confront the entity that is so inherently wrong that just glancing at it can kill you... whats the worst that can happen?
5103053
Okay, so I read that, and all the other pages that could be viewed in the preview. I agree, don't stack the seventh row, that would be terrifying.
I wouldn't wanna go home in the first damn place, but hearing Zecora say it to me so ominously, while not rhyming no less, would make me terrified just to stay in town, let alone go anywhere near my house.
5103084
I forget exactly where it came from, but 'bad juju' means something like bad or black magic.
Edit:
Here's Urban Dictionary's definition of bad juju.
5103251 Feh, I'm older than all those things.
I remember when "Happy Days" was on the air!
Just the summary alone chilled me. You sir have a gift. I hope my writing is as chilling as yours; I've always had an affinity with horror.
5103459 Zecora said "bad mojo" in a canon MLP episode one day. Bye for now, I've got to hit the hay!
It lives!!!
"Hail Hydra."
I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.
Ok, so, I'm the sort of guy who doesn't really like the "scary stuff". I like a good camp fire ghost (fire ghosts?) story but the really creepy stuff isn't really my thing.
Yet I'm so damn compelled by them I can't stop (will never stop) myself and this is one such case
.
You know you've done good when your reader can't help (no help) but slowly look over their shoulder after reading a sentence, gets a chill down one arm in the middle of a paragraph or notices a little, something (what was that?), out of the corner of their eye while waiting for the next chapter to load.
Some, none or all of the above may or may not (have had eyes) have happened to me while reading.
You've got a good "classic horror story" vibe going here. Also a good case of how "show don't tell" and "show by telling" are so hard to distinguish sometimes. We get told by Roseluck what her actions are and they show us (things you were never meant to see) how she is feeling. It's a symptom of the first person narration and works wonderfully for this type of story.
I know some people are moaning (never ending moaning) about the slow pace things are being revealed (secrets) but it is just what this story needs. Keep it up.
Ditzy said (she lies) they can really only do small things (lies). But small things (lies) add up to big things. (lies) Such as death. Death is a (lie) big thing.
5102859
The clock was running backwards. So it was going "tock tick". Which is why it sounded so odd yet she didn't notice it right away.
Ugh, this thing is giving me Star Control 2 flashbacks, and not the good kind.
5102809 About as terrifying as the words "We need to talk" coming from your girlfriend...
5103052 that freaked me out even more now that I see she did not rhyme. For what must lie in wait, would surely end her fate.
This chapter...
2spooky4me
5103954
5102809
Brevity is to sanity as blathering is to insanity.
When the insane is depicted as brief, and simple, it is truly frightening, because it is told from the viewpoint of the sane. H.P Lovecrafts' monsters were not frightening because of how they were described, it was because of all of the words that couldn't describe them. So many words were useless, that they could only be described simply.
You cannot describe the true bleakness of the word Nothing. There are no words. That is the essence of true terror.
Wait, did this turn mature, or was it always mature?
Had to turn mature on to see this.
Awesome chapter, btw. All I need to do is reread the others to remember what happened before.
Well, that wasn't creepy and ominous at all!
How are you this good at actually frightening the reader? I don't understand
...It seems something has already appeared. Roseluck is now involved.
For but a moment's worth,
the strife may not rest in the blackness;
continuous the pain,
the despair,
you spiral away into the anguish!
Your fear may come to consume you this night,
for with this,
they lurk beside,
and a dread overtakes your mind;
the monster of insanity shall grip you tight,
resting in the corner of your eyes.
Awaiting further releases.
5103826 Backwards? Like "Wrong Way Backwards" or "Silence Will Fall"? Or maybe even "Doctor the for even, clock the goes, Tock Tick"?
3 people and you couldn't get one of them to pre-read in time? Psh. Need help with that perchance? I think I'm a pretty decent editor
Zecora said something that didn't rhyme...
Zecora said something that didn't rhyme...
Zecora said something that didn't rhyme!
Zecora bucking said something that didn't rhyme!
I'm gonna go hide now...
Sad thing is, I normally sleep during the day and I'm still afraid to go to sleep now...
5105079
Fuckin scary.
There isnt a worse feeling then the idea that your own home is no longer safe.
5105166 Especially if you're in your home at the time.
And where oh where is Celestia in all of this? Can't suspend any important meetings or parties just to see to the well being of her student?
As if I wasn't paranoid enough.
I completely meant to stop readin after chapter two. I really did. Then I clicked the next chapter button.
Stupid, stupid human.
lolbot.net/pix/30987.gif
This is 2spooky4me
Good job on this chapter.
Allow me to say what everyone who has read this story is probably saying...
*Ahem*
It's okay Rose, it's not like bad things happen in hospitals or anything, it's fine not going home. Totally.