Pony Horror #9: Skeletons Edition

>>30611863
And thus, the first pony/timberwolf hybrid was born.

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>>30611917
I saw it more as an edelwood tree, like from Over the Garden Wall. I feel bad for naming the thread skeleton instead of edelwood edition. But I just woke up.

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>>30611863
>>30609409
Despite my skills lying elsewhere, I lit up my horn and attempted a spell that was supposed to shield the user’s face from sand and dust. I didn’t know if it would work underwater, but I thought I should give it a shot. After all, the worst that would happen would be that it didn’t work, and I’d have to attempt to modify it. The spell was a struggle to cast, but I got it. I felt a cool breeze moving in circles around my head when it was done, and sat rather pleased with myself.
However, I couldn’t rest on my laurels quite yet. I needed to see if this spell would shield my head from water as well as sand and other flying grit. I positioned myself above the hole in the floor and once more stuck my head into the waters below. To my eternal delight, it seemed to work! I kept my head underwater for several more seconds, taking in a few quick breaths while immersed, then pulled my head back out.
I smiled wide as I shook the water off my neck, and pondered my swim some more. I still had no idea how many hours had passed, but I knew it couldn’t yet have been a full day. I’d rest a bit, letting my magic recuperate, then try to… actually dive in.
I gulped at the thought of putting my whole body in that all-encompassing darkness, but I didn’t have a choice. The cultists up above me held all the cards, and they didn’t seem the forgiving type. The village was proof enough of that. They were dying by their own hooves and their own habits. I had little sympathy for them, but I didn’t want to die. So here I stood, prepared to swim for my life.

>>30612070
After a brief rest, I found myself walking in circles, breathing deep and slow as I calmed myself before my dive. I tested my two spells to make sure I could keep them both going at the same time, and drew in a few deep breaths.
My heart was pounding in my chest, and I tried not to think about the coming dive. It was just a thing that needed doing, like cleaning the house, or fetching the groceries. It was an errand. It was a chore. It was nothing. An annoyance. A minor setback. A stepping stone. With these thoughts firmly in mind, I cast the air spell first, turned on my horn-light, and jumped in.
The darkness closed over my body, followed by the cold water. Panic rose swiftly around me, and I struggled with my imagination to calm myself down. Slow and steady breaths, I told myself. Slow and steady breaths. Air would be the first killer, with anything else coming afterward.
I oriented myself in the direction of the coast, and turned my horn light forward, sweeping it around me. The rocks went down some few meters at a slope, then turned, opening into a wider area with pillars of stone throughout the underwater cave. I kept myself next to the ceiling of rock, pushing myself along it as I made my way deeper. The thin beam of light provided very little actual light, with there only being a small shaft of it piercing the black of the abyss that surrounded me.
The darkness proved to be my fiercest opponent, and I struggled to keep my mind focused. The thought of whatever might be out there, possibly swimming right next to me, kept forcing itself to the forefront of my thoughts. I would occasionally sweep the light in a full sphere around me just to make sure I wasn’t being accompanied by some hidden denizen of the deep. Thus far, I was alone.

>>30612078
I swam onward, keeping myself next to the wall with my bubble of air around my head. The spell was supposed to be functional for hours if prepared properly, but that assumed an environment of sand and dust. Without actual air to refresh itself, I suspected it would only last a quarter of one at most. I didn’t like my chances, but I had to take the risk.
As I moved on, I realized I had neglected another problem: I could hear nothing. My ears were only exposed to the cool breeze flowing around my head, and were not immersed in the water itself. The sounds of the water, like motion nearby, or the call of an underwater mammal, or the crashing of waves against rocks, were gone. I could hear nothing except swirling air.
The quiet and the darkness took their toll on me, and as I swept the light about the rocky pillars which I had yet to reach, I thought I saw motion. A black shape disappearing into the maze. I stopped for a moment and flashed my light back and forth among the rocks, but nothing appeared.
I found myself hyperventilating from swiftly rising panic, and realized that it didn’t matter if I had seen something or not, I couldn’t stop. I had to keep moving. It would eat me, or it wouldn’t, and there was nothing I could do about it. I was not a fighter, and underwater, I stood even less of a chance than on land.
It was with this in mind that when I finally reached the pillars of stone, that I had clearly seen something moving indeed. I kept my light following it here and there as it darted about the pillars. I was so intent on it, that I barely noticed that the pillars I was swimming through were not naturally occurring formations of stone. They weren’t outcroppings carved by the beating of the tide on the rocks. These were carved.

>>30612087
>Waxworks takes a large drink of water while she pauses for effect.
"Ahhh! Dusty is a pure academic at heart. Even while swimming for his life he can't help but be enraptured with ancient architecture. Even while creatures may be planning his demise."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/HFgs0GJM

>>30612099
Oh yeah, horror Discord if anyone is interested: https://discord.gg/XNg9ENc

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>(Which I think stands for Dapper Skeleton)
Fuck that's a name that's never going to be let down ain't it?
Might as well.

>>30613139
Is that you and me? D'awwww. I like your wee hat.

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>>30613157
I've got a better one

>>30613253
It's all crooked. That's adorable. And you look so... bored? Cynical? Contemptuous? Apathetic? Maybe all four at once?

>>30613312
When being a skeleton for so long, you don't know yourself what you're expressing anymore

>>30613139
DS is going to have to make an appearance in your narrative somewhere.


is this the thread ship now?

>>30613721
I'd be ok with WaxStoner.

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>>30613721
>>30613883
oh no
shipping content makers? well this ain't the first time this has happened to me so I'm ready to ride it again

>>30614089
Well, this is the first time it's happened to me.
I probably haven't been creating content as long as you, though.


I can put you in some of the narrative >>30613721
if you want, though. It would be amusing but easy enough, if you want.

>>30614153
I did check
been drawing for a thread on /co/ for about 8 months, 9 in August since I'm still going
And sure that's fine

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>>30614089
>>30614153
I was thinking of shipping the OC's, not the creators, but whatever floats your boat.

>>30614212
Well I never assumed otherwise. Ship the OC's as much as you want.

>>30614212
I'm fine with whichever, whatever floats people's boats

>>30614212
>>30614298
How does skeletons smooch if they have no lips?

>>30614516
the secret is that she isn't a skeleton

>>30614545
*GASP!* Secrets! How could I have not known?
I admit, I assumed Dapper Skeleton was male.

>>30611863
You got my name 10 characters off

>>30614588
Aw damn, dude. Sorry. I copied from the last thread's OP and didn't double-check much. It was early morning!

>>30614585
She's just really a pony thief with face paint and a weird sense of fashion, and she was at first originally but I thought no for that idea

>>30614627
Oh you've got more about her? Do tell.

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>>30614655
she's a grave robber and possible body snatcher, she paints her face and neck as a skeleton to scare away visitors at night, she wears her "dandy" outfit just for the joke of 'respect for the dead' even when she's a grave robber.
That's what I have for her so far.

>>30614717
Good stuff. A reason for appearing so dapper, and for having such a deadpan look on her face.
The question now is: Why steal the bodies?

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>>30614813
She can't answer that

>>30615013
>Doggie bag.
That makes it sound like she eats them.

>>30615257
not really but you're on the right track

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Goodnight Thread

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>>30612099
I stopped next to one of the pillars and ran a hoof over the mollusk-encrusted stone of one of the pillars. The evidence of it being hoof-made was in the uniform size and shape of the pillar from the roof of this stone cave down to the floor. There were faded and nearly-illegible carvings in the stone of it, barely visible through the sea-life that made its home on it.
I wanted to understand it.
This cave must be connected to the giant statue Updraft had taken me to see. The proximity between the two and their geological position lent credence to that fact, but I was still no closer to understand why they were both underwater.
The features of the Piscean pony statue led me to believe that the race that had created them were a sea-going race, possibly even living underwater entirely. If they lived here centuries ago, making their home in the underwater passages, why did they leave? What happened to them, and what were they like? If these carvings were writing, that meant the ponies here had language! They had a level of technology necessary to create monstrous carvings that rivaled those made today! This was the find of the century! Maybe the millennium!
I needed to know more about them.
I felt the water around me move and realized I was still in a desperate situation, and I had become distracted. Cursing myself for a fool, I swung my light around in a panicked circle, looking for possible sources of motion. I remembered that before I had begun staring at the pillar I had seen something moving. Whether it was dangerous or not was another matter, but I didn’t want to take chances. Especially with the weird cultists up above. They meant this to be a test, so it couldn’t be easy. Whether they meant the distance to swim or getting past a creature was still in doubt.

>>30616393
Nothing appeared in front of me with flashing teeth as long as my forehoof, so I was safe for now, but I had wasted time. I had wasted a lot of time.
I pushed off from the pillar and began swimming again. I still knew the direction I needed to go, but I had sunk away from the cave walls, and was now pushing myself from pillar to pillar. I made it past several of them, but I still saw no light of any kind. I was trapped in this pitch-dark cave. I didn’t even know if there was an exit from here at all!
I felt myself begin to breath heavier, and realized I was beginning to panic. I tried to quell the rising fear that I had begun swimming to my death, but it wouldn’t go away. I could have stayed in the cell and fought them off. I could have tried to reason with them. I could have tried to escape the cell from the door instead of swimming down here!
I was beginning to hyperventilate, and I was kicking my hooves through the water faster than I needed to. I knew deep inside that I was pushing myself closer to death much faster, but the panicked part of me was much stronger. My horn light began flickering and I realized I was losing control.
Just as the light went out I saw something moving in the darkness coming directly for me. I flailed in the water, trying to swim upward toward whatever surface there might be above me. Maybe find a pocket of air hidden in these caves for years. I felt something slimy touch my hind hoof, and my air spell went out as I yelped in fear. The water closed over my head, and my shouting disappeared in a series of bubbles. I kicked and tried to scream as the grip it had on my tightened, but it was no use. I was at its mercy.

>>30616398
The thing slithered up the length of my body, its touch almost sensual in its motion. Its smooth surface pressed up my legs, across my belly, and up around my neck. It wrapped tight around my throat and I feared it would choke me, but instead it slid around, then up to my face. I felt something cold press against my lips, then the grip around my body tightened and I was pulled away from the cave wall and into the darkness.
In the pitch-black I saw nothing, but my vision began to be covered with stars as my air ran out. My lungs burned and I knew this was it. The thing was carrying me to its lair, where it would feed on my bloated corpse for days. I tried to convince myself I should just be resigned to my fate, but my stubborn grip on life had me hold my breath for as long as I could.
I opened my mouth, desperate for breath, and took in a lungful of water just as I felt myself breach the surface. I flopped onto solid ground, coughing and hacking up saltwater. My vision swam, peppered with flashing spots as my lungs ached for air. I scraped at my throat, wheezing and choking on brine.
I felt something press against my chest, and some horrid monstrosity appeared in my spotty vision above me. I tried to push it away, but it began to smother me. I felt pressure against my chest and my ribs were pressed roughly downward. The pressure continued in a steady rhythm until I coughed up more seawater. I was rolled onto my side, and liquid poured out my mouth and nose, and after what felt like a burning eternity, I was able to inhale proper air.
I breathed. Shaky at first, interspersed with the occasional cough, but air was flowing through my lungs, and I reveled in it. I thought only about how much I enjoyed breathing, and payed little attention to the thing that had helped me do so.

>>30616405
"Despite his academic curiosity getting the better of him, it did not lead to his death. At least, not yet."
>Waxworks taps at the nearly-empty glass of water on the counter in front of her.
"He has been rescued from a watery death, but by whom, or what, and for what purpose? His test is still ongoing, so he certainly hasn't been 'saved' quite yet."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/HFgs0GJM

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>>30616426

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>>30617021

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>>30616426
Once my breath returned to me and stars no longer cascaded across my vision, I could pay attention to what had happened. From my position on the floor I could see I had been returned to my cell. Though on second glance, it wasn’t the original one I had been placed in. This one was flush with the wall, where my previous one had been closer to the middle. The cell doors were all locked, so it was moot, but my position was curious: Who had brought me here?
That was when I remembered something grabbing me. In the panicked haze of my memory, I recalled something slimy grabbing hold of me and dragging me through the water. It was this creature that had dragged me to safety.
It was also this creature that was still here with me! A chill went through me and I heard something that sounded akin to a wet rag being slapped against a countertop. I slowly turned to face the source, pulling myself to a sitting position.
It could have killed me several times already, but instead had chosen to rescue me from my watery peril. I felt safe enough, but seeing it sent further panic through me.
It almost looked like the statue that Updraft had taken me to see. It had a vague pony shape, but it was a mess of tentacles and fins beyond that. The eyes were oversized and a solid milky colour. At first I thought it was blind, but it seemed to know where I was despite not having its eyes focused on me. Its muzzle was more pony-shaped than that of the statue, but it was half-open and I could see several rows of shark-like teeth meant for tearing flesh. Its mane was plastered to its body, and was exceedingly long, draping in tendrils around its body to the floor.

>>30619788
As I stared at it, it tilted its head in a bird-like manner, flicking its wet, drooping ears and spattering me with seawater. Its eyes weren’t pointed in my direction, so I didn’t believe it was looking at me, but it spoke in the same gurgling voice as the rest of the villagers who had thrown me down here.
“Mine?” it said.
“I-well-I’m not sure what you mean,” I said.
“Mine gift?” It pointed at me with a hoof or tentacle, I wasn’t sure which.
“I don’t have much on me, but you can have my—“ I searched my clothes and found my pocketwatch, which I held out to the thing “—my pocketwatch?”
With a squeal, the thing spit up bubbles, grabbed the pocketwatch from me, and dove back into the hole. I was left alone, back at the starting point of my trek, having made no progress and almost drowning myself. The only benefit of the attempt at swimming away, was now knowing that there were indeed creatures down there, and I had no idea if they were benevolent or not.
I had, however, learned something of value: The villagers spoke the same way as this thing, though the villagers themselves were much more articulate. This gave me room to assume they were descended, or at least related to, this sea-creature I had encountered.
Were these pony ancestors? Had ponies descended from sea-creatures long, long ago? Was our history filled with the depths of the ocean instead of green pastures and wide fields? If this was the case, why was there so little known about these? There was an entire town filled with these ponies that bore some relation to the sea-creatures, so why would they keep it such a secret? It didn’t add up, and I was certain there was something I was still missing. Some piece of the puzzle unbeknownst to me.

>>30619792
There was also the matter of escape. I was still stuck waiting for the end of the 48-hour time limit I had been given, and I didn’t want to wait for the villagers to be rid of me. Not only was I worried their “rid” involved having me killed, but there was the matter of all the unknown history this village had inside it. It would be a travesty for the information to be lost simply because the villagers hated outsiders. I had to get into their good graces just as Updraft had in order to be allowed to stay here. The lost history of Equestria depended on it!
I stood up and attempted to cast my air spell once again, but a wave of dizziness washed over me. I was exhausted, both physically and magically, from the previous attempt. Being so near-death would do that to anypony, and magic was currently out of my reach.
I did not know how many hours I had left, but I imagined I would hear the villagers coming before they tried to take me away, and I was certain 48 hours had not yet passed, so I lay down in the damp bedding to rest. It was cold and uncomfortable, but I needed it. Upon closing my eyes, I fell asleep almost immediately.

When I awoke, I saw a pile of seafood in front of me. Much of it was raw, and I was not a fan of eating raw fish. Salted was one thing, but raw was a little bit beyond me yet. There was seaweed and what appeared to be other deep-sea plants, so I ate those instead.
Once I was done I lit my horn and cast my air spell. There was still some dizziness, but it was minor, and I went to dive into the hole. When I stood over it, before I could dive in, a tentacle, followed by a face filled with sharp teeth broke the surface, and I jumped back in surprise, losing both spells.

>>30619803
>Waxworks looks at you. Her green eyes sparkled in the candlelight and she looks almost amused, though no smile touches her lips.
"Being an academic meant that Dusty did not get much experience in social settings. His focus on this test has blinded him to the obvious results, though his other assumptions are mostly correct. When he finally learns the truth, what will he decide to do then?"

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/HFgs0GJM

>>30618007
This is to much. No sleep for me tonight, fuck.

>>30620006
What bothers me the most is that those are two right eyes.

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>>30620118
I'll take your word for it...
need cute to counter

>>30620118
They are. I think they used the same eye for both sides. That's horrifying.

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small one
I've been thinking DS more I don't know about it.

>>30622258
I just thought the name was amusing. You don't gotta make an OC out of it man.

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>>30622296
I mean her, who did you think I meant?
also I'm sorry if I sound confusing or tired, I just woke up

>>30611863
is that AJ mom?

>>30622472
I'm not sure what you mean at all. The sentences are awfully confusing.

>>30622484
I'm not sure who it's intended to be. In Over the Garden Wall the Beast usually takes children, so I assumed it was some random foal.

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>>30622511
Yeah imma sound a bit broken for a while til my tiredness surpasses

>>30622605
Well good morning, either way.

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>>30622639
Good 11 pm to you too, the night is lovely isn't it? Mind if I move my bone chair in here?

>>30622715
I suppose not. A simple wooden stool isn't enough for you? Gotta have a fancy old throne of bone?

>>30622715
>>30622727
Bone throne... hehe

>>30622727
Gotta make a use out of bones somehow, right? Why not making a throne out of them?

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>>30619814
“Gift yes!” The creature yelled as it splashed up into my cell.
My heart was pounding, but I began to relax as I realized it was just the creature from before. I don’t know why it came back. It probably desired more gifts. Its appearance was less horrifying to me now that I knew it only wanted to get presents. Its behavior reminded somewhat of a dolphin; if a dolphin had shark-teeth and soulless eyes.
It held out a tentacle toward me, and I checked my pockets for anything else I might have that I could give it. I didn’t have much else except my cuff-links, so I pulled one of those off and floated it over to the creature.
To my surprise, it didn’t want it. Instead, the creature reached out and grabbed my hoof. Its slimy appendage tugged at me, and I had the distinct feeling it wanted me to swim with it. It slid itself back into the hole in the floor, but I shook my head.
“I actually have to breathe air. I can’t breathe underwater like you,” I said.
The thing looked at me in what I assumed was confusion, and gripped my limb harder, pulling on me as it started to sink. I pulled back, trying to get the message across to this thing I couldn’t follow it so easily.
“No, really, I can’t breathe down there! I need air!” I said.
“Gift come!” It said, wrapping a second tentacle around my other forehoof and pulling on me.
I felt my heart lurch in my chest as I understood what it was talking about. It wasn’t asking me for a gift; I WAS the gift! Was this the test? Was I supposed to get along with this creature or defeat it in battle? Was I supposed to talk to it? Get along with it? Whatever I was supposed to do with it, I needed to do it fast, because I was going back into the water!

>>30623251
I frantically cast my air spell as I reached the hole leading into the ocean, but my light spell was not within my grasp at the moment. I plunged into the cold water and the oppressive darkness. My forehooves were held tightly in the grip of the creature, and I was pulled along to a place I did not know. I was disoriented, and had no idea which direction I was going, or if it was toward the coast or further into the maze of caverns beneath the town.
Not long after we went into the water, I felt the motion cease, and I was released. It was so sudden that I didn’t know if I should try to escape or not, but I had no further time to make a decision as a frigid and powerful thing wrapped itself around my neck.
Upon contact with my flesh, whatever had wrapped itself around me burned fiercely. It started out as a minor annoyance, but it quickly built up into an agonizing bite. I screamed in pain and tore at it with my hooves, but the pain didn’t go away, and it was as ineffectual as trying to defeat an ursa major by punching it. I got the impression this thing didn’t care about me at all, whatever it was.
As suddenly as it had begun, the pain ceased. The thing let go of me, and I was left floating in the pitch-black water. I felt smaller tentacles around me, and surmised my erstwhile friend had returned. Probably after defending me from the larger one. I don’t know what was more terrifying: That the owner of that larger tentacle was so close, and probably watching me as I swam, or that it had what must be children.
At that thought I realized something: The villagers. They were PROTECTING these things.

>>30623256
I lit my horn and prepared to start up my light, when I realized that I hadn’t been casting anything. The pain from the larger thing must have knocked out my spell! But then, how was I breathing?
I brought a hoof up to my neck, and felt ridges. They opened and closed rhythmically without me doing a thing, and I realized I had been given gills. Through magic, but what kind of sea-creature was that powerful?
I felt myself shiver, halfway because of the tender touches from the sea creature who thought of me as a gift, and half because I realized that somewhere in the water before me was something so ancient and powerful it could just pass out gills to whomever it pleased. Could I look at this thing? Did I want to look at this thing?
The creature crawling all over me was making shrill noises at me that sounded like it was excited, but I was barely paying attention to it. I was conflicted between my curiosity and my own sense of self preservation.
Updraft had discovered something ancient and powerful, and he wanted to share it with me, so I came. The caveat he had not told me was that along with the ancient civilization, he had discovered the god, or the descendent of the god, that this civilization worshipped. An underwater deity of such immense power and unknowable wisdom that it dwarfed our own, and cared little for our comings and goings. It was secure in its power. Secure in such a way that only a being so ancient can be, and I was going to look at it.
I had known from the beginning that I would look. I was trying to convince myself not to, with little success. I powered up my horn, and turned on my light, ready to see whatever I would see.

>>30623263
The next thing I knew, I was back in my cell, and the villagers had come to get me. I don’t know what had happened, but I had apparently passed the test. The villagers examined my neck, and though I heard nothing of what they said, I was passed back to Updraft with a pleased gurgle, and dragged back to his house. He laid me down on the filthy bed and prepared some tea, which I didn’t touch.
I felt… lost.
I had forgotten something. Something important, but I could not gather enough energy to care. I needed… I needed… to see the ocean.
I stood up, and went to the door. Updraft didn’t try to stop me. He just followed along behind me, as though he understood exactly what was going on. I went out to the docks, where the villagers were no longer looking at me with suspicion. Instead, I saw on their faces the same kind of expression I knew was now on my face. There was a distinct understanding between us and the thing beneath hidden in the cove. We were to remain and keep it undisturbed, and it would leave Equestria undisturbed. It was a fair trade.
“What’s her name?”
“What’s… oh.” Images flashed in my head of milky-white eyes and shark-teeth. “Her name in our tongue is Cave Eel.”
Updraft nodded. “Mine is White Cap.”
“How many of the villagers are…?”
“Only about a quarter. They’re in charge of choosing who gets tested, as you saw. They wanted fresh blood, and being allowed to stay and research was important to me,” Updraft said.
“Do you really want to know? Have you seen it?”
Updraft shook his head. “If I have I don’t remember it. Nopony does except the children, and they don’t tell.”
“I get the feeling we’re better off that way.”
“Yeah, me too,” I said.
We stared at the horizon as the sun went down. I would have to have my things delivered to me. I knew just the pony to deliver them, too. He was curious. Curious to a fault...

The End.

>>30623270
>Waxworks taps the countertop with a hoof, her other hoof holding up her head as she looks over at you.
"He sated his curiosity didn't he? What greater achievement or fate for an academic than that? He shall have no regrets, and shall live and die in that town by the sea."
>Waxworks sits up straight.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have tea that has been getting cold since you arrived. I'm sure you can show yourself out at this point. And remember..."
>She pulls aside the curtains near the back of her shop, revealing the barest hint of some strange, flickering lights in the back.
"...curiosity can kill cats. But you aren't a cat, and I doubt satisfaction can bring you back."
>Then she pulled the curtain shut behind her.

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/HFgs0GJM

>>30622785
Could make glue instead.

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>>30623291
>2

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>>30623559

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>>30625245

>>30625684
I kinda want to know the story of how pny Jason got his cutie mark. I mean, he drowned when he was a teenager, he probably already had his cutiemark by then. So, what. Did he prance around with a bloody machete for a cutie mark? What did he tell everyone it stood for? "I'm just good at chopping down things with unconventional weapons. The blood is because I'm not careful enough sometimes."

With a backstory like that, I'm not surprised the counselors let him drown.

>>30625842
Nah, man. Slicing watermelons. You gotta get them cut open somehow. He played that anime summer game where they crack them open, but used a machete, and everypony was like: Wow! That's so much easier!

It's just coincidence watermelons slash open like skulls...

>>30625887
Guess that makes sense.
And good practice, as well.

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It’s the middle of the day in Canterlot, and the busy crowds are going about their lives unmindful of how often they bump and jostle you. You’re just trying to cross the street and more than a few ponies manage to crash into you without a thought toward your well-being. To be fair, you didn’t care a whit about theirs, but you felt like you cared more than most. You surely didn’t bump into ponies that often and have it be your fault.
When you finally reach the other side of the street, you brush yourself, checking to make sure everything was still in its rightful place in your pockets and saddlebags, then continue on your way.
You’re passing an alley when you see something familiar out of the corner of your eye. You double back and look down it, but see nothing. You do hear something, however, so you slip further down the narrow backstreet, wondering if you’d seen what you thought you had.
Sure enough, you delve deeper into the alleyway and you find Waxworks, carrying her familiar lantern pole. It was currently unlit, but that green shawl confirmed it was her. She was wandering about, looking back and forth at the walls of the buildings as though searching for something. She spies you watching and frowns.
“Well, I suppose I should bid you hello, but I was hoping not to be followed,” she said. “I was looking for something, but I won’t be telling you directly what. It was somewhere around here, but I think it might have moved, which is a shame.
She walks away from you, looking down two other side streets. She returns and brushes past you, then looks down the other directions. Her frown deepens, and she returns to lean on the wall next to you. “I won’t tell you directly what I was searching for, but I hope you’re ready to hear another story.”

>>30627170
The glitz and glam of Las Pegasus had enraptured her from afar, but Cheerilee had arrived and entertained herself only be let down by the self-same glitz and glam. There was no substance to it. It was all just flash, without any underlying meaning. She wasn’t really looking for meaning, but the fact that it was all just a show caused it to lose its luster with abnormal haste.
Cheerilee lay on her bed in her hotel room, staring at the ceiling. There was a painting made to look like a ship’s sails and crow’s nest on her roof, which was fun. Her whole hotel room was themed after sailing across the ocean on an old ship. Her bed was the helm, with a functional wheel at the foot of it. She idly kicked the wheel and it spun easily. She sighed.
Only three days and she was bored of it all! She rolled onto her stomach and kicked her hooves. She’d gone to see the circus, she’d gone to a magic show, she’d even gone gambling and won back more bits than she’d spent! She’d saved up for this for a whole year, and here she was, bored out of her mind!
Was it because she came alone? She thought back to all the stallions that had been paying attention to her since she arrived, as well as some mares. She’d had a brief tumble with one of them, but that was the extent of it. She didn’t think being alone was the problem. She could remedy that easily enough. No, the problem was something else.
“Am I a horrible pony?” She groaned into her satin pillows. “Am I so jaded and cynical that not even mindless entertainment is enough for me? I came here to get away from my thoughts, not have even more of them! Ugh!”

>>30627178
Cheerilee lay there for a while longer, then kicked off the bed and marched into the bathroom. She turned on the sink and splashed water into her face, spilling it all over the floor.
“No! I can’t let a little thing like this get me down! I came here to get away from it all and experience life outside of Ponyville, and by Celestia, I’m going to do it!” Cheerilee dried her face and grabbed her bags, then stepped out of her room.
She trotted outside of her hotel and into the streets of Las Pegasus. The streets floating on top of the clouds were curious to look at, and knowing that a fall to her death was just a railing away was terrifying, but it was that kind of terrifying that was exciting at the same time. Cheerilee thought it added a distinct spice to the place. Pegasus ponies were relaxing on the clouds that made up the median of most streets, and a few of them waved. One of them even whistled at her. At least, she liked to believe it was her. It could have been any one of the ponies walking along the streets.
Cheerilee went inside a few of the stores to browse just for a little bit. She hadn’t yet bought any gifts or souvenirs. She was looking for something that was unique. Something that just screamed: “I visited Las Pegasus!” She didn’t want to get a shirt. That was a little bit too obvious. It needed to be subtle while still shouting about how Las Pegasus it was.
Disappointed in the selection of the current shop, Cheerilee stepped back outside and wandered aimlessly through the streets, stopping at shop after shop. She got distracted at one point by a few street performers. They were all pegasi except for one earth pony, and they were performing on the clouds, pretending to drop the earth pony. It was exciting, fun, and free, and was a welcome distraction.

>>30627191
"You think a faraway place will be better than where you live, but once you arrive you find that your problems have all followed you."
>Waxworks spares a glance down the alley behind you, then looks down the other two paths.
>She must not have seen what she was looking for because she shakes her head.
"So when you haven't escaped from your problems in this new place, what can you do but fill your time with whatever unique entertainment it has to offer?"

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

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Whoever posted the link to Carousel by thornquill, thanks! I'm enjoying this story

>>30627170
>She spies you watching and frowns.
Am I not welcome?

>>30628579
Simply not expecting to be followed.
Nopony follows the lamplighter or pays her any mind, so attention is unexpected.
She's always willing to share a story, though.

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>>30628727

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>>30629365
I got a migraine. No update tonight. Tomorrow, once it is gone.

>>30628727
I would love to journey with the Lamplighter

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>>30627209
When the sun began going down, Cheerilee was more than ready to head back to her hotel room. She had distracted herself, but that’s all it was. It was a distraction from the fact that she was going to be heading back to an empty hotel room, which by itself was a distraction from the loneliness waiting for her back in Ponyville. It’s true that she hadn’t really been looking very hard, so it was somewhat her own fault, but the fact that Big Macintosh had found a special somepony was a bit of a blow. Applebloom had tried so hard to get Cheerilee to be his special somepony, and she appreciated the effort, but it was too forced. It probably wouldn’t have worked out.
Probably.
She sighed again, which she was getting rather tired of, and plodded along the gilded streets back to her hotel. Her eyes were pointed at the ground, which was why she almost didn’t notice it, but something down the alleyway caught her eye. She stopped to look down it, but didn’t see anything too out of the ordinary. There were a few pieces of trash, some lights strung along one of the walls, and a pony who was too partied out sleeping on the ground in front of a doorway. Nothing really out of the ordinary.
Cheerilee continued walking, and was walking by a restaurant when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned to look, but saw nothing except a food cart in front of a door. It was selling dumplings of some kind, but the owner hadn’t moved much. He waved to her when he saw her looking, but she was sure that wasn’t it. She shook her head and moved on, passing along the shining streets.

>>30631563
She was coming up on her hotel when movement caught her eye again. She was beginning to worry she was seeing things, or at least imagining things. Was it caused by the stress of her vacation not living up to her expectations? She turned to look again, curious if she had still imagined it, but this time, there was something out of place that actually appeared to be out of place: There was a door in a fence.
It appeared out of place because the fence was surrounding a construction site, and there was a second door right next to it. The one on the left was cheap, and looked jimmy-rigged into the fence, since the construction workers were probably mostly pegasi, and had a sign on it that said: CONSTRUCTION. KEEP OUT. The one on the right looked expensive. It was pure white, with a red frame and a glass handle. No words adorned it at all.
Curious, Cheerilee approached the doors and looked them over. It was late at night, so there weren’t too many ponies about, and the few that were out were either drunk or intent on getting drunk, so nopony paid her any mind. She looked at the one on the left and determined it was likely supposed to be here. She reached out to open it and it opened easily, showing her the cloud ground beneath that she definitely couldn’t walk on. She closed it and approached the door on the right.
By all accounts, the door should also open onto the construction site, but somehow she thought that wouldn’t be the case. It was probably magical, but then, Las Pegasus was a magical place. If it was some sort of show, shouldn’t there be advertisements or something to draw attention to it? Mind you, it was out of place. Maybe getting ponies to open it was the advertisement? Cheerilee shrugged and reached out to the handle and turned it, and the door swung open.

>>30631570
Inside was a hallway. The construction site was nowhere to be seen within the door, and in its place was a long sinuous hallway that swung left and right, and also had a gentle flow up and down as it went. Some distance away down this path it curve off to the left, and she could see no more of it. The hallway was poorly lit, and gave Cheerilee a bad feeling. There was no lettering or signs anywhere inside, not even on the back side of the door.
Disappointed and not a little confused, Cheerilee swung the door shut. It was magical, sure, but it seemed more sinister than anything else. Without any signs, and knowing it was traveling from place to place didn’t make her very comfortable. The door latched shut behind her and Cheerilee went back to her hotel.
She entered, waved to the concierge and rode the lift up to her room. She bathed in the luxurious bath shaped like a crow’s nest and flopped into her helmsman’s bed. “Yarrrr, matey. It be time for sleep.” Cheerilee chuckled to herself and closed her eyes.

In the morning, she awoke staring at the ceiling, and a door attached to the roof of her room. She blinked in confusion, then realized what she was looking at.
“What in the world?” Cheerilee said.
It was the door from last night and it was attached to her ceiling. It was the same white wood, the same red frame, and the same glass handle. It had replaced the part of the painting that contained a good portion of seagulls and the cloud shaped like a skull-and-crossbones. It wasn’t open, thankfully, but it was occupying her roof. She picked up the phone on the bedside table and called the concierge to send somepony up immediately. It was making her uncomfortable.

>>30631576
>Waxworks turned her head again, looking down each passageway. She still didn't see whatever she was looking for, and focused back on you.
"Portals to new and interesting places, as well as portals to old and boring places. Doors open up to a lot of things, some good, and some bad. But maybe some doors should remain closed."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

>>30631563
>Big Mac x NOT Cheerilee
Broke my heart, thanks for reminding me.

>>30631784
Join the club. That is why I am writing this story. Because I was thinking about Cheerilee.

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>>30632704

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>>30632704
>I was thinking about Cheerilee.

>>30634322
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji4IQR9Zbwo

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>>30634380
>not posting the superior version
hey wax i'm am going to mess u the HECKf UP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqDQFssAk0M

>>30634462
Well, it certainly sounds like they're having fun.
Sadly I do not speak nor read vodka, so I only understand when they yell "Cheerilee, Cheerilee!"

>>30634547
I'm particularly fond of this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt792QKK_Vo

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>mfw we a Cheerilee thead now

>>30634622
This is pretty good. I'm still quite partial to the original, but I like what they did with this, including the MLP sounds added in.

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>>30631585
Cheerilee kept her eyes on the door until a knock came at the door and she had to go answer it. The pony was dressed in pirate-themed clothes and carried a box of tools on her back.
“Quick Fix here to help, ma’am! What seems to be the problem?” The pony said.
Cheerilee rolled her eyes. They never tell them what the problem is, they just send them up to keep the guests quiet. “Well, as I explained on the phone, there is a door in the roof above my bed that wasn’t there before. Nothing’s broken, I just want the spell making the door appear there gone. It’s making me uncomfortable.” Cheerilee pointed to the bedroom.
“I’m not sure what you mean, ma’am, but I can take a look if that’s okay?” Quick Fix said.
“Yes, please. By all means, come take a look.” Cheerilee led the way to the bedroom and pointed at the ceiling, which was empty. “Of course it’s gone! Why would it still be there. Now I just look crazy.”
“Now ma’am, that’s quite all right. We do have a plethora of spells active at the hotel to improve the customer experience. If one of them was the cause, we’ll get it figure out and change it so it skips your room, okay?” Quick Fix pulled out a notepad and pencil. “Now do you mind describing it to me?”
Cheerilee smiled at the repair pony. Even though it had sounded crazy she was taking the complaint seriously. “Of course. I woke up this morning and a door had appeared in the ceiling above my bed. It was white, with a red frame and glass handle.”
“Did it open at all?” Quick Fix asked.
Cheerilee shook her head. “Not at all.” Cheerilee put a hoof to her mouth in thought. “Wait, that’s not correct. Last night, as I was coming back to the hotel, I passed by the exact same door on a fence not far from the hotel. It had the same appearance, at least. I couldn’t say it was the same.”

>>30636365
Quick Fix clucked her tongue. “If you saw it outside it might be bleeding in from elsewhere and we might not be able to control it. If you see it anywhere else in the hotel, let us know right away, okay?
“Yes of course, thank you very much,” Cheerilee said.
“A pleasure ma’am. Hope you enjoy your stay at Buccaneer Bay!” Quick Fix winked at Cheerilee and stepped out the door. “What do you do with a drunken sailor, what do you do with a drunken sailor…”
Cheerilee sighed and pressed a hoof to her nose. It was still kind of amusing that they held to the theme so well, but it was starting to feel a little silly at the same time. She needed a change of pace from the revelry inherent in a pirate theme and maybe see a bit of class. She had prepared for such an event, and had brought her nicest evening gown. She had few opportunities to wear it in Ponyville, so she thought this would be a good opportunity. Maybe she would even meet somepony nice.
The gown had been purchased a few years back when she had still been actively seeking a special somepony. It was soft yellow, almost the same colour as the flowers in her cutie mark. It draped over her flank in a quite flattering manner, showing off her curves. Which, she had to admit, had gotten a little bit too big.
Cheerilee looked at herself in the full-length mirror in the bathroom, turning in a slow circle. She wiggled her butt a bit, flexed a bit, then sighed. She wasn’t getting any younger. She didn’t even know if she wanted foals. Teaching them was almost too much. She didn’t know if she could manage a foal of her own.
She climbed into the shower and washed up. She did her hair up in a nice tight bun, leaving some parts loose. She didn’t want to look too severe, but she needed to let ponies know she was there for business. Even if that business might be… entertaining.

>>30636369
Cheerilee finished preparing herself and checked the clock: 1:00pm. It was still a bit too early to go out drinking, so she needed to do something fun until the night life would begin. Many ponies would be out of work and looking for some fun around six or seven, so she’d have to entertain herself until then.
There was an entertainment area on the first floor for guests in the hotel. It was pirate-themed, of course, but there were games, snacks, and occasionally small shows. Her hotel wasn’t the most expensive, so they didn’t get magicians or circuses. They just got bands or comedians. It would be something, at least.
Cheerilee laid out her gown on the bed before she stepped outside and rode the lift down to the first floor. She went and found a table in the center and sat down to watch. It looked like there was a band playing. Some band called “Tangled Fetlocks.” If they were performing this early in the afternoon, they were pretty low on the rungs. As she listened, she understood why. They were generic in the extreme, and she distracted herself by reading the menu and getting some food.
She had lunch and looked around the room, looking for anypony by themselves she might be able to strike up a conversation with. There didn’t appear to be anypony like herself at the moment, so she finished her meal, paid, and left.
She stepped out into the streets and just walked. She might need to shower again when she got back, but she needed to do something to keep herself busy. Maybe she could catch a magic show. She’d heard from Starlight Glimmer that Trixie had managed to get herself into a venue here, which must have been quite the impressive feat. It was nice to see her succeeding so well, but Cheerilee had the sneaking suspicion she’d used her secondary connection to the princess to get it.

>>30636381
"Her complaint is taken seriously, but both her and the workers think it's just a magic spell gone awry."
>Waxworks winks at you.
"We know better, don't we?"
>She pulls out a block of wax and starts carving it while she talks.

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

>>30636365
Awkward wording at the start: "Kept her eyes on the door until a knock came at the door." Fixed in the pastebin.

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>>30636389

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Hmph. The GREAT and POWERFUL Trrrrixie needs no 'connection' to the princess. If she wanted to perform in one of those dingy holes in las Pegasus she would. Trrrixie prefers the road, where more ponies can witness her MAGNIFICENCE.

>>30637700
Honestly? I think so too, that Trixie would stay on the road. But I don't think she's above using a secondhand connection to get better accommodations for a brief period of time. She'd never name-drop Twilight, of course, but she'd hint. In the end, I just needed a nod to Ponyville.

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>>30638617

>>30638617
no worries, just being creative with my bump

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>>30636389
It would be nice to see somepony from Ponyville while she was here, so Cheerilee thought she’d go check out the venue at least. She didn’t expect to actually get in to see Trixie if she was there, but it would be fun to find out when she was performing and who she was opening for.
The place was some distance away from the hotel, but it was a lovely day for a walk, so Cheerilee wandered along, looking at what was around and just ponywatching. She passed by several interesting restaurants and shops she made a mental note to come back to look at. Some had interesting names that were probably named that way just to draw attention, but it worked. “Bridle”rides was one. Why was the bridle in quotation marks? What were you supposed to ride? It sounded like a euphemism, but she couldn’t quite figure out what it meant, and there were no images to go by, so she could only let her mind wander about what it might mean. It certainly piqued her curiosity.
While she was walking, she saw something red and white out of the corner of her eye, and she felt a spike of alarm. She turned to look where she thought it had come from, but saw nothing. She had feared the door was appearing around her again, but there wasn’t even anything red and white nearby. She dismissed it as her imagination after the events of the morning and continued on her way.
She arrived at the place Starlight Glimmer had mentioned, a place called “Midway Starship.” It was a massive yacht-shaped building that had a see-through hull that dangled below the clouds, so earth ponies and unicorns could look down at the landscape from high above. It drew a lot of attention, so Cheerilee knew of it. Maybe she’d come drink here tonight if it was appealing enough.

>>30640213
She entered the ship from the door in the prow and looked for the day’s show listings. She found the showtimes and discovered that Trixie was indeed performing, but not until the start of the evening at five o’clock. Cheerilee didn’t recognize any of the other names, but it might not be so bad to come visit, just to see. She’d need to see what the place had to offer, first. Food and drink was obviously available, and there looked to be a small orchestra playing right now. Cheerilee decided she’d hang about, and maybe go look at the see-through hull. First, she needed to use the restroom.
Cheerilee found the little filly’s room and went inside. The building was still pretty busy, but the restroom had no line, which was nice. She found a stall and stepped inside to take care of business. She closed her eyes for a moment to relax, then opened them and let out an awkward cry of alarm. The door to her stall had changed into the red and white door from before!
“What in the world?” Cheerilee said.
“Well that’s never something you want to hear in a bathroom,” a voice from the stall to her left said.
The stall to her right snorted in amusement. “Sounds like something you might want to get looked at honey.”
“No, it’s… nevermind.” Cheerilee couldn’t tell them her door had changed. They wouldn’t believe her if they couldn’t see it, and she didn’t know if it was visible from the outside.
Cheerilee finished her business and cleaned up, hoping the door would disappear by the time she was done. It didn’t, much to her annoyance. Her neighbours were gone, thankfully, but she still couldn’t get out. The door was blocking her path. She didn’t want to open it because that first time had creeped her out. She didn’t know why or how that hallway appeared, or what was at the end. Or if she could even get back out.

>>30640225
She looked at the bathroom stall she was in. She could try to climb over the top of the stall walls, but those were far above her, and she couldn’t go underneath because those openings were too skinny. She looked at the toilet and debated whether it would be enough of a boost. Well, there was no other way to find out!
Cheerilee closed the lid and stepped onto the toilet lid, then stretched up above to the top of the stall wall. Her hooves were just shy of reaching, but a little jump should be almost enough. She was about to do it when the door to the restroom opened and somepony came in. She lowered her hooves and waited while they picked the stall to her right. She prepared again, but this time, a whole crowd of ponies came in. The stall she was going to climb into filled up, and she had no recourse beyond that.
She sat down on the toilet, frustrated. The crowd of mares waiting outside were chattering away, waiting their turn. After a minute of Cheerilee waiting for somepony to finish so they would leave, a knock came at her door.
“Heyyyyy, are you done in there? Other ponies are waiting you know,” somepony said.
Cheerilee was angry, but then she realized that they weren’t commenting on the door itself. Could they not see it? Did they think it was normal? It looked nothing like the other doors in the bathroom!
Cheerilee was beginning to wonder if it was all in her head. She reached out and touched the glass handle. It felt like glass, and looked like it. She stuck her nose against it and sniffed. It smelled like glass? She’d never really noticed what glass smelled like, but it didn’t smell out of the ordinary. She experimentally pulled on it and it turned, the latch clicking open.

>>30640238
>Waxworks whittles away at the small lump of wax, a shape beginning to emerge from it.
"She treated it like it was merely an illusion, but now it has her trapped in a rather ignoble position. Her choices are limited, but she's trying."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

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>>30640261

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G'night spoopy thread

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>>30640261
Cheerilee froze. Did she really want to find out if this was the bathroom door or the ‘other’ door she was opening? She could just wait in here for all these other mares to leave. She had a right to be in the restroom as long as she wanted. She owed no explanations to anypony.
But the likelihood of the restroom being empty before the evening hit was slim, and the evening would just bring more of a crowd. Could she really wait in here all day? All she really needed to do was look inside the door, then she could make further decisions from there, right? She just needed to look inside. That was all. Her hoof trembled, but Cheerilee pulled on the door and leaned her head to look inside as it swung open.
A brightly lit hallway appeared before her. Magical lights hung from the ceiling while the hallway itself traveled off into the distance. It went a dozen or so meters before it turned sharply to the right. On the wall at the end of the perfectly straight and boxed-off hall, a colorful poster of some kind was plastered against the far end, but she couldn’t make out the words. The picture itself had a stallion and a big heart above his head, but that was all she could see.
Cheerilee squinted as she tried to make it out, but suddenly a hoof appeared in front of her, coming out of thin air! She screamed and jumped back, climbing up onto the toilet seat to try to escape. The hoof came in and turned then… rapped on the door.
“Yo! You getting’ out? Some of the rest of us gotta go, y’know?” The image of the hallway disappeared, along with the red and white door, revealing a crowd of mares, all staring at Cheerilee.

>>30643425
“I think she’s on drugs,” one mare said.
“Everfree powder?”
“Nah her eyes aren’t dilated enough.”
“Griffon snuff?”
“Maybe. I think she’s seeing things, though.”
Cheerilee coughed and collected herself, then pushed out of the stall, hurrying out of the bathroom with her eyes cast down. She didn’t even wash her hooves.
“Excuse you!”
Cheerilee didn’t look back.
Cheerilee stumbled out of the bathroom, more than a little confused. She wandered down into the see-through hull and found herself an empty table. She plopped down and just breathed, trying to make sense of what had happened.
Okay, she told herself, categorize and break it down into manageable chunks: She had seen the door. She had opened it. She had seen the hallway. There were lights this time, and a poster. But! It had taken the place of the bathroom door, so she had opened the bathroom door as well, and nopony else had seen it. At least, not from the back. That mare had stuck her hoof through it like it wasn’t even there. Did that mean it didn’t exist? It felt like it did. She could touch it, and it felt like glass and wood. Was it only there for her? Why? There were so many unanswered questions, and nopony to give her any answers but herself, and she had none. It was all so confusing.
A mare wearing form-fitting clothing came by to take her order. Cheerilee checked the clock and decided that four o’clock was late enough to begin drinking. She was mentally exhausted and a little stressed. She needed to take the edge off.
The mare came back with her drink in short order, and Cheerilee stopped thinking about the door and just looked around her at the building itself. She looked down at Equestria beneath her. The view mostly showed off Applewood, which was the neighboring city to Las Pegasus, but the exhilaration was still there.

>>30643427
She admired all the Pegasus ponies as they flitted about underneath. She focused in on a few of the stallions, then realized that there was an aerobatic show going on! They were doing formation flying, leaving behind trails of smoke and that signature trail some of the faster pegasi had. She’d seen Rainbow Dash leave behind her rainbow trail and wondered what a lot of these meant. There was one, leaving behind a trail of what appeared to be flowers, and she wondered what his special talent was that he could do that.
At some point, the stallion caught her watching as he flew lazily along underneath, showing off his back-flight. He’d tap on the hull in certain places and blow kisses at some of the mares. He passed underneath Cheerilee’s table, blew her a kiss, then winked at her. After all the stress she’d been dealing with considering this awful door, possibly combined with the drink, Cheerilee felt a bit daring and blew a kiss back. She winked at him, too, and he laughed. She couldn’t hear it, but she imagined it was deep and rich. He had a nice smile. For the rest of the performance, the stallion seemed to pass underneath her table a lot more often. She was sad to see them stop.
But them stopping meant it was five o’clock, and that was Trixie’s moment to shine! Cheerilee turned to the stage, which had been lit up with various cool blue lights and what she recognized to be some of Trixie’s signature devices. Most of them were just for special effects, but that was Trixie’s talent after all.
“And now, for your viewing pleasure, The Grrrrreat, and Powerful, Trrrixie!” the announcer boomed.
Cheerilee snickered at the poor attempt by the announcer to roll his r’s. Trixie did it much better. She watched as Trixie went through her special effects routine, clapping her hooves in appreciation, when somepony joined her at her table.
“Mind if I join you?” a deep and rich voice said.

>>30643431
"Maybe a little company is all Cheerilee needs to loosen up and enjoy herself a little bit more."
>Waxworks' carving is starting to take on the appearance of a pony. A stallion, judging by the stock body-shape.
"But then, she's not taking into account every possibility, is she? If you don't see what I mean, it will become apparent very soon."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

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>>30643444

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>>30644199
the Goddess thanks you for her inclusion in this threadpic not related

>>30644199
Got a doctor's appointment today. Update might be late, depending.

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>>30645512

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>>30643444
Still smiling, Cheerilee turned to look at the pony who had spoken. Her smile gave way to a gasp as she realized it was the aerobatic stunt pony from earlier. His mane looked a little damp, and he smelled of soap. She guessed he’d just gotten out of the shower.
“Oh… not at all! Please do!” Cheerilee said, perhaps with just a little too much excitement.
He nodded and sat down in the seat next to her, then turned to watch Trixie’s show. “That a friend of yours on stage?”
“Not exactly a friend. An acquaintance, perhaps. It’s still nice to see her get recognition.” Cheerilee paused to cheer and clap her hooves after a particularly impressive magic trick.
“It feels nice, too. When you finally get the recognition you’ve been working so hard for,” the stallion said. “My name is Dandelion, by the way. What’s yours?”
“Cheerilee,” Cheerilee said. “Miss Cheerilee. Can I get you a drink, Dandelion?”
He looked taken-aback for a moment, but he laughed. “I would enjoy that, Miss Cheerilee.”
They talked while Trixie finished her act, enjoying the show and each other’s company. Trixie left the stage and some other ponies came on and started performing, and Cheerilee stayed and talked with Dandelion when there were lulls in the action. He told her about who was who, and what history they had. Some he didn’t recognize and they were one-shots stopping on their way through town, but he knew enough about the place that he had their names at the very least. Cheerilee told Dandelion about Ponyville, and about her students and friends. He’d heard about the Princess of Friendship, of course, and asked what Cheerilee knew about her. By the time the night was ending, they were both happily drunk and clinging to each other.

>>30647124
“Dandelion, you should… you should come back to my hotel. I’ve always wanted to do it on a boat.” Cheerilee slurred.
“Miss Cheerilee, I think… I think… wait, hang on.” Dandelion squinted for a moment, deep in thought. “Oh yeah! I think we’re both far too drunk to be making good decisions like that.”
Cheerilee rubbed her face on his neck. “Then maybe, you know, in the morning?”
“That’ll be better, yeah. You come back here and ask for Dandelion, or I’ll come to your place,” Dandelion said. “Who… whoever… whoever gets up first. Where are you staying?”
“At the pirate-ship hotel,” Cheerilee was leaning on Dandelion, her eyes half-closed.
“Alright, lemme getcha home.” Dandelion stood up and propped up Cheerilee. He held her up as they left the building, and walked her down the streets back to her hotel.

Cheerilee woke up the next morning with a mild hangover. The pounding in her head was minor, but the bright light spilling in the window was doing nothing for it at all. She rolled out of bed, briefly noticing her evening gown hung up on the ship’s wheel, and stumbled toward the bathroom. She did her business then sipped at the bathroom sink’s water, swishing and spitting to rid herself of the taste of leftover alcohol, then washed her face clean of last night’s revelry.
While she was drying her face off, she fumbled with the bathroom handle. Her hangover was giving her difficulty with the most mundane of things. She grumbled and stepped through the door when it finally swung open and pulled the towel from her face. In place of her room, a long hallway was in front of her, stretching out some distance to a point where it turned sharply to the right. It was sinuous and curved, with minimal lighting and dingy walls. Cheerilee screeched and leaped backward, rolling out of the doorway and back into her bathroom.

>>30647134
Her bathroom only had the one door, so Cheerilee was now effectively trapped. There weren’t even any windows she could think about climbing out or even shouting for help. It was her and the door, and it had outsmarted her because she was out partying.
No, that wasn’t fair. It was magic and could replace any door, so this was inevitable. If it wanted her to go through it, it had only to wait. The problem now was figuring out how to deal with it. The obvious option was to go through it, but she had no idea what was waiting for her on the other side. It could be dangerous. But then, some magical door replacing things she needed to use was already dangerous.
Well, waiting was going to get her nowhere, so Cheerilee stepped into the door one hoof at a time. She’d been fully inside it not a minute ago, and if it had wanted to shut behind her it could have then, but she was still scared. She wasn’t a unicorn, and her defenses against magic included ‘hoping it doesn’t kill me’, and ‘find a unicorn to deal with it.’
When she was fully inside, Cheerilee looked behind her. Her bathroom was sitting there with the door open, her discarded towel on the floor. It didn’t appear to be swinging shut, but she wasn’t very far inside. With much trepidation, she began walking slowly down the snake-like hall, wishing she had some company. She hoped this magical mess wouldn’t make her miss her ‘date’ with Dandelion. The contours of the hall gave the impression of motion even though she knew full well it was sitting still, and eventually she came to the corner. She looked back at her door, and it was still open, which was quite reassuring. Satisfied it hadn’t shut her in, she poked her head around the corner, and saw another door, roughly the same distance away from the corner as hers.

>>30647138
>Waxworks has finished a rough outline of a stallion, and places it on the ground in front of her.
"So she meets somepony, but finds herself trapped by this teleporting door that's been following her. It sounds like nonsense, but it doesn't appear to be entirely malicious. Just mysterious. At the very least, Cheerilee understands some of the things she had overlooked about a magical door."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

>>30647156
Nice.

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I had remembered I wrote a song a while back and I thought it would fit for this thread so I drew something with the song.

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>>30648414
It was a short melody but it was enough for me to draw for.
I had thought about singing the song myself to complete it but I just kept it this way

>>30648428
>>30648414
This is really cool. Do you at least have the melody it goes to? As it is, it's just a creepy poem. I would really love to know the melody.

>>30648966
Yeah I do have one for it.
but it's one of those songs where just had a sudden idea for it and wrote down the lyrics only but didn't write notes for it. So the melody is one I came up with while singing it so if I sang it it's the only way to get the melody

>>30649182
Aw. I really want to hear it. Will you record it? You can hum it if you don't want to sing. That should be easy and possibly creepier

>>30649279
I will go ahead and record it if I can try but I'll post it around midnight or later. If I can't post it or unable to do it then yeah.

>>30649298
Yeeeah! I look forward to it!

Don't we have a music fag? Where's Radiarc?
Sounds like it's collaborating time.

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With enough courage I did it so anyways here's the song Coloring Books for the short comic.
http://vocaroo.com/i/s1pHGOLJTaZ7
if my voice sounded shaky I apologize

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>>30650212
Well, I liked it.

>>30650212
Very nice. Thank you for singing it for us.

>>30650239
>>30650273
Thanks! Glad you liked it

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>>30647156
Well, there were only two exits. One exit she had come from, and the other was at the other end of the hall. She couldn’t exit her restroom any other directions except into this… thing, so there was only one option. She marched down the hall toward the other door, climbing the slight hills and keeping her ears perked for any strange noises. She reached the door without incident, and examined it.
It was the same style as the other side, which wasn’t particularly surprising, but still, it at least seemed to indicate it would stay connected to itself. She wasn’t positive, because nothing to do with magic could ever be trusted as far as she was concerned. It was useful, sure, but Cheerilee would never live in a house made of it. Like Twilight’s crystal castle. That was a bit disconcerting to see.
Cheerilee put her hoof on the handle of the door and slowly pulled it down. She heard the click, and held her breath, then swung it open the rest of the way.
Inside was a small room, with just a dresser and a bed. On the walls were posters and shelves holding what looked like somepony’s life history. It was dark, but she could make out some of the posters with the minimal light coming through the crack in the curtains. It looked like whomever this room belonged to liked the wonderbolts, not unlike Rainbow Dash. This pony didn’t look to have quite made it. There were a few trophies to do with flying, but she couldn’t tell what the rest of the items were as they were too far away. Her door had opened in place of the door of this pony’s room. She didn’t know if that meant she had opened the door to the room, but she had to assume it was the case, so since she had no other choice, she stepped in and shut the door behind her.

>>30650633
“Now why did you bring me here?” Cheerilee asked, her voice low.
She tip-hoofed closer to the bed, and looked for something that might explain why she had ended up in this pony’s room. She felt out of place, like she was trespassing. Probably because she was, but this wasn’t really her fault! She didn’t have a choice! She examined some of the items on the shelves, and saw a familiar name written on the trophies!
“Dandelion?” Cheerilee turned to look at the sleeping figure, who snorted at the mention of his name.
“Huh? Whuzzat?” He turned over and looked at the clock, then reflexively smacked the top with a hoof. “It ain’t even noon, Speedy. Show’s not till four. Go fuck yourself.” He turned back over and waved a dismissive hoof.
Cheerilee approached the bed. “Pardon me Mr. Dandelion, but you told me I could come by and see you today.”
Dandelion’s silhouette rolled over again and squinted up at her. “You’re not Speedy. Who the...” Awareness seemed to dawn on him and his eyes opened wide. “The mare from last night! Cherrylee was it?”
“Hah! Cheerilee. But you were close,” Cheerilee said.
“Yeah, sorry. I had a lot to drink last night,” Dandelion said.
Cheerilee was feeling a bit bolder now that she knew who it was, so she crouched down and leaned onto the edge of the bed. “We both did. My head still hurts a little bit, but I wasn’t going to let a stallion like you get away from me. What would you say to a little breakfast, then we can go from there, hmm?”
“I think I would like that very much Miss Cheerilee.”
Cheerilee waited while Dandelion pulled himself out of bed and squeezed past her in his tiny room to the tiny bathroom. She was a little taken aback by how small his quarters were, but if he lived in the same building he worked in, it made more sense. In all honesty, she had no idea where she was.

>>30650639
“So may I ask why your room is so very small?”
“Ah. Yeah. The business allows us to live on the premises, but because the place was built so long ago, the rooms weren’t built to be quite so spacious as you might expect nowadays,” Dandelion said. “They haven’t expanded them, and offered them to us free of charge, so long as we perform when they ask. We’re a small group, and not very well-known, so we didn’t want to pass it up.”
“Contracted?"
“Yeah. Four years. Two more to go.”
“Not a bad deal.”
“Nah, not at all. By the way, how did you get up here? Was it Speedy? He’s always getting on my case.”
Cheerilee bit her lip and looked at the door. It had transformed back into a normal door, so she’d have to go home the regular way if it didn’t show up, but she had no good explanation for him. She didn’t even know the path! She couldn’t tell him it was magic, that would be a little creepy. She hesitated, but decided to try to fudge it.
“I just… told the front desk I was here to see you, and they… let me come to the back!” Cheerilee mentally berated herself. That was such a lame explanation. Nopony would believe that!
Dandelion laughed a hearty laugh. She loved the sound of it, but she knew she hadn’t gotten past him with her lies. “I appreciate the humor, and I won’t press as to which one of the team flew you up, but come on. Was that really the best you could come up with? I’m sure you can be more creative than that.”
He finished cleaning himself up and opened the door for her. Cheerilee stepped outside onto a short landing with a single chair and a small gate. She stepped closer and realized why he hadn’t believed her. There was nothing but a long drop all the way down to the floor.

>>30650643
>Waxworks pulls out another lump of wax and starts carving it.
"Magic is a fickle thing. I'm not privy to much of it myself beyond that used in lighting. I don't meet many unicorns, and fewer still actually use magic around me beyond telekinesis. magic is untrustworthy, in my opinion. It does what it wants, and it doesn't care who gets hurt."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

>>30650212
Verry nice

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>>30650652
“Sweet Celestia!” Cheerilee backed away from the edge and pressed up against the wall.
“Preparing to go down is a lot worse than coming up, isn’t it? I hear that a lot from earth ponies and unicorns,” Dandelion said.
She was trying not to have to explain how she had arrived up here, but she was swiftly running out of ideas. The only name of his crew that she knew was Speedy, but they would talk, and her lies would come out. She was trapped. He didn’t seem to be pressing the issue, so she decided to leave it for now, but it was going to come up sooner or later. She could feel it.
“Yeah, because it was built in Las Pegasus, it was all built with pegasi in mind. The rooms up here are pegasi only. Mostly used for employees, but for a nominal fee you can rent ones at the end,” Dandelion said. “They’ve even let a few earth ponies or unicorns rent them. Extra charge for the need for a Pegasus escort, of course.”
“It’s… quite something,” Cheerilee said.
Dandelion chuckled. “Alright, I can see you’re uncomfortable. Let’s get you down.” He held out his forehooves.
Cheerilee moved into his hooves and wrapped hers around his neck. He lifted her up with some slight difficulty, but didn’t say anything, and swooped down to the lobby. He placed her on the floor and she breathed a sigh of relief. She knew she was still hundreds of feet in the air, but at least she couldn’t see any edges.
“So let’s find something to eat. I know this great restaurant. Serves the best breakfast burritos,” Dandelion said.
Cheerilee followed him outside and they made their way along the streets as Dandelion showed her the restaurants he frequently ate at. It was a relaxed morning, and she enjoyed his company. He treated her very well and didn’t even bring up either the fact that she had thrown herself at him last night, or the way she’d gotten into his room.

>>30653105
As it got into the afternoon, Dandelion kept checking the time. “I have a performance at four, as I’m sure you remember. I’ll have to head back at three to join in the warm-up. Speedy’s working on a new routine, but until he has it planned out practice only happens sporadically.”
“How long have you all been together?” Cheerilee asked.
“Speedy and I started the whole thing. The other members come and go. We didn’t quite make it into the Wonderbolts academy, so we started our own.”
“That’s very clever.”
“We thought so. Speedy came up with the name: Trickselion! Cause we do tricks like loops n’ stuff. Eh?”
He looked so proud of the name, Cheerilee couldn’t help but laugh though. “You obviously but a lot of thought and care into it. I’m glad it worked out for you two.”
“Yeah. He’s a great guy. Always bugs me about my love life, though. That’s why I thought he was the one who brought you up to my room,” Dandelion said. “By the way, if it wasn’t him, how did you get up there? I’m genuinely curious. You even seemed surprised to see we were so high up.”
Cheerilee sighed. “Okay, I’ll tell you, and it’s going to sound crazy, but I swear it’s the truth.”
“Go on.”
“A magic door.”
He waited, but Cheerilee said nothing else. She just looked at him and tried to gauge his reaction.
“That’s all?”
Cheerilee nodded. “It started appearing two days ago. It appears on walls and replaces doors in buildings for me. I don’t know why or how or for what reason.”
“That actually sounds really creepy.”
“I know! But it replaced my bathroom door this morning and I couldn’t get out, so I had to go in! Then the door at the other end of the hall was your room. It then disappeared, leaving me there. I’m just glad you were home,” Cheerilee said.

>>30653111
Dandelion closed his eyes and folded his hooves. He seemed to be measuring her story up in his mind and trying to decide to believe it or not. “Well, I can’t rightly say that magic can’t do that, because I’m clearly not a unicorn. But somepony has to be behind the spell. It’s too neat and tidy to be wild magic.”
Cheerilee saw something red and white out of the corner of her eye, and turned to look. Sure enough, there was the door, down an alleyway across the street from her and Dandelion. Cheerilee poked Dandelion and tilted her head.
“Okay, so please be patient Dandelion, but the door has appeared,” she said.
“Really? Right now?”
“Mm-hmm. It’s right down that alley across the street. Do you see it? Red frame, white door, glass handle.” She pointed.
Dandelion looked, and he even squinted, but he shook his head. “I don’t see anything. Certainly not a door coloured like that.”
Cheerilee leaned back in her chair and groaned. “See, that’s what I mean. Nopony but me appears to be able to see it. I was caught in a restroom when it replaced the door, and the ponies outside thought I was on drugs!”
“Well, it was probably weird seeing somepony interacting with an invisible object. I mean, maybe some thought you were just a mime?”
“They tried to guess what drug I was on. Some said Everfree powder. Everfree powder! I’m never even seen Everfree powder!”
“Don’t worry so much, Cheerilee. Let’s get closer. Is it still there?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what makes it come and go.”
“Then let’s go have a closer look at this wall.”
They paid for their meal and approached the short alleyway. Boards had been placed down on the clouds so other ponies could walk through it. Cheerilee didn’t know how that worked, but it was pegasi magic, so she just trusted it. She got up to the door and motioned with a hoof.
“Right here,” she said.

>>30653121
>Waxworks started shaving bits off the next wax lump and it looked like it was going to be a mare this time.
"Cheerilee is taking a brave risk, sharing such a strange story with somepony who can't even see what she sees, but he hasn't been turned away by it. Maybe he truly does believe her. It is magic, after all."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

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>>30653140

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>>30653959

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>>30654870

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>>30655890

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>>30653140
Dandelion looked at the wall, then back at her, and Cheerilee knew he couldn’t see it. “You can’t see it, can you. To you, this is just a blank wall.”
“Yeah, I’ll be honest. I think you’re just messing with me,” Dandelion said.
Cheerilee looked down the long dark hallway. This time the floor didn’t wobble up and down, but only side to side. It was still lit with only a few lights, and it still had that ninety degree turn some distance away.
“Okay, then let me just” – Cheerilee stepped inside the door, and Dandelion jumped in shock. – “step inside.”
Dandelion stared at the wall. His eyes flashed up and down as he tried to make sense of what he’d just seen. It was magic, but he didn’t like it very much. “So why can’t I see it then? Why just you?”
Cheerilee stuck her head out, and Dandelion yelped in surprise. “I don’t know, but it got me to your room this morning, so it can’t be all bad.”
“No, but that’s really strange. I don’t like it,” Dandelion said.
“I didn’t either, but it’s kind of growing on me. Let me see where this door goes. Be right back.” Cheerilee pulled her head back into the wall, as it appeared to Dandelion, and trotted down the crooked passage. The path felt about the same length as earlier, although she knew it was far shorter than the actual length of time it would take to get from her hotel to the Midway Starship. That made her curious how far it could go. Could it transport her all the way to Ponyville from here?
She rounded the corner, and saw the door at the far end. Her path was straight ahead, and the open door behind her still showed the alleyway where Dandelion was sitting. He was scratching his neck in confusion and Cheerilee couldn’t help but chuckle. She didn’t want to keep him waiting, so she cantered down the hall to the closed door.

>>30657033
Upon opening the door, Cheerilee was delighted to see a familiar house. The bedroom of her home in Ponyville was before her. The bed was made, the floor was tidy, and everything was just as she had left it. Excited, she left the door open and dashed back around the corner. She hopped out of the doorway, beaming, and grabbed Dandelion’s hoof.
“It’s my house!” Cheerilee said.
“What? What is?” Dandelion’s confusion had not abated, but he was happy to see her.
“The door leads to my house in Ponyville!”
“Seriously? That’s hundreds of miles away! How?”
Cheerilee shrugged. “Do you want to see?”
“Your house?” Dandelion looked at the blank–to him–wall. “Can I even go in it?”
“Maybe. I can, so if you hold my hoof, that might work. If not, I guess I’ll just close it and we can go back to the Midway Starship,” Cheerilee said.
“Yeah, I have to go to work in less than an hour, so I might not have time.”
“Well at least help me find out if you can enter with me holding your hoof.”
“Okay, okay.” Dandelion grabbed Cheerilee’s hoof and gave her a weak smile.
Cheerilee grinned and gripped his hoof tight, then stepped into the doorway. The hoof holding Dandelion’s approached the wall and he flinched, but to both pony’s surprise, and Cheerilee’s delight, it passed through the wall and into the ethereal passage. He watched as his forehoof disappeared into what looked like a solid surface. His snout approached and he cringed, but it too passed through without impact, until he was entirely inside the hallway.
Dandelion looked around in bewilderment at the sinuous passage, still a bit unbelieving of the whole thing. “You weren’t kidding. It’s just a hallway.”
“It’s strange, and a bit spooky, but yes. It’s just a hallway,” Cheerilee said.

>>30657039
She started to let go of his hoof, but he gripped it tight. “Please don’t let go. I can’t see the door, which means this was meant for you. If you let go while I’m in here, what might happen?”
Cheerilee hadn’t considered that. She bit her lip, but nodded. “You’re right. This could be dangerous. Let’s get back out and go to your practice. It will come back I’m sure.”
Dandelion looked more than a little relieved. “Thank you, Cheerilee.”
Dandelion stepped back out first, followed by Cheerilee still holding his hoof. Once both were certain they were out of the doorway, they released each other’s hooves and Cheerilee shut the door. It was still invisible to Dandelion, so it looked like she was shutting nothing, but he didn’t say anything. He had seen it, after all. It was real, but he was not privy to it.
They chatted about other things, with Dandelion curious about her life in Ponyville. Cheerilee told him how she was a school teacher, and more about what life was like for her in Ponyville. They walked back to the Midway Starship, and Dandelion had to go to practice, but Cheerilee waited. She was there to observe the performance all the way through. Dandelion flew underneath her more often than not whenever there was a spare chance, and she waved every time.
When it was over, he came back out to her table after his shower and they talked some more. Cheerilee noticed some other mares nearby saw him come straight to her and they frowned. She felt important. Like she had something other mares didn’t. The fact that it was something that made her feel attractive was nice. It was a good feeling. She didn’t even mind the fact that she was not seeing much of Las Pegasus. Dandelion’s company was more than enough.

>>30657045
>Waxworks finishes the mare figurine and places it on the ground next to the stallion.
"Cheerilee seems comfortable with the door now, but her stallion friend does not. He raises good points, but how far will they take things?"

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

>>30656616
I understand AJ, but who is Rares supposed to be?

>>30657198
I'm not quite sure. Maybe Lydia from Beetlejuice?

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Bumping with some music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-UkS3ecC9k

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>>30657055

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>>30658196
>CryoChamber

>>30657055
The two talked as the evening passed, and they had a single drink each, but eventually, talk came down to where they might get a little more intimate. Since they were already in the Midway Starship, Dandelion suggested they go back to his room, since all he would have to do was fly her up there.
“Well, I did say I always wanted to do it on a boat, and this is shaped like one. Okay,” Cheerilee said.
They settle their tab and Dandelion lifted her up, then took off into the upper sections of the building. Cheerilee held tight to his neck as he flew and avoided looking down. Heights were okay, but with only a single pony between herself and a long fall, she couldn’t get comfortable. It was a short flight, and he set her down behind the railing while he unlocked the door. As soon as the door was open, she threw herself on him, kissing him deep as they struggled toward the bed.
The fight was long, yet passionate, and it ended with them both breathing hard.

When they decided to stop, it was late. Or perhaps early. It depended on your point of view. They were holding each other in their hooves, manes disheveled and fur ruffled. Cheerilee sighed and smiled. It had been a long time since she was so comfortable with somepony like this, and could get this intimate. She wasn’t sure if it was the vacation or maybe alcohol, but she was happy.
“Some of that was not quite what I’d expect from a schoolteacher,” Dandelion said.
“What, you think because I teach foals that I’m not allowed to have deep dark secret desires?” Cheerilee said.
“Hey, not at all. It’s just you have this image of teachers, you know? Probably from your school days, and you just threw the ones I had all off kilter,” Dandelion said.

>>30660098
“Well, guess you’ll have to get used to that, because I plan on throwing them all off again soon,” Cheerilee said.
“Nice.” Dandelion wrapped his hooves around her and pulled her close.
“Oh no you don’t,” Cheerilee pulled away, but gave him a quick kiss. “I’m still too tired and sore, and I need to clean up.” She smiled and stood up, heading to the bathroom.
“Well, I can wait. I don’t have anything scheduled,” Dandelion said.
“Perfect. We can choose something to do after we’re all cleaned up,” Cheerilee said.
She shut the door behind her and hopped into the cramped shower space. It was small, and the water pressure was poor, but she got herself cleaned up and crawled out of the tiny tub. When she turned to look at the door, she was dismayed to see it was the red and white door that had been hounding her. She grunted in frustration.
“Sweet Celestia, what do you even want, door?” Cheerilee said.
“Cheerilee? What’s going on?”
“It’s that stupid door again. It replaced the bathroom door.”
“Seriously? Why?”
“I wish I knew.”
“Well how do you get rid of it?”
“I don’t know any surefire way to get rid of it. Those mares in the bathroom stuck their hooves through it and it disappeared. Can you come do that?”
“Okay. Hang on.”
Cheerilee opened the door to see a straight, brightly-lit passage with that ninety-degree turn. She heard Dandelion’s hoofsteps tapping toward her and stop somewhere in front of her. A hoof appeared, sticking out of the vision in front of her, cut off where her view of the hallway began.
“Is it still there?” Dandelion asked.
“Yeah, I just see your hoof floating in mid-air,” Cheerilee said. “I don’t know what else to do.”
Dandelion walked through the vision and joined her in the small bathroom. “I guess we can both go through. That way I won’t lose you somewhere on the far end, wherever it is.”

>>30660102
Cheerilee smiled at him. “Thank you. I know it’s unsettling, and I wish I could fix it. I’ll try to contact some unicorn services soon.”
Cheerilee grabbed Dandelion’s hoof, steeled herself, then stepped into the hall. Dandelion stayed beside her, his grip tightening as they entered the hallway. They walked side by side down the path, up toward the corner. Cheerilee was getting quite fed up with this door appearing and disappearing at a whim of its own. She didn’t know any unicorns except Twilight or Starlight back in that crystal castle that might be powerful enough to figure out what magic this was and get rid of it.
They rounded the corner and Cheerilee balked at the sight of the door. It wasn’t the red and white she was used to. This time, the frame was green, and the door itself was black, with a metal handle.
“Something’s wrong.” Cheerilee said. “The door is different.”
“Different how?”
“It’s an entirely different colour.”
“And that’s bad?”
“I… honestly don’t know.”
“Well we won’t know unless we try. How else are you going to get out of the bathroom?”
“Okay, okay. But don’t let go of me no matter what.”
“Same goes for you.”
Cheerilee gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile, and they proceeded down the bright and welcoming hallway to the strangely-coloured door. The walls were clean and free from scuff marks, and the floor was smooth and polished. When they got to the door, Cheerilee could see that it was of the same quality. A stark difference to the weathered, worn, and dark hallway she had seen before. The only other time it was this clean was when she was in the restroom before. What was the difference between the two types of hallway, she wondered? What significance did this hold?

>>30660106
>Waxworks picks up the two figurines and gently taps their noses together.
>She gives you a little smile and scoots closer to a wall.
"They like each other, and are willing to do frightening things. What awaits them?"

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/6B43ZL5G

>>30660113
lewd spoopy time

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>>30660113

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>>30660113
I'm having difficulty deciding where to take this story, so have this instead.


>The changeling had been found and killed by Applejack when it was discovered in the barn, drinking milk from the cows.
>Applebloom had seen Applejack burying it, and asked about it, but Applejack had driven her off.
>She remembered that distinctly.
>The smell of the body, the appearance of the green blood. The cattle tag in its ear and broken bell around its neck.
>She’d ignored it for several months.
>But she also never forgot what Applejack had said that day…
“Good ponies don’t ask questions. You’re my sweet little Applebloom, right?”
>Late last night, she’d heard Applejack sneaking out to the barn, and this morning they had the same number of cows again.
>Applejack had caught her counting the cows, and had placed a heavy hoof on her head, then ruffled her mane and tugged her bow.
“Good ponies don’t ask questions. You ARE my sweet little Applebloom, right?”

End.

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>>30663451

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>>30648414
>>30648428
>>30650212
Pretty good. Thanks Anon.

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>>30664242
Good ol' crookedtrees. I miss her art.

>>30663451
>>30660113
I'm not happy with the way this story is going. I'm putting it on hold until I figure it out. Here's a new one.

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>>30666638
Tonight was especially dark in this portion of town. Lights from the richer section glowed in the distance, but here it was almost oppressive with how dark it was. None of the lamps had been lit, and you didn’t know why. The chandler’s shop had no lights on, and it stated it was closed, but you tried the door anyway. It swung open and you slipped inside.
It was even darker in here, but you heard movement besides yourself. You stepped forward, and banged your hoof on something. You jumped to the side and banged your head on something else. Some things clattered to the floor, and you heard a hiss of annoyance.
“You’d stop hitting things if you stop moving, you know,” Waxworks said. You recognized her voice. “It’s dark because I want it to be dark. I have a lot of power, you know. The bureaucracy of the city has to decide who else they’re going to get to light the lamps if I don’t do it, and since everypony thinks lamplighting is a job that is beneath them, nothing gets done.”
She snickered and you heard hoofsteps, though you couldn’t see a thing. There was the sound of a drawer being opened, then the scratch and hiss of a match, and blinding light sparked into being. A single candle was lit and she put out the match, then placed it on the countertop.
“Darkness isn’t so bad, either. Have you ever been stargazing?” She asked. You shook your head. “You can’t do it as easily inside the city. You need to get a short distance out before you can properly appreciate the night sky. Not enough ponies actually realize how impressive the sky really is. Nopony really wants darkness all the time, though. It would get boring, and we also know what kind of creatures come out in the dark, don’t we...”

>>30666646
When Nightmare Moon returned, ponies had panicked at first. She had easily defeated Celestia despite the valiant efforts of Celestia’s prize pupil, Twilight Sparkle. The poor mare had made a good effort, but it was ultimately futile, as centuries of rankling hatred had empowered Nightmare Moon with far greater strength than the aging and complacent Celestia and her unicorn protégé could muster. Celestia had been taken during the summer sun celebration in Ponyville, and Twilight Sparkle had been ‘dealt with’ somewhere in the Everfree forest in a mad quest to find some elements of harmony or something. Nopony knows what her plan was, but it was a moot point now.
The everlasting night sounded horrible at first. We had all imagined pitch black everywhere we went. No lights except those of our torches and no heat whatsoever. That turned out not to be the case. Somehow–probably magic–there were still changes in temperature and weather. The moon provided different amounts of light at different times of day. Crops grew, winter happened, but all of them under the dim light of the moon. Life continued, but changes had been made.
One such change was crime. With much less light at all times of, well, night. It was a lot easier to commit crime. The bat pony guards tried, but they were still far fewer in number than Celestia’s previous royal guard, many of which had been killed or exiled following Nightmare Moon’s return. The other problem was that now, with perpetual darkness, creatures long thought lost or merely myth were beginning to make their return. A vampire kingdom had supposedly been founded in the west, stories of a necromancer were surfacing, and warnings of boogeyponies were being told. Ponies fear of the dark had not yet disappeared, and tension was reaching new heights. Nightmare Moon was fighting it, but only several years had passed.

>>30666653
My job under the new regime was simple delivery. I had been a member of staff at Canterlot Castle, but Nightmare Moon had replaced everypony there with bat ponies. She was trying to make a statement or something. Well, her statement had been made, and everypony was too scared of associating with anypony that had touched the castle out of fear of retribution, so my options were now limited. Delivery meant I could be swept under the rug, and I was never around for very long. I was easy to overlook, at least.
“Hey Chatelaine, I’ll see you next week or so, eh?”
I turned to look at the voice. It was Throw Rug, waving from the train. He was another pony ousted from the castle. He helped me find my job.
“Yes, I’ll see you then I’m sure,” I replied.
He waved, and I waved back, and we went on our separate ways. We’d arrived on the edge of the Whitetail Woods, and he was heading down to Applewood, while I got to go through the woods to some Podunk little village crammed deep inside it. It was probably one of those that kept trying to fight back against Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon loved trains, so she had bat ponies traveling them in squads, quelling fears and quashing uprisings. Which, admittedly, did little to quell fears.
Nevertheless, they had a shipment of reagents, spices, and strange fluids on order, and I wasn’t getting paid to not deliver them. I lifted the harness with my magic and hitched myself up, then began pulling. I pulled the map out of my saddlebags and checked my route. It should be just a short distance to the north, within the woods. Hopefully there would be a path. I didn’t want to have to start cutting down bushes and pulling a wagon through them.

>>30666658
I apologize for stopping, but if I'm not happy with it, it's going to suffer in quality. I hope this new one goes a bit better.

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

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>>30666658
>Throw Rug
heh...

>>30666638
yay...a cliffhanger

>>30666810
Sorry. I am trying to figure out where it is going, and having difficulty. When I do have it figured out, I will go back to it. I promise.

>>30666903
Don't worry about it, you do you Wax. I'm here to read, whatever you write.
I like the change in scenery for this new one. A NMM dominated Equestria. I'm imagining it's a lot like Dragons Dogma post end-game, when the Everfall opens and plunges the world into perpetual darkness, unleashing all the big nansties that only came out at night before. This could be a fun world to explore.

>>30667469
I think so too. What would happen if night were permanent? What would nocturnal creatures do? Diurnal creatures? To make the world survive some magical shit has to be going on, but in day-to-day life, I imagine the permanent darkness is a chore to deal with for creatures that are used to having some daylight. The things that happen and live in the dark are rather frightening, I would think.

>>30667483
I think most creatures would adapt, those that don't would die off. Assuming the seasons stay the same and plants can still thrive on moonlight, it would just be a matter of diurnal animal's evolving better night vision. The major problems would be psychological in the more sentient species like ponies. Most of those problems would disappear after a few generations as ponies that remembered the sun die off. Most problems with dangerous nocturnal creatures would fade as they are hunted down or ponies learn to avoid them.
Getting civilization through the first, say 200 years, would be the hard part. I'm sure there would be a war or two. NMM would eventually take control and bring the nation to heel.
If there was no magical something keeping the temp regulated and crops growing and seasons changing, then you're looking at NMM's kingdom beeing a wasteland after 10 or 20 years like this fic: https://www.fimfiction.net/story/169016/if-you-came-to-conquer
The first chapter describes Princess Nightmare Moon's Equestria pretty well.
Anyway, it all depends on what magical effects would be applied, and in a land of magic, anything is possible.

>>30667840
Haha yeah. That kind of outcome is precisely why I mentioned magic was keeping things going the way you would expect. That way I wouldn't have to worry about a night-time frozen wasteland. Magic is an easy hand-wave. Now I can just focus on creatures instead.

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>>30668826

>>30668826
DISCLAIMER: this is an autistic speculation and in no way relevant to the thread*****
I've been at a pool party all afternoon, contemplating this. The massive amount of raw power that would be needed to cast a spell of that magnitude is incomprehensible. Even raising and lowering the sun/moon is nothing compared to this.
Thinking about my own fic that I've been writing, and the rules i borrowed for magic use (Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini). I've come up with a theory about why there are no stars. [you mentioned the moon but not stars, so just assume they are gone]
Casting with these rules requires the user to fuel the spell with energy from their own life force. Some spell casters can learn to draw from the life force around them, casting spells at no cost to themselves but drawing off their sorroundings. This usually results in the death of whatever they draw from and spells have to be constructed very carefully to prevent accedents.
Maybe NMM realised that she couldn't fuel the spell with her life force and the life force of Equestria, so she uses the life force of Celestias sun, assuming it is a macical construct that can be drawn from. Instead of using the term for Equs' sun, she uses the general term for 'star'. So when the spell exhausts the closest star, it reaches out for another, then another, causing the stars to wink out one by one as the inhabitants of her kingdom watch in horror over the first years if her reign.
Assuming the universe is infinate it could last forever, but it sure would make for a boreing, black sky.
I'm not suggesting this is the case, just what i thought up. Just ignore me if it makes no sense.

And thanks for your great stories Wax. Always entertaining!

>>30670182
Well, if we assume from the comics and other such information about Nightmare Moon, she's an ANCIENT creature. She took over Luna and Rarity if you include comics, and existed for a long time before the mooninites or whatever they're called found her. So she's old, but needs a host. I could see her draining the power from Celestia and the sun to keep Equestria functional without a day-night cycle. I don't know that she'd need to take the stars. She likes her stars, I'd say.

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>>30666680
I skirted around the edge of the woods, searching for a path, and I eventually found one. It was a narrow thing that looked more like an animal trail than a path, but I could see some hoofprints, so I started down it.
As I entered the forest proper the dim light from the night sky was obscured by the canopy, so I lit up my horn for light. It was a rudimentary spell, light, but all unicorns had been forced to learn it upon Nightmare Moon’s coup. I didn’t know how well earth ponies were dealing with it, but pegasi had taken to carrying bottled lightning with them. I suspected earth ponies were just using lanterns and candles like they always had, but they were going to burn through their supplies very quickly. Calls for magical lighting had already been made for all major cities. Cities on the outskirts were going to suffer greatly.
My light worked fine, however. Being one of a few clavigers at Canterlot Castle, I had to patrol the grounds at night on occasion. My light spell worked just fine, and was more powerful than most. The darkness held no sway on me.
I heard an animal call in the darkness and I flinched. It was just a bird, but the call reminded me that there were creatures out there who were much bigger, and they thrived in darkness. There had been reports of magical creature sightings. The sort of creature that hadn’t been heard from in recent centuries except in books. Personally, I had seen none of these supposed creatures, but the prevalence with which they were coming to the kingdom’s attention was worrying. Nightmare Moon was ruling with an iron fist, but her focus was the major cities. The ones truly suffering if these stories were true were–yet again–towns on the outskirts.

>>30670683
Towns like the one I was headed toward.
The path was difficult, but I plodded onward. My map showed a small town called Stone’s Throw just north of the train stop of the same name. It had been written in with a quill after the map had been transcribed, so I was wary of its accuracy, but I had been assured it was here. Why would the stop be named after it, you know?
I had the sneaking suspicion the town had been named after the stop. It was, after all, a mere stone’s throw away from the farms and the like just south of the stop. All those farms fed Applewood and Las Pegasus. I didn’t know what this town was supposed to do.
My thoughts were interrupted by the snap of a twig, and I whirled to face the source of the noise. My horn light focused in on the spot to illuminate whatever was hiding, but all I found was a badger. It looked at the light and made weird snuffling noises, then continued what it was doing, unconcerned by my presence.
I sighed and let my light go back to its default spherical shape, and continued on my way. The further I went, the more tracks I saw. In fact, the sheer amount of tracks were alarming with how many there were, and how fresh they seemed. There were tracks crisscrossing the path I was following, and they weren’t heeding any of the foliage, nor were they trying to stay on the path.
I focused my light and looked over the mess of tracks, surveying my immediate area. The path had widened, and was now more what I would expect from a town’s main road. There was a fork, where it split and meandered off somewhere. That path was well-used, so it must be a well or hunting ground.

>>30670692
The hoofprints themselves, however, were mad and messy. Bushes were trampled, saplings snapped, and the ground pounded into a boggy mess. The fact that this had happened wasn’t concerning, it was that it had happened recently. This was panic. This was ponies running from something and trying to escape. Some part of me wanted to go find them and help, but the other part of me, the part that was still afraid of what was hiding in the darkness… that part of me hoped it had done what it had come to do, and already left.
Wary, I continued down the path. It widened, and I could see ruts for wheels hidden among the hoofprints. My wagon dropped into them and I proceeded further, until I could see something that looked like a building up ahead. Maybe several buildings! I had found the town!
Pleased, I rolled up the map and stowed it in my saddlebags and picked up my pace. I broke out of the woods and into the clearing where the town was situated, but I stopped as soon as I entered.
There were no lights, whatsoever.
Not a single house had a light on, and now that I noticed, I could not see the perpetual moon, either. Nightmare Moon allowed it to phase, but tonight was not a new moon. The stars weren’t even visible!
I heard it before I saw it, but a hoof whipped out of the darkness beside and struck my horn. The light fizzled out and I was plunged into absolute darkness. I panicked and flailed in the direction the hoof had come from, but I hit nothing. I screamed and flailed, but there was nothing there.
“Hush fool! I will not harm thee, but thou must maketh hast. ‘tis a miracle you made it this far with thine foolish headlamp. I requested no lights. Thou didst not read the instructions, I see,” a voice said.

>>30670696
"Some ponies like the dark."
"The reasons for liking it vary, of course. Some ponies like it because it's quiet, and isolating. Others enjoy it because they can get away with things they normally could not."
>She disappears into the darkness outside the candle's meager light.
"I like it for the former reason."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

Backup

>>30671873
Again

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Hehe

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>>30670704
I was still scared, but whoever it was could speak, and they hadn’t hurt me beyond the horn flick. “Okay, okay. I didn’t fully read them, but I can’t see otherwise. How would I have found you?” I said.
“Hmph! If thou had read the instructions, thou would have seen allowance for red lights.” At this, a small amount red light appeared. It looked to be coming from a small box the pony had opened, and the source looked to be a fungus or stone of some kind.
“Okay, okay. I get it. My horn’s still tingling from you flicking it, but I can do that in a few moments,” I said.
“Excellent. Come, quickly. Many things hide in the darkness. From which there is no longer any escape,” the pony said.
The pony, or rather, the red light, moved away, and I had to yank my wagon out of the ruts to follow. The contents rattled behind me, and the pony turned back to hiss at me once again. “Carefully!”
I was led to a small hut on what looked to be the edge of town. I could not see much of it, but there was a small path of stones leading to the door which had a small garden on either side of it. The plants were still growing, thanks to the magic keeping everything alive in the darkness, but there were hoofprints in them, and some of the plants had been trampled.
The pony opened the front door, and came to look at the wagon. “Hast thee brought what I requested?”
My talent was memorizing things. Seemingly useless at first glance, but as a servant in a castle it was invaluable. It also served me well in my current job. One of the reasons I had been hired.

>>30673875
“Yes sir. All 40 bottles of various reagents, fluids, and spices,” I said.
“We shall see.” The pony, who I could now see was wearing clothes that had seen better days, picked up a crate and carried it into the hovel.
I lifted two crates out of the wagon and followed him. I didn’t want to be left in the dark, and his red light was all that was available to see by. As I got close, a smell filled my nostrils, strong and cloying. It was even stronger inside the building, and the building, what little I could see, indicated a pony that lived a very natural life. Herbs, spices, stones, and even–I gagged at the sight–some dead animals, were piled on shelves and hung from the walls and ceiling. Not a single inch of space was wasted, and the smell was nearly overpowering.
The pony cleared some space on and under a table and placed his crate beneath it, then motioned for me to do the same. He waited until I had placed the crates before we both went back out to get more. I was curious about the village and opened my mouth to speak, but was cut off by an angry yelling.
“He’s outside! He’s outsiiiiiiiide!”
Other voices joined in soon after. “Outsiiiiiiiide!”
“There’s a stranger with him!”
“Strangerrrrrrrr!”
“Outsiderrrrr!”
“Stranger outsiiiiiide!”
It was ponies, clearly, but something about their voices was strange. “What is that?” I asked.
“The villagers.” He was hurrying to grab the crates, and had picked up two, though he was having difficulty balancing them. He urged me to grab the remainder, but I could only pick up three of the weighty crates with my magic. He waved a hoof at it in dismissal. “Leave it. We hast no more chances, if thou would complete thy delivery, thou must take the rest of the crates now. I pray what I have will suffice.”

>>30673883
He hobbled back to the hut as fast as he could, and I followed his dim red light. I could hear hoofsteps pounding up behind us, and my inability to see how close they were send chills up my spine. He held the door for me until I was inside and slammed it shut as soon as I entered. He latched and barred the door with a heavy wooden slab, and left his crates on the floor as he hurried about his home. He looked to be checking all his windows, and some strange clay containers situated about the building. I couldn’t see anything other than him and his light, so I waited.
I heard the pounding hoofsteps approach, and I soon heard the sound of breaking pottery, splintering wood, and snapping timber. They had destroyed my wagon and all its contents, and I didn’t know why.
“What–“ I began.
“Shh!” The pony held his hoof to his lips.
The sounds of destruction outside had stopped, but I could still hear the murmured sounds of “Strangerrrrrr, come outsiiiiiide.”
Despite myself, and the knowledge that this wasn’t natural, I did feel an overwhelming desire to go outside. My vision wavered, and I realized I didn’t need to see everything so clearly. The night would be beautiful, and it would smell crisp, clean, and cool. I would hear the sounds of night creatures seeking a mate. The call of crickets, toads, and the occasional hooting of an owl. I could feel the night wind on my fur, and it would tickle my ears as I hunt by sound alone.
My reverie was interrupted by the smell of morning dew, and my vision cleared. I could see the pony in his rags before me, holding a bottle of something under my nose. I inhaled again, and the smell of morning dew became stronger. I recognized it, but it had been years since I had last smelled it. Without mornings, how could there be any dew in them?

>>30673888
>From the darkness, Waxworks kept speaking while the sounds of movement continued.
"The darkness isn't dangerous by itself. Most ponies fall prey to their inability to follow their other senses in the darkness."
>You hear a thump and the sound of something heavy shifting slightly, accompanied by a grunt of pain.
"Case in point: The darkness didn't do that, my lack of feeling things out properly did that."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

>>30673911
>hits herself trying to stay dark and edgy
Silly candle pony

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP0xa_SDVVE

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>>30674934
She tried.

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Bed bump

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>>30673911
“Wh–“ I started to speak, but he put a hoof against my mouth.
“Strangerrrrrrr.” The voices outside continued their chant, calling me to come out into the darkness with them. The pony in front of me kept the bottle under my nose, and eventually the chanting died down. Their calls continued, but grew faint as the distance increased between them and the hut. Finally, when he was satisfied they were far enough away, the pony removed the bottle and stoppered it, then put it back in his ragged clothes.
“The other villagers, in case you were wondering,” he said, his voice still low.
“I rather imagined that was them, since nopony else came to greet me,” I said, copying his volume. “…hey, wait, what happened to your speech? Shouldn’t there have been a ‘thou’ in that sentence?”
He fumbled about in the darkness and picked up one of the crates. He turned to me and gave me a smile that did not look reassuring in the red glow of the red light he carried. “With Nightmare Moon ruling, and the old ways taking hold once more, what better way to sound like you agree than to speakest as the old ways wouldst have us do?”
I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “Does that work with the other villagers?”
“They are desperate to please the queen of the night, and speech like hers calms them. Help me take the crates down below.” He opened a trapdoor in the floor, and descended. Not wanting to be left in the dark, I picked up two of the crates myself and followed.
I kept an eye on his light and felt my way down after him. The stairs were steep, and I had to struggle to find the next one by feel since his light was not quite enough for both of us to see by. I had always been shorter than most, and this was making me feel tinier than usual.

>>30677797
“Quickly now, grab the last two, and shut the door behind you,” he said.
I grunted in annoyance as I placed the two crates I had next to him. “I can’t see at all, how would you have me do that?”
“Is your horn not yet recovered enough to make red light?”
I rolled my eyes, but he was right. I had been distracted by the threat upon my life. I thought about the light spell, and with a little alteration I lit up my horn with a small aura of red light. I struggled back up the stairs to grab the last two crates, and hobbled down the steps to the basement, shutting the hatch behind me.
“Lovely, let me just make a few checks here, and we’ll be ready.” He checked the edges of the trap door, locked it from below, and then went to a table where I could see a lamp was set up. He pulled out a match and struck it, then lit the lamp. The smell of burning kerosene wafted to me, and my eyes stung as they adjusted to the light.
“Is that safe? You told me no light,” I said.
“I have securely prepared this basement to allow no light to escape. The floor, hatch, and everything else, is sealed,” he said. “Now I believe I can properly introduce myself. My name is Crow’s Flight. I am Stone’s Throw’s pellar.”
“A pellar?” I wracked my brain trying to recall exactly what that was. “As in, the wise pony? Like a soothsayer?”
“Yes, though I provide medicine, banishments, and blessings as well. You’re very well-read, mrs…”
“Chatelaine. Miss Chatelaine,” I said.
“Yes, of course. From Canterlot Castle.”
I looked at him askance. He was dirty, and his clothes were not just ragged but made of rags. He had a necklace and headdress made of bones, feathers, and twigs. He was old as well. Well past his prime if I didn’t miss my guess.

>>30677801
“How did you know I used to work at Canterlot Castle?” I asked.
“The bones, miss. They tell me many things. The bones are how I knew you would be arriving today.” He pulled a hooffull of small animal bones carved with shapes and symbols out of a pocket of his rags. I grimaced at the sight. I was not unfamiliar with death or the short lives of small animals, but carrying bones was creepy.
“Now, you are probably wondering exactly why a pellar from a backwater town such as this would be doing with such strange supplies, and especially why I sent for them by carrier-pigeon,” he said.
“I heard it was a strange request, but I didn’t see the arrival of the pigeon itself. I took the job because it was going to pay extra. But go ahead and explain. It’s not like I can leave,” I said.
“Ours was a happy village, once upon a time. We would enjoy the blessings of the sun and work our days in the light as ponies are wont to do. Needless to say, come the Summer Sun Celebration and the loss of Princess Celestia, the nights started taking their toll.
“As with all ponies, we strove to continue life as it had been, but without the sun to alert the roosters to tell us when to awaken, ponies began to lose their regular hours. Some would awake at one time, others at another, and soon the village was a 24-hour bustle of constantly fluctuating activity.
“I do not know who began the rumour, but after a couple of years, somepony decided that Nightmare Moon needed more of our worship, and demanded that we begin living without lights in the village, as our beloved Queen would want. It was decided that we must become creatures of the dark, and live in utter darkness, as was clearly intended.”

>>30677805
"Spend too much time in the darkness, without seeing any light for a long enough time, and things start to change for you. You rely on other senses, yes, but you also start to believe this might be the natural course of things."
>Waxworks comes back into the light just far enough for her muzzle to be doused in shadow.
"Not all the time, but you can surely see how the leap of logic could be made?"

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

>>30677815
how long must Waxworks have lived to know of these events?

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>>30678700
Wavworks is really scoothulhu

>>30678700
Nah, man. She isn't old, she just hears of these stories from "a friend of a friend".

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>>30679498
Update gonna be late today. Touching up my final paper.

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>>30680398

>>30682089
For a second, I thought that was semen.

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Has this been done yet? I called it string pattern, it's where you tie a very thin piece of sting into a patten around your face, or any other part of your body, and you pull hard enough to break skin for it to bleed. this was an idea I had while designing clothes for a character of mine and they had a checkerboard pattern

>>30683034
That looks awfully painful, but I've never heard of it before now. It's a pretty cool idea if you wanted to be creepy. Reminds me of the net alien from one of the Alien vs. Predator films.

>>30682927
Is this a pony holding their own head?

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>>30683049
It's as painful as it looks and sounds and thanks I was going for the creepy idea.
And yes, he is holding his own head

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>>30677815
“I should understand that you were the only pony that thought otherwise?” I said.
“You would be correct.”
“But they’re not behaving like normal ponies. They were acting strange and… creepy.”
“That came later. Maybe you noticed, but you cannot see the stars or the moon from the village.”
“I did notice, yes. What happened to them?”
“Nothing happened to them, but the village has been permeated by a darkness that is more than just the absence of light. This darkness is alive!” He gestured in a wide circle with a hoof. “It covers the village in a somber blanket, affecting the mind and changing a pony to serve some purpose I cannot yet fathom.”
I scratched my head with a hoof. “When the villagers were calling me, I started feeling like I should join them despite myself. That was the influence you are referring to?”
He nodded. “It subliminally encourages you to favour senses other than sight, and live immersed in darkness.”
“So, the scent you wafted under my nose, why did that fix it? Because it smelled like something you can only smell in the sunlight?”
“You are remarkably astute. That is correct.” He began pulling bottles out of the crates and organizing them. “That is why I believe this darkness is related to Nightmare Moon, and is also why speaking like she does fools the villagers. They have an image in their minds of how Nightmare Moon should act, and any pony that acts like that subconscious image must already be part of the group.”
“It seems like they want you either to join them, or die. Why are you still here? Trying to save them?”
“Of course. I have lived here all my life, and was here before much of the village even existed. It would be remiss of me not to give my all to help those I watched grow into the stallions and mares they are today.”

>>30683157
“That’s very commendable. I don’t know if I could do the same if somepony tried to kill me or make me lose my mind,” I said.
“I hold no grudges to them for their current behavior. They were frightened, and before this darkness took hold of them they were merely experimenting with new ways to please their current ruler. They are not behaving by their own wills anymore.” He opened one of the bottles and took a whiff. “Ahhh. Delightfully fresh.”
“What are you doing to help them?” I looked over the bottles he had on the table. I recognized none of them save a few oils that usually went to the kitchens in the castle. “Are they affected by the scents you used on me?”
“Some might be, but I have not had an opportunity to try it on many of them. The two I caught seemed unaffected, but I did not manage to expose them to the smell for very long,” he said.
I nodded and watched him separate the bottles into groups that I’m sure made sense to him, but I could not make heads or tails of. He began moving about the basement, placing them on different shelves and racks and started a fire in a furnace set into one wall. I asked for no further information and he volunteered none, but there was something unspoken I thought he was waiting for, but I was not willing to give.
“So, when will it be safe for me to leave?” I asked.
His movements didn’t falter, but I could tell he was disappointed, if not surprised. “It is as safe now as it will ever be. Merely speak no words as thou taketh thy leave, and use no lights, as they cause offense to thy Queen.”
“How am I supposed to find my way if there is no light to guide me?”
He turned and looked at me. His gaze was intense, and did not waver. “The villagers are asking that same question.”

>>30683161
I averted my eyes first, but said nothing in response. He was right, and I knew it, but I had my own problems. His village was not the first to suffer under the yoke of the new Queen, and it would not be the last. I was merely trying to make my own living as an ostracized member of the royal household. It was hard enough without crazy magic getting into the mix.
I heard a sigh from the old stallion, and he picked up a carrying yoke from one side of the basement from which two buckets dangled on each end. “Come then. I require water for my mixtures, so we shall go down to the stream. I can point you in the correct direction from there, if your intent is to leave.”
“Oh, well thank you,” I said.
“I need not thine thanks. Thanks shall not bring back neighbors who even know struggle to regain their identity. Come if thou would quit this place, but warned once again: No light. No magic. Speak not unless thine speech carries with it the timbre and power of the Queen of the Night herself!”
I nodded and said nothing.
“Hold my robes while we walk. I shall not be using the red light for guidance. Even in darkness I will not lose my path,” he said.
He put out the lights and shuttered the furnace, then swished robes in my direction with a hoof. Without being able to use my magic per his insistence, I grabbed part of his filthy robes in my teeth and followed him up out of the trap door. He walked slowly but steadily, giving me some leeway to keep up as he opened the front door and stepped outside. The permanent night air had the faint scent of smoke in it from his chimney, and there was the sound of night creatures surrounding us, but nothing else.

>>30683166
"Fending for oneself isn't a terrible way to live. I cannot blame Chatelaine for choosing what she did. Try to help everypony, and you'll end up getting dragged down with them more often than not."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

>>30683232
Seems like a sort of alternative form of cutting.

>>30683258
Eh when you think about it yeah it does, but it's less of a cutting thing, what I thought of it was it's kinda like a more painful tattoo.

>>30683280
If nothing else, it'd make somebody look pretty cool. Interesting scarring, that's for sure.

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B̴̗̜͖̦̳̘͓̩̀̿̍̋̓̂͗͗͞U̶̡̹̙̬̰̣̠̾͐́̃̈̄͠M̷̡͉̯̻͎͈̀͂͆̊̈́P̶̨̢̛̳̟̹̦̻̀̋̀̈̋̉͢͠

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>>30683172
>>30683172
Late update today again. After Friday the schedule will probably be more cemented.

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>>30685340

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>>30686132

>>30611863
When the fog of life surrounds you
When you feel you've lost your way
Come with me and join the forest
Come with me and join the fray

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>>30683172
True to his request, I said nothing, and he led me through the darkness. I didn’t know what direction we were going or what the landscape was like around me. Sometimes the sounds coming to my ears were muted for a moment, and I felt the cool breeze surrounding me coming from only one direction for a moment. I took that to indicate we were going between two buildings or in a narrow passage of some kind. I assumed it was buildings because I could feel wagon ruts underneath my hooves. Despite it all, as I followed Crow’s Flight he did not bump his head, stumble, or even slow down as he continued trudging along some path he knew.
I thought it was smooth going, and I would be out of there and on my way back to the train station within the hour. However, that was not to be the case. I heard hoofsteps within the darkness that matched neither my nor Crow’s cadence. There were multiple sets, and at one point Crow stopped and I heard the hoofsteps pass within hoof’s reach of us. I could hear the pony’s breath rasping in the air. The pony muttered to himself, a stallion’s voice talking to himself about something to do with beer. Beer being the only word I caught in the quick chatter.
I tried to remain calm, but my breathing sped up at the prospect of being caught. I didn’t want to lose my mind to them and their praise of the night. No matter the circumstances surrounding the Queen I wanted to by my own pony and live my own life how I saw fit. Worshipping the night would not accomplish that, no matter how much Nightmare Moon might want to hear it. She and others like her could worship her own damn moon, just let me be.

>>30688409
I waited with Crow’s cloak clenched between my teeth until the hoofsteps had put some distance between us, then felt a tug as Crow started walking again. I followed, but I felt like there was somepony out there I couldn’t see. If I was honest, there probably was. Probably several or more. I didn’t know how many ponies lived in Stone’s Throw, but if it was an average village there were at least dozens. If every single one of them with the exception of Crow’s Flight had given themselves up to the night, then that was a lot of ponies out for his and my blood. Or sanity, as the case may be.
As we traveled further, I could hear the sound of running water. We were getting close to the destination then. That was excellent. I didn’t want to be here any longer than I had to. These mindless ponies were driving me mad. What did they eat? How could they live like this? I didn’t know how a group who seemed mindless could live any sort of a fulfilling life.
The sound of running water got louder, but with it I began to hear a murmur that didn’t match up. As we got closer, I could make out words, and it began to take on the tone of a sort of musical chant or prayer.

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>>30688419
Queen, our Queen, our savior. Lost deep in the light.
We know she will always, be found in the night.
Dark and deep and distant, night seems far away.
Wisdoms, truths, and virtues. What the night will say.

Fullest Moon! Newest Moon! Take away your eyes.
Fullest Moon! Newest Moon! They only tell lies.

Live in deepest darkness, stay away from light.
Nightmare Moon’s direction, shows up in the night.
Live for her my ponies, though she’s far away.
Darkness is a virtue, that’s what night can say.

Fullest Moon! Newest Moon! Take away your eyes.
Fullest Moon! Newest Moon! They only tell lies.

Take my sight away from me, let there be no light.
What I want the most from life can only be the night.
Lose your eyes in darkness, take your sight away.
That’s the only path to hear, what the night shall say.

Fullest Moon! Newest Moon! Take away your eyes.
Fullest Moon! Newest Moon! They only tell lies.

>>30688428
>Waxworks looks at you for a moment, then blows out the candle, plunging you both into darkness.

Updated my journal; https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

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>>30688439

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New Radiarc album.
https://radiarc.bandcamp.com/album/resilience-album

>>30688439
Surprise boop

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>>30689568
Nice. It sounds pretty good.

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>>30691334

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>>30688428
The chanting continued, and I could hear deep male voices, higher female voices, and even young foal’s voices all chanting along with each other. This must be where the ponies all spent much of their time now that they were influenced by whatever caused this darkness. Why choose a body of water, though? At least they weren’t going to die of thirst, but that chanting! It wormed its way into my ears and set my head to swimming. Why were they doing this? Was this darkness trying to accomplish something by making them do this, or was it a byproduct of its influence?
I clutched my head with a hoof and rubbed my ears in an attempt to alleviate the sound, but all it did was allow the sonorous chant’s cadence to worm its way deeper into my head. I heard the splash of Crow’s buckets touching the water, and waited impatiently as he filled them from whatever dark waters lay within this part of the night-blanketed trees.
The second splash came and I waited for the tug to indicate we were leaving, but as I heard hoofsteps passing away I felt no tug on my teeth. It was then I realized that in my confusion, I had released Crow’s rags. I was no longer tethered to him by anything!
I opened my mouth, but quashed any speech before I released it. I remembered his admonition that if I was going to speak, I needed to make sure it sounded like somepony from the court of Nightmare Moon; archaic, and imperious. Trouble was, I didn’t think I could. I was frightened almost to the point of no words, and trying to think about what an archaic and imperious voice sounded like was futile. I squeaked slightly, but that was it.

>>30693706
I fumbled about with a hoof, trying to find any sign of Crow. It had only been half a minute at most since I heard the buckets splashing in the water, so he couldn’t have gone far. But despite my scraping the ground around me, I found nothing. I felt no ragged clothing, nor a hoof, nor a bucket. I didn’t want to move because I knew I was surrounded by ponies who believed the darkness was some sort of lord and savior here to usher in some magical night-soaked golden age.
I tried to steady my breathing, but my fear prevented me from steadying myself. I couldn’t inhale as hard as I needed or it might make too much noise, so my struggled just managed to make me hyperventilate. Despite the darkness I began to see spots in front of my vision, and I knew I couldn’t stay any longer. If Crow had abandoned me out of some malicious hatred of me not wanting to help him or his village, I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of getting captured by these cultists his village had become.
I pricked my ears up, despite the chanting causing me almost physical pain at this point, and oriented myself so that the loudest chants were situated behind me. I put a hoof out a short distance in front of me and when it didn’t hit anything, I placed it down and leaned forward with care, making sure it was on solid ground before leaning onto it. I took one step, then slowly took another. It was slow going, but before I knew it I had taken a dozen steps. The chanting hadn’t gotten any quieter, which meant I had not made much progress, but it was progress nonetheless. There was still the little issue of being lost here in the forest in the dark, but all I had to do was get far enough away from the village and I could use my light.

>>30693714
I was calming down as I got further away, and my breathing, while still a bit too quick, wasn’t causing my vision to show spots anymore. The chanting was still in my head, and my ears were plastered back on my head, but it was just a matter of time. Just a matter of time…
It was with this thought that I cracked my skull on something. “Ow! Celestia’s shiny ass!”
The area went deathly silent.
I smacked a hoof to my mouth, but the damage had been done.
“The defiler! She invoked the defiler!”
“Defiler of darkness! Traitor to umbra!”
“Strangerrrrrr!”
“Strangerrrrrrrrrrr!”
“Come to us strangerrrrr!”
Their voices pierced my skull, and I felt that tugging at my mind once again, only this time Crow wasn’t here to waft the scent of morning under my nose. I could hear them moving about searching for me. The fact that they couldn’t see and relied on smell and hearing was of small comfort. There were many of them and only one of me. It was only a matter of time before one of them stumbled into me or I gave myself away again.
“Strangerrrrrr.”
“Fullest Moon. Newest Moon. Take away your eyes.”
Their voices became a cacophony of the chant, and calls for the stranger. I wanted to give myself up, to let them find me and get it over with, but instead I whimpered inside my head and wept in terror. Hooves passed next to me, and somepony even bumped into me. I stuffed a hoof into my mouth, placed the other over my head and covered my ears and tried to think of anything other than how dark it was. I remembered my memories of sun-filled days playing in the park with some of the other schoolponies at Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns. I tried to remember what the sun looked like, but all I could come up with was a yellow circle that I knew didn’t properly do it justice.

>>30693727
"They're not pleased to hear about the deposed ruler of the sun, and they're out to get her after her supposed abandonment by Crow."
>You hear hoofsteps in the darkness.
"But ponies are blind in the dark. Especially magical darkness."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

>>30688428
This needs music

>>30693806
I am no musician, so I don't know I could do it justice, but I had a rudimentary tune in my head for it. I don't know that I'm happy with it, but I will consider making something for it.
It may have to wait until after this paper is done and everything, though. Along with reading that other poem I wrote.

>>30694922
I don't know how you would get the string on your eye to do that, but ow. That looks exceedingly painful.

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>>30694978

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>>30695591

before bed bump

morning bump

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>>30693745
My thoughts drifted from the sun to the moon, to how the cool night air felt on my fur. It would be so easy to just allow my mind to go. To speak out and let them find me. Surely they wouldn’t hurt me too much. They wanted to recruit new ponies to the night’s cause, and killing me wouldn’t accomplish that.
My tears stopped. The chanting no longer grated. Now it all seemed to calm and peaceful. I was surrounded by friends, after all. Friends who wanted me to join them in praising the night. I would no longer have to fear the dark, it could be my friend and keep me safe. If only I’d allow it.
A voice boomed out in the darkness. “Dost thou fear uncertainty? Doth thine efforts to live in darkness bring thee only fear? Taketh mine hoof and we shalt face it as one. As long as thee holds strong, so shalt I.”
It was Crow’s Flight, giving away his position in darkness so that I could crawl to him! Around me in the dark I could hear the other ponies speaking in confused tones. A voice not unlike their Queen was speaking, but there shouldn’t be one here. They didn’t know if they should find it and question it, or if they should let it pass.
I took advantage of their indecision and stumbled to my hooves. I felt light-headed, but I plowed through brush and pony alike to try to find the source of the voice. “There be no cause for alarm, though thine eyes deceive thee hourly, and nightmares do plague thine sleep, hope shalt ever be thine shield.”
I was close! I felt bushes and brambles tug at my fur as I plowed blindly toward the voice, but it was much louder. He wasn’t far! The voice was right on top of me, and I finally felt myself bump into somepony. Hooves grabbed me and I flinched, but I waited to see what would happen.

>>30698870
The pony the hooves belonged to grabbed my head and held tight. They moved across my features, tracing out my muzzle, ears, and brow, then disappeared. I felt something flick at my face and I grabbed it with my teeth. This was a tail and not a cloak, but I wasn’t going to let go. I held tight, tears flowing fresh, and as the tug came I followed.
The crowd around us was still muttering quietly as we left. I was amazed that his speech worked so well. I didn’t want to believe it because it had sounded so ridiculous, but it worked, and it worked beautifully.
We left the crowd behind us and I felt the ruts beneath my hooves once more. We had made it back to the road and possibly back to town. Safety—as much as it could be called that—was within reach!
When we reached his house and he opened the door I stumbled past him into the dark interior. I yanked open the trap door and disappeared down below without a word. I reached a corner and curled up, then proceeded to sob into my hooves.
Crow took his time getting inside. I could hear him thumping about and there was the occasional splash of water. His hoofsteps came downstairs into the cellar and he busied himself preparing some sort of work. He left me to my crying, not saying anything or offering any sort of comfort.
I heard him open the furnace and light from the fire brightened the cellar. Above the roar of the fire, Crow finally spoke. “It isn’t about what you worship, you know. It’s about why.”
I wiped my eyes and pulled my head out of my hooves. “What?”
“They can worship the night and the darkness all they want, if I thought they were doing it freely.”

>>30698873
“I don’t—” I sniffled and wiped my nose on my hoof. “—I don’t think they are.”
“No. I was worried I had lost you to the darkness when you dropped my cloak. I was not going to stay and wait for you to turn on me, but when they began their search for you I knew it hadn’t quite taken you.”
“Thank you, for coming back. I thought you were trying to get rid of me.”
He sighed. “I wanted you to see the worst of it before you left. I have been working to help them for so long all by myself that I was frustrated at your unwillingness to do so. It was foolish, and dangerous. I hope you can forgive me.” He bowed his head.
“Well…” I choked out a half-sob, half-laugh. “…it didn’t quite get me, so no harm done?”
He offered me a kerchief, which I gratefully took. I blew my nose and returned it. “I still don’t know that I want to help, but I will stay for a short while longer. It is much better in here than it is out there, and I’d rather enjoy the warmth of your fire than brave the cold night air.
“I would welcome the company.”
I stayed sitting in my corner and watch Crow work. He collected several vials and other liquids into one area and began mixing stirring them. From my place in the corner I could smell traces of different plant oils and various extracts. One of which may have been vanilla, but it was quickly overpowered by something else I didn’t recognize.
Once he had a lot of them mixed into a vial, he went to one of the buckets and with a small scoop, pulled out a scoop of water. I thought it might have been a trick of the light, but from where I was sitting, the water looked black as night. I squinted, but the water was gone into the beaker before I could see much more of it.

>>30698880
"It's not the end of the world if the light goes out. Some ponies cannot come to terms with it, however, and need a little bit of guidance."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

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>>30698886

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>>30698886
I watched and waited as Crow set the beaker of fluids into a holder and moved it closer to the furnace. I knew nothing about alchemy, so couldn’t venture a guess as to what he was doing, but it was interesting to observe. He returned to the counter and began grinding up some seeds in a mortar and pestle. The smell of lavender hit me a few seconds later and I felt myself relax.
“That smells lovely,” I said.
“I’m glad you like it. I used to make a calming pomander for some of the villagers before everything changed. I thought you might be able to use it right now.”
“I think I’m calm enough, Crow.”
“Hmmm, but is it thanks to you, or thanks to my scents?”
I had no response, so I just shrugged.
“It is not difficult to create, and I am waiting for my potion to percolate anyway.” He crushed the lavender, added it to a small vial of fluid, then shook the bottle and brought it over to me. “There you are. Just sniff that if you feel anxious. It should calm you right down.
“Thank you.” I took the bottle and popped off the cork just for a second to smell the concoction. True to his word, it smelled soft and comforting. “What are you cooking, if I may ask?”
“That, is an attempt to purify the spring-water.”
“Purify it? What’s in it?”
“Darkness.”
“Darkness? Like, the thing influencing the village?”
He shrugged. “The truth is, I know not what it is, but it is dark, and it is in the water.” He pointed at the buckets next to the furnace. “The pool where I fetched water from is where it is most concentrated, and is also where the villagers congregate. They sing to it, or for it, I’m not sure which.”

>>30701321
“What effect does the chanting have?”
“Again, something I do not fully understand,” Crow said. “I do know that it increases the influence of the darkness, but that is the extent of my knowledge.”
I shuddered remembering how it had wormed its way into my mind, making me feel like it only wanted what was best. “I felt it, and I liked it at the time, which is even scarier now that I’m free of it.”
“Indeed. That’s what makes it so sinister.”
I thought for a moment. “Have you felt it? You seem nearly immune.”
He shook his head. “I assure you I am not. It whispers to me just as it does to you. I am sure it whispers to the villagers as well.”
“It almost sounds like a good idea, but then where does life go from there? You worship darkness for the rest of it? That sounds like a terrible life.”
“It does. No choices to make. It is why I do what I do.”
“How do you think you can fix it then?”
“When I have succeeded in treating small portions of the water, I will then treat the source of the water itself.”
“Will you be able to make enough?”
“We can only wait and see.”
I nodded, and when no more conversation was forthcoming, Crow turned back to his work. He waited while the water boiled, and took it off the fire. He swirled it, added some more ingredients to it, and scrutinized it under a magnifying glass. He took a larger portion of water and dropped a tiny bit of his mixture into it, but he shook his head, and I assumed it did not work.
He turned to the other bottles, vials, and containers on his table and got to work mixing up another batch of something. His actions seemed random as well as his choices, but I was no alchemist, and could offer no advice.

>>30701327
I don’t know how long he was at it, but I eventually woke up to find myself alone in darkness. It was pitch-black, and at first I panicked, I squeaked out in terror and gasped, but a hoof quickly reached out stroked my neck.
“Shhh, calm down. You are safe here, my girl.”
“Ah, thank you, Crow’s Flight.”
“You’re welcome, Chatelaine. I promise I will see you out of the village. It was wrong of me to try to keep you here to help.”
“It’s… alright. It was callous of me to dismiss your concerns so lightly. You’ve been trying to help your village for a long time, and it’s only been you. I can’t imagine how that must feel.”
“I am old. There is no greater goal for my life than this,” he said. “I will either die alone in the dark, or I will die with friends and family in the dark. Given a choice, I will work towards the latter.”
“I am rested, if you want to get back to work. Have you slept much?”
“Very little, but that is all I need. Sleep matters little to me these days.”
I pulled myself to my hooves. “Then I will help where I can. What do you need?”
“Well…” He grunted and I heard his knees popping as he pulled himself up. “I have a mixture that may work, but the only way to tell is to throw it into the pond. Do you think you will be okay with another trip down to the water’s edge?”
I gulped, but nodded. Then I realized he couldn’t see me nod. “Yes, I will come. Cowering in fear will do no good.”
“I appreciate the help. Let me prepare the bucket and we can go.”

>>30701330
"Preparations are complete, and they seek to venture out into the darkness once again. The outcome is in doubt, but that will not stop them from trying."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

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Cute disaster

>>30702507
That's a fuzzy Pinkie.

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>>30701333
Crow picked up one of the two buckets he had. He had covered it with a lid, so I couldn’t see the contents, but I heard it sloshing about inside. “Do you think it’ll work?” I asked.
“I hope that it will. It was a struggle to get a carrier pigeon that would fly to Canterlot in the first place. I hope the ingredients you brought will make the difference.”
No other words were spoken and the two of you crawled up out of the basement and you followed Crow out of his home and into the darkness. Your teeth were firmly clenched on his cloak again, and his tugging led you along through the night. His decades of living here had given him a preternatural sense of where everything was and his sure-hoofed pace took you through the buildings back to the pool.
There was no chanting this time when they arrived at the pool. There was only an intense and overwhelming silence, broken only by the trickling of the water as it arrived at its destination. I wondered if we were at the same place, but I heard Crow place the bucket on the ground and I knew it was here he wanted to work.
Crow tugged at his cloak and I let go, albeit reluctantly. I didn’t move and waited. I heard splashing, but I wasn’t sure what his plans were. If he was walking out into the pond, he was probably going to dump it into the center, or as close as he could get to it. The splashing eventually changed into the *swoosh-swoosh* of somepony wading through deeper water, and I continued waiting with bated breath. If he needed rescuing from the deep water, I could do that, but I was concerned about the darkness that was ‘living’ in the pond. What would it do to him? What could it do?

>>30704568
I heard the squeak of wood rubbing against wood, and a quiet *pop*. In the next instant my eyes stung as a glow appeared near the middle of the pond. I gasped in surprise and wonder at the same time other voices gasped in fear and anger.
Crow lifted the bucket filled with glowing liquid above his head. “Long hath mine efforts dragged me forward toward a day when thine spirits should be freed from this heinous grasp of darkness.” The ponies around the pond muttered in confusion and indignation as his speech began. “Pray, forgive this old fool his indulgences and realize your own worth. It is not the light from above that gives life meaning, it is the light from within.”
He tilted the bucket, but before the glowing liquid could begin to pour into the pond, the water below him surged and swamped over him. His words were lost, and the bucket was held carefully in the water’s embrace, firmly sitting upright as Crow thrashed and choked in the deeper portion.
I gave a cry of despair and stepped forward, but I saw dozens of pairs of eyes lock onto me the instant I moved. They didn’t move, but in the glow emanating from the bucket I could see them staring daggers at me, as though daring me to move forward to help.
Crow was drowning. I watched another pony step forward into the pond and press his head into the mud beneath the water, and I stood watching. As Crow’s struggles weakened, everypony around me watched me with imperious eyes. I couldn’t bring myself to help, and I cursed myself for my weakness. Another pony waded into the pond and picked up the bucket’s lid. They moved to where darkness held the bucket rigid, and placed the lid on top. As darkness filled the area once again, the last thing I saw was Crow’s body, unmoving, his cloak billowed around him in the water.
I ran.

>>30704579
It was dark, but this time they did not pursue me. They didn’t even call out to me. They had one prize and they were intent on taking advantage of that. I was ‘free’ to leave. As free as I could be, anyway. I could run as far as I wanted and I could probably get away.
I slammed into a tree and crumpled into a heap on the ground, head ringing. I felt tears welling up and started crying. I couldn’t tell if I was crying from fear or sadness, but I knew I was both afraid and heartbroken. That sweet old pony that just wanted to see his village freed had died trying to help them, and they had been the ones to kill him.
I pulled closer to the bole of the tree and allowed myself to cry. The saddest part of Crow’s death was that I knew he wouldn’t blame them for doing what they did. That ‘thing’ in the water was affecting their judgment, and had been the one pulling the strings.
I sobered upon that realization. I had seen the thing in the water.
There was something there! It wasn’t just the rantings and ravings of an old pony who had gone strange in his old age. He was right! He had been right about everything! The darkness in the water, the darkness controlling the ponies, and the darkness about town; all of it was true!
And Crow had found something that would hurt it, so it had been forced to lash out directly. The bucket was still intact, and had been sealed. It was unlikely it would destroy it or empty it, because the very sight of it made it angry. It was still being kept somewhere, and I could finish what Crow started!

>>30704607
>You feel a hoof on your withers and jump slightly.
"His only thought was for ponies around him, and the darkness within them has brought him low."
>The hoof disappears.
"But there is yet hope."

Updated my journal: https://pastebin.com/zY209P4X

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>>30704707

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>>30705884

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>>30706841
Alright, I have spent the evening researching writing instead of actually writing. Nothing tonight, but hopefully something of improved quality tomorrow.

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>>30707398
np. Quality takes time.

>>30707913
Calm down Pinkamena, I will not hurt you, you will be hurting me.

>>30707398
Will wait

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>>30704707
I calmed myself down and waited. Then I listened. The sounds of the forest around me overtook those of my own unsteady heart. I perked my ears, and could hear no calls for a stranger, nor any songs of darkness, and I determined that I was alone. The darkness still enveloped me like a suffocating quilt, but I was in no immediate physical danger.
I lifted myself on shaking hooves. My orientation was askew, and I didn’t know from which direction I had come. I thought about if it would be more beneficial to return back to Crow’s home and try to put together more of that fluid. I dismissed the idea. I had no knowledge of alchemy. My hopes of creating a new batch of whatever it was Crow had mixed together were slim. It would take years, and by then the influence of the darkness over them would be far too great. No, if I was to save them, it would have to be now.
I thought back to the path Crow had taken to the pond, and I remembered that beyond the wheel ruts from wagons, it went downhill. I tested the ground around me in a small circle. There was a minor slope to it, so I walked carefully downward.
It turned out that I had not deviated far from the road in my panicked flight. I encountered the wheel ruts, now covered in hoofprints, and not too long after that, I began hearing voices.
Some voices were chanting. Those not engaged in praising the dark were muttering. I slowed in my approach, but none of the voices stopped to pay attention to me. I was unmolested. I imagined it hinged upon my silence, as it had before, so I kept my mouth closed tight. As I entered the group, I heard a strange sound. It sounded like… crying.