>You roll over and open your eyes >It’s almost pitch black >Only the moonlight pouring in from the windows gives light >Where are you? >You sit up slowly and rub your head >The sound of pouring rain patters the rooftop above you >It sounds like white noise >Memories of the day’s past begin making their way into your mind >You were… attacked >In the library, when you were reading with Twilight >That quiet mare… the friend of Twilight’s, the one you always catch staring at the market >…Fluttershy? Was that her name? >She burst in >Brandishing that... knife >Twilight teleported you just in time >Oh Twilight… >You hope she’s okay >You stand up >A bolt of lightning cracks outside, illuminating the area you’re in a little more >Some kind of hallway >An old, decrepit looking hallway >You glance out the window >You appear to be in the Everfree Forest >Or, at least, some sort of structure in the forest >An old, abandoned piece of architecture >A castle, perhaps? >Or an old mansion? >You sigh, and place your arms on the windowsill >The rain is really coming down >The pegasi must have scheduled a storm for tonight >You can’t remember that being part of the weather’s activity >But no matter, it was none of your concern >You lift your arms from the sill and try to adjust your eyes >Shapes in the hallway soon start to become clear >An old, p0ny-shaped suit of armor >A wardrobe with ancient looking china inside >Several drawers >All covered in cobwebs >The stone wall looks old and cracked >This place surely hasn’t been inhabited for decades >Centuries, maybe >Why did Twilight send you here? >You shrug it off >No matter >It’s best to try to find a way out >You make your way down the hall, using the moonlight and your own adjusted eyes as a guide >Occasionally, the boom of thunder will triumph over the white noise >It signals the lightning to illuminate your path even more >Shadows dance and mingle in front of you with each bolt >Tricks of the light, surely >But… what could be making these shapes? >You round a corridor, spotting a large room blocked by heavy wooden doors >You approach these doors, grip the handles firmly, and push… >…and push >But the door doesn’t seem to want to budge >You strain, but eventually give >Exhaling loudly as you do Not even an inch… >Clop >Clop >Clop >Galloping hoofsteps echo from deeper into the corridor >Your head bolts to the direction >There are no windows in that direction, it’s too dark to see >Oh no… >Is someone in here with you? >Clop >Clop >Clop >You grab the doors again and push >Still, no budge Damn it! >A soft giggle is heard from the other side of the door Wha…? >You push again >It giggles louder >The hoofsteps are galloping louder and closer >You shoulder the door in an attempt to get it open >No use >They are right down the hall >You spin toward the sound and brace yourself >… >Nothing… >Only the rain echoes sound in these halls… >You spin your head left and right >Baffled >But you swore… >You glance to the door And that giggling… >You hesitate >And grip the door once more >A simple push from the forearm is all it takes to open these wooden gates But… >You poke your head in and glance around >And back out into the hall >Nothing >A little unnerved, you enter the pitch black room, closing the door behind you >…you can’t see a damn thing >…wait >You slap your pocket >You feel a small bump >Yes! It’s still there >Good thing you’re a smoker >You bring out your lighter from your pocket >Flicking it a few times, the flame eventually perches itself atop your zippo >It’s not much, but it’s something >You hold it out in front of you, the flame barely illuminating much >It’s enough to see a bed, and a dresser >A closet >Yes, this is a small room, it seems >A guest bed, by the looks of it >You approach the mattress and pat it with a hand >Dust erupts from all corners of your palm >You step back a bit >Completely abandoned… >You look around the room a bit more >The laughter sticking in your head >…it’s been a long day >Nothing more >You approach the dresser and start sliding out drawers >Clothing >Clothing >Miscellaneous garbage >…aha >A old-time lantern clanks from the force of your opening >You grab it, and take a peek inside >Oil appears to be set inside nicely >Perfect >You dip your lighter inside, taunting the wick, until it illuminates itself >The room brightens considerably >You flick your lighter closed and store it back in your pocket >Much better >With this, you turn around and aim it at other parts of the room >It’s… just a standard guest bed >Nothing more… >… >Wait, what was… >You spin around, pointing your lantern in all directions >…that noise? >The rain continues to patter the rooftops above you loudly >Could you have misheard…? >You know the noise well enough >You’re around Twilight Sparkle quite a lot >…charging magic >It sounded like charging magic >You observe the room a little more >Nothing seems out of place >…well, with a better source of light, you can easier find your way out >You head towards the door >Which is… already… >…open >A single part of the two wooden doors hangs completely open >You approach it slowly >You grip the handle >It feels… >…warm. And tingly >You release your hand from it >You look back into the room >Black, empty >…what kind of place is this? >You exit the room and turn down the hallway >Refusing to look back >Your lantern bleeds yellow light into the stone hallways around you >You pass many suits of p0ny armor >You look over to each as you do >The emptiness these suits possess >The blank space where a body should be >…how fitting for such an abandoned structure such as this >It’s as if you’re wandering that very same empty space >Journeying through an area not meant for you >In a world not meant for you >How utterly… lonely >You focus your attention back in front of you >Your footsteps making distinct echoing clacks down the still stone corridors >The room starts to open up >You marvel as the ceiling grows even higher, and the walls widen themselves >It seems you’ve stepped into the main entrance area >You look over a railing to your left >Yes, you’re on the second floor >The front doors are right there >Perfect… >You take a step >Stop >Glance back behind you >…nothing >You redirect your attention ahead once more >The stairs are right there >Alright… >Planting a foot down on the first step, you-- >SLAM What!? >You stumble back in surprise, tripping over the first step back onto the second floor >Your lantern clanks hard onto the ground, extinguishing itself >The grand hall gets a hell of a lot darker >Moonlight is once again your only source of light >SLAM >You pick yourself up and back yourself further into the hall >Immersing yourself in darkness >It’s coming from the front door >You stand a little higher, getting a view of the entranceway >SLAM >SL-CRACK! >The door swings open >A short figure walks slowly into the building >Its steps clop each footfall, reverberating the distinct noise throughout the halls >It drips water from the rain onto the floor >It stretches out its wings >A bold cracks just behind the door outside >Light illuminates the hall >A yellow figure with pink hair becomes visible for just a moment >Immediately, you delve deeper into the darkness >Oh no… >Was that…? >”Aaaaaaanooooooon~” it calls in a singsongy voice >You can hear what sounds like a door locking… >Then… >Silence… >… >Clop >… >Clop >… >Clop >”Anooon~, my love… where aaaaaare yooooou~?” >Clop >The hoofsteps start falling onto what sounds like the stairs >Oh no… >You duck your head down further and silently sneak deeper into the darkness >You hit a wall >You press your back into it and sit still >Ever so still >… >Clop >… >Clop >The faint silhouette of Fluttershy emerges from the top of the stairs >She stands still >You can make out her head >She’s looking around >”Aaaaaanon~, I know you’re here…” >Her body pivots to the direction you originally came from >She slowly begins to walk that way >”Sweeeetie~, I’m coooooming~.” >Clop >”And when I find you…” >Clop >”You’re in for a reeeeeeeal treat~” >Clop >… >The hoofsteps begin to trail off >After a moment or two, you pick yourself up from the ground >You slowly walk over to the hallway you came from, and the one Fluttershy went down >It’s dark >And no sound is coming from it >You place your hand on your chest >Your heart is beating so goddamn fast >Breathe in >… >Breathe out >Alright Anon, you can do this… >You flick out your lighter once more and light your lantern >You descend the stairs and grab the handle of the exit >… >It won’t budge… >Of course… >You turn around, observing the grand hall in all its glory >So many hallways… >So many passageways… >Any one of them could contain a potential exit >Or perhaps… >…Fluttershy >Or maybe even… >… >Get those thoughts out of your head, Anon >This isn’t time to recall silly campfire ghost stories >Let’s just… advance, and… be careful >You step further into the hall >You approach the stairs >You look at all of your options on this floor >And the many more upstairs >…where to go?   [spoiler]End of Part 1, maybe?[/spoiler]