-
1.
>Wow, this party is pretty good.
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2.
>There’s even some familiar faces, like-
-
3.
>The room begins to shake with a wild ferocity never felt before.
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4.
“Whoa, what the-?!”
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5.
>Is this the alcohol or a sudden freak earthquake?
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6.
>No answer comes before everything ends up vanishing.
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7.
>From the depths of the aether, comes a voice, “Wake up.”
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8.
>You jolt, like you were struck by lightning.
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9.
>Reality comes along with it.
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10.
>Of course you were dreaming.
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11.
>It’s a shame most of the details were lost.
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12.
>But right now, someone is at your side, gently shaking you.
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13.
>“Wake up,” the stranger says.
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14.
“Huzzahwha-?” you groggily sputter.
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15.
>Blinking a moment, you rub your eyes, clearing up your a bit.
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16.
>For one, it’s not a person but a pony.
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17.
>For two, you’re still in Equestria.
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18.
>And at this very moment, one of the locals is here.
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19.
>The details come about in the dim light – a gray coat, black mane and tail, along with a pair of pink, somber eyes, staring at your side.
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20.
>A mare, one you know /all/ too well…
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21.
>At your stillness, she shakes you again, “Wake up.”
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22.
>The corners of your mouth fall.
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23.
“I’m already awake.”
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24.
>You sit up a little, getting a better look at the clock nearby.
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25.
>It’s early… TOO early for this.
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26.
>Yet here she is, right before the crack of dawn, no less.
-
27.
A light yawn escapes you as you slowly blink at her, “Why’d you break into my house?”
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28.
>“I didn’t break in, your front door was unlocked, Anon,” she states.
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29.
>Of all the times to forget to the lock the door, it just /had/ to be last night, didn’t it?
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30.
>No one around here locks theirs, and they’ve brought it up so much that it must be rubbing off on you.
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31.
“Okay,” you roll a hand, “so what do you want?”
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32.
>“I needed to talk with you.”
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33.
>You narrow your gaze.
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34.
“And it couldn’t wait until later?”
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35.
>Her reply is a swift, “No,” as she shakes her head.
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36.
>There’s a feeling of an eye twitch coming on.
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37.
>Ignoring that, you sigh.
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38.
“Right, well-” you yawn again. “What was it that was /so/ important you needed to talk to me at this hour?”
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39.
>Taking a moment to deeply inhale, she exhales slowly, “We’re all going to die.”
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40.
>You arch a brow.
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41.
“Yeah, and what’s that gotta do with the price of eggs in China?”
-
42.
>She cocks her head to the side slightly, “What’s a China?”
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43.
>That’d be cute if not the current situation.
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44.
“It’s nothing. Just, is there anything more you wanted to tell me, or is that it?”
-
45.
>She flicks her mane out of her eyes, uttering a soft sigh.
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46.
>“There is nothing more, just the same old, decaying relic that makes up who and what we are.”
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47.
>Her gaze shifts to the floor.
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48.
>“But, I had to come tell you, because I know that you’ve been avoiding the truth lately.”
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49.
>Incorrect, you’ve been avoiding /her/.
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50.
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51.
>She’s dark and sensitive, with low self-esteem; the way she looks makes every day feel like Halloween.
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52.
“Let me get this straight, beside telling me – and everyone else – about dying so much, you just had to come over to my home, break in-”
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53.
>“The door was unlocked,” she interjects.
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54.
“-BREAK IN before dawn, and all for the sake of telling me the same thing you say every day?”
-
55.
>She nods.
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56.
>That urge for the eye twitch grows stronger.
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57.
>“It’s a sickeningly sweet, somber kind of understanding, Anon. It’s befits all living things once they’re /truly/ aware, like I am. Once you come around to it, it’s easier to accept how things actually are.”
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58.
>The more she talks, the more those warnings once said come back to haunt you.
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59.
>You really should have heeded them better.
-
60.
“Okay, so… is that all, or are you done?”
-
61.
>Deeply sighing, she closes her eyes.
-
62.
>Upon reopening them, her gaze is next to you, like something else is there.
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63.
>“We are never done. It’s not until our hearts stop beating, not until our memories fade, not until our bodies are long gone; not until the sun’s final dawn.”
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64.
>Oh yes, some of her “poetry”.
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65.
>None of that matters, because it’s still WAY too early for this, so…
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66.
>You roll over, pulling the blankets back around tightly, grumbling all the while.
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67.
>Mere seconds into the lull, her hoof presses into your back, then gently starts shaking you.
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68.
>“Wake up.”
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69.
>The eye twitch finally comes, strong and swift.
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70.
>She keeps shaking you, “Wake up, we’re all going to die.”
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71.
>You throw off the covers, sitting up abruptly in a huff.
-
72.
“Fine, fine! I’m up.”
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73.
>With little restraint, you glare at the little somber mare.
-
74.
>She still has that perpetual look of a kicked puppy.
-
75.
>“Are you sure?”
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76.
>Another eye twitch occurs, just as powerful as the previous.
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77.
>Some part of you is stupid, that’s why you never heeded those warnings.
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78.
>Today is going to be yet another difficult one with her.
-
79.
>Just a typical day with her, Miss Eri.
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80.
>…
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81.
>You whip up a simple breakfast, and while eating, she plods in, head hung low.
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82.
>It’s like she’s walking to the gallows.
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83.
>At least she’s staying quiet.
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84.
>Don’t jin-
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85.
>“Eating only prolongs the suffering. Though I suppose it does feed the insects once we die; our bodies returning back to the soil is among the few, real meaningful things we can do in the brief, blink of existence.”
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86.
>She heavily sighs, to which you stop mid-chew, staring at her blankly.
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87.
>Her eyes search the floor, then herself, “I’m just skin and bone, but I know it will suffice in /some/ manner to benefit another once I leave this gray, dying world.”
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88.
>Past experience says not to engage her.
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89.
-
90.
>Despite how it goes, you often-
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91.
“Yeah, but you’d probably feel better if you ate more, Eri.”
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92.
>-are stupid.
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93.
>She looks up near you with one eye, the other hidden behind her raven mane, “That would never happen. I remain as a testament to suffering, forevermore.”
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94.
>If it wasn’t for her coming around so much, more ponies would actually stop by your place.
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95.
>After eating, you work on some chores, and of course, she’s keeping you company.
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96.
>“...they just don’t understand, and if they did, they wouldn’t turn a blind eye, and a deaf ear to my words.”
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97.
>There’s a /good/ reason for that.
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98.
>“It’s why they should be reading my poetry, not ignoring it. That would give them a better grasp on the world.”
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99.
>You’ve read her work before; sometimes in boredom, sometimes because she forced it on you.
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100.
>Aside from seriously needing a proofreader, the contents of her work is edgy as expected.
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101.
>Any part that appears remotely hopeful will always – ALWAYS – turn out to be a veil for her sorrowful and sensitive mind and soul.
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102.
>Anon, do not think like her.
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103.
>The chores go by quick, leaving little else to do for the time being.
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104.
>Every place is closed at this hour, which cuts out any work or shopping.
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105.
>All that’s left is to kill time.
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106.
>You sit on the couch, and at that exact moment, she pulls out her notebook.
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107.
>“On the wisp of the fluttering wings, comes the long call of deadly things.”
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108.
>Oh no…
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109.
>Kick her out.
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110.
>Remember what happened last time?
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111.
>It doesn’t matter, do it, anyway!
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112.
>Listen, you may be stupid, but you’re not that dumb.
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113.
>Are you sure?
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114.
>Sh-shut up, brain.
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115.
>“Hear them cry out their final song, and know it's time to right the wrong.”
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116.
>As she continues to read her ‘work’, you march over to the front door.
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117.
“I just remembered that I have something else to do in private, so I’ve gotta have you leave, sorry.”
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118.
>You open the door and look back to her.
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119.
>She’s by the couch, eyes glued to the floor.
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120.
>“Leave?” She shakes her head, “I wish I could… really, I do.”
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121.
>The eye twitch manifests again.
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122.
“But you can, see?” You wave to the open door, “The door is open for you.”
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123.
>“Not that one, the other.”
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124.
>You arch a brow.
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125.
“Come again?”
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126.
>“Death’s door,” she says in a quiet voice.
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127.
>Of course…
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128.
>“Even if I were to try to die out there, I know I’m not lucky enough.”
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129.
>She sighs, “I’m stuck forever in suffering, Anon…”
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130.
>This isn’t going to end.
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131.
>Think of something!
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132.
>A sudden bout of clarity draws a smile across your lips.
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133.
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134.
>Calmly and casually, you walk over to her.
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135.
>Then, in a single swift motion, you pick her up and dart back to the door, depositing her on the doorstep.
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136.
“There you go. No need to thank me, I know how difficult it can be for you. So now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to-”
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137.
>She looks directly into your eyes for the first time today.
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138.
“I-”
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139.
>She’s staring hard.
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140.
“Uh-”
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141.
>Her eyes start to water.
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142.
“You see-”
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143.
>Her bottom lip is quivering.
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144.
>Hesitation brews inside of you.
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145.
“Er…”
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146.
>Her body visibly trembles.
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147.
>Do not give in.
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148.
>Every muscle tenses up.
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149.
>“Anon, are you abandoning me like everypony else has?” she asks in a very soft voice.
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150.
>There’s a stirring growing in your chest.
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151.
>DO NOT DO IT.
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152.
>One tear crawls down her cheek, darkening her already gray coat.
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153.
>“I know I’m worthless… you don’t have to tell me. Just, throw me out.”
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154.
>Her voice is on the verge of a sob.
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155.
>Anon, do not-
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156.
>…
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157.
>“In the lasting light of the day, so comes the reaper as a stray.”
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158.
>Idiot.
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159.
>“And despite every little test, nothing could stand against the best.”
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160.
>Stupid.
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161.
>“Ask not what can be done to stop, but seek out instead the last drop.”
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162.
>Brainless.
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163.
>“Heed the siren's alluring call, else be blinded before the fall.”
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164.
>Her gaze drops from her book back to the floor.
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165.
>In the silence, she begins to fidget in place.
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166.
>On the outside, you’ve listened quietly.
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167.
>Within, you’ve berated yourself.
-
168.
>Because you gave in.
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169.
>There’s just something about ponies, especially her, that somehow make you act against your better judgment.
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170.
>Maybe it’s their soft coat, pastel colors, big eyes, or even their plots.
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171.
>Despite her not eating much, hers is surprisingly-
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172.
“Round.”
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173.
>“What?”
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174.
>You shake your head, heat briefly flooding your face.
-
175.
“The poem, I mean. It’s got a round about way of its, er, execution.”
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176.
>She nods, “Yeah, it kind of does, doesn’t it?”
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177.
>Note to self: censor yourself better.
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178.
>You give a quick glance to the clock.
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179.
>Somehow, her poetry took up quite a bit of time, and at last, the market is open.
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180.
>Now you can be free from her.
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181.
>Hopefully.
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182.
>…
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183.
>You’re walking along, and-
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184.
>“There’s no need to hurry there, it’s just going to bring about more pain.”
-
185.
>-she came along.
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186.
>That was unavoidable.
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187.
>The market is already fully alive when you reach it.
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188.
>Upon seeing you, most ponies give a wide birth.
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189.
>“We’re all shambling corpses destined for the grave,” she groans at some unfortunate stranger, who scampers off in a hurry.
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190.
>That’s exactly the reason for the space.
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191.
>Again, it’s not like you can easily tell her to leave.
-
192.
-
193.
>Each stall on the list is visited, with its owner giving you a smile.
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194.
>Then, they’ll just about fall apart once they see her, with one literally sprinting away.
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195.
>You still pay for your stuff, and pretend nothing is wrong.
-
196.
>“This is awful…”
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197.
>She’s been groaning about this place since you began shopping today.
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198.
>“Why do we even bother, it’s all so…” She sighs, “Pointless.”
-
199.
“That’s just you,” you mutter under your breath.
-
200.
>“What was that?” she asks, head tilted a little.
-
201.
>Darn it, you thought she wouldn’t have heard that.
-
202.
>Readily adopting a smile (a shaky one), you roll a hand.
-
203.
“I was talking about, uh…”
-
204.
>Think, think, think-
-
205.
“We should leave soon…?”
-
206.
>She’s silent for a moment, then nods.
-
207.
>“Agreed. Everypony has been avoiding me.”
-
208.
>If you were smart, you would have, too.
-
209.
>A sigh leaves her, “I wish they wouldn’t.”
-
210.
>Shaking her head, she starts to plod forward.
-
211.
>Unfortunately, a mint-green unicorn mare crosses her path seconds after, to which Eri snaps up.
-
212.
>“You,” she points points at the other mare.
-
213.
>The mare stops in place, eyes widening rapidly.
-
214.
>From nowhere, Eri pulls out one of her poetry books.
-
215.
>“You should read my book; it will relieve you from this nightmare of a lie.”
-
216.
>“I, um-”
-
217.
>“Like this poem, for instance,” she says, flipping to a random page, “The sun shines ever so bright, yet it conceals the long night.”
-
218.
>“I don’t think-”
-
219.
>“Once it comes in the sorrow, thus ends the cruel morrow.”
-
220.
>“Wait, please-”
-
221.
>“Do not deny that truth there, else you suffer in despair.”
-
222.
>“I DON’T WANT WHAT YOU’RE SELLING!” screams the mare as she takes off full sprint.
-
223.
>“But it’s free,” calls out Eri weakly.
-
224.
>She stands there a moment before lowering her head.
-
225.
>“I should have known that would happen.”
-
226.
>Some part wants to argue with her.
-
227.
>That part is stupid.
-
228.
“Because you freaked her out.”
-
229.
>You’re stupid, period.
-
230.
>She slowly turns in place towards you, hoof drawing circles in the road.
-
231.
>“They’re all ‘freaked out, Anon,” she sighs dramatically. “It’s their fear imprisoning them in the lie.”
-
232.
>Well, your words went over her head, so that’s good.
-
233.
>But from how everyone is looking at you two, it’s probably best to get out of here.
-
234.
>“There’s always more who will give it a chance, though.”
-
235.
>No, just… no.
-
236.
>“And with you here with me, we can work on finding those ponies.”
-
237.
>Quick decision.
-
238.
“Hey, I’ll be right back. Gotta, uh,” you thumb over your shoulder, “gotta use the bathroom.”
-
239.
>You don’t give her a chance to reply before walking (jogging) away to a randomly picked building.
-
240.
>Despite the warning bells going off, there is no way you intend to hang around any longer.
-
241.
>The last time you helped her was bad.
-
242.
>Flashbacks of torches and pitchforks intensify.
-
243.
>…
-
244.
-
245.
>The second you’re home, you lock the doors and exhale a sigh of relief.
-
246.
“Glad that’s over.”
-
247.
>You give a peek out the window, finding no trace of her.
-
248.
>You work on putting things away.
-
249.
>All the while, thoughts come about unbidden.
-
250.
>Like the many descriptors for her, not just from others, but from you.
-
251.
>A black cloud.
-
252.
>Black sheep.
-
253.
>Edgy.
-
254.
>Emo.
-
255.
>And even-
-
256.
>“Anon.”
-
257.
“What, no. That’s not-”
-
258.
>You stop mid-sentence.
-
259.
>Very, very slowly, you turn around.
-
260.
>Standing in the doorway is Miss Eri., color drained like usual.
-
261.
>Sneaking a peek around her, the front door locks are still in place.
-
262.
>Somehow, she always returns to you like a boomerang.
-
263.
>What did you do to deserve this?
-
264.
>Easy: you didn’t heed any of the warnings.
-
265.
>“I couldn’t find anypony who wanted my poetry.”
-
266.
>No surprises there.
-
267.
>“But, at least you and I understand the pain of living, right?”
-
268.
>A cold ball forms in your gut.
-
269.
>You swallow down a hard lump in your throat.
-
270.
“Uh, y-yeah, sure…”
-
271.
>She nods solemnly.
-
272.
>That went better than expected.
-
273.
>Any tension immediately vanishes.
-
274.
>“Anon?”
-
275.
“Yeah?” you reply reflexively.
-
276.
>“Please don’t leave me alone again, I don’t know what would happen if you did, but I’m sure it would be terrible.”
-
277.
>With that, she plods into the next room.
-
278.
>Of course you didn’t get away with it.
-
279.
>Any remaining care vanishes altogether in that moment.
-
280.
>You’re tired.
-
281.
>Not the normal tired, either.
-
282.
>It’s her.
-
283.
>She’s affects you.
-
284.
>Ignoring that, you finish putting things away, and go flop onto the couch.
-
285.
>Meanwhile, she’s seated nearby, writing something in her notebook.
-
286.
>You shut your eyes, tuning much of everything out.
-
287.
>Despite how bad things may seem, it’s not the worst they could be.
-
288.
>Such as the fact of your unexpected arrival to this world.
-
289.
>The ponies have gotten used to you, so life is fairly decent.
-
290.
>There’s been work for you, and some actual friendships being fostered.
-
291.
>So yeah, it’s-
-
292.
>A hoof suddenly presses into your side, gently starting to shake you, “Wake up, we’re all going to die.”
-
293.
>You crack an eye open at her.
-
294.
“I’m not asleep, I’m just… thinking.”
-
295.
>She exhales a short breath through her nostrils.
-
296.
>“Oh, I thought that maybe you were…” Looking away from you, she sighs, “...never mind.”
-
297.
>This little mare is going to be the death of you someday.
-
298.
>That’s terrible to think.
-
299.
>Is it wrong?
-
300.
>Yes, because she’s actually great once you get passed the whole edgy exterior.
-
301.
>In fact, she’s-
-
302.
>“I thought that you might have sought out sleep to escape the world, like I do. But, that’s inescapable.”
-
303.
>She never quits, does she?
-
304.
>Stupid question.
-
305.
-
306.
>She fidgets for a moment, then picks up her notebook from nearby.
-
307.
>“I’ve got a new poem for you, Anon.”
-
308.
>Please, no.
-
309.
>“I call it, ‘A candle burning in the darkness of Light’.”
-
310.
“I want to die.”
-
311.
>“Me too, Anon, me too…”
-
312.
>There is no end.
-
313.
>And you’re stuck with her, Miss Eri, forevermore.
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon
by NHanon