/bootleg/ 2022 Week of Terror: Faint Prism


                                            >"Hey, Dashie! Can you help me out with this?"

                                            >"Prism, I'm preparing something for Anon. I need an extra pair of hooves."

                                            >"Hey Faye, let me run something by you..."

                                            >Every day was the same for Faint Prism

                                            >Even if she was left out of their activities, she was easily the most important part of their many schemes and plans

                                            >Even with the open bickering and fantasizing they had about becoming mothers, she played along and did her part

                                            >Work, play, rest

                                            >All of it came to an end

                                            >All it took was one day

                                            >"Dashie, check it out! It finally worked!"

                                            >Prism was enjoying some cinnamon black tea in a large mug

                                            >She had bought a pink silly straw to drink through

                                            >It made everything taste better

                                            >The austere mare turned her gaze from the patio treeline t-

                                            >She spat out what tea she still had in her mouth

                                            "J-jacky, what in the world happened?!"

                                            >Just yesterday, the yellow pony was as fit as ever

                                            >Now she looks bloated to the point she's nearly three times as wide around the belly

                                            >"I'm gonna be a mom! This morning Sparky used an x-ray spell and it's triplets!"

                                            "I..."

                                            >Never once did Prism imagine that a man could genuinely procreate with a pony

                                            >Too much just did not fit

                                            "I'm... excited for you. But how did it happen? It felt like just yesterday that you..."

                                            >"Yesterday? I've been like this for months. Didn't you notice?"

                                            "W... w-what?"

                                            >Did she not only just now exclaim about her impending motherhood?

                                            >Prism hopped up to her hooves, ignoring her tea

                                            "I couldn't have ignored that. I'm sorry Jacky, I didn't know."

                                            >"Yeah... I know..."

                                            >Jacky sighed and trotted away

                                            >She appeared more sad than irritated

                                            "Wait, Jacky!"

                                            >Prism followed, only to... where was she?

                                            "Jacky?"

                                            >It was like Anon's bedroom, but it was twice as big and twice as full

                                            >Three beds, side by side

                                            >A large entertainment center, covered in childish DVDs and... picture books...?

                                            >On second thought, it wasn't at all like his room

                                            >"Excuse me, you're in my way."

                                            "O-oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, I was just..."

                                            >Prism turned to face the young voice

                                            >She could feel a severe chill go down to her heart

                                            >It...

                                            >It's Jacky!

                                            >Just like she was when they were fillies

                                            >The only difference was that her mane was long, long enough to nearly touch the floor

                                            >Or maybe she was just that small

                                            "Jacky! Your mane! You can't leave it that long, it'll get dirty!"

                                            >The filly gave her a confused frown

                                            >"...Mom says it's pretty. And dad told me that it's ok because I braid it when we leave so it doesn't hit the floor."

                                            >Mom?

                                            >Dad?

                                            "Jacky... you've never had parents. Remember? It was just us."

                                            >The filly gasped and ran off in a full sprint

                                            >"Dad, a stranger's in the house! She said I don't have parents!"

                                            >Prism followed the distraught foal

                                            >Before she knew it, she's face to face with a yellow mare with her orange mane in a lopsided bob cut

                                            >"...Prism?"

                                            >"Who is it, Jack?"

                                            >A man's voice

                                            >Prism couldn't do anything but stand and watch in shock

                                            >It was Anon and Jacky

                                            >But they look... different

                                            >More mature

                                            "It's me..."


                                            >"Woah, hey Faye! Man, where've you been? When did you get into town?"

                                            "I... I never left, Anon."

                                            >Jacky scoffs

                                            >"Oh come on, don't tell me that stuff again."

                                            >She pokes a hoof at Prism's chest

                                            >"You high-tailed it out of here as soon as things got hard, as you've done before! You really let me down, you know that?"

                                            >What made her tone turn so condescending?

                                            >"Some big sister you are."

                                            >"Mom, she's your sister?"

                                            >The foal speaks out, protected and curled up in Anon's arms

                                            >He has always been understanding

                                            >"No, she ain't. Your aunt Sparky has always been there, she's the only sister I got."

                                            >She couldn't say that

                                            >She could never mean that

                                            "A-anon. Please, explain what is going on. There has to have been some misunderstanding. I swear, I never knew!"

                                            >Anon shrugs at the pegasus

                                            >He pulls out the bracelet she made for him all those years ago

                                            >Only the feathers have turned coal black

                                            >"I don't know what to tell you, man. I asked you to stay but you just... well, you wanted to explore the world. I can't blame you for choosing your path. But you missed out."

                                            "No, I didn't go anywhere!"

                                            >"Sure. Well, we're having a cook out. Good timing I suppose. Wanna meet everyone else?"

                                            >Rather than wait for an answer, he takes his foal and walks around a corner

                                            >Jacky sighs again and clips through the floor until even the top of her head sunk below

                                            "J-jacky, get back here! That's dangerous!"

                                            >Without any further clue of where to go, Prism trots to follow Anon

                                            >The corner leads into a cottage

                                            >What

                                            >How . . . ?

                                            >How did she end up here?

                                            >As confused as she was distressed, she galloped at full force toward the door

                                            >She skidded to a stop and stomped her front hooves against the wood

                                            "Anon?! Jacky! I didn't go anywhere that time, you two did!"

                                            >Rather than hand or hoof, the door glows red and opens on it's own

                                            >What met Prism was a pair of unicorns

                                            >A red one with a dark streak through her equally red mane

                                            >And a little red filly, with her mane cut prim and proper

                                            >But it's too long and obstructs her eyes

                                            "...Sparking Shine."

                                            >The dull surprise in her voice causes the unicorn to squint

                                            >"Oh. What are you doing here?"

                                            >"What's she doing her, mother?"

                                            "M-mother?! You? Was Anon serious about that...? How could he be so disgusting?"

                                            >Prism had heard of their little pipedream about magic allowing procreation

                                            >And, of course, she had heard plenty about Sparking Shine's "price" for helping

                                            >What sort of two-faced man would agree to such terms?

                                            >"That's father's name..."

                                            >"Yes. It is. If you've come here just to insult Anon, go away. We have more important things than to give you money or listen to whatever you have going on now."

                                            "M-me? Ask for money?"

                                            >Prism couldn't even imagine debasing herself to such an extent as to ask for money

                                            >She was well-employed

                                            >...

                                            >Right?

                                            "Why are you all the way out here? Why aren't you at the house with Anon and Jacky? Don't tell me he banished you."


                                            >"Mother, what does she mean by banished?"

                                            >The filly had such a dull tone, barely tilting her head up toward her mother

                                            >Her horn seemed so tiny, like it is jutting out from her mane just enough to seem like a mane ornament

                                            >"She believes that your father is a man of low honor. Pay her no mind, please return to your studying. When I am done talking with her, we will test out your level two fire spell."

                                            >The filly gave the most modest of smiles and nods

                                            >"Yes, mother. I will exceed your expectations this time."

                                            >Small as she was, she trotted in place like a wind-up toy and went off back into the fog of the interior

                                            >"Thank you. Now you..."

                                            >Sparking gave Prism a grimace

                                            >"What is it you want?"

                                            "I..."

                                            >When did this happen?

                                            >When did all of this happen?

                                            "Please, Sparking Shine. Sparky. I... I feel desperately lost. Please, can you help me?"

                                            >"...well, for old time's sake, I guess so."

                                            >Sparking stepped outside of the cottage, her magic closing the door behind her

                                            >"So... what. Do I pretend that you just magically popped up out of nowhere after a few years?"

                                            >There was no answer to that

                                            "...y-yes. Please."

                                            >Sparking sighed and rolled her eyes

                                            >"Alright. So. A few years ago, Jacky was pregnant with her three hay nippers. Shortly after, I was blessed as well with my bundle of magic."

                                            >A hot blush spreads on Prism's face

                                            "Y-your magic actually helped them conceive?"

                                            >Sparking grins

                                            >"To be honest? I never figured out how to help. But I think they just lucked out. And because none of us figured it out...well, I still helped."

                                            "That's... horrible."

                                            >Prism couldn't even try to hide her discomfort with that

                                            >"Oh shut up. All of the things you did and led us into, who are you to say what is or isn't good? Starburst is everything I could never be and more. She's a natural magical expert. She's loved by both her mother and father."

                                            "She has three-half siblings!"

                                            >Sparking Shine looked at Prism as if she were looking at a broken microwave that could only go for five seconds before shutting down

                                            >"...and? She loves them and her aunt. You just don't get it. You never did."

                                            >With a roll of her eyes, Sparking turned her back to Prism

                                            >If she walked off, she would no doubt be lost to time again

                                            >Prism put a hoof against the unicorn's back

                                            "No, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to insult your daughter. I just... I'm so lost."

                                            >"Yeah... you are. Just go away. You're the only one who never got it. Stay here if you want. In two more days we'll be returning home anyway."

                                            >Sparking huffed, shrugging off the hoof

                                            >"If you're hard up for money, take something of mine and pawn it. Touch Starburst's books and there won't be enough of you to fertilize a daisy."

                                            >All it took was one blink for the red mare to vanish

                                            >Where even was the cottage?

                                            >Where was their home?

                                            >Where was Prism's own home?

                                            >...

                                            >She did have a home

                                            >Didn't she?

                                            >She looked down at her own hooves

                                            >They're dirty

                                            >Filthy

                                            >Like she hasn't taken a bath in...

                                            >Far too long


                                            >"Oh hey, you're one of those talking ponies, ain't cha?"

                                            >Prism looked up at the voice

                                            >A male

                                            >A human male

                                            >"Hey there, sweetie... why don't you come home and take a bath? I'll even get you some dinner."

                                            >His words are kind enough

                                            >But the tone

                                            >And the look in his eyes

                                            >Just like those stallions

                                            >Just like back then

                                            "I... I'm waiting on someone."

                                            >"Yeah? Who's coming?"

                                            "...my mom."

                                            >It was a silly excuse

                                            >No one ever believed it

                                            >But it usually worked

                                            >"Huh... alright. See if I offer it again."

                                            >Prism finally looked up

                                            >Grey sky

                                            >Buildings, skyscrapers everywhere

                                            >Still the human world

                                            >How long did she spend in this concrete labyrinth?

                                            >She raised up her hoof

                                            >...adult-sized

                                            >This wasn't a flash back

                                            >She was right back where she started

                                            >Back in a gutter

                                            >Back without a bit, or a dollar, or anything to her name

                                            >Back without any power

                                            >She slumped against a trash can

                                            >She felt her soul drain from her body

                                            >Not again

                                            >She did her best for so long, for Jacky's sake

                                            >But now?

                                            >She had a full family

                                            >Even that red tramp had made her own family

                                            >But she was alone

                                            >Again

                                            >What did she do wrong?

                                            >The longer she sat, the less strength she had

                                            >The less strength she had, the less she cared that her mane had become filthy

                                            >The less she cared that her coat was dirty and itched with insects

                                            >Another man approached her

                                            >This one wore a uniform with a large net

                                            >"Hey there, girl... let's be easy and stay calm, ok? We gotta get you to the pound. Then maybe a good, hot meal. How does that sound?"

                                            >What was she, an animal?

                                            >A stray dog with wings?

                                            >She glared at him but lacked the strength to speak

                                            >She...

                                            >She could speak

                                            >Couldn't she?

                                            >His hand went for something

                                            >A syringe

                                            >He jabbed it into her shoulder

                                            >Prism lacked the energy to care

                                            >"There we go. Just in case. Can't have you bite me, can you?"

                                            >No...

                                            >...She supposed that it would not be good if she bit him

                                            >She could have...

                                            >Diseases

                                            >Her eyelids grew heavier with every heart beat

                                            >Maybe

                                            >This was always her fate

                                            >Maybe

                                            >This wasn't so bad

                                            >It was what she grew up with

                                            >It was what she felt the most comfortable with

                                            >The others...

                                            >They never needed her

                                            >Prism's eyes roll into the back of her head

                                            >"There we go. Such a shame..."

                                            >The human grabs the limp body by the back of the neck

                                            >"Maybe she was a runaway... oh well."

                                            >There was no telling where Prism's body went

                                            >There wasn't even a feather to leave a trace

                                            >Eventually after that, no one remembered her name

                                            >And all was right in the world