Chapter Twelve:
Fish and Friends
Darkness surrounded her on all sides, following her as she walked along a road that didn't seem to exist. Twilight moved toward a place that wasn't there. Naked and alone, her skin goose-flesh and taut from a growing chill. Every step she took plunged her deeper into the chill. A shutter moved through her, drawing her arms across her bare breasts, her nipples were so tight that they hurt at the feeling of her arms fighting to cover them away from the prying eyes that weren't real. A visible huff of breath was visible through chattering teeth. The further she walked, the further she was from where she was going, and cold grew worse.
“Why?” Her voice echoed out into the expanse of blackness around her. “Where am I?” She asked, but no one answered.
“Hello?” She called to no one. “I'm...alone. Where is everyone.” There was a pain in her chest with each painful thud of her heart slowing. It twisted in her chest sending a sharpness through her back. The pain was so overwhelming that it drover he to her knees.“Someone, please help me.” She cried into the void, and no one called back. Thump...thump...and then her heart stopped beating.
Twilight was brought from the darkness of her sleep by a soft kiss to her temple. Warm breath wash over her cheek carrying tender words.“It's time to wake up, Twilight.” She conjured the image of Shining Armor kneeling over her in bed, waking her in his sweet and nurturing way as he always did when they were younger. It brought a smile to Twilight's lips, her eyes fluttering open. Shining Armor's face melted away, Applejack's warm face took it's place. It hadn't been her brother at all, but Applejack who woke her from her nightmare.
All of her friends gathered around her, watching her sleep. Everything seemed normal for the first time in a long while. Had the whole evening been nothing more than a bad dream. Maybe Twilight did drink some of the hard cider allowing herself to get silly at the festival and passed out. Or perhaps she fell, hitting her head and now she was waking up in the hospital, all of her friends there to check on her. The pain in her head was more than enough to commiserate that theory, she wanted to laugh the whole nightmare business away. Lying on her chest, open, was her locket.
When she saw the picture of Shining Armor, then the tears in her shirt, the cuts on her arms and hands and the reality of everything came rushing back, crumbling the walls of her illusion down around her. Twilight searched the faces of her friends, none of them were smiling. They were dirty from head to toe and covered in same small cuts and bruises that she was. Even the very walls of the hut rebutted the lie she'd told herself. Twilight wasn't safe at home and that everything she'd dreaded had come to pass.
How long had she been asleep? Twilight looked at the watch on her wrist, the face plate was shattered and the hands were bent and crippled. A low grade chuckle escaped her lips. “It just seems like there's never enough time.” Her tactless joke wasn't rewarded with a laugh, but then again she hadn't expected one either.
“You've been sleeping for about twenty minutes, Sugar Cube. Sorry I couldn't let you sleep longer, but we gotta get move on.” Applejack stood from her crouch, offering to help Twilight up.
Twilight was pulled to her feet, grimacing at every aching muscle that twitched and groaned on her way up. She looked around the room finding each and everyone of her friends. Rarity knelt on the floor holding Sweetie Belle close. Apple Bloom was protected by a shelter built of Big Mac on one side and Braeburn on the other. Maude was stretched out on the bed, petting the rock that rested on her chest. Pinkie Pie sat next to her on the stool, leaning her elbows on the bed, humming a song that was making Maude smile. Pinkie Pie stayed incredibly quiet the whole time they'd been in Zecora's house.
Maude remained the only one she talked with, even then it was only a few words. This was the quietest Twilight had ever seen her friend the entire time she'd known her, with good reason, the whole night had been filled with unimaginable horrors, each of them had seen plenty. Fluttershy was seated on the stool next to Rainbow Dash with Scootaloo sitting in her lap. They were checking on Rainbow Dash, who was sleeping uneasily. Her chest rising, but falling in a jarring fashion. Twilight knew it wouldn't be long before she changed and she would rather Scootaloo not be here to witness it.
The door opened, bringing everyone's eyes around to see who stepped through. Zecora slipped in, closing the door behind her. The glowing axe she carried disappeared into the folds of her cloak. There was a frantic pace to the way she moved. Something unpleasant must have taken place during her scouting run outside, or maybe she'd seen something that left her uneasy. Even her voice trembled when she spoke. “Your way is clear, I think, time for you and yours to vanish in a blink.” She pulled her hood back, her teal eyes darting around the room nervously.
Applejack thrust her hands into the pocket of her denim jacket. “Alright everypony, you heard her. Get you butts in gear. Braeburn, I want you to stay behind and...”
Zecora interjected. “No, stay here you can't, with these ponies' virus taint.” She paced the room to stand next to the ponies that lay in her bed. “I alone will care for them if I must, but the rest of you need to help this one.” Zecora jutted her chin towards Twilight.
Scootaloo lay out across Rainbow Dash. “I'm staying right here with Rainbow Dash.”
“You mustn't, it's...” Zecora started, but Scootaloo insisted that she wasn't going anywhere. Zecora's shaky gaze found Twilight, they were almost pleading for help against the child's insistence.
“Well, if she's staying then I am too.” Apple Bloom moved to stand next to her friend. “Come on Sweetie Belle, Cutie Mark Crusaders gotta stick together.”
Sweetie Belle hesitated looking into Rarity's eyes. “They need me, Rarity.”
Rarity pursed her lips, contemplating for a moment. Then she sighed. “Okay.” She whispered, hugging Sweetie Belle once more before offering the filly a gentle nudge toward her friends. “This seems as safe a place as any, I suppose.”
“This is madness, I will not be responsible for any impending sadness.” Zecora stomped her foot childishly. Twilight had never seen her so disheveled before, whatever she'd seen in the forest must have been dire.
“There's no changing her mind, Zecora.” Twilight could see the determination in the young fillies' faces.
“Don't worry, Zecora. I'll stay behind and help take care of 'em. They shouldn't be too much trouble.” Braeburn offered, resting a hand on the tall zebra's shoulder.
There was a raging conflict behind her teal eyes. but she just sighed her resolve away. “Very well I guess you choice is made, I can't convince you to go away.”
“Then it's settled.” Applejack chimed in, pacing towards the door. “I suggest we skedaddle and put this whole nasty business to rest.”
Twilight couldn't agree more. In her mind's eye she could see the way to Discord's hut as if she'd always known how to get there. It was hard to gauge the distance, but they could be there in a little over an hour if they kept a good pace.
“Y'all be careful.” Braeburn whispered, as Apple Bloom pulled from his grip to hug Applejack and Big Mac. The four of them shared an intense glance before Braeburn nodded. “Don't you worry none. I'll take good care of them.”
With that Applejack offered the same sharp nod, before opening the door disappearing into the darkness outside, Big Mac followed her out. Rarity gave each of the young fillies a soft kiss on the top of their head, whispering something encouraging in Sweetie Belle's ear. Then she walked out into the forest to join the others.
Pinkie Pie stood up and looked at Twilight. “I'm not going, I want to stay behind with my sister.”
Twilight wasn't surprised in the slighetest. They'd been thick as thieves all night, it just made her feel good to see confidence in Pinkie Pie's crystal blue eyes. Twilight moved to agree when she heard Maude's monotone voice call to Pinkie.
Twilight watched as Pinkie move to sit on the bed next to her sister. She could hear Maude whispering something in her ear, but couldn't quite make it out, but with each words she spoke Pinkie's smile grew wider. When Maude finished what she was saying. She touched her hand to Pinkie Pie's chest, causing Pinkie to nod confidently before planting a firm kiss on her sister's cheek. “I love you, sis.” She uttered, getting up from the chair. “Twilight, after some firm delegation Maude and I have decided that you can't succeed with out me, so I'm going too.” Twilight didn't know what to say, but was glad to see some remnants of her friend returning as she marched outside with the others.
Twilight made eye contact with Maude, who smiled. “Please take care of her, she'll need it.” The monotone voice carried the slightest hint of emotion, it was enough to bring a smile to Twilight's face.
“I will.”
As Twilight headed for the door, she stopped in front of Zecora, who was hugging herself under her cloak. “Promise me you'll take care of them.” The zebra's cold stare froze Twilight, the zebra's teal gaze narrowed to sharp points.
“No promise of safety will I make, them staying behind is a mistake.” Zecora's voice was as cold as her stare.
Twilight opened her mouth to speak, but Zecora turned away to check on Rainbow Dash, who was still lost in a deep sleep. Now that Pinkie was gone, Maude managed to slip away into a deep sleep.
Twilight moved towards the door, where Braeburn waited. “Please tell her I said goodbye won't you?” She whispered to him on her way by.
“I sure will, be safe and take care, Twilight.” His southern drawl and soft voice always betrayed the young buck's age. They shared a look before Twilight stepped out into the cold embrace of the woods. Braeburn closed the door behind her and she could hear him bar it from the inside. Twilight knew immediately that there was no going back now.
“Twilight, it's time for you to guide us to our destination, darling.” Rarity faked an upbeat tone, trying to be confident despite everything that happened. In a way it seemed to work, chasing away the darkness a little, even if it were for only a moment.
Twilight walked to the front of the group, Applejack filing in next to her, with Big Mac and the rest of them following close behind. Each step she took, she could hear the eerie, smokey voice singing in the recesses of her mind, helping her retrace the steps that she felt for sure she'd already followed earlier in the night. The zebra haunting words dogging her every step as they moved through the forest.
