//------------------------------// // VIII: Nightmares // Story: Flight // by TheUnknownPerson //------------------------------// "What are you doing?! Stop that--" Ringing filled Marble's ears as she barely began to regain consciousness. A distant wail overpowered her, sending her retreating back to the cold, hard floor. She opened her eyes, only to be met with darkness. An object- a cloth was wrapped around her eyes, blocking her vision. What... what's going on? Where am I? "Father, mother, stop it! Now!" "Stay back Limestone! This is between us and her!" A loud thud drove the ringing away. Somepony's hoof touched her chest. "Marble!" called Limestone, her voice distraught and frantic. "Help me! You have to!" The cloth fell away from her eyes, down to her chest before floating back to the ground, revealing a dark, disorganized and disgruntled room at the back of her family's barn. Rocks had seemingly been slung around, and only a single lit candle atop a wooden stool would provide the only light, sat at the far right corner of the room. The bottom of Marble's hooves was sunk in the rocks beneath her. No matter how hard she tried to pull them out, her hooves were immobilized. Limestone was laying in front of her, bloodied and battered. Her snout was bleeding and her right eye was black. Her mane was dirty and a near-terrified look in her eyes suggested that this wasn't a mere joke. "Mother and father-- they've gone crazy! They took Maud and Pinkie, you have to help me save them!" Limestone! Marble pushed herself forwards, only for her hooves to remain planted in the ground. Her mouth was clamped shut. All she could do was watch in horror as a figure slowly trotted out of the shadows. "Please, Marble! You have to help!" Igneous Rock stepped out, his face masked by the shadows filling the opposite half of the room. The only thing Marble could see was the blank gaze as he grabbed Limestone her hind-hooves and pulling her away. She turned up him, taking a fistful of dirt and slinging it at his face. No- move! Marble's body refused to listen to her mind as she watched on in terror. "Why?!" Limestone turned onto her stomach, staring at Marble with a petrified stare before being pulled behind the shadows. Marble couldn't even blink, failing to comprehend what just happened. A single tear ran down her cheek as a shaken breath escaped her. "Limestone..." She whispered, suddenly able to move her jaw. "I'm so sorry..." Another bloodcurdling scream entered the room, except this time Maud was standing in front of her. A disappointed look on her face. Her hooves had been coated in dried blood, and her face had been splattered with sweat and tears. Marble's mouth had once again clamped shut, unable to call out for her sister. "Why? You stood there while she begged you- pleaded with you to help." Maud questioned. "I-I thought there was still hope for our family, I thought you'd be the pony to show them that- that there's a different way to do this. That we could just stop hurting our own flesh and blood." I-I couldn't move... Marble tried to break her usually welcomed silence- her will to just hide away, to hope that somehow, things would be okay if she just found a place to hide. But what was once had been a blessing to her was now a curse. "Maybe- just maybe, if you had helped, she could've gotten away with you to Pinkie, maybe even to the Apples. Instead, she's gone now. And you made me do it." Her voice had an undertone of conviction. "Don't expect me to take pity on you next time." She turned trotting back into the shadows. Was I... I really responsible for that? Marble questioned. Her fears and conscience had just been confirmed. I-I left her... I am responsible... She choked out. Her throat locked up, almost unable to breathe. Yet another terrified scream had been flung into the room. The all too familiar pink pony landed in the gravel in front of her. Her back had been cut and bruised, lashes across her ribs and chest, and small cuts on her hooves. "Why? I thought I could trust you..." Pinkie questioned. Her mane had deflated and fallen to her side, a darker shade of pink to match with her coat. She turned up to Marble. Marble sharply gasped, seeing her broken snout oozing blood. No- please! Not Pinkie too! She pushed against her hooves. Trying to find the strength and courage to fight for Pinkie- for all of them, but alas, she couldn't move an inch. "Why would you go back to them? Why would you tell them that I had lied about you?" Tears streamed down Pinkie face as she questioned Marble, a streak of tears of her own dripping down her chin and onto her chest. I-I wouldn't! I didn't, I promise! "I loved you, more than I could ever tell you, I protected you at the risk of losing my job, but..." Pinkie took a shaken breath. "Was it all for nothing?" She questioned, staring at her. Marble tried to shake her head, but even that basic function she couldn't do. It wasn't! I love you too! "I-if you loved me, why would you do this to me?" Pinkie retorted as if she almost knew what Marble was thinking. "To Limestone? Don't you feel guilty?" Marble quietly sobbed, nodding gently. She wept as the same figure began to trot towards Pinkie. No! Marble pushed her hooves forward, trying to get at least one step closer. One step and she could push Pinkie out of the way, but not a single iota in her hoof moved. Igneous grabbed Pinkie by her mane, hauling her back to the shadows. Pinkie's screamed echoed throughout the room, before being snuffed out by a thud. Then a second. And a third. Eventually, there were too many to count. Marble had to sit there, painfully wincing at every hit, as if she felt every single hit colliding with her head and chest. I-I can't-- I can't take this anymore! She sobbed. I'm so sorry! "Sorry..." Marble muttered. "I'm so sorry..." Igneous suddenly appeared in front of Marble, holding her shoulder. Her heart pumped faster than a speeding train. Her head trembled as she turned towards Igneous, a wild look in his eye. Bloodlust. "You're next." ================= "Marble..." A deep voice called to her, holding her shoulders. Marble, suddenly able to move, fought against the figure. Pushed up against it with all her might. "Stop! Pl-please don't hurt me!" The stallion grabbed her fore-hooves, holding them together as he gently pushed them back to her chest. "I'm not gonna hurt'cha." Marble recognized the voice near-immediately. She opened her eyes, misty with tears. Big Macintosh was standing above her, his orange mane hanging downwards towards her as he held her hooves gently. "Are ya alright?" He questioned, confused. Marble quickly traced over her surroundings: white picket fence, grass, dirt, and apple trees. She was at Sweet Apple Acres. It-it was a dream? Marble questioned, holding her chest. She quickly blinked away her tears. "M... mmhm." Marble backed away quickly. "I-I ended up here?" "Eeyup. Found you passed out. You were cryin' and shufflin' around real strangely, so I-I thought I'd wake you up." Macintosh released her. "Sorry 'bout grabbin' your hooves 'n' all, y'all was just fightin' so hard." "S-sorry." Marble shied away from the considerably larger stallion. "Everythin' alright over there, Mac?" Applejack was trotting towards them from the other side of the fence. Macintosh turned to her. "Eeyup!" He called back. Macintosh pointed to her, motioning for Applejack to come, before turning to Marble "It-it was nice to see you again." Marble said with a timid smile. Macintosh nodded in return with a pink blush. "Marble Pie?" Applejack questioned. She leaned on the picket fence with her fore-hooves. "What're you doin' here? Thought Pinkie was watchin' ya." "Er..." Marble looked downwards. "I-I had to leave Pinkie's." "Now, why'd you do that?" Applejack inquired. Marble looked downwards, before shaking her head. "Ah- I see. No worries." Applejack nodded. "Would you like somethin' to eat? Granny Smith whipped up some apple fritters this mornin'. Nice 'n' fresh, with genuine Sweet Apple Acre apples." She offered with a smile. "I-I guess I can stay for a few minutes." Applejack nodded. "Alrighty. Big Mac, lead her back to the house, would'ya kindly?" Macintosh nodded, turning back towards the entrance. "I'll meet y'all there." Applejack put her fore-hooves back onto the ground, trotting towards the entrance. The pair of quiet ponies became near silent "So..." Macintosh breathed with a deep chuckle, trying to dispell the awkward silence. "You're lookin' better since the last time I saw ya." "Thank you." Marble nodded, speaking quietly. Macintosh nodded as they trotted into Apple Acres. "How've you been since you got to Ponyville?" "Good. H-has apple season been good for you?" Macintosh nodded. "Eeyup. Your rocks?" "Mmhm. So far." She nodded. Macintosh smiled. Marble grinned back, but she couldn't focus too much on him. What the hay was that nightmare? She questioned, glancing downwards. It was so... so scary. I-It was like my worst nightmares in one bundle. A chill went down her spine, recalling the tirades her family had gone on, especially Maud's. "Maybe- just maybe, if you had helped, she could've gotten away with you to Pinkie, maybe even to the Apples. Instead, she's gone now. And you made me do it." No- remember what Princess Luna said. Let it go... She released a deep breath as they turned into the barn, stepping passed the opening in the farm with Macintosh. Applejack stepped up to her. "Howdy, didn't expect to see you here so soon." She chortled. Marble nodded. Applejack turned to Macintosh. "Thank ya, Mac." Macintosh nodded. "Bye Marble." He trotted away, towards the large barn in the distance. Applejack trotted back towards the house, motioning for Marble to walk with her. "So, how did you end up back here?" Applejack questioned. "Thought you were with Pinkie." "I-I had to get away from Ponyville." "Why? I thought y'all'd have everythin' work out by now." Marble looked away. "Eh, we'll talk about it later. C'mon, let's go getcha somethin' to eat." Applejack stepped up onto the porch, extending her right fore-hoof to Marble. Marble took it, taking a step up onto the porch. "Alrighty, up ya go." She pulled Marble up onto the porch. Granny Smith was sat in her white wooden rocking chair, snoring as a slight breeze pushed the chair back and forwards. "Don't mind her. She needs her rest." Applejack chuckled as she pushed the screen door open, allowing Marble to step through before she gently shut it behind them. The walls of the interior were painted apple green, and the floor was simply made up of wooden boards. "Let's go on and getcha some food. You gotta be hungry." Applejack stepped through the living room, passing by a single, bright red sofa and wooden table in the middle of the room, and trotting passed the staircase to the second story of the house as she trotted into the kitchen. Apple Bloom was standing on top of a wooden stool, leaning over a sink filled with soapy water. Her hooves were dunked under the water, circling around as she lifted a small dishrag and a dirty plate out. She scrubbed the plate down. "Oh, howdy again Marble." She said. Marble waved her right fore-hoof with a smile as Applejack lead her towards the circular, wooden table. There were six chairs crowded around the small space, all except for two pushed out. "You go ahead and get settled in and I'll go getcha an apple fritter." Marble nodded. She sat at the bottom of the table. Her hind-hooves bounced in anxiety as she awaited Applejack's return. I have to get out of here after we finish this. Marble noted to herself. "Are you feeling alright? You look like somethin's bothering you." Apple Bloom asked, glancing back to Marble for a moment. "Mmhm." Marble answered quickly. She did not want to think about that dream. Applejack returned after a moment, a plate in her teeth, with an apple fritter placed atop of it. She sat it in front of Marble. "Enjoy." Applejack sat at the top of the table. Marble took a small bite out of it the sweet tang kicking her. "So, what brought you? Pinkie takin' you outta town or somethin'?" "I'm leaving." Marble swallowed. "I can't stay in P-Ponyville anymore." "Why not? Y'all've got everythin' you'd need here. Friends, family, a home..." Applejack inquired. Marble looked downwards to her plate. Applejack shot up to Apple Bloom. "Apple Bloom, can you go check if Macintosh needs any help? I'll finish that up for ya." "You're sure?" Apple Bloom turned back to Applejack, wiping her hooves off on the counter. Applejack nodded. "Now go on, we've gotta talk about some stuff." Apple Bloom hastily walked out of the room, leaving Marble and Applejack. "Now, what did y'all need to say?" Marble exhaled before she looked back up to Applejack. "I-I had a bad dream..." She blushed, knowing how childish it sounded. "Alright. What was it about, if y'all don't mind me askin'?" Marble squeezed her hooves, taking a deep breath. "I-I couldn't move, couldn't speak, but all I could do was watch." "Watch what?" She exhaled. "I had to w-watch Limestone and Pinkie get hurt. He-he grabbed Limestone and dragged her away while she screamed. She begged and pleaded with me to help and I... I couldn't do anything." "I'm so sorry." Applejack held Marble's right fore-hoof with a warm smile. "Then Maud came in. She scolded me f-for not helping, said that she wouldn't let me go next time she came to the shop." Applejack nodded. "Go on." "Then P-Pinkie got thrown in. She asked if I-I really loved her, and wondered if-if what trust we had surmounted was even real. I-I couldn't tell her that I loved her before she got dragged away. Then that- that thumping was too much to handle, hitting against flesh and bone--" Marble stopped, biting her lip. Applejack squeezed her hoof before sighing. "Darlin'... you know Pinkie wouldn't be like that. She's sweet, not bitter. And I may not have known y'all for long, but I'm sure that Limestone wouldn't hold running away against you if she knew what was goin' on. Just- don't stop what you're doing if you think this is the right decision." "I won't, I-I promise. I need Pinkie, Maud, and Limestone safe." Marble finished, wiping her misted eyes as she took another bite of the apple fritter. It felt like some of the weight and guilt had been momentarily lifted off her shoulders, suddenly feeling brave and courageous. "Thank you Applejack, I feel better about it. I need to go ahead and go." Marble stood. "Alright." Applejack shook Marble's hoof before she stood. "Take care of yourself darlin'. You've always got a home here if y'all ever need a place stay." "Thanks, AJ. Bye." Marble quickly trotted through the living room and out the door, passing the living room and stepping outside. She galloped away from the farm, out of the picket fenced area and down the road away from Ponyville. As she passed under the last apple tree of Sweet Apple Acres, the branches shook suddenly. She stopped in place, looking up to it. A few birds flew out of it, an apple in the largest's beak. Silly! Marble chuckled, returning to her brisk galloping. "Keep with her..." =================