//------------------------------// // Chapter 04 // Story: Ghostly Glam // by EpicSmiley13 //------------------------------// Darkness surrounded the stone castle. The sounds of unearthly moans and shrieks filled the air at random intervals. No sun hung in the sky; only a blood red moon adorned the pitch black space. Cold wind flitted through the air. It was enough to shoot the nerves of anypony. Everypony but one. A dark, gangly figure was making its way to the large, wooden door of the castle. It appeared to be a stallion, and as he was bathed in the crimson light of the ominous moon, plenty of unappealing features were revealed on his body. The fur of his coat was missing in some places. Ugly scars lined his back as well as his legs. An eye patch rested over his left eye. He approached the door and swung the door knocker against it four times. On the fourth swing, the door swung open and released a horrible smell that seemed like a combination of rotten flesh, smoke from a fire, and fresh blood. The stallion merely wrinkled his nose for a fraction of a second and entered the castle. The main hallway was adorned with fearfully dark décor. The carpet beneath his feet was dark crimson, with even darker splotches scattered upon it. Scarlet tapestries hung from the walls. They hosted a variety of paintings. The first one depicted a young mare with a flowing mane and a near-flawless complexion. But, if one should stare at said picture long enough, they would see her mane slowly fall out of her head, and her glowing face contort into an agonized grimace. Then, once you turned around and hurried on your way, her eyes would turn and glare at you as you left. The second painting was of the castle itself, in all its dark, gothic glory. However, if a storm was to occur outside and lightning flashed at just the right time, one might see a hulking figure appear in front of the castle. But as soon as the lightning stopped, the figure would disappear, leaving a pony standing and blinking at what they weren’t quite sure they actually saw. The next few paintings were nearly the same. They all depicted either regal ponies, dark buildings, or strange, scary-looking figures. The final painting, however, showed a rather strange and simple scene. There was a swirling, black whirlpool with little off-white dots in it. While it seemed normal at first, if one were to look closer, they would see that the dots were actually miniscule painted ponies, or rather, what might have been ponies at one time. These figures had the same build as ponies, but they were…different. They had agonized, terror-stricken faces and were covered in tiny, detailed injuries. They appeared to be in the process of being swallowed by the dark void; mares, stallions, and foals all being swept away with no hope of escape. The scarred stallion walked past all of these paintings without as much as a bat of an eyelash. He continued straight on down the hall, down to where another door awaited him. He simply pushed this one open, and stepped into the room. It was lit with an eerie red candlelight, and the flickering flames illuminated his face. Scars adorned it, and with the light shining on them, they cast shadows across his face and made him look old and cruel and cold. The stallion stepped slowly toward the center of the room, where a throne adorned with chains and spikes stood, tall and intimidating. He kneeled down before it, and then finally spoke in a gravelly voice: “I have returned, my Queen.” An unknown voice replied to him from the throne. “Have you seen her? Does she have the necklace?” her voice was high and ice-cold. “Indeed, my Queen. She has also encountered the young filly with whom she connects.” “I see.” “What shall you decide, your Majesty?” “…send the Screamers after them. That should be warning enough.” “Yes, my Queen.” The stallion stood again, and turned to leave the throne room. “Oh, and Darmetrius?” “My Queen?” “Do get the point across well.” “…So, let me get this straight.” Rarity said. “My sister is being haunted by a little ghost filly that wants her to defeat an evil demon spirit that could possibly bring down the world of the living?” “Yes, though out of the blue, I can say this is very true.” Zecora replied. “And you want all of us to help contact this ghost?” Rarity scratched her head. Zecora nodded. Rarity, Zecora, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, and Sweetie Belle were all sitting inside the Ponyville library. It was about eight o’ clock at night. Zecora and Sweetie Belle had arrived not too long ago, and had explained everything to the six mares. They had all had a bit of trouble wrapping their heads around the situation, especially Twilight, who was a prominent skeptic when it came to things such as ghosts. “I know what I saw and heard, sis. She’s real! This might be the only way to get her to leave me alone!” Sweetie Belle gave her sister a pleading look. Rarity sighed. “I suppose I believe you, Sweetie Belle. But just how are we to go about doing this?” “In a circle we will sit, and place the necklace inside of it. Then I’ll chant at the stroke of twelve, and Melody Chimes will reveal herself.” Zecora said, already sitting in position. “Ah’m not one fer all this ghost mumbo-jumbo, but I trust what yer sayin’, Sweetie Belle.” Applejack said, shooting the filly a small smile. “We’ll make sure that ghostie leaves you alone!” Pinkie Pie beamed. Beside her, Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I guess this will work. I mean, it’s not like there’s anything else we can do.” “Um…I…I don’t really care for ghosts…but, um…anything to help you…” Fluttershy said softly. “You’re absolutely certain about this, Sweetie Belle?” Twilight asked the filly hesitantly. Sweetie Belle nodded her head vigorously. Twilight sighed. “…All right, I’ll help.” “Thank you, all of you!” Sweetie Belle smiled. Zecora said that the ritual would begin at midnight, so the eight ponies decided to eat dinner and talk for a while. When everypony’s back was turned, two little fillies snuck into the library and took refuge behind a bookshelf. When 11:45 rolled around, Zecora began making several markings on a piece of paper. When she was done, she placed it on the floor. Then she lit four candles and placed them at the edges of the paper. “The time has come to begin,” she said. “Please come and join the circle I’m in.” Everypony sat down in a circle around the paper and candles. Sweetie Belle took off the necklace and gingerly placed it on the paper. She then took her place in the circle next to Rarity and Fluttershy. “Everypony, please join hooves. Hold still and do not move.” Zecora said. Closing her eyes in concentration, the zebra began to chant. “By Celestia’s day and Luna’s night, spirit come forth to the candle’s light your pony self to us show and reveal your plans, so we may know.” Before Sweetie Belle’s eyes, the eighth-note necklace began to glow faintly. The candles seemed to burn brighter as the necklace began to float in the air. She could tell that Rarity and Fluttershy were seeing the same thing, because their grips on her hooves tightened. Then, ever so hesitantly, the ghost that was Melody Chimes appeared with the necklace around her neck. She was much less visible than the night before. There was silence for a minute, before Rainbow Dash said: “Is it working?” “What?” Sweetie said. “You can’t see her?” “She’s here? Where?” Rainbow asked. Sweetie Belle blinked in disbelief. “She’s right there! In the middle of the circle, with the necklace on!” “I don’t see anypony.” “Is-is she making the necklace float, Sweetie Belle?” Rarity asked. Her younger sister gave her an incredulous look. “She’s WEARING it!” “That she is here, I have no doubt.” Zecora said. “Perhaps, Sweetie, you could coax her to come out?” “Uh…” Sweetie Belle leaned forward. “M-Melody Chimes, it’s okay.” the ghost filly turned her head toward Sweetie Belle. Her dull eyes showed uncertainty. “We don’t want to hurt you. We just want to talk. Please show yourself.” Very, very hesitantly, the filly became more opaque. Gasps filled the room from the other mares present. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo covered their mouths. It was the same filly from earlier on the lake! Sweetie Belle also noticed that the room had become much colder. Melody looked around nervously before returning her gaze to Sweetie Belle. The living unicorn filly swallowed. “Melody Chimes, I want to know why you’re following me.” Sweetie Belle eyed the necklace. “That’s your necklace, isn’t it? Are you mad that I took it? I’m sorry!” “No, Sweetie Belle…” Melody shook her head. Her voice seemed stronger than the night before. “Not angry at you. I needed your help. I put the necklace there.” “Why?” “Because I knew…” Melody paused. “I knew that whoever was Tied to me would come to the lake. You are Tied to me, Sweetie Belle.” “Tied to you?” Sweetie raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?” “Do you remember…the song I sang to you?” Before Sweetie Belle, or anypony else, could say anything, the sound of music filled the room. Sweetie Belle became rigid. Chimes… “Let’s go a-swimming, let’s go a-swimming, on a hot summer’s day. Oh, dear friend, I’ll see you again come with me to the lake- “And we’ll swim all day.” Sweetie Belle finished the song. She gasped suddenly, and her eyes rolled backward into her head. She heard her sister calling her name, but it was far off, and she paid it little attention. Instead she watched as memories filled her head. Memories of parties, of games, of singing, of other fillies that she didn’t know, and of a mare and stallion she didn’t know. She saw the lake, she saw the fish, she saw black spots, and she saw an evil-looking mare with glowing red eyes. The visions went as suddenly as they’d come, and Sweetie was jerked back to reality with a sharp tug. “Sweetie Belle, are you alright!?” Rarity asked frantically. “I’m fine, Rarity…” Sweetie’s voice cracked with shock. She looked over at Melody. “Melody…those memories…they…” “My life.” Melody smiled sadly. In her mind, Sweetie Belle saw the pieces come together. “Melody.” her voice was serious. “I remember you because…I am you, right?” “…What!?” Twilight said. “Yes, Sweetie Belle.” Melody bowed her head. “We are Tied because we are one. We are the same…or rather, were the same?” “Wait…” Rainbow said. “So Melody IS you? How does that even work?” “Yeah?” Scootaloo whispered to Apple Bloom from behind the bookcase. “I am her past life,” Melody said. “Everypony has a past life, and I am Sweetie Belle’s.” “…I guess that makes sense…” Rainbow shrugged. “I wanted to find you, Sweetie Belle, because I am in desperate need of your help.” Melody’s face became concerned. “The entire world needs your help. Ghostly Glamour has begun to take over the Spirit World. She has trapped me here for a long time. All she wants is to take both of our worlds.” “But…why me?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Why did you choose me?” “You and I, Sweetie Belle…” Melody bit her lip. “We are the only ponies left with a Tie. The others either cut their Ties willingly or had their Ties cut by Ghostly Glam.” “So, basically, I’m really the ONLY pony that can help?” “Yes.” “This is very serious, you two,” Zecora addressed Sweetie and Melody. “Melody, what exactly do you want this young filly to do?” “I want Sweetie Belle to come with me and help defeat Ghostly Glamour.” “Go with you? Where?” Rarity interjected. She cringed as Melody turned to stare at her. “To Ghostly Glamour’s castle. Then we will defeat her.” “Hold on just a second,” Sweetie Belle said. “I don’t have to do this right NOW, do I?” she looked at the ghost uneasily. Melody shook her head. “No, no. We must have time to prepare. The only problem…” Melody’s translucent eyebrows furrowed. “Is that I must stay here to prepare. Is there any way to do so?” she turned to Zecora. “…I admit there is a way, to bring you here and make you stay. Though it will take the strength of everypony here, I assure you there is nothing to fear.” Zecora said. “Please, do this right away Miss!” Melody pleaded. Zecora nodded and looked at everypony in the circle. “Everypony, please clear your head. Think only of Melody Chimes instead. With our powers combined into spiritual giving, we will transport Melody to the world of the living.” All the ponies closed their eyes in total concentration. Sweetie Belle tried her hardest to think only about the ghostly filly in front of her, and bringing her here so they could talk more. Unbeknownst to her, or anypony else, her horn began to glow with a sweet pastel green aura. She concentrated harder, and the aura grew brighter. She tried her very hardest. Bring Melody to us, she thought. So I can help her. Bring her here. Within the circle, the candle flames flared up, illuminating the library, as well as the shocked faces of Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. Melody was beginning to materialize; she was enveloped in a pale, misty light. Her features became more pronounced, and she was no longer transparent. She looked remarkably like Sweetie Belle; the only, ONLY difference, in fact, was their hair! The filly looked at her hooves before speaking in a breathless voice. “I…I do believe it worked…” The magic faded around her, and the candles went out as a gust of wind blew through the room. There had been no open doors or windows… Apple Bloom suddenly felt very cold. She turned and looked at Scootaloo, who was shivering. The fur on the back of her neck was beginning to prickle with fearful goosebumps. Steady uneasiness made its way into her, until her heart was jumping in her throat and her blood felt like it was turning cold. Her eyes grew to the size of dinner plates and a cold sweat broke out on her forehead. “Something is wrong…” Zecora looked around the room concernedly. Everypony was feeling about the same way as Apple Bloom was, Sweetie Belle being the one affected most. She looked to the newly-materialized Melody Chimes and saw a most horrible look on her face. Her features were contorted with pure, raw fear, her eyes transfixed above Sweetie Belle’s head. Said unicorn shut her eyes tight, fighting a battle of willpower to NOT turn around. Back at the bookshelf, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo huddled together out of pure fear as they stared at the large, dark, hulking figure standing over their friend. It was then that Scootaloo felt a most unsettling presence behind HER. She clutched Apple Bloom tighter. The earth filly seemed to have had the same feeling, because she gulped and turned around. And her bloody-murder scream rang through the entire library. And that's that! Now, I couldn't get the screamer picture link to work, so if you want to see one you can google it or something. Sorry :/ Yeah, the whole "Ties" thing was made up, but I have heard about people having seen the ghosts of their past lives...I watch too many paranormal shows on bio