//------------------------------// // 06 : The Nightmare // Story: The Journal // by TropicalWings //------------------------------// I quickly broke into a dash back into the safety of the ranch house, trying to evade the slender beast that was chasing me. I began to run faster and faster the nearer I reached the back door. Then, of all the worst times to happen, something caught my hind legs and I tripped. I looked back and found my legs being held by … dark figures. They were dragging me closer and closer to the tall creature. I tried to inch closer to the door using my forelegs but to no avail. Wait a minute, ...why the heck don’t my legs hurt? I was suddenly lifted up and was now dangling in front of the creature face-to-face, it’s enormous mouth grinning revealing the large sharp fangs hidden within. Did you really think...it hissed. ...that you could run away from me? With that, it inched closer to my exposed neck and opened it’s mouth wide before biting down deep into my flesh. I wailed as I felt an acidic fluid being injected in my veins through the sharp jagged fangs. The dark figures quickly let go of their grip on me and I fell back to the ground. I tried to run before things could get more grizzly, but for some reason, I didn't budge. I can’t move my limbs, in fact, I can’t even seem to move my jaw. I was paralyzed. Perfect. It said before opening it’s mouth even wider and lunged towards me, obviously intent on consuming me whole like a snake. As my whole world began to darken, I suddenly started seeing something pink at the corner of my eye and heard a faint voice and the ground began to shake. “T.....t ….ke...” “Twi... wake...” “Twilig... wake... up...!” “TWILIGHT! WAKE UP!” shouted a blurry figure beside me. I was shaken awake by somepony, and I was in too much shock to guess who it was. My eyes quickly flew open and I found myself lying down on a bed. I looked to my left and found myself face-to-face with a pink pony, Pinkie Pie “Pinkie? What the heck are you doing here in my room?” I quickly asked her. “Well...” she replied, her voice having a slight tone of worry in it. “I was walking by the hallway when I heard a commotion in your room, I think I heard you talking or something.” “Your voice sounded so scared like you were running away from something so I decided to go in and check on you.” “I found you squirming in the bed mumbling and you were sweating A LOT.” she added “I tried calling out to you but you didn’t seem to be responding, so I started shaking you and shouting at you to wake up.” “I think you were having a really scary nightmare” she said A nightmare? ... I remember... … Sudden clanging noises filling the night... A commotion in the orchard... A small metal key... A tall slender beast... The sharp teeth... ...That voice… ... It was all just a dream, I wasn’t out in the apple orchard, I was back in my second-floor room in the ranchhouse. But still, the dream felt so real... Don’t be so worry-some Twilight, I thought to myself. After all, It was all just a dream, right? “Anyways, Twilight, you better prepare soon. it’s already sunrise!”she said, derailing my train of thought. And with that, she bounced out the room. With my sleepiness obviously gotten rid off by the pink pony, I casually stood up from the bed and quickly trotted downstairs to the dining room in the bottom floor. “Morning, Twi.’” Applejack said as I sat down a chair. “Morning.” I answered. Applejack was also sitting on a chair. She was being accompanied by Rarity. They were in the middle of eating hay fries for breakfast. Applejack was already done and she was just waiting for the fasionista to finish. “Where’s Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash?” I asked them after noticing the lack of any pegasi in the room. “Oh, they’re out in the town getting us supplies.” Applejack answered to me. “Also, Pinkie and Braeburn’s already out in the outer orchard inspecting some apple trees.” she added. Strange, I could've sworn Pinkie was in my room a few minutes ago. ... Oh well, this is Pinkie we're talking about. “Glad to see you finally awake there darling.” Rarity interrupted. “What took you so long anyway?” she asked me. “Oh, I had a nightmare.” I told them. “Hmm... a nightmare, huh?” asked the white fashionista. “Yup, well, it was more of a night terror.” I told them. “...Anyways,” Applejack said, interrupting and changing the topic. “Today, we’re gonna do some yard work back out.” “We’re gonna go check up on one of the portions of the orchard, Twilight, yer’ gonna have to stay here and watch the house ‘cause of your injuries. Rarity, I need you to stay here and accompany Twilight, ‘case she gets in trouble, just go look for us out in the orchard.” “Fine.” Rarity answered. “I never really liked getting my hooves dirty out in that horrid mud trap anyway.” Applejack shot her a glare for a few seconds before continuing. “Anyways, If you need me, I'll be with Braeburn and Pinkie in the orchard.” And with that, she stepped out the back doorway. “Oh yeah, Rares, tell Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to join me at the orchard when they come back from town” “Oh, why must I do everything here?” she whined back before getting another angry glare from Applejack. “Fine, fine.” she said “...just don’t call me that horrid nickname ‘Rares’ ever again.” she added. “Whatever, Rares.” Applejack retorted before walking out the door leaving me with an irritated Rarity. “W-WHY I NEVER!” Rarity spoke out while I tried to hold down my snickering. “APPLEJACK, YOU ARE NOT GONNA HEAR THE END OF THIS, ONCE I GET MY HOOVES ON YOU, YOU ARE OH-SO GONNA REGRET SAYING THAT.” she shrieked before running out the door to give chase to the apple farmer, leaving me all alone as her constant rambling slowly faded as she went deeper into the orchard. I found myself all alone in the now quiet ranch house. I actually never got to explore the place well so now might be a perfect time for me to go get a good look around the house. As far as I know, the ranch had 4 floors; a ground floor, a second floor, an attic, and a basement. The ground floor, the one I was currently in, had a small kitchen with a backdoor and a den. The staircase leading up to the house stood nearby the den a few meters away from the house’s front door. I took a quick look outside the house and found a small locked door leading to the basement on the floor right beside one of the sides of the house, the familiar smell of apple cider emanating from within. Apparently, Braeburn’s ranch also produces apple cider like Sweet Apple Acres. The second floor was mostly a hallway filled with doorways, this is where my room’s in. The two doors adjacent to my room led to two bedrooms, each with three beds. This must be where my friends are sleeping. I continued walking down the hallway until I reached a dead end. The door nearest to me led to the ranch’s bathroom while the door right across it was locked, but I can tell that it’s probably Braeburn’s room. I casually looked up and found a trapdoor up the ceiling leading up to the ranch’s attic. I pulled on a nearby rope and the trap door flipped down, followed by a long foldable ladder. I climbed up the rungs and took a peek at the attic. The attic was relatively small and had a lower ceiling than most of the ranch. The ceiling also gradually sloped downward, following the slant of the house’s roof. The attic mainly housed an assortment of dusty boxes and chests, a few picture frames also occasionally lined the wall. Besides that, there was nothing else of interest. That is, until a sparkle caught my eye. I walked up to the source of light and found something small, tiny, and metallic.It was the key. The key I saw in my dreams. There was no doubt about it; it was the same size, it was made of steel, and it had the same intricate set of teeth. How I dreamt about it and how it got here is a total mystery to me, but something tells me this isn’t good. The sound of the front door being opened reached my ears and caught my attention; Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash must’ve just came back from town. I quickly grabbed the key and brought it over to my room and kept it inside one of the folds of my journal. After that was done, I quickly made a dash downstairs. I was surprised to find no trace of the two familiar pegasi; instead, there was a young, blonde-colored colt with hair that had the color of green apples. His cutie mark consisted of a very intricate looking red apple and he wore a stetson hat and a bright red bandana. Judging by this, he must probably be Applejack’s cousin, the one who was gonna come here and visit us. “Hey there,” I called out to him as I descended down the wooden staircase. He whirled around and faced me, his eyes widening in surprise the minute he saw me. “Oh, I’m sorry if I frightened you.” I apologized. “You must be Braeburn and Applejack’s cousin, right?” he nodded his head in response. “My name’s Twilight by the way, Twilight Sparkle” I added. “What’s your name?”. I looked back at him and found him staring at my bandaged forelegs. “Oh, if you’re wondering why I’m like this, it’s because I apparently got involved in an accident, I lost my memory and broke some of my limbs as a result” I explained. “So, as I was saying, what’s your name again?” “...Summerfree.” “Come again?” “.......Summerfree...” “...Couldn’t quite catch that.” “..........Summerfree.” “...okay...?” I said unsurely. Man, what’s up with this colt? I swear, when Applejack said that he was “as shy as Fluttershy”, I didn’t really think that she really meant that, what with all her odd metaphors and such. Seriously, ‘More nervous than a worm during Cider Season”, what’s up with that? We both exchanged awkward glances for the next few minutes, silence filling the air. After what seemed like forever, a distant sound finally broke the unnerving silence. As the sound grew louder and louder, I realized it was the sound of two ponies talking. Well, more like arguing. And I think I know just who they are. “AS LONG AS YOU KEEP CALLING ME THAT HORRID NICKNAME, I AM NOT GONNA LEND YOU ANY OF MY MAKE UP!” “Whutever Rares, as if I even care.” “HMMPH! WE’LL SEE WHO’S LAUGHING WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF NEEDING TO CURL YOUR EYELASHES ONLY TO FIND THAT YOU DON’T HAVE AN EYELASH CURLER!” “...like ah’ said, WHATEVER.” Applejack bucked open the ranch’s back door and walked inside, a few moments later, the purple-haired fashionista followed in. “Sorry fer leavin’ yah alone in the house for a while Twi’.” she said with her distinct southern drawl. “It’s just that some ponies take nicknames too seriously” she added while maintaining eye contact with the alabaster unicorn. “Anyways, had Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash come back y-” she stopped mid sentence the minute she saw the colt that was beside me. “Oh! Summerfree! Cuz, it’s good to finally see you here!” Applejack said ecstatically to him. “Ah see you already met my friend Twilight over here.” she remarked while looking at both of us. Summerfree nodded in response. “What’s the matter darling?” Rarity asked him. “Cat got your tongue?” He didn’t respond, instead, he simply lowered his head and pawed the floor with his hoof. “...are you... mute?” she asked unsuringly. He stared back at her in disbelief after hearing that question. “Rares, Summerfree here ain’t too good around other ponies. Best you not pressure him too much.” Applejack said. Facing Summerfree, she told him, “Now, Summerfree, these here mares are mah friends. You can trust ‘em. Go ahead, talk to them.” “Well come on now, don’t be shy.” Rarity responded. He stared back at us intently, and I could see his lips were trying to form words but they failed to leave his mouth. “Don’t worry, I don’t bite.” Rarity said with a gentle reassuring smile on her face. “My friend Twilight here doesn’t too, ...I’m not sure about your cousin over there though” she added jokingly. Behind her, Applejack was shooting an angry glare at her in response. Summerfree chuckled after seeing his cousin so worked up. “Thats it, come on now.” “...Umm..H-Hi...” he responded, confidence evidently starting to sound in his voice. FINALLY,I THOUGHT HE'D NEVER TALK His voice reminded me of Braeburn, except it had a tone of youth in it “There, that wasn’t so hard now was it?” Rarity asked him. He smiled back. "...N-no." “Alrighty. Now that we’re all acquainted and stuff, I’ll go bring Summerfree out to the orchard and show him the works” Applejack said quickly and sternly, interrupting our little conversation with him. “Applejack, I haven’t even spoken that much to Summerfree. And now you’re leaving with him?” I grunted, trying to show my disappointment “Don’t worry, Twi, you’ll get to catch up with each other later tonight.” she replied while nudging Summerfree out the back door. “Braeburn’s inviting the six of us and Summerfree to dinner out in town.” “Uh...why?” Rarity asked “Uh, Rares, this is Braeburn we’re talking about, one of the most enthusiastic and happy-go-lucky pony in the Apple family, besides Applebloom of course.” Applejack replied to us. “He’s probably doing it as big greeting to Summerfree or somethin’.” A faint voice suddenly echoed out in the field, “Hey, that’s my job!” “...” “...Anyways, while we’re out in the field, you two,” motioning to both me and Rarity, “stay here. Don’t touch anything. And if I see a single thing here has been moved or decorated in a ‘stylish fashion’, somepony’s not gonna hear the end of it from me.” she said sternly, all the while facing Rarity, who was just busy looking at her hooves from side to side. “Hmm... do you think I should go polish my hooves Twi?” Rarity asked me, oblivious to who Applejack was trying to infer. Applejack sighed in frustration. “Just don’t burn the house down, Braeburn’s gonna flip if that happens.” “Yes yes, whatever, Darling” Rarity said sarcastically “Anyways, see ya two later, Ah gotta go back to the orchard with Summers here, Braeburn’s probably wondering why Ah’m not with him right now” and with that, she left with the young colt in tow. I watched the two walk down the trail, and all the while I could see Summerfree’s eyes staring at us with a smile in his face while he blindly listened to Applejack’s rambling. “Well Twilight, that was tiring. I’m gonna go upstairs and give myself a warm, relaxing bubble bath,” Rarity told me. “If you need any help, just go call me.” “Yeah Rarity, sure.” and with that, she trotted up the stairs. Once again, I found myself alone. With nothing else to do for the rest of the afternoon, I decide to go continue my morning upstairs in the attic. As I turned my head around, heading for the staircase, I felt something on my neck, I touched it and felt a lump, as if it was swollen. I quickly limped towards a mirror and stared at my reflection and gasped. On my neck, were two small punctures wounds. A bite mark.