The town of Hollow Shades had been abandoned for a long, long time. With the recent defeat of the Pony of Shadows, Moondancer takes an interest in the place and manages to get Celestia to sponsor a trip there for her to try and acquire what's left of Hollow Shades' history.
Upon arrival, Moondancer thinks she's hit the jackpot early, and begins researching what she can from the scrolls and books left behind. Unfortunately, there's a sound on the wind, and she starts hearing things. Then, she starts seeing things.
Hollow Shades isn't abandoned, just filled with things that aren't ponies.
Chapters (1)
Eesh. What kind of body did she get stuck in at the end, there?
9106751
That stuff you see behind your eyes when you squeeze them real tight or rub them too long.
9106810
uh...what? I feel like there's been a miscommunication.
9106862
Okay, if you squeeze your eyes shut super hard, you start seeing red and black spots. Squeeze your eyes shut and hold them like that. You'll see it. That's what it is. It doesn't have to make a lot of sense, but that's it.
9107141
That's what she turned into? wtf?
9107254
Yes.
9107339
Suddenly the entire story makes sense.
9108665
I've never read it, but already, just a few paragraphs in I can see the connection.
Liked this quite a bit, nice and creepy! I featured it on episode 233 of my podcast, Pony 411.
9124445
Well, thank you. I'm glad you liked it. I have a lot more.
When it said ‘The End,’ did it mean the end of the chapter, or the end of the actual fic?
9130980
The fic. That's it. It is complete.
I liked it! Sorry I'm not such a good critic, but I know when I like something.
This story reminds me a bit of Octavia's Final Stop. It's the horror of watching somepony else walking away with your life and the only hope you have left is the possibility that some day you'll be the one to walk away from that place. The price of freedom is to take, quite literally, another's life. Once more a fine story!
Loved the story, but I'm curious about a couple of things. What happens to the new, Moondancer? Does she have Moondancer's memories and personality, or will there be personality changes? What was the point of the ritual if not to keep the ghosts away? I know probably not all, possibly none of these questions have answers, but I'd be grateful for any that did. ^^
9518208
She is new entirely with personality changes, but she was such a recluse, nobody will notice. the ritual was to bring the things in the first place. It only seemed like help. At least, that's what I recall the purpose was. It's been a while.
Slow, until it got to the endin. The ending was perfect.
I thought I was the only one. I thought it was just because I ruined my eyesight at an early age.