Don't Be Afraid
"No, No, No this is all wrong. Why did I ever even try to cast such a spell in the first place? If any unicorn was supposed to possess such knowledge then..." Twilight stopped her pacing as a loud knocking brings her attention to the library doors. Twilight quickly grips the door handle with her magic flings it open.
"Oh Twilight thank goodness I got here as soon as I heard." A bubbly pink pony bounces into the library her mane, tail and coat all soak and wet. "Oh boy that storm brew in quick huh... He sure works fast. Now come on Twilight we must find and confront him before the others get here and things get really complicated." She continues to bounce around Twilight. until Twilight grasp her with her magic and holds her in place.
"Pinkie things already bad... I tried to cast a spell to open a ponies mind unlock any ponies hidden potential all at once. But it brought something more not potential it brought something some physical creature." Twilight turns to Pinkie with a worried glanced, "I don't know what to do, that is why I ask you girls to come help me."
Pinkie pats Twilight on the back, "Oh Twilight it is okay. It can be very scary at first but you are just insane that's all." Twilight raises an eye brow.
"I beg your pardon it has broken the basement door." She motions her hoof to the basement door which stood shut and completely intact. "But how after the spell dissolved, it stood there it roared and hissed broke through that door but now it... is... huh." She gazes at the door once more it was still whole but now it appeared to be opens. "But how when... pi, pi, Pinkie."
Pinkie Pie waves a hoof in front of her. "Twilight it is okay. Don’t try and make sense of it just except it for what it is. You resist it will only make things worse. Look at me I am insane and just look how I turned out." Twilight feels her tear began to well up in her eyes. "Now then let's get to the bottom of this the sooner you face it and come to terms the better you will feel." Pinkie began to hum as she hopped toward the Basement door.
"No Pinkie we should wait... for... the." Twilight was to late the Pink earth pony already disappeared down the staircase. Twilight trots in place for a couple seconds as she mentally asks herself what to do over and over again. She breaths a deep sigh as she finally wills her body to calm down. "Alright Twilight you can do this..." She slowly approaches the door and pears down. It was dark not even a glimmer of light. "Hello Pinkie Pie are you down there." There came a loud groan which shook the walls of the library."
“Come on twilight we just need to pony up Pinkie is down there so it must be safe.” She levitates a lit candle from one of the libraries tables. “Okay here goes nothing.” She swallows a lump as she cautiously makes her way down the steps. Longer and longer each step seemed to get her no closer than the last. Yet she presses forward she walked for what felt like twenty minutes yet she still did not. Never found the basement floor. “What is this, how long have I been at this.” She turns around her eyes widen. She had been walking this long yet she never left the first four steps. The darkness it went on forever. She swallows hard as she backs up exiting the stare case. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine. She could hear something that seems to be moving closer. She swallows hard and with a sudden motion turns around to face the unknown presence.
Her eye widen as she was confronted by a form cloaked in shadows It gives out a loud roar as claw extends to her. She shrieks in terror as creature grasps her. She flails about frantically. “Twi… Twilight snap out of it sugar cube.” Twilight’s eyes open wide Applejacks fore hooves curl around her holding her close.
“Applejack… what happened… Wait where did it go… Did you see it?” Twilight asks in a shaky voice.
“Sorry darling but see what exactly…?” Rarity asks looking confused.
“What the hay… the door was open we heard you scream so we rush in and what do we find you running around screaming like a mad mare. Have you been smoking the grass again?” Rainbow gazes down at her. She leans in close to her, “Got any more?”
Twilight shakes her head as she begins to cry openly. “I was so scared, something is here I just know it. It rushed down into my basement. Ever since I casted that dumb spell to open the inner mind. I can’t make heads or tails of any of this.”
“Oh dear… That sounds terrible…” Fluttershy adds in her meek voice.
“Don’t you worry sugar cube we are here now and we will help you get to the bottom of this.” Applejack releases her and makes her way to the basement door which was closed once more.
“Applejack wait you don’t know what is down there. Pinkie She went down there and never came back. I just I can’t go back down there I can’t.” Twilight says closing her eyes and turning her gaze from the door. “I can’t face it, it’s just too.”
“Hey now it is going to be alright sugar cube. I will go check it out and be back in two shakes of a pony’s tail. Then we will talk about all this in a calm and sensible manner.” She grasps the knob and pulls the door open.
The sound suddenly snapped Twilight back to her. “Wait Applejack please it is not natural it is just… Please don’t go down there I beg of you.” Rainbow Dash looks to now open door.
“Twilight are you sure you are okay. I seen you scared before but this is knew.” Twilight looks up at the cyan pegasus. Rainbow Dash breathes a sigh, “Come on Applejack we need to get to the bottom of this right now.”
Applejack nods in response then turns back to the others. “Rarity you and Fluttershy wait here with Twilight. R.D. and I will be back as quickly as possible.” Rarity and Fluttershy nodded as the two disappear down the stairs.
“No, no, no I tried to tell them, I wanted to warn them. Why didn’t they listen?” Twilight cried out openly into Rarities mane.
“Now, now dear I assure you there is nothing wrong. Rainbow Dash and Applejack will simply take a quick look around the basement and will be right back up you will see. Tell then let’s have a nice hot cup of tea it will calm your nerves.” Rarity tries to pull away but Twilight held on to her for dear life. “Uh Twilight…” She breathes a sigh, “Fluttershy dear it appears I am not going anywhere tell this is resolved. Can you be a dear and fetch us some tea.” Fluttershy gave slight nod then makes her way to the kitchen. Twilight opens her eyes just as kitchen door swings shut. She gasps for an instant she saw a tall shadowy figure waiting in the kitchen.
“Fluttershy don’t…!” She was cut off as Rarity finally frees a hoof and covers Twilights maw.
“Twilight everything is alright… I am still here darling. Now tell you what try to think of anything else tell the others come back. Once they do and they will we will have a good laugh. You will see this is all simply a stress related incident. Like all the ones before and everything is just fine.” Twilight tries to silence her sobs. She wanted so badly to believe Rarity was right. This was brought on by just another one of her stress related panic attacks. She slowly nods her head, Rarity responds with a warm smile.
Both mares wait in the main section of the library. Normally Twilight would read a book to calm herself. But at this moment she could not even bring herself to claim one. Something was nagging in the back of her mind. She knew what she saw whatever it was. It was real…”
“Fluttershy is taking an awful long time getting that tea. It had to be at least thirty minutes.” Rarity breathes a sigh as she rises up.
Twilight quickly wraps her fore hooves around her. “No you must not go in there just stay here with me please.”
Rarity turn back to face her, “Twilight this has got to stop. I know you think something is wrong but trust me when I say there is a logical explanation. Rainbow Dash and Applejack is probably double checking every inch of the basement. Fluttershy may just be needing a helping hoof in the kitchen.” Twilight buries her face in Rarity’s mane. “Tell you what Darling we will both go into the kitchen and once you see everything is fine will you finally calm down.” Twilight looks up at her. “Now come on dear you will see it is perfectly all right.
Twilight recovers to shaky hooves as she walks beside Rarity. Rarity sigh as watches Twilight move in her broken state of mind. She knew they were in for a long night. Rarity opens the door to the kitchen and peers inside. “Fluttershy, Fluttershy dear is everything okay in here?” She looks around the kitchen a tea kettle was whistling on the stove. But the Kitchen was completely empty no sign of any pony anywhere. “Huh that’s odd?” She turns to Twilight who slowly makes her way in behind Rarity. “But I am sure there is still a perfectly reasonable explanation.”
“No It was here whatever it was got Fluttershy…” Twilight began to whimper slightly, “It is not a pony it is not like anything of this world it wants us it wants to do away with us…”
“Now Twilight just listen to yourself. You who does not believe in curses or ghost stories of any kind, now you believe that a little miss hap with a spell. Brought forth some creature who is trying to get rid of us.” Rarity makes her way over to the stove. “Listen to yourself darling you don’t even sound like you anymore” She begins to levitate the kettle.
Suddenly the stove flies open Rarity gives out a blood curdling scream as a talon reaches out and grasp her head. There was a sickening ripping sound as the mares face was ripped away. The claws withdraw back into the confines of the stove. Rarity falls forward her form smears blood down the stove as she falls into lifeless heap on the floor
.
Twilight slowly backs out of the kitchen not taking her eyes off the door. “This is not happening, this is not happening, this is… Eeep!” She gives a startled squeak similar to Fluttershy. A loud banging nose taking her by surprised she turns to see the basement door standing wide open. It continually thumps as it creaks forward then is blown back against the wall.
Twilight suddenly felt a cold chill as realization strikes her. There was no breeze; she turns around her eyes wander around the library. The doors, the windows where all shut so then how is door moving. Thump, thump, thump, thump the noise continues on sending a cold shiver down her spine each time. Twilight turns to the door once more. Thump, Thump, Thump he gazes slowly rises as she could feel a knot form in her throat. Her eyes widen, “Rainbow Dash!!!”
The cyan pegasus burst into a fit of laughter as she falls to the floor. “You should have seen the look on your face. You look like you where about to wet yourself.” Twilight turns her head away as a tear runs down her face.
“Rainbow Dash that ain’t funny,” Applejack scolded as she walks up the stairs. She walks up to twilight. “Sorry Twilight you know Rainbow can be a little thoughtless with her pranks. But you will be happy to know we searched every nick and cranny of your basement and found nothing. Even went through the crate and boxes piled up down there.”
Rainbow Dash breathes a sigh as she finally silences her laughter. "What I was only kidding so where is Fluttershy and Rarity. They should be in here with you."
Twilight's eyes goes wide, "But Rainbow weren't they part of this prank."
Rainbow Raises an eye brow, "Are you nuts Rarity would be way to lady like..." Rainbow Dash says mimicking Rarities voice. "Fluttershy she would not be able to pull off a prank if I walked her through it step by step."
Twilight felt her throat go dry, "So the kitchen and then Rarity..."
"Kitchen what in tar nation are going on about Twilight?" Applejack and rainbow dash both make their way to the kitchen door.
"No wait don't go in there it is... In there...?" Twilight rushes to them but was to late she watches in horror as Applejack uses a hoof to push open the kitchen door. The whole place was clean. No blood, no creature but there was also no Rarity and no Fluttershy.
"Twilight I am not sure what is wrong with you tonight and believe me I really hate to say this but you need help. Not the kind we can give either." Rainbow says as the three turn and leave the kitchen.
Twilight begins to tear up once more. "I know Rainbow but every time I turn around I feel like it is near watching me. Now it has Fluttershy and Rarity... Possibly even Pinkie Pie. I have no idea what it is why it wants us. But I got this terrible, terrible feeling. Like none of us will be safe as long as it remains."
Rainbow Dash Looks to Apple Jack and shrugs. "Uh... Listen sugar cube I am sure Fluttershy and Rarity have really good reason for leaving you here alone. Or at least they better have. Tell you what me and R.D. will stay here for the night just to show you everything is alright. Then come morning and the sun is shining you will see it was all in your head." Twilight was at a loss for words she knew they did not believe her. For that matter she barely believed her but something was terribly, terribly wrong. She did not wish to be alone, not tonight.
Twilight sighs as the two crawls in next to her. "Uh Twilight are you sure you would not be more comfortable if we used the guest bed." Twilight simply shook her head. "Well alright good night every pony." Applejack leans towards the candle.
"Wait!!!" Twilight shout stopping in Applejack from blowing out the candle. "I don't want it to be dark... It moves around so easily in the dark."
"Oh for crying out loud... Twilight this has got to stop you are even beginning to freak me out. I am the toughest pony around I don't freak out... Ever!" Rainbow Dash hops from the bed. "Look see I will check under the bed for you." She crouches down and pears underneath. "Nope no strange dark scary pony grabbing figure down there. I know the closet that is where all the monsters wait to get the little fillies Right?"
Twilight began to huddle close to Applejack, "Rainbow Dash that's enough we will all talk about this in the morning." Rainbow Dash pulls the door open and motions a hoof to the dark closet. Twilight shrieks Applejack shouts as a huge wolf like creature lashes out its whole form simply constructed of meat and jaw bone lined with several sharp jagged teeth makes quick work as they sink deep ripping chunks form the cyan Pegasus. Rainbow’s cries of pain was almost completely drowned out by the sound of ripping flesh and crunching bone.
Twilight and Applejack froze in horror. As the beast raises its head, empty eye sockets point at them like the beast, was hungry for another. The hold each other tight both clench their eyes shut. “Go away, go away, go away.” There came loud roars which shook the walls as the thump of heavy feet on the floor a sign the beast was approaching. “go away, go away GO AWAY!!!” Silence everything was silent. Twilight slowly opened one eye she was almost too afraid to look. Nothing the closet door was shut. There was no beast, no blood, no corpse. “No Rainbow Dash…”
Applejack opens her eyes to meet Twilight’s gaze. “Twilight I am so sorry I did not believe you.” Twilight nods as she turns to the closet door. “Alright sugar cube we got to get out of here on the count of three we run out of the place and don’t stop tell we can’t run no more.”
“Applejack they could be anywhere… I seen them throughout the library they could be waiting just outside this room.” Twilight begins to sob.
“Hay, hay no more of that. I know it is scary but we will find a way out of this one way or the other.” She turns around and gazes at the bedroom door. “Okay we are going to run for it on my mark.” There came click and low growl as the closet door begins to open once more, “Now!!!” She shouted as both mares spring from the bed. Twilight ran as fast as she could the only thing that ran through her head was they needed to escape and what might happen if they did not. She did not here the thump or the cries as she flung the door open.
She rushed down the stares into the main library. She comes to a stop as a realization sink in. “Apple jack… Applejack where are you?” She calls out she was answered with a loud scream and a hideous roar as a door slams shut up stairs. “Applejack… Applejack… App…pple… Jaaaa!” She collapses to her feet she no longer felt the will to run. She just sobbed openly as she thought of all the friends she lost in one night Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow dash…
“Twilight… Twilight…” yes even twilight suddenly her eyes widen. Wait a minute she was twilight then whose? “Twilight what are you doing lying on the floor silly.” Twilights eyes open wide as a familiar pink earth pony stared down at here. Her mouth went dry she could not find the words. She curls her hooves as tight as she could around the earth pony. Refusing to let go she would not let go she would not be alone. Not Pinkie Pie if something was going to take pinkie pie then it will have to take her too.
“Jeez twilight I love you too…” She gently pats the unicorns back.
“Pinkie there are terrible things I don’t know what they are or where they come from. But they got Rainbow Dash… Rarity… Applejack… Fluttershy. We are not safe we have to leave.” Twilight trembles as she feels the pink pony push her away.
“Twilight you can’t run away from this… Didn’t you read your manual?” Twilight looked confused as she rubs her eyes pinkie quickly dashed over to the book shelf and grabs a random book as though she knew instinctively which one she needed. She returned with a thick hard back book she drops it on the ground with a loud thud.
Twilight gazes down at the tarnished leather binding some of the pages already yellow with age. She runs a hoof over the faded writing on the cover as she spoke aloud. The Tome of Insanity… “Pinkie this is not one of my books.” Pinkie pie simply nods Twilight swallows down a lump as she slowly opens the cover to the first page. The writing seemed extremely old some of it was faded she did her best to make out the words. “Seekith not that which remained locked behind doors, behind doors, behind doors, behind doors. Do not wonder what laith within the cracks. Do not search for that which must remain hidden for eternity. For he may find you…” She looks up at Pinkie Pie. “Who is he?” Pinkie shrugged as Twilight turns the page.
She looks down on the writing on the page it almost felt like she it was calling to her. She swallows hard as she began to read. “Seekith not that which is locked behind doors, behind doors, behind doors behind doors.” She pauses and looks to pinkie pie who motions a hoof a sign for her to go on. “Seekith not that which is locked behind doors, behind doors, behind doors, behind doors. Wonder not that what laith between the cracks. For you may find He who Laith Within…”Suddenly the there was a flash of lighting and the whole library was bathed in black.
Pinkie Pie fishes a flash light from her mane and turns it on. “Keep reading twilight then you will understand…” Twilight breathes a sigh as pinkie huddles close to her reassuring her she was still with her. Twilight breathes a sigh with shaky hooves she grasps the book and clears her throat.
“Beware he who laith with the cracks, Beware he who waitith behind locked doors. He who watchith from the shadows… He who remains trap within the realm of insanity. He who walkith the blood stained sands of madness for all eternity.” Twilight looks around the page but the rest of the words where incomprehensible. She turns the page a image shaded into the next page made her heart race. A beast resembling a large dog with no flesh, no eyes, and several rows of jagged teeth, stares back at her. She reads the illustration to the best of her ability. “The beast of hunger… When a soul is lost to insanity… With a desire to eat thou will be offered a Chalice of that which is most vile. Should thou partake of this chalice. Thou will never be filled and hunger will build within thee for all eternity.” Twilight turns her head not wanting to face the beast any longer.
Pinkie Pie looks down, “Twilight, Twilight there is more you got to keep reading.” Twilight began to break out in a cold sweat. She willed herself to confront the book once more. “It says… I wonder aimless through the burning sands tell they turn red the harsh sun never leaves the sky there are no clouds or trees or water of any kind no relief. I fear I have slipped into madness. Yet I can’t stop I know he is near. He who Laith within, hooves bleed my body aches I feel like I wondered the desert for years. Yet he will not allow me to die. I am so thirsty… so hungry… He comes to me with a tarnished chalice and offers it to me. I pear inside it was a rat a dead rat it was bloated and deformed. Maggots and worms seemed too had also partook of the dish. I watch as they all swam inside the chalice. I did not care the hunger, the thirst, the pain. I greedily tilted the dish back my tongue lapping up the maggots and worms inside. I chewed on the carcass for but a moment then swallowed. I was still hungry; I pleaded to him please may I have more. But he nearly walked away. Now I walk the hunger growing even greater than ever before. A thirst that burned forever more. I can no longer see for I have eaten my eyes. My body burns for I have eaten my skin. I can’t make words for I tried to feast on the scolding sands only for it to scorch my throat and turn my tongue to ash. Yet I am taunted by the thought of nourishment.” Twilight’s mind raced back up stairs to the horrible beast that came out of the closet. How it greedily lashed out stared to tear chunks from… “No Pinkie no more, I can’t please,” her voice was broken tears stained her face.
“Twilight you must you are so very close… You must keep reading.” Pinkie Pie tries to nudge the book toward her.
Twilight felt like she was on the verge of a heart attack as Pinkie flips to the next page. Twilight begins to read as though something was making her do it. The words where simply coming out as her eyes scrolled over the text, “That which hides in fear… When one fears he who laith within must not hide. For he who laith within watches from the darkness, from the shadows, they will be trapped, force to hide for he who Laith within will form within them a eternal everlasting fear…” Twilights eyes widened as she continues, “I seen him he who laith within… He haunts me I hide from him but I feel he is always beside me watching. I can’t hide deep enough there is no place he can’t see me. I would come out of hiding but I know he will get me I can’t, I hear him. He is near please make him go away.” Twilight felt her heart run cold as she saw a image of a long slender claw stinking out of what looked to be a cracked door. “Rarity…” She remembers the oven door opening claw lashes and tears away her face. Then it retreats into the oven.
“No!!!” Twilight shouts in a strained voice as she pushes the book away she covers her eyes with her fore hooves.
“But Twilight you have to read it… You must understand…” Pinkie pleads trying to coach her to look at the book.
“Then you read it I can’t take it anymore!” Twilight grasp the book throws it as hard as she could. Pinkie gives out a stunned gasp. A single page falls free from the book and flutters to the ground.
Pinkie grabs it and plants in front of Twilight, “Sorry Twilight but you must read!” She grasps Twilights hooves and pull them away. Twilight’s eyes grow wide. As a Dark tall lingering figure froze all thoughts in her mind. The shaded image that nearly took up half the page, two the right the text read clearly. “He who laith within…” Images rush through her mind as looks into the cold stared of the image.
“Twilight I am off to canterlot I will see you later tonight.” Twilight nods as Spike grabs his things and heads out the door.
“Huh wonder what this thing is…” She puts down the feather duster and grabs an unfamiliar book. “The Tome of Insanity…” She opens to the first page. “The secret to unlock what laith within.”
“Okay I think that is everything. A candle freshly lit, in a darkened room where the mind is most free.” She looks around the library at her vast collection of books. Okay now to open the secrets to that which laith within. Call he by name…” She clears her throat. “I seekith that which remains locked Behind doors, behind doors, behind doors. I peerith into the crack to see what laith within. I ask it from him by name.” The candle begins to flicker. “Unlock the doors behind doors emerge from the cracks so my mind will be filled with the knowledge that exist beyond the sand of madness buried in the deepest dept of Insanity. I ask it of he who laith within!” The candle blows out Twilight chuckles. “Oh what will they think of next.” Her horn glows as she stands face to face of a creature no eyes no face just a form of endless shadows. She gives out a loud scream as she felt the pain of thousand scorching suns. Teeth tearing through meat and bone, claws like razors removing her skin. Then darkness…an everlasting eternity of pain suffering and darkness.
Twilight suddenly turns her attention to Pinkie Pie she wanted to cry so badly but her tears where all dried up. She wanted to shout at the top of her longs but her throat was sore. Her body ached and burned and throbbed. Pinkie gives her a warm sincere smile. “Now do you understand Twilight?”
Twilight moves a trembling recover to her hooves. Trembling and broken her body torn a sunder. She slowly makes her way to the book. She felt herself giving up she only had one last hope. It must have meaning an end. She slowly opens it to one final page. One little bitty spark of life clung to her scared and tattered body. She swallows there was no picture only words. The words fill her head as she reads them. The Messenger, it came to me in my time of need a ray of hope. It helped me understand, it prepared me for the journey. It prepared me so I may be ready to meet he who laith within.
Twilight turns to Pinkie Pie who simply smiles warmly and suddenly it all made sense. She did not know how bit it did. Twilight’s jaw creaks as she tries to smile. She then speaks in a low calm voice. “Yes Pinkie I do understand and I am ready to meet him… He who laith within.” Pinkie Pie simply smiled as she hops toward the basement door.
“Okey, dokey, lokey” She says as she opens the basement door there was no stairs. There was an endless desert with blood red skies. In the distance a tall ominous figure stood waiting, looking right at Twilight. She breathes a sigh as she and Pinkie Pie step through the door. It slams shut behind them. Silence fills the library once more.
The door to the library opens, “Twilight I’m home and let me tell you the train ride on the way to canterlot was murder. Huh that’s weird wonder where she went?” He removes his coat and flicks the light switch. The room remained dark. “Oh man the stupid storm must have blown a fuse again. He makes his way to Twilights writing desk knowing Twilight always kept a candle nearby. He lights with a single breath. “Huh what’s this…?” He holds up a book, “The Tome of Insanity… Spooky name… hmm.” He opens the first page and begins to read. “I seekith that which remains locked Behind doors…” A loud scream echoes through the darkened library.