“She’s going to be okay, right?” Blue asked, looking at the silent Floyd, who hung over her sister’s back as the pair walked down the otherwise silent hallway.
“I hope so.” Maud frowned, looking back at the catatonic pony, who was just staring at the floor vacantly.
“Is it a good idea to leave with Floyd in this state?” He looked between the two, his own frown deepening.
“I don’t know Blueblood, but we can’t let Pinkie’s friends see Floyd like this. It’ll just make everything worse. Besides, I think taking her back to the farm is the best option.” The pair slowed down, seeing Princess Luna standing at the end of the hall, waiting for them. “Auntie, shouldn’t you be in bed? The sun came up hours ago.”
“Aye dear nephew, that is true, but I wanted to make sure I caught you before you left.” She looked over at Floyd, sighing sadly. “It pains me to see Floyd in such a state, but alas, there is very little knowledge on reincarnation.”
“It’s alright, princess,” Maud assured her, “Floyd just needs time...”
“With a sister like you I have no doubt about that.” Luna smiled before clearing her throat. “Blueblood informed my sister and I that you were heading to Manehattan next, I was hoping you would make a stop along the way.”
“I’m sorry Princess but, I’m taking Floyd back to the farm.” Maud cut the conversation, starting to move around Luna.
“Where do you want us to go?” Floyd asked, lifting her head up. Her mane had deflated completely, while a far away look was on her face.
“A small town named Hollow Shades.” Luna levitated a map over, unfolding it. “We’ve been getting reports of ponies disappearing there for months.” She frowned, studying Floyd for a moment before looking next to her, most likely listening to Pinkie Pie. “I have to agree with Lady Pinkie, you are in no con-”
“All you have to worry about is getting me out of here.” Floyd cut her off, glaring. “Now give me the map so I can get this done and you can get back to making that body.” Luna blinked for a moment, taken aback by the outburst.
“Very well, if that is what you wish.” She curled the map up, passing it back to Floyd. Floyd took it, placing it in her mane before she slipped off Maud’s back, starting to walk down the hallway.
“Floyd! Wait up!” Blueblood called, rushing over her, both of them vanishing out of sight seconds later.
“I understand if you have reservations on this, Maud,” Luna spoke up, getting the grey mare’s attention, “I am sending my own guard captain to watch over you. He’ll be waiting for you at the train station. You can’t miss him, he’ll be the only strix there.” Maud nodded, turning to leave. “Wait! I almost forgot!” Luna called, stopping Maud in her tracks. “I made these for Blueblood and yourself.” She levitated two necklaces from under her wing, dropping them in Maud’s grasp. “Enchanted moonstone. As long as you wear one, you will be able to perceive Pinkie Pie.”
Maud stared at one briefly before slipping it on. She admired it before looking back up at Luna. “Thank you.”
“Of course. I know both Pinkie and Floyd will breathe a sigh of relief knowing others can see-”
“Princess Luna,” Maud interrupted, “I want you to know that if anything happens to my sisters, I will kill you.” Silence hung between the two mares before Luna burst out into riotous laughter.
It took Luna a few seconds to collect herself, clearing her throat. “Nopony has threatened me so in a very long time. I would commend your bravery, but I know you are serious.” She locked eyes with Maud, the two mares staring into each other’s souls. “Very well Maud, if any harm should come to Floyd and Pinkie Pie, you may inflict the equivalent harm unto me.”
“I will hold you to that.” Maud turned and trotted away, leaving Luna in silence. Truth be told, she was rather jealous. If only her own sister showed such devotion...
You know, this has to be how Jason felt when he found out he was adopted... except cranked up to a million. I mean fuck, man. Just the idea that I’m Shale throws everything I’ve ever known into the fucking garbage. I mean, really, the hell would you do if you found out you were a reincarnation? But you don’t want to hear about my existential ramblings. Well, maybe you do, but you know what, I don’t.
I shake my head, pushing the hard thoughts to the back of my mind. I might as well talk about what's going on. One perk of working for and with royalty? You get to use the royal car that, according to Blueblood, every train has. Because that's totally not a waste of taxpayer dollars. Anyway, Cheese Sandwich has joined our merry gang of continuity breakers. Pinkie invited him along and I think Maud agreed just so Pinkie can have someone else to talk to. Blueblood’s still here, which is nice. He’s growing on me. I think.
This brings us to Mr. Brody by the door. He’s Azrael, Luna’s number one guy. Fun fact, bat ponies are called Strix, the plural being Strigoi. Second fun fact, don’t call them thestrals, apparently it’s a racial insult, like calling an earth pony a mud pony or a white dude a cracker. I made this mistake when we got on the train and now he’s being all pouty in the corner.
“You’re projecting, Floyd.” Pinkie glances at me, a frown on her face. I’ll admit, I’m not in the best of shape, just laying like a lump on the bench, mane all down and stuff... Ugh... I don’t even have the energy to curse properly.
“That's good, I think?” Pinkie asks, rubbing her head.
“What’s good?” Blue asks, looking over from across the car. He’s currently playing Cheese in a match of chinese checkers... a game that's about as chinese as fortune cookies, but that's not the point.
“Floyd’s bottling up her emotions again.” Pinkie looks at him and I can tell she’s relieved to have more than just me she can talk to.
“Well, none of us are psychiatrists...” Blue mutters, making his move. He sneaks a glare at Cheese, as he’s losing quite badly.
“No, but we learned that was a bad idea back at Our Town, you know, with the whole explosive episodes.” Gee Pinkie, way to make me feel worse. “Just let it out, Floyd. Even if we can’t help like a doctor, keeping it in isn’t going to help at all.”
Screw off Pinkie, leave me be. Pinkie sighs reaching out to touch my shoulder. “You remember that world religion class you took in community college, right?” I see someone has been memory diving again. “You remember that meditation the professor showed you? Why don’t you give it a try?” I move to respond, only to pause. I wasn’t exactly buddhist myself, but maybe some of those teachings could help out?
I sit up, and close my eyes, letting my hind legs dangle off the bench. I straighten my back, touching my hooves above my stomach. I take in a breath, leaning my head down so it touches my chest. As I let it out, I lift my head back up, repeating the process several times.
“What’s Floyd doing?” Blue asks, sounding a bit worried.
“She’s meditating,” Pinkie explains. “It’s supposed to help you clear your mind.”
“Okay,” I finally speak after a few minutes, letting out a long sigh. “I feel better.” I sigh softly, laying back down.
“It’ll be okay, Floyd.” Maud moves to sit next to me, rubbing my back.
“Maud, seriously, at some point, I have to go see a psychologist,” I speak, looking up at her.
“I’ll help in whatever way I can.” Maud nods, a look of understanding on her face.
“I’m sure Aunty will provide any help she can,” Blue smiles, sneakily moving pieces when Cheese looks away.
“Does being Shale bother you that much?” Maud asks, slipping back into her monotone.
I stay silent for a few moments before speaking. “I’m not really sure how to answer that, Maud. I mean, I feel like less and less like myself every day. Not in a ‘slipping away’ sense, I don’t feel like I’m fading away...” I sigh, rolling over onto my back to look her in the eyes. “This whole Shale thing... it just... I dunno...”
“It’s like getting a cutie mark,” Pinkie says suddenly.
“What?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
“Think about it. Everypony has to find themselves, and a cutie mark shows the world who you are,” she explains, poking my blank flank. “You just need to find yours.”
“Yeah, well, that’ll just have to wait until I get out of you.” I chuckle a little, shaking my head. “Thanks for making me feel better, guys.” My mane poofs up a little, though not exactly all the way.
“It’s not a problem, Floyd,” Blue smiles a little.
“Hey! You cheated!” Cheese accuses, pointing an accusatory hoof at the unicorn.
“My good sir! I am highly insulted! How dare you accuse me of cheating!”
I roll my eyes, getting to my hooves. “I’m gonna get something to eat. You want anything Maud?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll be back.” I step out of the car, moving up to the dining car. Truth be told, I could just have ordered the train version of room service but, I need to get away from everyone. I grab a plate and go to browse their buffet table, humming to myself.
“You look troubled.” I blink, turning to see a red maned pegasus with a whitish coat standing next to me, holding her own plate.
“That easy, huh?” I ask as I grab some tongs and move some muffins onto my plate.
“Like a book,” she chuckles, grabbing her own food. “I’m Lara, by the way.”
“Floyd,” I reply, moving over to one of the tables. She follows, standing next to the unoccupied chair across from me.
“Mind if I join you?” she asks with a hopeful smile. I nod, watching as she sits down. “So, what's on that mind of yours?”
I frown a little, taking a bite out of my muffin. Something is a little off about this woman, but she doesn’t seem dangerous. If anything, she’s figuratively screaming ‘you can trust me’. I shook my head, collecting myself. “I’ve just been going through a lot, you know...”
“Anything specific?” she asks, nibbling on her bagel.
“Well, I’ve been having these dreams lately,” I start, leaning back in my chair, “That I’m someone else, living a life that didn’t happen.”
“Lots of dreams are like that, they are after all, a manifestation of our minds.”
“Yeah well, most people don’t dream about memories they shouldn’t have...”
“Oh?” she asks, tilting her head.
“My... friends, think that I’m a reincarnation of someone. I’m having dreams about events they went through, but as someone who wasn’t actually there...” I explain, closing my eyes.
She stays quiet for a bit before speaking. “Perhaps you are not seeing what was, but rather what could have been?”
“What makes you say that?” I ask, opening my eyes, giving her an unsure look.
“Well, you said it yourself, your dreams as Shale are a version of events where she wasn’t stillborn. If you are her reincarnation, then those would be her memories.”
“Yeah, but she...” I pause, realization dawning in my mind. “I never told you who Shale was.”
She just smiles, getting to her hooves. “Have a nice day, Ms. Hendrix.” She turns, heading to the end of the car.
“H-hey wait!” I shout, rushing after her. Somehow she gets to the door before me, slipping through and closing it behind her just a moment before I reach it. I quickly pull it open, only to step into an empty passenger car. “What the fuck was that?” I ask, walking to the end of the car. It’s empty all right, no one in sight. I check the other door, only to find it locked. A quick glance out the window shows me that this is the last car. Rather unnerved, I turn, making my way back to the others.
Hollow Shades is... creepy. The place just seems dead. The ponies are all sorta just going through the motions, like they’re not all there. It kinda reminds me of Innsmouth, but the architecture is more Yharnam. Like, gothic type buildings, with ponies in similarly aged garb. Except without all the horrible beasts and general madness.
“Yo,” I call out to an earth pony, as I walk over to them, “We’re looking for an inn, could you tell us where to find one?”
The pony turns to look at me, and just stops moving entirely for a moment to process my request. “We only have the one.” She points to an old building that looks like the hotel from The Shining.
“Thanks. Don’t give up the creep act. You’re totally nailing it.” I return to the group. “Alright so, that creepy ass place is the hotel.” I gesture to it, casting my gaze around. “This freaking place man... some Cthulhu shit’s going down...”
“Should we get some Madman’s Knowledge?” Pinkie asks, giving me a smile. I just give her a glare then turn to Azrael.
“So, any ideas?” I ask, watching as he walks past me.
“Not here. In the room.” He shakes his head, leading us into the hotel. Well, at least the town’s creep factor is consistent, that or the cleaning staff are just lazy fucks and the manager can’t be bothered to fire them.
Blueblood trots up to the front desk, ringing the bell.
“Hello?” some creepy ass pegasus asks, rising up from behind the counter. What the hell was he doing down there? Planning more ways to be a ... Pinkie, give me a synonym of creepy.
“Lessee.” She taps her chin, sticking her tongue out the side of her mouth as she thinks on it. “Ghoulish, weird, gruesome, itchy...” What the hell, itchy? She grins at me. “Itchy tasty!” I sigh, facepalming. I walked right into the one didn’t I? “Totally did!”
“Can I help you?” Creepster asks in that voice everyone thinks Igor speaks in.
“Yes we’d like a room for...” Blueblood turns his head back to count us. “Five ponies please.”
“Of course,” Creepy giggles to himself, “It’ll be twenty bits a night.”
“That's highway robbery!” Blueblood frowned. He blinked as Azrael placed a bag on the counter.
“We’ll be staying for the week,” Azrael spoke, giving Blueblood a glare. I probably should have mentioned the guy sounds like Vincent Price. I might have fangasmed if I wasn’t in the middle of a crisis.
Creepy opens the bag and peers inside. Satisfied, he places it under the counter, grabs a set of keys, and walks out to us. “Right this way, please.” We follow him up the stairs and down a hallway. The place even has all the required spooky crap: cobwebs, dust, old paintings of scowling ponies.
“Hey, who’s that?” Cheese asks as we pass a painting depicting a rather stern looking unicorn with a triangle symbol on his lapel.
“Oh that's Somber Shield, he founded the town around a hundred years ago,” Creepy explains. That guy looks familiar but I can’t put my finger on it... We continue to walk down the hallway, when Creepy stops in front of room 208. “This is your room.”
“Of course it is...” I mumble, rolling my eyes.
“Nopony leaves the room after ten.” Creepster gives us the key before starting to walk away. “Have a good night...” he calls out, breaking into a cackle.
“I hate that guy,” I mutter under my breath, taking the key in my forelock and unlocking the door. I push the door open, which creaks loudly, letting the light from the hallway fill the room. It’s about the same as the rest of the hotel, except less dusty, actually.
“Please shut the door,” Azrael instructs, moving past me. I move into the room to let the others in, keeping my eyes on Az the whole time. He moves around the room, tapping on the walls, peering under the beds, examining the bookshelf, and various over things.
“Az, the hell’re you doing?” I ask, taking one of the beds. Considering there were only four beds, I figure Maud and I can just shack up or something.
“Checking for any secret ways into the room,” he responds, looking back at me. “I’ve already found several.”
“What, are we in Scooby Doo or something?” I ask with a groan, burying my head in my pillow.
“What are we dealing with exactly, Azrael?” Blueblood asks as he gingerly climbs onto his bed, watching as Cheese jumps onto his own.
“A number of things, really. My best guess is a cult of some kind.” He spreads his wings, hovering up to the ceiling. Somehow, I’m going say extra magic horseshoes, he anchors himself to the ceiling.
“So... what's the plan? Are we gonna have a stakeout?!” Cheese asks, sitting up with a manic grin.
“The plan is for you all to go to sleep like normal,” Azrael speaks, then he proceeds to lay down on the ceiling, eyes scanning the room.
“This is a great plan, I’m glad to be a part of it...” I sigh, getting under the covers.
“Relax, Floyd,” Pinkie soothes, “We can play some more Far Cry!” That's not that bad of an idea... I close my eyes, letting sleep take me.
I open my eyes, clearly in the dream world, being greeted with the sight of Pinkie poking at my chest. “Uh... Pinkie, what are you doing?”
“Why do you have pillows on your chest?” she asks, giving another poke.
“Will you cut that out?” I ask, slapping her hoof away. I sit up, gazing down at my chest. Something is definitely pushing my shirt out. I hook my finger around my shirt collar, pull it back, and I take a long look. Yup. I have boobs now. “Pinkie,” I say calmly, looking at her. “Can you pull the mirror over here?”
“Okie dokie loki!” Pinkie smiles, rising to her hooves. She hums softly, wheeling the mirror over. I release my shirt and take a good look into the mirror. Well, I’m definitely female now, though I don’t look too different, mostly just in the face really. Oh, and the longer hair.
“This is weird...” I frown, turning my head this way and that.
“I think you look nice, Floyd!” Pinkie chimes, putting a hoof on my leg.
“As if I didn’t have enough identity issues...” I grumble, crossing my arms under my new... ‘friends’.
“Well... maybe it’s because you identify as female more readily now?” Pinkie suggests, looking up at me. I look down at her, raising my eyebrow. “Think about it, everyone’s been referring to you as a she since you got here. Maybe your inner self is changing to reflect that?”
“That's...” I reach up, rubbing my smooth chin, “not that bad of a theory...”
“I try.” She beams up at me, wagging her tail like an excited dog. I pet her head, chuckling a little. “So... Far Cry Primal?” she asks, sitting on her haunches as a TV and game console appear in front of her.
“Sure, why not, let's have some caveman violence,” I agree, taking my seat next to her. Dream time is weird but, we manage to blitz through the game, even with my OCD forcing me to hundred percent the damn thing. Again. For no reward.
“That's it!? What kinda ending is that!?” Pinkie demands as the credits roll. “That was lame!!”
“Yeah, Far Cry has never had good endings.” I shake my head. “Grand Theft Auto has the same problem really. Red Dead was the only one that had a good ending.”
“Can we play something else?” Pinkie asks, looking up at me.
“Yes we can.” I nod as the PS4 morphs into an old PS1. “My favorite game of all time, Final Fantasy 9.” I put the game in and start humming along to the opening theme.
“Wait, how can there be nine fantasies if each one is the last one?” Pinkie asks, tilting her head.
“Well, they called the first one ‘Final Fantasy’ because they thought it was going to be their final game before they went out of business,” I explain, “But it sold so well, it kept them going, so they turned it into a series.”
“But, we’re starting with 9, shouldn’t we go back to 1?”
“Nah. The numbered series aren’t sequels like that. It’s more of an anthology, though some entries do have true sequels.”
“That sounds confusing.”
“Bah, you’ll get used to it.” I pet her head. “Besides, I don’t feel like dealing with 1’s random battle rate.” I groan, hanging my head.
“What?” Pinkie asks, tilting her head.
“I’m not gonna be able to play FF 15 or know if the 7 remake is any good,” I lament, letting myself fall onto my back. “This sucks.”
“Maybe Discord could help out?” Pinkie suggests, laying down next to me. “You remember how he opened that portal to sock world.”
“I suppose I could...” I agree, turning to look at her. “Does Ponyville have electricity?”
“Of course we do, why else would we have an electrical dam?”
“Huh... that is a good point...” I shift a little, looking at her. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure Floyd! Whaddya have on your mind?” she asks, turning to look back at me.
“Did Maud really punch Death in the face?” She stares at me for a few moments before bursting out into laughter, rolling around the floor.
I just stare at her flatly, waiting for her to calm down. It took a few moments before she did so, her laughing diminishing into an occasional chuckle. “Y-you know when I said that, I was kinda just messing with ya.”
“Kinda?”
“Well, it sorta happened,” Pinkie begins, snuggling into my side. “During fifth grade, my school had a haunted house for Nightmare Night. I went with Maud and someone dressed as the Pale Horse scared the poof out of my mane.”
“Lemme guess: Maud punched em out?”
“She socked him good, but he was cool about it. Stayed in character too. It was really cool.”
“Sounds like a blast.” I nod. “Wish I could have seen it.” I sit back up, shaking my head, blinking a few times as my hair smacks me in the face. “That's weird.”
“That's why I’m glad my mane is poofy!” Pinkie jumps to her hooves, beaming up at me. I roll my eyes, scratching her ear. She lets out a coo of pleasure, nuzzling against my hand.
“Anyway Pinkie, we still have time before we wake up.” I sit cross legged, grabbing my controller and passing her a second one.
“This is a two player game?” she asks, shifting the controller in her hooves.
“Only in the battle menus,” I explain with a smirk as I hit new game. “Try not to get us killed, huh?” She socks me in the arm before turning her gaze to the TV as our journey begins.
I open my eyes with a groan as sunlight hits me in the face. “Stupid sun, whys it gotta be a dick?” I reach up, pulling my pillow over my face.
“Good morning Floyd,” Blueblood greets, his voice way too cheery for me.
“Screw off Blueblood...” I grumble, waving a hoof at him in a vain attempt to give him the finger.
“Floyd, be nice,” Pinkie chides, obviously having manifested herself. “Morning BB!”
“Er yes, good morning to you as well Pinkie,” Bluey responds, sounding a little unsure. Must be the nickname.
“Floyd, it’s time to get up,” Maud’s voice cuts in, pulling the pillow off of my head.
“Fine, fine, I’m up.” I sit up, cracking my neck and various other joints. I take stock of the room, noting that Azrael and Cheese are gone. “Uh, where’d the guys go?”
“Captain Azrael is answering nature's call,” Blueblood explains, sitting in front of the dusty old mirror, currently fixing up his hair. “Cheese went to see about getting us some food.”
“Bet anything from this place is gonna be moldy or full of spider eggs or something,” I mutter, stepping off the bed. “So... nothing happened last night?”
“Not a thing.” Maud shakes her head. “Azrael was up all night but, he didn’t see anything.”
“Well than, I guess that just means we get to explore Creepsville.” I’m seriously overusing the word creeps. I should have stolen one of Twilight’s thesauruses.
“About that.” Blueblood finishes with his grooming, turning to me. “I was hoping we could spend some time together. Walk around town today.”
“Like... a date?” Maud perks up at this, giving Blueblood a look I can’t exactly place.
“Well um...” Blueblood stutters, obviously intimidated by Maud. “Er, Yes?”
“I’ll give it a shot.” I nod, giving him my best soothing smile. Mind taking a break from our usual routine Pinkie?
“Sure! I can spend the day with Cheese!” Pinkie beams, bouncing up and down excitedly. Good, plus, it’ll give us a measure of how far apart we can be. The door opens and Cheese walks in, pulling a cart of food that smells and looks delicious.
“Sorry it took me so long,” Cheese speaks, giving us all a smile. “They didn’t have a cook so I had to make it all myself!”
“We can worry about what we’re going to do later.” I lick my lips, trotting up to the cart. “First, let’s eat!!”