Closet Pony

by DouglasTrotter

March 20th

Five days, five days have come and gone since that night when Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo passed out from exhaustion. The next night was even worse when all of them stayed up till 7 am, soon passing out again. None of us have gotten any real sleep, and we're all running on fumes right now. On a personal level, I can't fathom the horror these three fillies would go through if they were permanently stuck here with no way to get back to Equestria.

Things are getting dangerous. For me, there's something, something I can't even describe about the dreams I've had as of late. They seem to be getting stronger, more powerful in a way. All of it started after that dream about the blue smoke that tried to choke me. One night, I woke up, drenched in sweat. I had to be hallucinating from the lack of sleep cause it looked like a mark was on my back where that blue mist tried to scratch me. Right now, I can't let these three know what is going on with my dreams. They have enough problems to worry about.

In terms of our blessings, they could be counted on a single hand. One of the few saving graces is the fact these three -- despite the fact they appear to eat like horses -- their digestive systems can handle most human food. Vegetables and fruits are cheap. The grocery bill is only up $50, but it makes things tight. I mean -- I need some sleep. It's hard to keep my hands still to write this stuff. If I'm lucky, I can coax these three off the bed so I can clean it.

---End Entry---

"We ain't leavin this bed, and that's final. Ya hear!" Apple Bloom said to me.

To that I had to say to myself, "Challenge accepted."

Apple Bloom and friends got off the bed when the mattress was flipped off it. The mattress needs to air out, not to mention it needs a fresh change of sheets. It took a good minute or two for the fillies to realize the bed wasn't about to ride off without them. Still, their concern is understandable. Who knows what may happen. They could be trapped in this horrid place.

"Anythin' going on with the rope?" Apple Bloom said.

"Sorry, nothing from what I can tell. How are Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo doing?" I said.

"Like two cats who strolled into a dog-show. " Apple Bloom said.

Before I could ask, Apple Bloom just said "high strung" and moved towards the bedframe.

It'd be nice to have some kind of manual to life's quirks, but if life had a manual then everyone would be a millionaire, or billionaire, without a care in the world. This is infuriating. Why can't I do anything to help them? I guess, I guess there's nothing I can do for them, except be there for them, reassuring them everything will work out in the end. Me playing the role of adult, me. How pathetic is that for a role.
Now is good a time as any to test it out, I guess.

---End Entry---

*Note to self: Copy and paste entry from Scootaloo's voice*

Sweetie Belle? Apple Bloom? You two can hear me? Hey, you can hear me too, awesome! Except, it's not awesome. It's like, forever since I could use this thing. To be honest, all of it stinks right now. If that string snaps, it's game over. We're not going home to Equestria, let alone Ponyville.

I know our friend has got to be tired of helping us keep watch on the bed. This wouldn't have happened if Apple Bloom -- yea, it's your fault. If you hadn't have run off, we wouldn't be in this mess!

*End Copy and Paste*

"Ok, time out. All of you need to chill." I had to almost yell at the three fillies. They just looked at me with Apple Bloom muttering a translation to the others.

I can't believe Apple Bloom lunged at Scootaloo. Sweetie Belle, from a few bits and pieces of what I could understand, played negotiator to help remind the two they are friends. Well, that's my interpretation of the situation. The unicorn filly can't speak a lick of English or anything near it. My Spanish is rusty at best, so I can just pick apart the little bits she spouts off.

"... Sorry." A half-hearted voice said to me, its owner tugging on my shirt while I type this up.

"Apple Bloom," I said in a calm tone, "I won't pretend to know what you're going through right now. The same being said for Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. I don't know what it's like being away from home, but I get the fact you want to go back to Equestria. For right now, you have to be strong. You have to be strong for yourself and the others. I need your help since I can't understand the others. I can't do this without a translator."

Our little conversation took a detour when Apple Bloom mentioned the string, about going back home to Equestria. The best I could do was tell her about the idea of a red herring, taking a good three minutes to help explain that a red herring wasn't just a fish. This is the one thing that just "pops" into your head out of the blue. If we focus all our efforts on the rope, some important clue will slip by our eyes. We can't forget the rope, yet we can't just focus all of our attention on it.

"Llora bebé" Sweetie Belle said.

"I heard that, Sweetie Belle." I said, giving the little filly a quick glance.

Sweetie Belle whistled an innocent tune before she trotted back to the living room. She had some nerve calling Apple Bloom a cry baby. At least, I think that's what she said.

All I can do is pat the little filly on the head, reassuring her things will be ok. Anymore, she just looks at me with those same eyes I first saw peering at me when I opened the closet door. How do I help these three get back home? What do I do? What do I freaking do?! Will someone please tell me, please!

---End Entry---

When in doubt, do an activity.

After an early dinner, it seemed the perfect opportunity to clean up a bit of the backyard. The three seemed rather happy to help out, too happy for that matter. My instincts were right since this little activity, like all good deeds, came with a price.

A bit of money I had saved up for a new computer went out the door after I promised these three they could make a "satellite," Cutie Mark Crusaders clubehouse on the side of the house. I'm not keen on the idea of a structure near the house. All we need is the county coming by, snooping around the place. If they see the little thing the trio of fillies slapped together, those county jerks might slap me with a fine. Stupid people have nothing better to do than harass others who don't "conform" to their ideas of acceptability. Can't even paint a fence unless it's a color of their taste.

I guess I could rant about how I've lived here since I was a child, well over 20yrs, but that's something a geezer would do out of annoyance. Still, it ticks me off.

Anyways, the lumber will be here in about three days with some fresh nails, screws, and paint. I'll have to supervise things. A cold chill just crawls down my spine the more I think about Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, or Scootaloo using my power tools. It'll be Cutie Mark Crusader vet patients if they hurt themselves. Swear I'll need some therapy by the time it's all over.

I hope they make it back home, and yet... it'd be nice to go with them.

----End Journal----