//------------------------------// // The Young Master // Story: Haunting // by Ravenpuff //------------------------------// Late night, the sky dark with a heavy cloud cover hiding away Luna’s stars. Every shadow one with the night, no light to reveal the silhouettes of what goes around when the light cannot expose them. Including a wagon dragged by a heavy earth pony, trotting along the road only able to tell he’s on the right track still by the clopping sound of his hooves against the stones marking the path. The only light source reveals his destination, light still burning through the windows as he speeds up a little for the last distance there. Eager to finish up and get home to the warmth and light weighting for him. He’s a simple pony, he doesn’t ask what kind of deliveries are needed to be brought out like this, all hush like and with no lights. The less you ask, the less complicated your life can be. He sure never asked questions about his payment, it was always enough. Trotting the last few meters he can finally make the stop before the gate to the mansion. It is not the only one out here at the outskirts of Canterlot, but the only one still with the lights on this late. The neighbours around the building are either in bed at proper hours or off partying the night away somewhere with more light and noise. Too dark to tell any details in the architecture, the lit windows only making the darkness around them that much heavier. Not his problem, he’s not supposed to be curious anyway. Being awaited, a pony comes trotting from the building, meeting him at the gate. He doesn’t ask questions, no does he need to answer any. He’s just the muscles, the real talker jumps off of the wagon to meet the pony from the mansion. Hushed words exchanged, a pouch switching pockets. “All as it should be?” the pony from the mansion asked. “Everything you need right here,” the earth pony’s employer declares, tapping the side of the wagon with his hoof. Both being unicorns they use their magic combined to gently lift the heavy box from vehicle and onto the cobblestone below. “Careful!” He’s not sure which one of them says it as something scrambles inside the wooden box as they move it. The combined glow of their magic providing enough illumination to show more details of their surroundings without blinding his eyes adjusted to the darkness around them. A simple wooden box, filled with something loose enough to move around. Perfectly trimmed bushes by the fence, an iron gate. The magic goes out, everything is dark again. He made sure to not look at the customer, being curious is a sure way to lose a steady gig like this. Without further words his employer leaps back up onto the wagon, now much lighter to drag back to Canterlot. They leave the other pony to his box, once again following the road by the sound his hooves make against the stone below and the lights they can see ahead from the castle looming about the night quiet capital of Equestria. Enough dots to tell him which direction to go until they’ll finally be back to lit streets and soon his bed to rest up until next order has to be delivered to whoever. Behind them the line unicorn seemingly inspects the delivered box in the darkness. Before getting his staff who are still up to help carry it inside. The night is not lasting forever and there are a lot of preparations to do. *** The staff worried for the young master of the house. He hasn’t been himself since… what happened. Withdrawn to himself in his study, mumbling to himself, rarely finishing up the meals brought to him by the loyal staff. They knew things had been most difficult for him. The parents’ disapproval of his choices and their passing before they could reconcile. And then… He had enough loss in his life. Changed a lot of things since then. Lived up for a while, getting new staff after excusing the old while redecorating his old home. Moving on to a new future instead of hanging onto the past. Then lost that drive again. Only few ponies in the mansion left who had known him his whole life, most of the staff new and young. Still adjusting the new surroundings and learning the habits of the ponies they served. The pony. The pony they served. Poor lonely thing. Riches and titles seemed only a burden as they watched him draw back to his room. Rumours had it had reached out with somepony, corresponding for a while although nopony knew who. That stopped at the arrival of… well, nopony among the staff knew what it was. Arriving late at night in a heavy box. He had stayed up late waiting for it, had it delivered to his study and then he sent the rest of the staff straight to bed. To chance to ask questions about the delivery. Since then he had isolated himself again, letting nopony into his study. Shouting at anypony daring to try the handle on the door when bringing him his meals. Usually his meals were left untouched where they had been left at the door. Whenever they finally saw him he looked so tired, only eating when out of his room but saying nothing to anypony. Despite his exhaustion, like he hadn’t slept for days, his eyes were bright. A glow to them of determination. Far away in deep thoughts, whatever he was doing in his study seemed to take a lot of consideration and hard work. Curious staff would sometimes try to put an ear to the door or vent, listening. One swore to hear voices. The master talking to himself it seemed. Was he truly going mad? One staff member got caught, one of the young maids wasn’t fast enough to skitter down the hall when the young master suddenly blasted the door open and catching her red hoofed. She was let go the same day. For some reason she seemed more than happy to leave the mansion, a haunted look in her eyes. She never looked back as she walked out with her possessions. Never talked to anypony about the incident, just nodding as if to agree to everything said about how her act clearly showed her lack of trustworthiness and thus why shouldn’t stay. Rumours began, but quietly. Hushed. The mansion had always been quiet ever since… Usually there were plenty of noise, music and talking, like volume restraint was no worry, sounds washing over noise. Now everypony feared to raise their voices. One day the young master finally stepped out of his study, a confident grin on his face. He looked like he had solved a puzzle, awaiting a grand reward. He had a full meal in his dining room, talking to a few staff members about lighting up the mansion from a dark tomb to be much more like in its days of glory. Music, flowers, a throughout cleaning, he seemed to prepare for a guest to show how this mansion truly should feel – alive. The next day a meal was prepared. Not for one, but two. Dishes the old staff hadn’t prepared for the master and his… not since… Once all was done and ready, the young master stop at the top of the grand staircase of the main hall. Clapping his hooves to introduce a guest of great importance. But nopony had come through the gate in days, besides those leaving the mansion for groceries to fill the pantry. What guest could it be? He was soon not alone on the stairs. With great poise and grace, the young mare stepped out from the corridor above to meet him. Raising her hoof for his which had been held up awaiting hers. She was beautiful, graceful, wearing a dress and pearls worthy of a mare with the attention of a pony of status. The young master’s eyes never leaving her. Then one of the staff members, the oldest one, began screaming, startling everypony from their own shock and confusion. The young lady of the house had returned.