Chapter 9
A Window to the Mind
Marble Grain sat on his couch in his living room bathed in the light from Celestia’s Sun. he was staring at his breakfast, a doughnut, apple and coffee, the doughnut and coffee complements of Joe. He had just dropped it off before work, so the coffee, a special in-house blend, was still quite hot. The doughnut was a plain but coated heavily in Joe’s “not very sweet” glaze, perfect for dipping in the coffee. Marble stared at his meal for a little while before eating it. He could have done something to pass the time while it cooled, but he had done everything he needed to.
His apartment was spotless, not a speck of dust was to be found on any surface, no matter how high or how small the space. The candles and extra lights were gone, stored back from wherever they came from. The bathrooms were clean to the point were Marble felt comfortable drinking the toilet water. The guest room was prepared, clean sheets, linens and a fresh scented candle to make sure it was presentable
This was a normal ritual for Marble when guests come over to stay at his apartment. A clean apartment really made ponies feel welcome, he thought. It was probably the only reason he actually cleaned anything, so there was that benefit too. It normally is spread over a couple days, but Marble finished it all last night.
Marble was able to get a good three hours of sleep last night, before the nightmares began. The time that Joe spent with him the night before was so helpful. He was able to put aside his fear for a brief time and enjoy his friend’s company. He thought that he could push past the fear and terror of last night and finally get rid of the two monsters that claimed hold on his mind.
But the nightmare was the worst he had yet.
Marble walking down the street on his way to work, the sunlit street glistening with morning dew. Other ponies were walking to their own destinations, creating the usual hustle and bustle of Canterlot. There were birds chirping from the park nearby, ponies talking about whatever suited their fancy. The vendors were shouting their wares, from foods and drink to trinkets and knickknacks, tourist stuff.
Marble made his way to work, a law firm that specialized in agriculture. It was not his first choice, or his second, but it was a job he could at least feel some form of enjoyment. When he first came to Canterlot, he was looking for any job that involved agriculture really, but it was difficult to find one that suited his needs.
That was until Marble found Stem and Grain and was hired on as a consultant and an expert in the field of agriculture. He would look over cases filed against farms and decide weather or not the case was fightable, or should a deal be made instead. It was mostly paperwork, reading and meetings, with the occasional visit to a farm. Not the ideal job that he had in mind, but it was something relatable at least.
Marble was lost in thought on his way to work, there was a lot going on in his life, and he was finding it difficult to juggle it all. His thoughts would occasionally be interrupted by a vendor shouting their wares or another pony bumping into him. The interruptions were short lived though, as he always got right back into his train within seconds of the interaction. No matter how much he tried, he couldn’t shake off the thoughts of the recent events, the terrible events.
Marble glanced upward when he noticed the world around him getting darker. They sky was clouding over, and they looked like rain clouds. He couldn’t remember there being any rain in the forecast for the next few days, so this was a surprise for him. Making sure his documents were shut tightly in his saddle bags, as well as the water proofing charm on the bags themselves.
Satisfied, Marble continued on to his work, but just as quickly stopped again. He looked around for a moment at the now deserted street. Not a single pony could be seen. The vendors; booths were just as empty, not even having any of the merchandise that Marble thought he saw just moments before. The shops were closed, windows were dark, the only light now coming from behind the darkening clouds and the street lights above.
Marble continued moving to work at a much faster pace, nervously glancing around. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but everything seemed off. Why was the sky this dark in the morning, where was everypony, why did they all leave? These questions were bouncing around in Marbles head as he moved down the street.
Marble jerked his head to the right at a sudden commotion. The door across the street, one to a perfume shop, started shaking in its frame. It’s violent motions started to crack and splinter the wooden frame, but the door stayed firmly within its grasp. Marble moved to from a trot to a light gallop, putting as much distance between the door and himself as he could
The rain started then. Coming down almost instantly in a blanket of water.
More of the doors along his path started the same pattern. Violent shaking, getting worse and worse the more time they went on. Soon half of the doors on the street were rattling, the noise almost drowned out Marble’s own hoofbeats. He broke into a full gallop, moving as fast as his legs would take him. Now all of the doors were shaking, and the noise threatened to deafen Marble.
Marble galloped down an alleyway in a desperate attempt to get away from the street. He ran down the almost pitch black darkness until he reached a dead end. He hunkered in a corner, trying to block out all of the other sounds by covering his ears. And for the briefest of moments, the world was quiet. Marble was able to sit in silence in the darkness and try to calm his mind.
Right next to him, a white door slammed in its frame, the sound of splintering wood echoed throughout the alleyway. Then, all went quiet. Marble sat, transfixed by the door, illuminated by a single light. He could not take his eyes off of it. Something was different about this one.
Another bang echoed through the alleyway and Marble jumped to his hooves, shaking just as much as the door. And again, he stood staring, unable to look at anything other than the door, still vibrating slightly from whatever impacted its surface.
Another hit, more violent than the last. The door now was visibly cracked in its frame. But this time, Marble did not flinch, he did not even blink at the impact.
Another.
Marble took a step forward.
Another.
One more step.
Another. Two more steps.
Another. Now an unbreaking walk.
Another. Marble was at the door. Another. Marble reached for the handle.
Another.
Another.
Another. Marble swung the door wide.
“Marble!” Pinkie shouted as she swept up Marble in a hug
“P-Pinkie!” Marble stuttered, “I-I wasn’t expecting you for a bit.”
“I know!” She said with a big smile on her face, “It’s way more surprising when it’s spontaneous!”
Marble stared at her for a second. “But I knew you were coming…”
“But I still surprised you, right?”
“Well, yea…”
“Then that was the point!” she said, taking Marble in another big hug, deftly shutting the door with her back hoof.
It was a couple seconds before Marble returned the hug, out of shock he would guess. Pinkie was warm, and a really good hugger. He could have stayed here for quite some time, but Pinkie had other plans.
“I’m so happy to see you again!” Pinkie said, backing out of the hug to look at Marble directly. “It seems like it has been forever since the reunion!”
“You remember me?” Marble said, a little taken aback. “There were at least two hundred other ponies there.”
Pinkie giggled. “Of course I remember you silly! I remember all my family! I remember you, Grey Granite, Granite Stone, Red Granite, Granny Granite, Blue Rock, Rock soup, Grampa Rock, Big Boulder, Little Boulder who funnily enough is the older of the two, Green Jade, Purple Jade, Sandy, the Mineral twins, the Moss brothers, the Lime Sisters, Granny Stone, Great Granny Stone, Great Great Granny Stone”
“I had no idea we had so much family…” Marble said, unable to even recall a single name other than close family.
“I know!” Pinkie said, “it took me like, a whole hour to get all of their names!”
“Only an hour?” Marble said, in complete disbelief.
“I know I could have done better, but I needed to plan the entire party and like, five birthdays!”
If Marble could only display more shock and awe in his expression, it may have been enough to convince Pinkie that she was not normal. Unfortunately, his facial muscles were stretched as far as they could go.
“But enough about me,” Pinkie said, throwing her bags near the couch, then flopping down on said piece of furniture, “What’s up cous?”
Marble did not know what to say immediately.
“I… uhh…. I…” Marble sighed, “I really haven’t been feeling well lately.”
Another giggle from Pinkie, “I know that, silly! I wouldn’t be here otherwise!”
“Right…” Marble said, “Well, other than that, not much. Just been hanging around the house.”
“Oh come on!” Pinkie whined playfully, “You have to have done something more interesting than that!”
“I, uhh,” Marble stroked the back of his neck, “I did try to put together a new economic plan…”
“WHAT!” Pinkie shouted, “That’s so cool!”
She leapt off the couch, “I could never do that! I mean, I do some money work at the Cakes’ place, but nothing that big!”
“It’s nothing really…” Marble said shyly, “The Princess didn’t even like it…”
“You go to see the Princess!” Pinkie said, somehow happier than before, “That’s amazing! She’s so nice, isn’t she?”
“Y-yea, she is…”
“This is a really cool place, Marble!” Pinkie said, jumping around Marble’s apartment, “It’s so spacious!”
“I got a good deal on it,” Marble replied, “It’s a business residence, near where I work.”
Pinkie gasped, turning to Marble, “I have one of those too!” she said, “But mine is just a room above the bakery, yours is so much bigger!”
“Thanks,” Marble said, hint of a smile running away as a realization hit him, “I haven’t been a very good host! I know I cleaned up and everything, but I forgot something else.”
“What do you mean?” Pinkie said, looking worried.
“I haven’t shown you to your room yet, of course.” Marble said, grinning a bit.
Pinkie gasped for the second time, “I get my own room?! I thought I would sleep on the couch!” And for the third time, Pinkie was giving Marble a hug.
“Really Pinkie?” Marble asked, “It’s no big deal.”
“It is though!” Pinkie smiled back, “It’s so awesome that you’re so successful!”
“It’s nothing…”
“Where is it?” Pinkie asked, hopping around the room again.
‘I hope the downstairs neighbors are ok with this,’ Marble thought, ‘I’m not sure I can explain it that well.’
“It’s that room on the side there,” Marble replied, “We share a bathroom though, so we need to make sure to knock first.”
“Okie dokie!” Pinkie said hopping to the door and swinging it open.
Marble had apparently forgotten to open the curtains in the room, as it was pitch black. But that didn’t stop Pinkie from jovially hopping her way into the room.
Looking into the door, past the splintered and cracked frame, Marble couldn’t see anything inside, the light from the alleyway did not penetrate the inky darkness that seemed to emanate from deep within the building.
Gulping, Marble took a couple steps forward. The empty darkness seemed to engulf him, completely blocking off his exit, he could no longer see the door or they faintest trace of light from behind him. He took a moment to let his eyes adjust. His ears started to ring, not from any noise, but from the silence. It seemed more oppressive than the darkness, having Marble almost wish for the slamming doors back.
Marble stood for what felt like five or six minutes, but his eyes barely adjusted to the darkness. He could barely see the walls beside him, covered in a simple striped wall paper, but he couldn’t make out the color. He could only see a black void in front and behind him. Though he felt that either way would lead to the same destination.
Shaking, Marble tentatively begins walking forward, only to be stopped by a gust of wind blowing from in front and the sound of rushing beside him. As if a pegasus flew at full speed past him. For the briefest of moments, he swore he saw an object made of dark wood, and a white shape attached to it.
Marble continued forward, only to be stopped again with a rushing from behind. This thing was larger and almost entirely black. For a moment, it cut off all of the light that Marble saw, and only a thick, black shroud covered his vision. As quickly as it had appeared, it vanished, leaving no trace in either direction. Marble continued walking forward, a little quicker than usual.
More rushing sounds, almost like water. This time though, they were far away, like a waterfall that can’t be seen yet. The more Marble moved forward, the closer he got to the falls. Yet he still kept walking, and he did not know why. Each step took him closer to this terrifying sound, each step seemed to weigh more and more. His body getting heavier and heavier until it was all he could do to stand up straight.
But the rushing did not stay far away. It was moving closer and closer now. It intensified every second, louder and closer. Marble started to shake, tremble in his hooves. He shut his eyes tightly, not wanting to see what was coming. The rushing sound was now at a fever pitch, and Marble could almost make out the pattering of animal feet somewhere buried deep within the sound of the roaring wind.
Silence.
Marble dared to peek from his safety, cracking an eyelid open a fraction of an inch.
”Marble-thing!”
Marble’s eyes shot open. That monster was in front of him. Those horrible, piercing, fiery eyes staring into him, burning into him.
”Hello Marble.”
The other creature was beside the monster.
“W-who a-are you?” Marble asked, shaking almost uncontrollably now. The tremors from his body evident in his voice.
More silence, the creatures, no, monsters stared silently back at Marble.
“What do you want?!” Marble cried, fear and adrenaline taking over.
”You, Marble.”
”Marble-thing!”
”Marble.”
”Marble!”
“Thank you, Marble!” Pinkie said, “This room looks so good!”
Marble stood in his guest room, and smiled at Pinkie, “I’m glad you like it.” He said, “I haven’t had anypony here yet and I was curious if guest would like it.”
“Well I love it!” Pinkie said, hopping off the bed to take her luggage off of Marble.
“Those really do weigh a lot,” Marble commented, “What on Equis did you pack?”
“Marble, Marble, Marble,” Pinkie scolded, “You should never ask what a lady packs.”
Marble stared quizzically at Pinkie.
“At least that’s what Rarity says,” Pinkie finished, “I pretty much tell everypony what I have.”
“And that is?”
“Baking supplies!”
Marble stood still for a moment, eyes not wavering from Pinkie.
“Are you planning on putting Doughnut Joe’s out of business?”
Pinkie giggled again. Marble was getting to enjoy her laugh.
“No silly!” Pinkie said, “I’m gunna make all your food while I’m here!”
“I can’t ask you to do that!” Marble responded, “You’re my guest.”
“Mister!” Pinkie said, suddenly getting a stern look in her eyes, “You said you needed a pick me up, kinda sorta, in your letter. And what better pick me up is there than not cooking!”
Marble failed to find a flaw in her logic.
“Alright, but I am cooking some.”
Pinkie’s face returned to its carefree smile, “If ya want to!”
“Great.” Marble began to move toward his room, “I’m a little tired right now. I think I’m going to lie down for a little bit.”
“Okie dokie lokie!” Pinkie said.
“There is plenty of food in the fridge, and ingredients if you want.” Marble said.
“Right-O!”
“And Pinkie?” Marble said, gaining more than the party mare’s full attention, “Thank you for coming.”
“Anytime!” Pinkie said immediately, “I’m always here to help family!”
When Marble left the room, Pinkie instantly dropped in mood. It was worse than she though. A few days ago she got a pinkie-sense vibe that a someone close to her was in trouble, and it was a doozy. She had spent the better part of two days turning over every rock in Ponyville to find who needed her.
The third day, she started sending out mass letters to every family member she knew the address of. Twilight was getting super worried for her, but helped her find anypony that she could. On the fourth day, before sending about two-hundred letters through the Ponyville postal service, an amount that would surely have given poor Derpy a heart attack, Spike found a letter addressed to Pinkie in one of Twilights old saddle bags.
The letter was from Marble grain, and it was asking for help. From his letter, it would seem that he was going through a rough time, and needed some emotional support. But that wasn’t what lead Pinkie to use Twilight’s personal chariot and guards to rush to Canterlot. That was what Joe’s letter, written hastily on a scrap piece of paper tucked inside the envelope did. It simply stated, “Please hurry.”
Pinkie could see why too. Marble’s apartment was messy. Not trashed, but not from somepony that cleaned for a guest. But the most worrying thing was the walls.
Every three or four feet, carved into the wood, was a face. A face of either a lamb, or a wolf.