//------------------------------// // Act One // Story: Theater of The Damned // by Chemtest //------------------------------// I scramble up onto my hooves, and look at my surroundings. Dirty, rusty, and stained metal room. Just looking at this room makes me want to lock up my jaw. I don’t know what’s going on, but there’s only one way to go. I open a door, and head into the next room. Immediately, the lights shut off, and the door slams shut behind me. The only light source left is another orb in the middle of the room. The pony in the weird mask speaks once more, “Good, you pushed forward, walking forward. Tell you what, let’s start you off with a familiar game, one you know quite a lot.” I start to think maybe this is all a big prank, “What game is that?” The pony responds, “One of my personal favorites. Ring Around The Rosey.” Some lights start to flick on, and I see the rest of the room. In the middle, a pony is strung up by a noose, “Except this time, it’s a ring around Roseluck’s neck. I’m sure you’ve seen her in your town, the flower pony. After this orb destroys itself, you will have sixty seconds to untie the noose, or she will be dropped to a sudden stop. So, will you save the innocent flower mare? Well, innocent being subjective.” I listen to the ponies words intently, “What do you mean by that?” The pony takes a huge breath in, “Roseluck here, caused a pony to die. She watched a pony die, and didn’t even speak up at the murderer’s trial. Standing off to the side and merely watching, too scared to move. Her words poisoned and lies to keep a murderer free, all so she wouldn’t have to worry about anything. She has been gagged, so her words won’t poison your ears. Her noose, tied especially tight, to show how her lies twisted themselves together. So, Apple Bloom, do you let her die, or do you try and save her? Break a leg, kiddo, or she’ll break her neck.” The orb explodes, and I immediately rush to Roseluck. She don’t deserve to die here! Simply because of fear! I rush up to her, and try and untie the rope. This loop goes through here, this loop through here. This dang thing is too tight, and I ain’t a fancy unicorn! I try and reach into the rope, but my hooves can’t pierce through it. I can hear the ticking of a clock on the wall, counting down the seconds. I try and rip the rope in half, even biting it, but the thing is to strong! I decide to lean back, and try and kick the pole the rope is hanging from, but only end up hurting my hooves. I see the clock on the wall reach fifteen seconds, and I decide to try one last thing. I start to try and pull Roseluck’s hesd through the noose, pushing and pulling with all my might. Then, a musical box starts to play. ”Ring-a-round the rosies” I summon up a little bit more strength, and pull harder. ”A pocket full of posies,” I pull with all the might my little Apple body can. ”Ashes! Ashes!” I fall backwards, and forced to watch as the time runs to zero. ”We all fall down.” I sit and watch, helplessly, as the platform below Roseluck collapses. Her face only showing one moment of surprise before the noose runs out of extra rope. She doesn’t even have time to comprehend what’s happening before she’s dead. Her body hanging there, lifeless, swinging with the momentum of the fall. I’m unable to rip my eyes from her body, my mind rushing to catch up to what’s happening. Only when I look into her lifeless eyes do I comprehend what just happened. She just died, because I wasn’t quick enough. The rope was too thick, too tangled up and tied too tightly. Now, she is dead. Her red eyes stare into mine. I start to scoot away as fast as I can, as if she’ll wake up and come after me. I hit up against a wall, hyperventilating. Why me, why was I chosen for this? Why give me the false hope to save her when I wouldn’t be able to? How do I get out?! Get me out! A new orb is rolled in front of me, showing an image of Pinkie Pie in a dark room. There’s another pony next to her, a orangish stallion in a yellow shirt. Pinkie looks around, “There must be some way out of this!” The face of the masked pony appears again, it’s deep voice saying, “Said the Joker to the Thief. But what pony is the Joker, and what pony is the Thief? Hurry along, dear, the audience eagerly awaits your arrival. Don’t worry, we won’t be playing Hangpony this time.” I look at the orb, right into the eyes of the pony, “Why are you doing this?” The mask smiles a tiny bit, “Why? Oh, my dear, that’d ruin the surprise. Good job trying to fire that pony, even if you failed. Now, you have some ponies to try and save.” The orb explodes, and a door opens up. I take one last look at Roseluck’s body, before averting my gaze. I pull myself together, and walk through the open door.