//------------------------------// // Chapter 28: The Godmother // Story: Nightmare Night // by Dreadnought //------------------------------// A crescent moon hung high in the cloudless sky. A fine mist wafted in and among the trees. Faceless eyes peered from the shadows while a timberwolf howled in the distance. Rarity rushed along the worn path. The spooky eyes disappeared as the mare approached. Occasionally, she would stop to glance behind, before hurrying along toward her destination. Finally, she reached a clearing. Even in the dark, she could see the small cottage. But whereas most saw a cute, little cottage in the beautiful sunlight, somehow in the gloom of the wee hours of the morning it bore an ominous feeling. The dark shape. The absence of any animals or the songs of birds. The complete lack of cheerfulness that normally pervaded the homestead. The two rough-looking stallions standing by the front door only added to the apprehension she felt. She walked over the bridge that crossed the babbling brook. "Halt!" cried the stallion on the left. "Who goes there?" demanded the other. "It is Rarity. I am here to see Fluttershy." "She said she was not to be disturbed." "I'm her friend." The stallions looked doubtful. "Please, I need to speak with her. It is urgent," said Rarity. After a few minutes wait, Rarity was ushered into a back room of the cottage. There, in the dark, sat a shadowy figure in an armchair. She stroked a rabbit sitting on her lap. The two stallions departed the room and shut the door. "Rarity," greeted the figure neutrally. Rarity took a breath to calm down. "Fluttershy." "This had better be good," said the icy voice. " I was in the middle of a very important business meeting." "Yes, I'm truly sorry to bother you. I need your help." "Go on." "I signed a contract with Photo Finish. But I've been offered an extremely lucrative deal with a firm from Prance. It would truly transform my business into one known worldwide." "And the problem," said the figure who had never stopped petting the rabbit. "Photo Finish won't let me out of the contract. She's completely defiant that it's ironclad. I need some help resolving this issue." The tension hung in the air for a minute. Finally, the figure said, "I'm going to make her an offer she can't refuse." In a mansion in Canterlot… Photo Finish slowly awoke. She reached to the nightstand for her glasses and put them on. Only then did she notice the blood on her hoof. She looked down, and her nightgown was covered in blood. The sheets were drenched in blood. With great trepidation, she pulled the covers back to reveal - A bloody human head! Photo Finish began shaking. After a moment's study, she noticed certain features. The pale blue skin. The white hair. The black glasses with pink lenses. Photo Finish let out an ear-piercing scream.