//------------------------------// // A Fur-gotten Experience // Story: Beyond My Grave: Nightlight // by AnnEldest //------------------------------// The night horizon settled over the land of Equestria. The blanket of the night putting many hearts at ease. A time to rest as the moonshine bright above. The great rock rained over the sky and gave way for many to dream. Branches cracked beneath the feet of a large creature. It moved along on 8 limbs that cautiously moved along the forest floor. Its back arched and bony with spikes lining its spine. Its head was round with a dog-like muzzle that split into 4. The cherry on top was it's three long heavy tails that dragged behind it. Its nostrils puffs of smoke came in and out. The claws on his feet and made a slight black mist. It followed ascent, one that sent chills down its spine. It was hungry and it was following the smell of dessert. The creature walked till it came to an opening. It looked down to see a toy sitting in the dark. A box items sat next to the abandoned object and gave off a blinking light. The creature bent down and sniff the item. It wasn't living but it appeared to have energy running through it. It had a black screen and various buttons lining it. The creature looked up at the building in front of it. It took a deep breath and smelled a familiar enchanting aroma. It was the scent of his prey; one that knew it was going to die. The creature liked going after more intelligent creatures that were capable of feeling complex emotions. After he had stalked them and even revealed himself to them numerous times, they would get a certain message sent to them. This came with one emotion above all, and it meant that it was going to be a delicious meal. Meanwhile, Luna sat on the roof of the little child's house. She had sat in silence for many hours, something she was quite used to. She had decided that before she went into the filly's dreams she would stake out the Nether realm through her psychic abilities. She stood up and yawned. Her job had recently been increasingly hard. Thousands of ponies would have nightmares every night. The times would shift from high times too low times. She had found herself in an extremely high time. Nevertheless the less she was still determined to help the family. She stretched out and began to trot forward. The sun was going to take its place in the sky in only an hour or two, so she ready to call it a night. Just as she got ready to fly down, the echo of a snapping twig flushed through the trees. She did a 360 turn to see though when violently shaking the trees. The howling of a wolf what's next to echo and the wind seem to respond by intensifying. Gee thanks nature you just had to make it like a horror movie for me didn't you, Luna thought. She took a few steps forward before she froze in her tracks. She caught a glimpse of a moving figure coming from the tree line. She quickly focused eye she witnessed a blob make its way through the backyard. It stopped once but only to examine something that caught its attention. The entity made its way to Barry Blast's window. Luna leaned over the edge he saw the creature that's true form. She was quite shocked at his physique. It was far bigger than her and resembled no other living creature she had ever seen before. The creature swiftly opened and went through the window. It was quite alarming as Luna recalled locking the window per Barry's request. Luna quickly rushed to follow the creature. She peered through the window to find the creature standing over the little pony. The creature opened its fully open this now has an ocean of black oozing teeth force their way out. A few drops of its saliva landed on the Little Ponies face causing her to wake up. Barry screamed with an ear-piercing shriek has the creature went to grab her. Luna leaped through the window and shot a blue laser of magic at the creature. The black entity went flying and crashed against the wall. One of its limbs cracked through the wall. Luna could hear the screaming of Berry's parents coming from the other room. The creature dislodged its leg through the hole and Luna could see the fight and parents. Luna used her magic to pull Barry to her. She rushed past the creature as it stumbled to its feet and into the other room. Barry's parents stood there screaming as Luna ran up to them and handed them their daughter. "Take her and get out of the house, now!" Luna demanded. Without hesitation, they followed instructions. The front door was kicked open by the stallion as he rushed his family safety. Luna turned to confront her attacker. The creature lunged at the princess with its claws. Luna used the strength of her wings to push herself back barely avoiding the creature. It's claws sunk deep into the floor. Another being slap the creature in the face causing it to take a few steps backward. It roared at the princess; black mush protruded from its mouth. The creature used its arm to block another incoming attack. It slid back across the floor has its claws dug and cracked the wood beneath it. The creature began to walked forward as the bean seems less effective. The creature staggered towards there until it was near inches. Luna gave up on her attack and jumped back. The creature growled as it stalked forwards. The princess steadily walked backward not willing to give in. The creature drew back its arm has its muscles begin to twitch violently. It began to glow as a crackling sound shot out. Its fingertips began to gather a black mist that formed together in a ball. Luna's horn began to illuminate has she to build up strength. The ground began to shake on pieces of the wall begin to fall off. Luna froze in awe as she witnessed the world crumble before her. The energy that the creature was building was astonishing. Her legs twitch as her mind told her to run, but before she could the creatures swing its arm forward. Luna screamed and instinctively put a shield around her. Seconds went by has the echo of a distant screech filled the air. Luna looked up to see the creature frozen in place. Almost in unison the two look towards the source of the sound. The creature turned back to meet Luna's gaze. A puff of smoke shouted out of its nostrils as it dropped its arm. The energy disappeared as the creatures burrowed into the ground. Luna jumped down the hole and gave chase. She could hear the sounds of the creature burrowing deep into the ground. The hole is big enough so that she could even fly through it. But the creature proved to be faster as Luna eventually lost sight of it. Moonlight shined from the end of the tunnel and came to a clearing. Luna stared out into the dark forest. She looked around to see no trace of the creature; not even footsteps were left behind. The air went silent as the breeze felt dead and cold. Luna stood as her legs shake, ready to give out at any moment. She slowly crept over to the hole and peered down it. She fell back on the ground as she started to paint. It hadn't been too long since she had witnessed a horrifying monstrosity, but while it wasn't unheard of experience for her, it was a forgotten one. "So, what did you see?" The little dragon asked. "It was just a void filled with flashes and voices and honestly a bunch of nonsense." Discord looked down at his paw as he for once in his life despised a chaotic moment. "So what did you find out exactly?" Spike asked. "I honestly don't have a clue I asked a fox what any of it meant and he didn't seem to know either." "So what did he say!?" Spike said as he raised his voice. "He said that I had the information I needed I just had to find out how to sort it." Discord rubbed his eyes and leaned back against the wall. "Wait what?" Spike complained. "I don't know," Discord said shaking his head. "Discord, please don't tell me we did all of this for nothing." "Well no, we did it for something. I'm just not quite sure what it is " Spike started pacing the floor as he nodded his head and grunted to himself. Big Mac walked over to Discord and sat down next to him. "You think he's alright?" Discord asked. "Nope," Big Max reassured. "Okay okay, not all is lost," the little dragon said as he sat down in front of his friends. "If all we need to do is "translate" information or whatever then maybe we should try to go to the right creature." "Which is who?" "Dream Walker," spoke the Mooti Mootu. "Back so soon." Discord walked up to the bloody creature and came face to face with it. "I did as you told." "And?" It said as it poured some liquid into a jar. "And I didn't get any answers, just more confusion." The Mooti mootu stood up and walked over to a ledge on the wall. It pulled off a dead cat and brought it over to another table. "Ah, you've been given an answer you do not yet understand. This has been foreseen by many." "What do I do?" Discord. Asked as he followed its movements. "If you, yourself, cannot process the information, then you must find someone who can for you." The creature opened the cat's mouth and ripped off its tongue. "Who do I need to fine?" "Well," the Mooti mootu said with a twitch. "I, myself, could easily process such information." "But?" Discord speculated. "But what?" "There's always a price." The Mooti mootu looked up and showed its orange and yellow eyes. "And what of last time? You paid me no currency." "Oh but I did," Discord chuckled. "I know myself what power living creatures possess, especially ponies. The ritual to even get here demanded a lot of pony hair; that was no coincidence." The Mooti mootu chuckled in response. "You are a very perceptive dream walker. Indeed I do use all that living matter for my use." "So what is the price then?" Discord said more demanding. The Mooti mootu walked over to the draconequus and smiled. "What do you have that I could want?" "Well, what do you even want?" "A hunter." "Umm, what?" Discord said as he took a step backward. "If you're truly serious about answers, then I need a hunter." "For what?" "A new specimen has arisen in Equestria and I have yet to find someone baby enough who venture out and speak one for me." The Mooti mootu walked over to one of the hanging body parts and grabbed it. It showed it to be a black claw that gave out a black mist. "If you could be a darling and fetch me the rest of it I will answer any question you have for me." "What in the stars even is it?" Discord asked as he examined the 8-inch claw. Discord woke up to greet his two friends blankly staring over his body. He groaned does he sat up straight and rubbed his eyes. "So, what happened?" Spike eagerly asked. "Well, as per usual there's good news and bad news. "Oh brother," Big Mac groaned. "Let's hear it," Spike hissed. "It will tell me the answers and everything else I need to know but, it comes at a price." "Ya?" Spike nobbed. "We got to find a rare species and contain one."Discord smiled as he watched the two exchange glances. "What exactly does it want us to get?" Spike asked. "I don't know all it said is that they were a falling species."