//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Survival 
// Story: Nightmare Night 
// by Sennerazen 
//------------------------------//

Fluttershy kept running until she ran through an open doorway into a large library. Bookcases set into the walls reached at least twenty feet high. She forgot her fear momentarily as her eyes adjusted to the dark, but rather cozy room. 

Twilight would love this. She made her way to the far wall so nothing could jump out from behind her, or so she hoped. She hesitated, then withdrew a book from a shelf and opened it, squinting at the text, but the language was one she did not recognize. 

Half-melted candles in candelabras on either side of a narrow window were suddenly lit, allowing her to see the corners of the room. A strong gust of wind blew in from nowhere and rustled her hair. She crouched and covered her ears, eyes shut, waiting for the wind to stop. Not for the first time, she wondered how she always ended up in one of these predicaments. Discord seemed the only variable.

As she shook her head, she imagined Discord; tall and slender, with his wild brown hair juxtaposed by his white eyebrows and beard. At first he had terrified her, but as their friendship grew, she learned to appreciate even the little things about him; how he always put her first; the troubled storm in his red eyes when he felt guilty about something, and the sparks in them when he didn’t; his tiny fang that could not always be hidden by his lips. 

No doubt he was having the time of his life right now, though she supposed he may be trying to help her despite it. Perhaps she could try harder to be more of a sport, but she was still scared of too many stupid little things. 

A small book hit her arm and she was jolted from her daydream, and she said, without thinking, “Stop it. Leave me be.” Horror hit her as soon as she spoke and she sat on the floor holding her arms up to protect her face.

An ethereal wisp was floating several feet in front of her. She let out a weak scream and curled into a ball. "Please don't hurt me. Please don't, please don't."

The wisp sank to the floor and its white, smoke-like form turned slightly more blue. Fluttershy heard what she thought might be the sound of someone crying and was soon overcome.

“Oh," she said sadly. "Are you left all alone here, too?”

It let out a cracking sob, startling her, but the sound of crying tugged her heart. “It’s just an awful feeling, isn’t it? Feeling abandoned? Feeling…” she let out a tiny hiccup-sob and covered her eyes with her hands.

A cool touch on her arm made her skin undulate, but when she wiped her eyes and stared at the wisp, she relaxed. It composed itself and drifted to the wall on Fluttershy’s right.

“You want me to follow you?” She crept toward the wisp, which directed her to a narrow window and faded through it. She pressed the glass with her hands and the pane swung out. Rain from the blackness outside shot in and startled her.

The wisp reappeared and hovered just outside the window before floating downard. Fluttershy saw a precarious trellis below her from the window, covered in vines.

“Oh,” she said. “Um. Down there?”

The wisp circled just outside the window.

“I don’t know if I can do this. I’m not very strong.”

It pushed at her.

“And I really don’t like heights…”

The wisp pushed at her again and, quivering, she climbed over the spider web-covered sill and began her painstaking descent. enough for her to move quickly, but, inch by inch, minute by minute, she worked her way down the trellis. She had begun to relax slightly when she was halfway down, but then felt the wood under her weight break away and she fell with a whispering scream to the balcony below.

It took her several minutes to catch her breath again; she was disoriented and bruised and looked up at the broken trellis as if not quite realizing what had happened. She rolled over onto her hands and knees and saw a set of glass doors opening into another room. She peered inside before stepping in and found herself in a large bedroom, complete with a massive four-poster bed and draped in spiderwebs.

The wind rose again, almost violently this time, and the doors behind her crashed shut. She bolted for the nearest door she could find and ran head-first into a broom closet. It was mostly bare, but for a worn-out broom and several dirty rags. She gripped the broom in both hands and turned to face the room again, ready to defend herself if needed, but the wisp was gone and she was alone.

The only thing worse than trying to find her way out of this horrible maze was staying where she was, so she inched her way out of the closet and around the room to the door. She raised her broom as she flung the door open, but the hallway, too, was empty, at least initially. Movement from the far end of the hall caught her eye and she backed into the room again, running into an armoire. She was so terrified, not knowing what had touched her, that she ran out of the room and into the hallway before catching herself.

A darkness appeared further down, and with some astonishment she realized it was Princess Luna. "Oh," she called out, picking up her pace. "Princess! Princess Luna! It's me!"

As she drew nearer, it was apparent Luna did not, or could not, hear her. Before she reached her, Luna had drifted into another room, and the door had shut. Fluttershy tugged on the knob, but it was locked, then banged on the door as loudly as she dared, but Luna did not answer. "Oh, what is wrong? Princess! Princess, please let me in! It's me, Fluttershy!"

The air around her was growing cold again, and she fought against the panic rising in her. Oh, sweet Celestia! I’ve died! She leaned against the wall, staring at her battered hands as if expecting to find them invisible. I fell off that trellis and died! Tears welled in her eyes again; she didn't know what else to do. She didn't mean to always cry, but ended up doing it anyway.

A brick, flung through the air, hit her stomach and she doubled forward from pain. "All right," she whispered, "not dead." When a book hit her shoulder, she cowered behind the bed, whimpering, "Please stop hurting me."

The wisp had reappeared and let out a series of cacophonous sobs, followed by a long, heart-wrenching wail.

Fluttershy dried her own tears and reached for her broom. "I'll help you, but I have to get out of here. I know Discord will put things right. You don't have to worry."

***

Discord and the others were still, trying to understand what they were witnessing. 

“You are, after all, stuck here," the ghost that had just materialized told them. "Maybe for a long time. Maybe forever.” 

It flinched as a rock was thrown through it, compliments of Limestone, who had just walked through the open door of the room.

“Limestone!” Pinkie shrieked, hopping to her sister.

“Hey, Pinkie. The hell is going on?”

Twilight Sparkle, costume awry, staggered in behind her.

“Twilight!” Rainbow and Applejack cried.

“Don’t touch me,” she said, thoroughly finished with everything. “I ran through five ghosts and feel like I’ve waded through a pig trough.”

“Golly, I’m glad to see you,” said Applejack, giving Twilight a hug. “Things’ve been… weird.”

“I know.” Twilight groaned, inspecting the dangling bells half-ripped from her costume. “What is happening?”

Pinkie squeezed Twilight’s face in her hands. “Discord tried getting rid of the ghosts here so we’d be kinda scared but not that scared because Fluttershy can’t be scared, and the ghosts got mad and it’s all from an alternate reality so his magic is all wonky and the ghosts are taking control of it to harass us and keep us here forever!”

“Wow,” Twilight muttered, “way to impress a girl. Where is Fluttershy?”

“Missing,” Zephyr said. “Discord lost her.”

“She’s just misplaced,” Discord told them. “We’re almost all back together now. She can’t be far.”

The ghost, who had been impatiently waiting for them to stop talking, bellowed, “Stop! You’re here because you’re being punished! Only in the depths of Hell shall you pay-”

Discord snapped his fingers and the ghost vanished.

Rainbow pushed past Zephyr. “What’d you do that for? It could've helped us find Fluttershy! Or get us out of here!”

“Yeah, I thought you swore all the ghosts were gone,” said Applejack.

“They were. I think. Anyway, I think I'm getting the hang of it now." He snapped his fingers, his smile turning dark. “It seems like something is trying to use my power against me, so I just have to outsmart it."

"No kiddin'," said Applejack.

"We've got to get out of this music room," said Rainbow.

Twilight shook her head. "We heard the organ music; it led us here. Who was playing?"

"That was me," said Pinkie, hopping back to the organ. As she sat, she pressed a discordant chord on the keys and then began an eerie rendition of We're not Flawless.

"We should wait a little," Twilight said. "Who knows who else-"

A rock-like figure ran into the room so fast it skidded along the dusty floorboards and almost into the organ itself, and as the others stood back with bated breath, Pinkie grinned and said, "Hi, Marble."

Marble held onto the organ, head bowed, her head spinning. Her rock costume was smashed in on one side, but before she could take too much of their attention, a shadow eased into the room, belonging to Maud.

"Hi, Pinkie," she said without emotion. "Marble. Limestone. Everyone."

"See?" Twilight brightened. "Keep playing, Pinkie."

Big Mac was staring dejectedly at his feet, and Applejack patted his shoulder. Discord and Rainbow paced. Pinkie and her sisters were chatting over the sound of the organ music, and Zephyr was circling the group like a shark. He settled next to Twilight.

"So, you like books, right? I like books."

At first, Twilight did not understand who was speaking to her, and then she did not quite understand why. "Um. Hi, Zephyr. Yes. I... like books."

"What say you and me go to the library one day and see where the words take us?"

"Uh," Twilight said, her eyes darting around for an escape. "Are you hitting on me? Now?"

Zephyr batted his eyelids in answer.

"Zephyr, I am not going to go on a date with you." She turned her attention to the others and began counting them. "Who are we still missing? Still no Fluttershy. And no princesses or Rarity. No Starlight and no Sugar-"

"No," Applejack hissed, waving her arms and eyeing her brother. "Don't say her name!"

"Uh... okay. Um, and no Sunburst or Trixie. Where could they be? What rooms have we all been in?"

"Anywhere," sighed Rainbow. "All over. This is getting old. I just want to have some punch and scare some people and go to bed!"

"Maybe they're already together," said Applejack.

"I hope so."

Discord was still snapping his fingers  with little success, for his expression grew darker with each snap. Only Pinkie and Limestone and Maud seemed unfazed, and Zephyr, at least, had his own drive to occupy his time.

“Hey there,” Zephyr said, sidling up to Maud.

“I have a boyfriend,” said Maud. “He’s not you.”

Zephyr's smile faltered. “We could change that.”

“You should talk to my sister.”

“Uh,” Zephyr nearly shuddered as he looked at Pinkie. “Sprinkle?”

“Marble.”

“The... no.”

“She’s really very sweet,” Maud said with deadpan sincerity. "Although I'm not sure I want her going out with you."

Zephyr glanced at Marble. “Uh, a little too close to home, know what I mean?”

“What about Limestone? She works the rock farm like nobody else.”

He was already smoothing back his hair and straightening his jacket and was ready with a grin by the time Limestone turned to face him.

“The hell are you looking at?” she rasped.

Zephyr felt a warmth in his heart and lowered his eyelids. “So,” he said, looking her up and down, “you like rocks? I like rocks.”

Even Limestone was unable to cope, and it was Pinkie who rescued her. “Let’s sing a song! 'Rock-a-bye-Rocky'? 'The Fields of Desperation'?"

"Don't wanna sing," Limestone said. 

A flash of light forced everyone in the room to shield their eyes, and when it dissipated, a fully-formed ghost hovered in the middle of all of them. It was mostly human, but for its lack of legs and pincer-like hands. With one pincer, it sliced open a hole in the wall and a mist began forming around it.

“Look, Discord,” the entity said in a voice like ice. “Here’s what life would have been like if you’d never been born.”

“The hell?” Discord said, squinting at the portal.

“Don’t look!” Rainbow Dash screamed, the latter word stretched out for the entire length she was leaping through the air to stop him. She crashed into his side and they tumbled to the floor together.

Discord spat and brushed rainbow-colored strands of hair off of his face as he got back to his feet. “A simple ‘no’ would have sufficed.”

“They’re obviously using your chaos magic, or whatever, against you. Just ignore all these weirdos and find Fluttershy! Fluttershy, remember? Your favorite?”

He walked past her. "Then let me out of here. The rest of you can wait for anyone else who shows up."

"Uh, the ghost?" Rainbow grabbed his wrist to hold him back.

He rolled his eyes, but when he snapped his fingers again, the ghost remained and a door appeared directly in front of him. "How convenient."

The door made no sound as it opened, but Discord inhaled a long, high-pitched breath when he saw the figure on the other side. In front of silvery falling stars stood a woman with a long, thin tail with a puff of fur on the end. She was a little shorter than Discord with curling, dark hair, and two narrow pupils in each green eye.

“And there he is,” she sneered. “Lord of Chaos, was it?” 

Discord tried to clear his horrified expression. “... Alice?” 

She peered inside the door, taking in the music room.“Hiding out in this creepy old house? Is this where you ran off to?” 

“Hiding… no. I don’t live here. How did you… what are you…” 

“Hanging around all these young women? Should I be jealous?” Alice’s voice was both melodic and acidic. “What a slime.” 

“I haven’t done anything!” 

“You left me!” 

“Of course I left you,” Discord said quickly. “I can’t be tied down."

Alice eyed the rest of the party and her eyes narrowed further. “You worm.” 

Discord said even more quickly, “I’m not with them! I was hosting a party and we got lost in this stupid un-haunted haunted house.” 

“You leech. So I’m supposed to believe you, am I? Never.” 

The others had been watching the exchange with interest and disbelief, but at last Applejack said, “Hold up a minute, Discord. Who is this? An ex-girlfriend?” 

“‘Girlfriend’ is a strong word,” Discord began, but Alice’s roar encompassed the room. 

“I knew it! You, gutter trash, two-timing me!” 

“Alice, Alice,” Discord tried to placate, “it’s been a thousand  years. Can’t we let bygones be bygones?” 

“Not after leaving me at the altar! Everyone was there, even little Rolond, my ex-boyfriend’s third wife’s baby. Remember?” 

“Whoa,” Applejack said under her breath, her eyes on Discord. 

“I wish I could say it’s lovely to see you again, Alice,” Discord said, with a disapproving glance at Applejack, “but I really am in the middle of a crisis.” 

“So nothing’s changed,” Alice said. She took in the others, including Zephyr Breeze, and relaxed. “What’s with the harem?”

“Harem? No, no; they aren’t with me.”

“No? Not even one?”

“If only you had sent me a letter,” Discord lamented, “we could have forgone this awkward reunion.”

“I’ve been waiting for this door to open all night! Which one is it? The purple-haired baker? The pink-haired crier?”

“You’ve seen her?” Discord lost his animosity and almost grabbed her hands in hope.

“I knew it," she said, stepping back. "Cad."

"Where is she?"

"How would I know? I'm not in that house. I only saw a vision of you all when I was told to stand by this door."

“Er, Alis-Avaran of the Netherlight,” Discord told the others, clearing his throat. “Let’s just call her Alice. We, uh, went out for a while. It was a long time ago. I was a different man then.” 

Alice snorted.

“Alice,” he pleaded, “heave a heart-” 

“You deserve everything you get. You tormented those innocent ghosts out of their own home to pander to a little floozy. What is wrong with you?” 

Discord stopped cold as he was turning to face Applejack. “‘Floozy’?” 

Alice laughed. “What’s a creep like you want with a thing like that?” 

“Am I to understand you just called my friend a- a doxy?” 

Alice was surprised. “Well, what else is she hanging around you for?” 

It was only Rainbow’s lightning reflexes that stopped Discord from attacking Alice; she held Discord back with all of her strength. “Don’t,” she cried. “We’re trying to find Fluttershy and the others and get out of this place, remember? She’s not worth it.” 

“You called Fluttershy a hooker?” Discord bristled, ignoring Rainbow’s words. 

“‘Hooker’ is a strong word,” Alice said. “I was thinking more ‘concubine’ or ‘mistress’. You do have your needs, Discord. Big brute that you are, it’s no wonder you’re still alone.” 

Applejack slid her dinosaur hat from her head, wincing. “Yeah, I’ve heard about all I wanna hear.” 

“Discord, can we please get out of this room?” Rainbow begged. “I can’t stay holed up in places; I get claustrophobic.” 

Discord whipped his head around to implore her. “But she called Fluttershy a whore-”

“Yeah, well, you’re the one who keeps saying it. Can you two give your relationship problems a rest?” 

Shaking his arm from Rainbow’s grasp, Discord all but glared at Alice. “Tell your little ghost friends to let us out of here. All of us.” 

“They're not mine,” Alice said. “I was just finishing a kill when this door appeared. Get yourself out.” The door shut itself, leaving Discord gaping.

“Nice going,” Rainbow barbed. “Way to step up.”

“Oh, bother you,” Discord said, trying to ignore her so he could focus on finding Fluttershy. The musical angle seemed to no longer be working and he was growing impatient. Where was she? For the first time, he worried she might actually be hurt, or even trapped somewhere by accident or against her will. Perhaps he'd have to exorcise all the ghosts, after all. 

He rubbed his forehead and eyed the ghost, who seemed busy chanting something, no doubt attempting to do something else with his magic. Furious, he grabbed the ghost's neck and, miraculously, made contact. The ghost kicked and clawed with its pincers at Discord's arm, but Discord did not feel it.

"Where is Fluttershy?" he said, and even Twilight inadvertently took a step back.

The ghost gurgled and kicked and clawed. Discord pushed him against a wall. "Where is she?"

"I dugn no," it gurgled, its face pressed to the wall. "Who's that?"

"Young woman? Rosy locks? Doe eyes? The most beautiful girl to walk the planet? Wouldn't hurt a fly?"

"Oh, her," the ghost said more clearly, as Discord had loosened his grip. "Carl was beating her up, but I-"

Discord's grip tightened again and ghost gasped, "Stop! You're hurting me! How are you hurting me?"

Alice's door still stood, and he dragged the ghost to it and, once opened, threw him into the falling stars and slammed the door closed.

Rainbow had little patience for him. “Not again. Don’t just snuff things you don't like! We were supposed to be having a party. Get out of this room and do something.”

“I can’t do anything! My magic-”

“So keep trying the doorway, or we'll find another. Fluttershy is probably all alone. She’s probably crying, just like Alice said. Don’t you care?”

He caught Zephyr's scowl and, head drooping, he tugged on the door again, flinching for the next cavalcade, but Starlight and Spike tumbled out of tiny closet, tangled in an old mop and two buckets. Spike's skeleton costume was intact, but Starlight's kite was completely broken.

“Oh, thank you,” Starlight said, helping Spike up. “I thought we’d be stuck in there forever. My legs are cramping. That closet is not big enough for two.”

"Spike," Twilight said, rushing to him and lifting him into her arms. She squeezed one arm around Starlight. "Are you two all right? Have you seen Fluttershy? Or Rarity? The princesses? Trixie or Sunburst? Sug... uh... anyone else?"

Starlight held on to Twilight to steady herself, but shook her head. "Just me and Spike. We were in that closet the whole time! It was locked or stuck or something, but we could hear you. Didn't you hear use calling out?"

"We didn't hear anything but Pinkie playing," Rainbow said. 

"It just popped open," Spike said, trembling. "Maybe a ghost took pity on us?"

Twilight held him tightly. "I'm just glad you're all right. I'm glad all of you are all right. But we have to keep on our toes. I think some of us should stay here and wait; Pinkie, you keep playing the organ, as loudly as you can. The rest of us should look for the others in case someone needs help."

Discord looked at the ceiling, not particularly enjoying Twilight's seizure of the situation, but at least now he'd be able to focus on finding his beloved Fluttershy and no one else. "I'll look for Fluttershy," he told them. "The rest of you split up and stay here or look for the rest."

As he tried to step out of the room, an invisible force stopped him, then repelled him back. He tried three more times, with the same result, and sighed.

“What the hay is goin’ on now?” Applejack murmured to Rarity and Twilight, her teeth clenched.

Discord tried to hide his frustration and leaned against the wall. He could clearly see Fluttershy in his mind; pink hair so long it reached past her knees; gentle, blue-green eyes framed by long lashes; her reticent smile and voice. He sighed, a dreamier sigh than the one before, and did not notice at first when Pinkie tried getting his attention. 

“Discord!" she screamed. "Stop daydreaming about Fluttershy; we’re in dire straits!” 

He looked around just in time to see the floor beneath them turn into a swirling vortex of black and green clouds before they fell through it, their screams drowned out by cracks of purple lightning.