//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: The Nightmare Ends // Story: Nightmare Night // by Sennerazen //------------------------------// It took several minutes for Discord's eyes to adjust after the blinding light. He and the others found themselves in a small, musty room with a high ceiling. They had ended up in a heap on top of another heap of people. As they untangled themselves, they found Marble, Sugar Belle, Rarity, and Sunburst beneath them, struggling to breathe. "There you all are," gasped Rarity, dragging herself from under Marble. Her costume was decidedly ruined and her hair stuck out every which-way. "Um... where are we?" "Guess we're in the attic now," Starlight said, dusting herself off. "We were all just in the root cellar," Rarity said coughing. "Horrible, damp place." "Sugar Belle!" Big Mac almost sobbed, pushing Zephyr, Starlight, and Maud out of his way. Sugar Belle was huddled on the floor, wide-eyed, and only seemed to register her surroundings when Big Mac kneeled beside her. "Big Mac?" she asked, then buried her face in his shoulder. Big Mac held her tightly and Applejack heaved a sigh of relief as she leaned against a wall. Discord's giant smile turned sad when he felt a pang of jealousy, and he scanned everyone in the room to make sure Fluttershy was not there. How typical, that the one he wanted most was the one not safely with him. What had he been doing wrong to deserve this? What had Fluttershy done? "Don't get all mopey now," Applejack said to him quietly. "We gotta get out of here." The room was almost empty, save an old, wooden, child's wheelchair, a broken oil lamp, and tattered curtains covering the two small windows on each end. "This place gives me the creeps," said Spike. "And the rest of the house doesn't?" asked Rarity, and Spike blushed and stammered so he could agree with her. Angel seemed the most dazed of all of them, turning in circles and looking helplessly at everyone. Zephyr crouched down and held his hand out for him and he grudgingly hopped over. "Everyone's here," said Twilight. "Except for Fluttershy. And the princesses." "Y'all see Fluttershy?" Applejack asked Sunburst. He shook his head as Marble joined her sisters, who hugged her and then each other. "I'm getting worried about her," said Twilight, biting her nail. "I mean, I was before, but... where is she?" "I wish I knew," murmured Discord, sinking half his body through a wall. "Stop that," said Rainbow. "I'll tell you," a guttural voice said from the far end of the attic. *** The wisp was trying to tug Fluttershy through the narrow bedroom window, though she had fought against leaping out another one. At least there was a part of the roof several feet below her. She pushed and pushed her lower body through the rectangle until she was out of breath and the wisp tugged on her arms to get her through. She crawled onto the curved roof, about to sigh with relief, when she felt herself slipping and silently tumbled off. Instead of hitting concrete below, she landed in the kitchen pantry. Her breath left her once again, and it was several minutes before she could think. When she got to her feet, she kicked at the door until it opened, grabbed her broom, and crept into the kitchen. "Where's the Beast?" an icy voice whispered, and she jumped. "Beast?" Fluttershy squeaked. Five ghastly spectres hovered just behind her. "Discord," they said in unison. Her throat constricted, but she managed to squeak again even higher-pitched than before, “Please don’t hurt him.” “What?” a ghost asked, floating close to her. When she squeaked for a third time, a squeak was all it was. “You know him?” it asked. “Doesn’t matter,” Carl shrieked. “He’s toast!” The ghosts flew past her; she was hunched over now, nearly on her knees, with only her broom to support her. When it had been quiet for several seconds, she peeled one eyelid open and found Carl right in front of her. “What are you gonna do with that broom?” he asked, grinning. Without thought, Fluttershy stood and brought the broom down through the ghost’s head with a scream. It must not have expected retaliation, for it looked around itself, startled. “What the…” It backed away before lifting a broken crate from the pantry and hurling it at her. Fluttershy barely deflected the worst of it with her broom.  What followed was a parade of abandoned and broken kitchenware being hurled through the air toward Fluttershy, who did her best to protect herself. She did rather well for someone so weak and helpless, but a broken jar cut across her left eyebrow. She stumbled back and sat on the floor. Her right eye opened just in time to see Carl swoop down on her, but the formless entity had helped her through the window grabbed Carl in a headlock and their own brawl began. Fluttershy used the distraction to scoot backward along the floor with the broom until out of harm’s way, then bolted from the room. Blood spilled from her face and she covered her hand with her sweater sleeve before pressing it to her eyes. She lurched around the dining room furniture and skidded into the foyer of the house. She tried the front door, but it was locked or blocked and would not budge. Further in was a large, ornate stairwell, but the second floor was only darkness. Carl and the other ghosts floated into the foyer and she squeezed her eyes shut, pressing herself against a wall. “Come out, come out.” Oh, what can hurt a ghost? Besides Discord… maybe? She sighed. If he could get rid of ghosts, he certainly would have done it by now. Unless he was getting a big kick out of everything.  “Payback.” Her eyes flew open and she saw Carl, inches from her face. She let out a blood-curdling shriek  and brought up her broom to defend her from anything, but Carl was dragged away from her. “What the hell, man?” another ghost asked, exasperated. “Stop picking on her. We want the Beast!” “She hit me with a broom!” “It can’t hurt you, dumbass.” They looked at Fluttershy, cowering on the floor. “Does that look like a fighter?” “...” “ Let’s go. Winston and his cronies pulled the others into the attic. It’s time.” “Wait,” Fluttershy called out quietly. “Please don’t hurt my friends. Discord tried to send you on vacation. He didn’t try to exorcise you.” “‘Discord’, is it?” Carl grinned. “Please don’t hurt him. He doesn’t want to upset you.” “What a freak of nature. What is he?” Fluttershy opened her mouth to protest, but could not exactly argue Discord was not a freak of nature; his very existence relied on it. “He’s really very gentle," she finally said. "I’m sure it’s all a misunderstanding.” “Gentle? He’ll get what’s coming to him.” Carl darted away,  joining his ghostly comrades. Fluttershy picked herself off the floor and, using her broom as a crutch, hobbled after the ghosts. I’ve got to try and stop them, whatever they’re doing. As she crept her way in the ghosts' wake, she considered Discord's honesty again, and believed he must be very truthful indeed, for not only would he never hurt her, he wouldn't torment someone else; he knew she would never approve. Although she mostly wanted her legs to stop moving, she ran after them and caught up with them halfway up the main stairwell. "A-all right... ghosts! Stand back. Discord's my best friend, and nobody attacks him. Nobody!" As soon as she said the words, she regretted them; Carl dragged her by her hair up the rest of the stairs and into a cleaning closet. She stumbled and tripped over her broom, landing on her face on the floor. She heard the closet door slam shut behind her and in her panic whispered, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" After several minutes of quiet outside, she stopped quivering and rubbed her head; being dragged by the hair was excruciating. She sat up, wiping her eyes, and set her shoulders. She had to help her friends. Trying the door, it was unsurprisingly locked, and in her frustration she began kicking it with all her might, which was hardly any. She used the broom handle to aid her and vowed she would not stop until she broke free. Even if all her friends were nothing more than ghosts themselves now, she would not fail them. *** Loud bangs sounded from within the far attic wall. They grew louder and louder until one terrible crash left the boards splitting apart. Rainbow Dash and Applejack clung to each other while Big Mac stepped in front of Sugar Belle, and Zephyr fainted. When the boards fell away and the dust cleared, Fluttershy stood in the wall, almost hyperventilating. She was holding her broken broom out in front of her as splinters and broken spider webs fell on and around her. Her manic eyes were wide and bloodshot and her entire body was shaking. "Fluttershy," said Twilight and Rarity. “Calm down, sugarcube,” Applejack said, laying her hand on Fluttershy’s shoulder, but the touch made her jump. Fluttershy hugged herself, trying to stop shaking, and Discord enveloped her in his arms. “I’m so sorry,” he told her. “F-f-fu-” “Uh,” said Applejack quickly, “anyway. All’s well that ends well, right?” “We knew you’d make it out okay,” said Pinkie. Discord let her go so she could gather herself just as Angel hopped to her and jumped onto her shoulder. His warm little body took her out of her stupor and she cuddled him. “W-what an awful place,” she told him, scratching him behind the ears. “Was it bad for you, too?” Discord cleared his throat. “I really thought all the ghosts were gone. I didn’t think any could stay behind. This house is from a strange place... I’m sorry.” Fluttershy attempted to look up at him and find comfort from his eyes, but Rarity rushed between them, crying, “Oh, darling. What did those ghouls do to you?” “Um… actually, most of it was my fault.” She touched the cut over her eye. “Except this. And some of the bruises.” “What happened?” “Some terrible ghost kept after me. The others called him Carl.” “Carl?” Discord said, his eyes narrowed. “What a strange name,” Starlight said. “Where did this house come from?” She and the others looked expectantly at Discord, save Fluttershy, who was quivering too much to focus on anything besides Angel. “Uh, ‘Earth’,” said Discord. “Very far away. Time-space, you know." “Oh, Zephyr,” Fluttershy gasped, crawling to his still form. She patted his cheek. “Wake up. It’s only me.” “He went down right before you broke through the door,” Rainbow said. “He’s not hurt, is he?” Rainbow touched Zephyr’s arm with her boot. “Too scared of loud noises, I guess.” Zephyr’s eyes moved beneath their lids and he stirred. Peeling back one eyelid, he croaked, “Sis?” “It’s me,” she told him. “I’m all right. We’re all fine. Can you sit up?” She helped him upright, where he leaned, limp-limbed, against her. “I feel weak.” “You fainted.” “Am I alive or am I dead?” “Alive,” Rainbow said with a slight edge of disappointment. Fluttershy helped him to his knees. "Feel better?" Zephyr could not answer, and she and Rainbow had to help him back to his feet, where he attempted to recover his cool façade. A violent wind shot in from the hallway and into the room; even Pinkie’s curls, sticking out from under her costume, were fluffed, becoming even more precarious. Five ghosts materialized on the wind. They looked human despite their near-transparent, wispy forms, and none looked pleased. “Your magic has threatened us,” a tall, gangly ghost with a long mustache said. “Your attempts to dispel the last of us from our home have backfired. We will fight.” “Whoa, whoa,” said Discord, holding up his hands. “I sent you on-” “Enough!” a raspy-voiced ghost wailed. “We have taken control of your corrosive, dark magic. You wanted in so badly, so here you will stay. Vengeance is ours.” “We just wanted to walk around a haunted house,” Big Mac said. “We haven’t hurt anyone. Let us out of here so we can leave you alone like you want. This is ridiculous. Why, never in my life have I met such a cruel bunch of whiners. And what do you mean by beating on our friend? She never did anything to you. Why ya'll into vengeance this and vengeance that? You're dead!" Even Discord was momentarily distracted by Big Mac’s diatribe, but was forced to return his attention to the ghosts when they circled him. "Fellas," Discord began, holding up his hands. "This is all a misunderstanding. If you let me and my friends out of here, I can fix everything." "Silence," the raspy-voiced one cried. "I am Winston. I am the leader of this house. Any last words, Discord?" Discord was torn between anger and annoyance; he'd snapped plenty of ghosts away before, and was confident he could do it now, but he wasn't sure he could get everyone out safely; himself and Fluttershy, sure, but not the others. "Yes," he said, dejected. "I have last words. Do whatever you want to me, but let the others go." "Never." "No one here has hurt you. You're attacking everyone for no reason." "You disturbed our home. Our place of peace and rest-" "Peace?" Twilight said. "You call this peace?" She surveyed her frightened friends and the dark, cramped attic. A glowing, translucent wisp materialized, floating several feet off the floor in front of Discord, who raised his hand to strike. “No, no,” Fluttershy said, wobbling to him. “This one is nice. It helped me. Except when it threw a brick at me, but-” “Brick?” Discord’s eyebrows shot up. “I’m fine,” she told him, more confidently than before, and their eyes met and lingered until Winston spoke again. "That’s Stillwell. Not quite right while living, either.” He cleared his throat. "Don't try and fight us again, Stillwell. What do you want? Do you want to lie down? Is it time for your nap?" Tendrils curled down from the wisp and ripped one of the wheels off the wheelchair before hurling at Winston and the other ghosts. WInston sighed. "As you can see, he's not all together up here." He tried to tap his finger against his head, but it went straight through. “I do see," said Discord. "So which one of you is Carl?” To anyone but Fluttershy listening, he sounded amiable. “He’s me," Carl said, emerging from the group. "And you’re this… Discord? Been looking for you this entire hour. You’re-” “For hurting my girlfriend,” Discord snarled, snapping his fingers.  Carl let out an anguished cry and slowly faded away into smoke. The other ghosts looked about themselves nervously. “Girlfriend?” Applejack said, glancing at her friends. “I miss somethin’?” “A lot of things,” said Pinkie, jumping up. It remained a mystery whether Fluttershy had heard him or not, but she collapsed against Twilight and Rarity and they helped her sit down, but Zephyr had heard and scowled at him. For Fluttershy's sake, and hers only, did he ignore Zephyr completely. "Sorry," she said weakly. "I can't quite stop shaking.” Discord tried to join her, but the ghosts blocked her from him. “This attic is locked by magic,” a portly ghost told them. “If you escape through a wall or door or window, you’ll step right back into this room. You’ll starve here and die of despair.” “We’ve been studying this strange power,” said Winston. “I know you did not predict that as ghosts we are able to use it for our own gain.” “You tried to exorcise us,” another said. “You, not even of our world.” “I didn’t exorcise you,” Discord laughed. “I tried to send you on vacation. If you hadn’t fought it, you’d be sipping cocktails with your buddies right now.” “We’ve heard every trick in the book, old man!” Carl spat. “But I mean it. Stars everywhere. Three moons! Sunsets to die for.” Beside him, Applejack covered her face with her hand. “Anyway,” Twilight said, “he’s going to put it right. Aren’t you, Discord.” Discord looked at the ceiling. “It already is. Mostly." “Then let’s get outta this house,” said Applejack, her hand on the knob of the attic door. Discord grabbed her arm, pulling her back. “Not that way. Let me do it.” "You can't leave," Winston screeched. "We've taken over your magic-" "Not all of it. I was really just trying to find Fluttershy. I wasn't going to abandon her here with you monstrosities." "Wait," said Twilight. "What about Celestia and Luna? We can't leave them here, either." Discord rolled his eyes. "They're trapped in a mirror on the first floor." "You knew where they were all along?" said Rainbow. Limestone doubled over laughing, while Rarity, Rainbow, and Twilight stood horrified. Discord did not have a chance to reply, for the wall of ghosts produced a variety of weapons, ranging from an awl to a fountain pen. "It's time to meet your maker," Winston said. "Just let me outside and I'll bring back all your friends, honest!" Discord backed away, pushing Fluttershy behind him. "I'm not terrible anymore! I'm trying to help!" Two nameless ghosts slashed their weapons at him, which he did his best to dodge while protecting Fluttershy. A new purple vortex appeared in the middle of the room, growing larger and more terrifying with cracks of red lightning. "Go ahead and go in," Winston said. "If you dare. You might end up in the basement this time." "Stop this nonsense," Discord said. "This is getting out of hand." "Getting?" Rarity mumbled, stepping backward. The ghosts attacked again, and Discord blocked their blows with his arms. Unlike their ethereal selves, the objects they held were very real, and twos lived from the awl split his left forearm. Fluttershy, in fear of being pressed against the wall behind him, slipped to the side. Sunburst looked from her, to the others, to Discord. "This isn't good. Stuck here? Being stabbed? Jumping through house portals forever?" "I have to get them out of here," he whispered through gritted teeth. "If I can get them all outside, well be out of the house's dimensional... whatever. I might be able to get more control." "How? We can't even get out of this room," Sunburst whispered back. "We'll have to trick them. Just follow me and the others will, too. I'll grab Fluttershy." Before Sunburst could blink, Discord scooped Fluttershy, who had just sat next to Pinkie and Rarity, into his arms and flung her over one shoulder. With two snaps of his fingers, he broke through a wall and jumped through it. He had no idea where he would end up, but his magic at least could do that. "I promise I'll make it up to you!" he yelled at the ghosts, desperate and shrill. "Come and get me, all of you!" He heard others follow him, and the ghosts did, as well. They were an exodus of flailing limbs and thundering feet as they appeared in a bathroom and then ran down the hall to the stairwell. Discord was too stressed to give Fluttershy any words of comfort, and colorful bursts of lightning followed them in long strands as he dragged the magic from the portal with him. She felt for him, but there was little she could do hanging across his shoulder. Behind them she saw the pale forms gaining on them, but she was not as terrified as she had been earlier. Now she was with her friends, and with Discord. As long as he did not let her go, she knew she would be safe. Discord ran at breakneck speed, his long legs giving him advantage. He snapped his fingers as he ran by a cracked, dust-covered mirror just before reaching the foyer, and Celestia and Luna tumbled from it. "Go," Rainbow screamed as she jumped over the princesses, and they followed suit. "Out the door, out the door, out the door," Discord cried, shattering the door with his magic and leaping down the front steps. Once the ghost flew out of the house, a portal appeared in front of them and he threw Fluttershy into the air and into the swirling vortex. Fluttershy felt herself falling, then floating, and felt a sensation of waking up. The light in the room where she was was too bright, and she shielded her eyes as she heard loud cracks and pops all around her. Her friends appeared, one right after the other, and skidded or fell on the floor. "I never want to do that again," Rainbow said, panting. "What the hell?" Discord was the last to appear from the ether, and immediately looked for Fluttershy to ensure she had made it safely. His house was bright and cheery, and the rest of them sadly picked apart the remnants of their costumes. Only Spike's costume remained unscathed. Celestia and Luna sat next to each other on the sofa, their eyes darting around the room every now and then as Twilight and Starlight filled them in. Discord was running around the living room, snapping his fingers and turning things upside-down or different colors. “Hah! Hah! Hah!” With each exclamation, a cascade of pink and white flowers, each bigger than the last, dropped around Fluttershy; she was nearly covered to her eyes when he finished. She pulled her arm from the stems and petals and brushed the flowers out of her face. A small blue spider crawled onto her hand and she smiled at it. “I’m happy for you, Discord.” He grabbed her from the flower pile, squeezing her against him. “And I’m happy for me, too.” "Hey, sis," said Zephyr, "I'm glad you're okay." She pulled away from Discord and hugged her brother. "You had me worried when I saw you on the floor." Discord's jealousy reared up again, but only for moment. Despite his personal opinion of Zephyr Breeze, he was Fluttershy's brother, and she loved him. Discord supposed he had to at least accept him, too. "All's well that ends well, isn't that what you say?" Discord said, massaging her scalp with his fingers. She smiled up at him and held his hand over her shoulder. "I was just tired," Zephyr said, smoothing his ragged hair back. "Very," Discord said, grinning at him. Zephyr smiled back, strained. “Oh, I’m so glad you two got along. I was worried you might not,” she said to them, not noticing their shared grimaces. Discord held his hand out for Zephyr, who looked repulsed, but a glance at his sister made him sigh. He took Discord’s hand and shook it once, crisply, before both turned away. "But you still look pale," Fluttershy told Zephyr. “Lost your girls, have you?” Discord said wickedly. “You know?” Zephyr said, clearing his throat. “I’m thinking I’ll take a little ‘me’ time and just… adore myself for a while.” “What a great idea,” Fluttershy said, smiling warmly. Zephyr pulled her aside. “You sure about this guy, Flutter Butter? He’s creepy. He even exorcised that mean ghost after he said he wouldn't." "He hurt me. Anyway, Discord won't leave him exorcised forever." "How would you know?" She was watching Discord, smiling. “Because I know." "He's a train wreck. He's a natural disaster." "And he's mine." Zephyr was stricken, but said no more. Discord refreshed the tables of food and candy, adding loaves of pumpkin bread and mugs of cider to the spread. "We didn't lose much time," he told them. "Relax and enjoy yourselves." "No more haunted houses?" Starlight asked, her face stern. Every other face around him was just as stern, save Fluttershy's. He glanced at the ceiling. "Um, of course. No more haunted houses. Cross my heart and hope to die, stick a cupcake in my eye." Starlight, mollified, reached for a slice of pumpkin bread. "Well... that was interesting," Discord said as he rejoined Fluttershy. She had an iron grip on his black sleeve, but let out a trembling laugh. "Yes, it was." He smiled down at her and she returned the expression; his smile got bigger. He had half a mind to snap everyone else in his house back to Equestria and keep her for himself, but he thought she might not appreciate it. “Hey, what’s this prize you had for Fluttershy?” Rainbow asked, gulping cider. The others looked at Fluttershy, who felt her cheeks warm. “Oh, I don’t need a prize,” she said shyly. “Besides, being with all of you is all the prize I need.” Fluttershy’s sincerity made Discord’s heart melt; he could never, ever be as good as she was, but he was determined to try. “Why don’t I make us all some tea before you head back?” he asked everyone. “Something to take the edge off.” The party murmured in agreement, and Discord took Fluttershy’s hand and entered the kitchen. Fluttershy’s closest friends followed to help. “The prize? Why, it’s me,” Discord said, almost horrified she had not realized the obvious. But even to his surprise, Fluttershy laughed out loud and jumped into his arms, pressing her lips to his. She closed her eyes and relaxed completely in his arms as she heard Rainbow Dash choke on her candy apple, followed by the pounding thumps from Twilight and Applejack as they hit her back to dislodge it. Applejack then took her dinosaur hat off in a sign of respect, and Rarity quietly left the room, beckoning the others to follow. “Woooow!” Pinkie said as she stepped from the room. “She kissed him. She kissed him!” “Of course she kissed him,” said Rarity. “She’s in love with him.” “What?” The unison shriek of Rainbow and Celestia could be heard even by Discord and Fluttershy, and they untangled themselves from each other to look through the doorway. “Maybe not in love, but they like each other,” Pinkie screamed, almost crying from emotion. “Isn’t that enough?”  Rarity blocked Pinkie from bouncing back into the room and leaned her head in. “We’re so sorry. Please excuse us.” She shut the doors to give them privacy and Fluttershy shook her head at Discord, trying not to laugh. Discord held her at arm’s length. “What? Is that true?” “I don’t know,” she said, feeling shy again. “Maybe I do. I’ve never been in love before. How do I know?” “Do you feel sick to your stomach every time you look at me?” he asked, breathless with hope. “No,” she laughed. Discord made a face. “Then perhaps not. Well. Ahem. That’s okay. We’re still best friends.” “We’re more than best friends.” She hugged him around his waist, leaning her cheek into his chest. He ruffled her hair and tried to walk, but she dragged on him like an octopus and he stumbled around the kitchen. *** Two days later, when Discord paid a visit to Fluttershy, the air was colder and rain threatened them, but she lit a fire in the fireplace and they curled up next to each other on the loveseat while Angel, passed out asleep from too much candy, lay on his back before the fire. Discord held out a crumpled paper. "A letter from our spectral friends." "The ghosts? Are they angry?" "Au contraire. They thank me for my hospitality, and even the mean ones who stayed behind have forgiven me.” He leaned close. “It was the rum chocolates I sent, I’m sure.” She hugged him. “I'm sure." "And, look. Photos." He handed her a faded picture of fifteen ghosts of varying transparency and size, with tropical flowers around their necks, sun hats, and colorful cocktails with tiny umbrellas. Even Stillwell, what was left of him, floated in the background holding a sign that said Fluttershy, with a heart underneath. "I promised you I promised them." "I know." She settled her chin on his arm and smiled. "Discord?" "Yes?" "I actually kind of had fun. In the haunted house, I mean. Once I knew I was safe and thought about it." "You liked it?" He sank further into the loveseat and tucked her next to him. "Weren't you terrified?" "Of course I was terrified. But once I realized you really tried to help them... and that they couldn't really hurt you... it was sort of exciting. Sometimes. Well..." Discord laughed. "I'm glad. That's all I wanted for you." She closed her eyes, relaxing against his warm, comforting body. "Discord?" "Hm?" "Zephyr really fainted when I was trying to break through the wall?" "He did." She grinned. "I tried not to laugh. Once I knew he wasn't hurt, of course. Please don't tell anyone." He wrapped his arm around her. "My lips are sealed." She traced his chest with her fingers. "Discord?" "Hm?" "I am in love with you."