//------------------------------// // Part One: I Spy My Little Eye // Story: Absence Of Life // by AnnEldest //------------------------------// The grizzly day streamed on as the clouds seemed to feel the dread and pain of those below. Cozy stared out of her window at the tears that flew down from the clouds. She sighed as the gloom settled in the waiting room. Sandbar still hadn't woken up still being brought in. She closed her eyes and listened to the sound of the rolling clash of the gods overhead. The pegasus was really putting on a storm that day, and it would continue for many moments afterward. She would have to return soon. All her friends had seen since left. She decided to stay as she wasn't looking forward to being stuck at the school. She opened her eyes to see a bright flash crazy across the gray sky. It was then that she thought back to the night before. She couldn’t explain what had happened; all she remembered was the pitch dark followed by screaming. She remembered running towards the moonlight as the bathroom door slammed open. She remembered the sounds of SandBar screaming and then she saw Gallus and Smolder hauling his lifeless body. Her trip was interrupted by another clash of the sky, and she shook her head as she returned to reality. She really regretted ever mentioning that dreaded place. She couldn’t help but think the worst; what happened if the story was actually true? Her thoughts were interrupted by a strange sight. She saw an odd cat walking into the hospital. She saw the tall orange cat wearing a red coat. He looked somehow familiar without looking recognizable at the same time. She thought that perhaps he was merely only mentioned to her. She couldn't help but get an odd feeling about this. She never saw him there before. He walked up to the counter and spoke to the lady at the desk. "Sorry, sir but family only at this time." Her voice sounded harsh. Cozy watched as he put his paw to his face and sighed heavily. He didn't seem to let her tone get to him. "I understand that and I get why you have that rule. But she doesn't have a lot of families left and none near here. I was told she most likely won't make it and I will like to see her one last time if that is to be the case." "Sir, I'm really sorry about your friend, truly I am. But I can only let family in." "Come on is there anypony here that would care-" "Sir I can't. You're going to have to-" "Let him through." Spoke a stern yet calming voice. Cozy turned as the other two stop and looked to see Princess Luna standing in the doorway. She was wearing a cloak that was mostly stoaking wet from the rain. She went up to the counter and gave a small smile to the cat. She knows him? "It's okay. We're both here to see the same pony." Who do they want to see? The mare wasn't pleased but knew she couldn't say no and told them what room they needed to go to. Cozy waited till the mare at the desk wasn't looking and jumped out of her seat and followed them through the quiet hallways till she stopped at a corner as they stopped by a door. “How bad is it?” Luna asked. “Spike said they should be okay,” the cat responded. “But I just had to be sure. I have seen it go down both ways” "I didn't want to believe it..." So he is friends with Spike. They went into another room. Cozy stood in her place afraid if she got any closer and one of them walked out they would notice her. No one left the room for a few minutes. She wondered what they were talking about if they were talking at all. A few more went by when she saw that they walked out of the room. "Where is he?" Luna asked. "I think this door." The two walked towards Sandbar’s room as Cozy trailed behind. This time she gathered enough courage to get closer. She watched them entered and went up to his bed. Why are they by Sandbar's room? ...he never said anything about knowing a cat. She watched from around the corner as they engaged in an exchange of whispers. “I don’t think it’s The Fallen.” The cat walked up to his leg and bent over to examine it. Cozy unintentionally made an odd face of curiosity as she observed the cat’s actions. “Are you sure?” Luna asked. “Ya, it would be much worse if it was from one of them. Plus the womb would be black and scorching.” The cat walked around the hospital bed and continued to examine the earth pony. “I don’t feel any of their presents either.” “That’s good I guess,” Luna sighed. “But then what the hell did this to him?” “You think it’s something…. Not alive?” “I honestly have no idea,” Luna chuckled. “Well, where did this happen?” “Spike said that the kids he was with told Twilight they went to some old house in the Everfree forest,” He explained. Why did Spike tell him all of this? “I have heard that there are some old ghost stories about the place, but I really doubted any of them were true,” Luna assumed with a shrugged. “Well, we could always check it out,” Capper suggested. “It’s not too far from here.” “Ya, but do you really want to?” Luna sighed. “I mean sure,” Capper chuckled. “Better to be safe than sorry, right?” The two left the room and headed off to their destination. Little did they know that they had a tail, another sweet innocent tail. The sun hung low overhead as the birds bathed in its rays. The clouds scattered and left the land a beauty of life and luxury. All creatures of the land look the time to celebrate the weather as they ran across the crisp grass and breathed the cool air. The Griffin stared up at the sky which all enjoyed on that today, all except for him. He laid in his windowsill as he let the breeze brush past his feathers. The way of regret had found its way and then routed itself deep within his soul. along with a great amount of anger they penetrated through. That night was supposed to be nothing more than childish fun and innocence yet it turned out to be such a disaster. He growled doesn't spot enveloped him and took over a little in his since I was left with him. He then rolled over and jumped onto his bed as he took in a deep breath. Suddenly he could hear the sweet rhyme are an enchanting lullaby that flooded into his room. He sat up as he searched for the source of who is responsible for the noise. He looked around to see that there was no other life in his room it's somehow the sound seemed to radiate from the very walls. A strong feeling of eyes that were locked onto him made a shiver run down his spine. it was a bright sunny day out with nothing to fear yet somehow he seemed alarmed. “Hello?” He called out. “Is someone there?” He heard a giggle at a response to his call as a little bit of tension eased out of his body. “Witch?” The Voice called out. Gallus Opened his mouth to respond as nothing came out. “Sorcerer? Evildoer?” The voice seemed to grow in volume and darkened at the same time. “What did they call me?” Gallus backed up on his bed as fear once more crept his way through his room. At the same time, dark ominous clouds blocked out the sunlight and left his room in a gloomy shadow. He stared at the door that led to his only exit. It was so close to him yet somehow seemed so far from the bed. He quickly got up and ran to the exit like a lost puppy running through a dark forest. Once he got to the door, he quickly turned it and tried to force it open but it didn't budge. Perplexed, he tried again. Still, the door would not open. He banged his body against the door as it refused to give away. He started to scream for help. He stopped at the sound of crackling wood. he smelled the familiar scent of charcoal Woodsmoke. he could see an ominous glow that emanated a shadow against the door in front of them. In the darkened room there was all the one light that seem somehow dark. He slowly turned around to see the Flames that enveloped a pony. Her eyes gleamed as a fire Pierced her Iris. Her gaze locked with his as her hatred pierced through him. “Witch?!” She screamed as she lunged at the griffon.