//------------------------------// // Ch. 1: Take Me Somewhere Nice // Story: Hunt and Toll // by I_Post_Ponies //------------------------------// I hate the dark. The black sky swallowed up my anxiety and amplified it. It felt almost as if the heavens were darker tonight: the stars dimmer and the moon less pronounced. Cool air fell across my back, sending a shiver up and down my body. My coat did little to protect me this evening. The night was silent but for the occasional chirp of a cricket. Nopony wandered the streets of Ponyville this late; the night belonged to other things. This night, however, belonged to me as well. I took a deep breath to calm myself down. It was just my nerves getting to me; it had to be. This was my first job working solo. I really didn’t think it was all that big of a deal yesterday, but now that I’m here, facing down the task, I’m not so sure. I waited from my spot in the bushes, focusing on the house in front of me. The mark—no, you idiot, she has a name: Gold Flower—was inside with her father. Soon enough, though, he would get some air in the back yard. That would be my chance to get some time alone with Gold. Light had told me I should have some kind of speech, a thought for me to share with her before carrying out my task. I had just shrugged him off; he hadn’t protested. He usually doesn’t. A loud creak caught my attention and I quickly turned my ear toward the back of the house. The familiar sound of the back door rattling confirmed that Gold’s father was now outside. It was time to move. I leapt out of the bush and made my way toward the front door. I was sure to keep my hoofsteps soft and quiet. Although I figured I’d have plenty of time with Gold before her father returned, it would not be smart to push my luck. The front door opened with no resistance, but I left it open just a crack. The light blinded me a moment, forcing me to stand still and squint as my eyes adjusted. I could practically hear my heart begin to pound in earnest, and sweat had begun to form on my brow. Am I really this nervous? Thankfully, the entryway was empty, leaving my presence unnoticed for now. I listened for the sounds of conversation, but heard nothing but the flickering of candlelight. Though my hooves felt heavy, I still managed to slink over to Gold’s room. The door was open, allowing another beam of light to spill out into the hallway. I paused for a moment, shook my head and took one last deep breath— —then stepped into her room. The first thing I noticed was how yellow it was. Wallpaper, appliances, furniture, sheets, all different shades of the color of the sun. Toys appropriate for a filly of Gold’s age were laid across the room on chairs, dressers, and the floor. The room was lit by a candle sitting on a nightstand adjacent Gold’s bed. As far as I was concerned, the only ugly thing in this room was me. Me, and the necessary task I had come here for. Gold herself was lying down, encased in golden sheets. Her coat seemed healthy enough, but her face was weary. She was looking directly at me, and I frowned when I saw no flicker of recognition in her eyes. Even she had forgotten. “Who-who are you?” she asked weakly. I stepped closer to the bed, but she shifted away, giving me pause. “My name is Silken Sound. I’m just here to talk. Don’t you remember me?” “R-remember?” “Yesterday, Gold. I spoke with you and your dad. Said I would come visit you tonight.” I leaned forward in anticipation. Her face contorted, searching for a memory I hoped she hadn’t lost. This was something I often saw when I reminded ponies about myself. It always brought conflicting emotions forth from me; I couldn’t decide whether I was glad to see that contortion or just disappointed. “Oh, yeah, I remember you now. But isn’t it really late? And wouldn’t my dad have to let you in? Where is he?” “He just stepped outside, he’ll be back in a little bit,” I said, making my way over to the side of the bed. The details of her face became clearer as I approached; the lines became more defined, the glaze in her eyes became hazier, and the fatigue seemed like it could take her at any moment. I knew, in fact, that it would. “So, uh, Gold, what did you do today?” I gritted my teeth as I berated myself silently. Never been good with conversation. The question came out as awkwardly as a penguin trying to fly. “Oooh, I did plenty. I had a chance to practice my art, though I still have a long ways to go. See?” She grabbed a sketch off of the endtable next to her and showed it to me. I simply nodded. “I’ve gone through most of my dad’s book collection at this point, too. My dad read to me a little, but I think he knows I prefer to read it myself. I mean, I’m not a little filly anymore, c’mon!” She giggled, covering her mouth with a hoof. “A couple of my friends came by again today, Gentle and Runalong. I’ll owe them major friend points when I get out of here.” She stopped and smiled for a moment. “You know, I used to think being stuck in bed all day was a real cramp, but it’s not so bad.” I faked a smile. “That’s a good attitude to have.” She nodded. “My dad always said to look on the bright side.” “Do you—” I stopped. Was it really appropriate to ask...? “Have you been keeping your chin up?” “Of course!” she said as emphatically as she could muster. One of her forehooves raised up but it barely came off of the bed before falling back down. “Oh, I’m a lot more tired than I thought I was.” She devolved into a fit of coughing. I watched in pain, in helplessness. There was nothing that could be done for her, and I had to accept that. “See? It’s not so bad.” Raising an eyebrow, I said, “You’re awful at humor.” “Hey!” she said through another bout of coughing. “Don’t make fun of the sick pony.” All that coughing still hadn’t wiped the smile off of her face. “I’ll do my best.” I watched her carefully as her eyes wandered around the room. No matter how many times I’d seen Light do this, no matter how ready I thought I was for this job, nothing could keep that smile from getting to me. “Hey,” she mumbled. “Yeah?” “I really wanted to introduce you to my dad, but... I’m really tired. I’ll have to do it tomorrow.” “I’ve already met him, Gold. I was here yesterday, remember?” My words bordered on pleading. “Yesterday?” Her words had begun to trail off, weakening with each second. “I don’t... do I know you? I can’t seem to recall...” With the fading of her speech, her eyes closed. My smile wavered and disappeared. I leaned in and placed my ear on her stomach. One final breath escaped her lungs and she moved no more. Something strange happens when I’m faced with death. Maybe it’s just me it happens to, maybe others feel it as well. Everything around me disappears. I’m a stranger in my own head, and in that moment, the world seems clear to me. Everything just makes sense, but then I’m stripped of that clarity. I become lost in a world that is lost. I looked at Gold’s body, knowing my task here now came down to a single, simple act. I slowly reached out a hoof, but hesitated. My hoof hovered inches above her face. The face that had, just moments ago, smiled at me. My face twisted into a fierce grimace as I touched Gold’s body. A light mist started to come forth where my hoof had made contact. It shone in a bright gold, brilliant as the sun and pulsing with the beat of a heart. I could feel the mist graze my coat as it rose into the air, a precious last symbol of the vitality Gold shared with me through her dying words. The otherworldly substance spoke to me, culminating Gold’s life in one last whisper of wind. I watched the mist evaporate, leaving me, once again, alone. My hoof remained on Gold’s body, though. Her coat was still soft, her skin still warm. I withdrew my hoof like it was on fire. Light had tried to hammer the thought into me that we could do nothing but make it easier, but that didn’t make it easy. I felt anger start to swell within me; my frustration could stay bottled up no longer. In one swift motion, I turned from the bed and threw Gold’s toys off the endtable next to me. My teeth were clenched harder than they ever had been before. I was nothing short of disgusted with... well, I didn’t know what to be angry with, but that didn’t stop the rage from building. A twisted roar escaped my mouth. It didn’t even sound like me. What sort of cruel world kills a filly like that and then goes and forces me to watch it, to substantiate it? Gold’s father must have heard the racket I made, because he was standing in the door to Gold’s room, looking on me with confusion and horror. I was a despicable thing, huffing and red with fury. He looked to Gold, then to me, trying to discern what had happened. I didn’t give him the chance. Charging through him, I ran out of the room and down the hallway, desperate to get away, to never see that face again. Gold’s father yelled something at my back. It was probably a curse of some kind. I couldn’t make it out; I didn’t care. I was done with this place. “C’mon, Firestreak, don’t mess with me like this. I’m Silken Sound—the Silken Sound! We’ve known each other since grade school!” The unicorn I was addressing continued to look at me as if I was acting like Pinkie Pie. “I-I don’t know why you’re insisting I know you. If you really did go to school with me, we never talked. I’m sorry, I’ve never met you before.” My frustration forced a groan from my mouth. I slammed a hoof into the ground, but refrained from speaking further. It wasn’t Firestreak’s fault: something—or someone—must have cast a spell on him. He wasn’t one to joke around with something like this. But why cast the same spell on everyone in Ponyville? Why would somepony want all memory of me erased? Who could do this, even? I couldn’t stand to be around Firestreak anymore. I took off at a trot toward home. At least a building couldn’t forget who lived in it. As I made my way back, frustration turned to despair. If I couldn’t find a way to reverse this, I could be stuck as an outsider forever. I’d never meet a nice mare, never make any friends, just be some ghost, some shadow in a forgettable town. I’d be lost forever, and no one would know. A familiar voice called out to me. “Hey, colt! Made up your mind, yet? Things gotten bad enough for you to finally listen to me?” My hooves beat against the ground as I broke into a canter. “Why can’t you just leave me alone, crazy old coot?” The yellow-coated stallion had been following me for a couple days now. “Nopony else has a problem with that!” I yelled back at him. The unicorn kept pace with me; he must have been younger than I thought. “That would not be prudent for somepony in my position. And I’m hardly old, you’re just young!” he hollered back. “Everypony around here is going crazy!” “I know why, Silken Sound! I know why no one can seem to remember you. I know why you don’t get hungry anymore.” He paused to catch his breath, breaking his speech for a moment. “I know why you see some ponies glow!” I came to a halt, whipping my head to face the unicorn chasing me. A scowl on my face, I growled at the mystery stallion. “How the heck do you know about that? Who are you?” He skidded to a stop next to me, kicking up a small cloud of dust. I closed my eyes and turned away, waiting for it to settle. “Got your attention now, have I? I know these things, young colt, because I recognize that cutie mark.”