//------------------------------// // Intro "Unreal" // Story: Occasum Solis (A Nightmare's Aftershock) // by TheMareinTheMoon //------------------------------// Introduction "Unreal" The silence. The silence was definitely the worst part. For the first time in her life, Scootaloo was truly alone, and all she could think about was that it was her fault. It was her fault Pinkamina was gone. Why did she do it? She still didn't know... She thought as every day went by, but she could never understand. "I will never leave you." Pinkamina's words echoed through her mind...hurting her far more than the chains that held her, or the silence that tortured her. She had let her only friend die. And because of it, she was now here, slowly dying underground. Celestia's orders were clear. She wanted her gone, but executing a filly would only cause upset to the populace. No. She would do things quietly, discreetly. They locked her down here to die. Celestia's dungeon had not been used in over a millenia. Scootaloo was the sole resident. Each day invited new pain, a new sense of dread to overcome her. She wasn't fed. She wasn't spoken to. It was as if she was already dead. She wished she was. Nothing to comfort her but the sound of her own thoughts, and the memories that wouldn't stop. But then she returned. And everything changed. Scootaloo heard whispers, a noise she hadn't heard since she saw light. It was a strange noise, a soft noise, almost like a mother comforting a child. Scootaloo's head jerked back and forth, desperate to find the source of this noise that had shattered her silence. but she saw nothing. She tilted her head back and took a long breath. Nopony was here, it wasn't possible. The only one she cared about was gone. Yet, when she opened her eyes, she was there standing before her. "Hello Scootaloo," The pink mare began, "did you miss me? I missed you..." Scootaloo's heart nearly stopped. There she was, as if nothing happened, smiling at her with the same smile she remembered. She began to shake and writhe in her restraints. "No..." Scootaloo choked, " You aren't real...You aren't real!" Pinkamina placed a hoof on her cheek. It was warm...nostalgic. "I'm as real as you want me to be." She said, stroking Scootaloo's mane comfortingly, "do you want me to be real?" "I let you die." Scootaloo spoke, tears beginning to form in her eyes, "I'm so sorry..." "I forgive you." She replied. "I don't understand," Scootaloo began, "How are you here? I watched you die." Pinkamina opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by another sound. The sound of a door. Scootaloo's head darted about once again, trying to locate the sound. Hoofsteps were heard descending the staircase leading to the dungeon. "What is that!?" Scootaloo panicked, "did you bring somepony else too?" Pinkamina gave no reaction. Only staring at the iron bars in front of them expectantly, ignoring her. It was a stallion, a guard to be exact, Scootaloo had seen enough of them to tell. His armor gave off a slight shine as the light from the torches in the small dungeon touched it. He had a sort of worry in his stride, as if he were afraid of something, or somepony. Scootaloo hadn't seen another pony besides Pinkamina in weeks...why was he here? Scootaloo looked toward the pink figure in front of her, wanting answers, but her back was turned toward her. She only focused on the bars. The guard approached these bars, and to Scootaloo's shock and confusion, used his magic to levitate a key from his chain and open the door. Pinkamina stared, but he just looked through her, and continued walking towards Scootaloo. "Hey," he began, "are you okay?" What kind of question was that!? Scootaloo thought to herself, how could he possibly ask me that? Scootaloo had not been "ok" for years, and things have never been as bad as they were to her now. The question aggravated her. "Why?" She replied, "Why are you here?" The guard looked at her, with a hint of remorse, "Look...I know they told us not to feed you, but..." he levitated a tray that was resting on his back in front of her, "No child deserves this. I can't help you beyond this, if I could I would." He stammered over words. "Please, eat." Scootaloo stood there, amazed. Nopony had shown her kindness since Pinkamina's death. Which reminded her that she was standing right beside her. The guard did not speak to her. Niether did he seem to acknowledge her... "Why can't he see you?" Scootaloo asked, "I thought you said you were real!" "I am," Pinkamina replied, emotionless, "But only to you..." "Who are you talking to?" Asked the guard. Scootaloo shook her head. "Nopony." She looked at her arms, which were still chained to the wall, "I can't really eat like this..." The guard looked nervous. "Oh...yes, of course." He replied, shakily using the another key to release her restraints. For the first time in what felt like forever, Scootaloo could feel her hooves. She felt free, the childlike side of her wanted to run and jump with joy, but more than anything, she wanted to eat. She dove toward the food immediately, not caring what it was, she savored it as though it were fine cuisine. The guard gave a nervous smile as he turned back toward the stairs, assuring that nopony followed his descent to the dungeon. Scootaloo felt a strange sense of trust with this guard, he risked his own safety for her! And he didn't even know her. She wanted to thank him. The child on the inside wanted to hug him, after all he earned that much. then Pinkamina approached her. "Did you see that?" She whispered, "he brought me food!" "I know." Pinkamina replied, emotionless. "Now is our chance." "Time for what?" Scootaloo asked, puzzled. "Kill him." Pinkamina replied, coldly. Scootaloo froze. "What!? Why?" Scootaloo stammered, "He was kind to me!" "He is the only thing standing between you and the outside world," Pinkamina replied, "You see his knife?" She pointed to the pointed weapon sheathed at his side, "take it and kill him. Then you'll never have to see this place again." Scootaloo began to cry. She didn't want to, she never wanted to kill again, especially not somepony like this, it wasn't right, it... "Don't worry, Scootaloo," Pinkamina said, smiling, "I'll never leave you." Scootaloo looked at her with sadness and desperation... She didn't have to....she didn't have to...she didn't have to.... "Please, Scootaloo," Pinkamina said, placing a hoof on her shoulder, "It's for your own good." Scootaloo, wiped the tears from her eyes before slowly approaching the unsespecting guard. Memories flooded her mind. Memories of blood, death, torture... Memories of those she killed... Memories... She approached him, taking his knife and jumping on his back. It all happens so fast... He didn't struggle very much. Which surprised Scootaloo quite a bit, considering his occupation as a guard... After at least three stabs to the throat, he drew his last breath, and painted the floor crimson. "It's done..." Scootaloo said, wiping the blood from her face, "he's gone." Pinkamina smiled genuinely, "That was wonderful, you definitely haven't forgotten what I taught you." "Where will we go?" Scootaloo said suddenly, her eyes not leaving the guard's limp body, "Celestia will find us. Then you really will be dead. There is nowhere for us to run to..." "Scootaloo," Pinkamina began. "Why did you kill her!?" Scootaloo screamed, her emotions becoming to hard to hold back any longer, "Why!?" "I had to, Scootaloo...You don't understand." "When am I going to understand!?" Scootaloo screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Please, stop screaming, they're going to come for you." Pinkamina spoke softly. "Why should I care." Scootaloo replied, "We're both supposed to be dead anyway." Pinkamina sat down next to her, as she had always done when Scootaloo was sad. "We both made mistakes, Scootaloo," She began, "But, it's time for us to fix things! Don't you want things to be the way they used to be?" Scootaloo thought for a while. Thought about the time she spent with her...the time she spent with her. She remembered through blood soaked tears that when she was with her, she felt like she was worth something. Like she almost had a....mother. Scootaloo said nothing, but hugged her mentor. She felt warm, as she always had, and she smiled and stroked her mane. Just like she always had. "Scootaloo," Pinkamina began softly, "There's something I need you to do for me..." Scootaloo looked up at her, inquisitively. "Something I need you to get for me." "What?" Scootaloo asked, looking up at her with a natural curiosity. "A book." And again, In that blood-soaked dungeon, there was silence.