//------------------------------//
// Chapter 1 
// Story: Aquaphobia 
// by Shoeblock 
//------------------------------//

A sharp, searing pain pierced my side, digging into one of my ribs. The sudden agony I felt caused my fatigued and leadened eyelids to open briskly. Two eerie emerald eyes hovered in the darkness, but that’s not what startled me. A jagged claw was being brandished in my direction. The glint, caused by a sliver of moonlight that fell upon it, accentuated its keen-edge.  

I quickly jumped backward and flared my horn. It’s near-transparent magenta shrouded the room in a faint light.  Seeing who it was, I sighed heavily.

“Spike, what are you doing? You scared me half to death!” I said sternly. The sound of rain pattering against the window accompanied my scolding. “Do you have any idea what time it is? Well? Do you?” My brow furrowed in annoyance.

Spike stood deathly silent, claw still raised.  His lips began to tremble. “I’m sorry,  Twilight.  I didn’t mean to scare you like that, honest. It’s just that I had a... I-I didn’t know whether you were still awake or not.”

I raised an eyebrow. My eyes shifted to the clock that sat next to my bedside. It was about 12:40 AM. “So, you thought I would still be awake at this hour?” I asked irritatedly. “Also, can you put your claw down? You’re really starting to scare me, Spike.”

Noticing his arm was still raised, he quickly lowered it. A bolt of lightning illuminated the room for a split second, followed by a blast of thunder that resounded like a drum. “I’m really sorry, Twilight. I was thinking about whether I should tell you.” He diverted his eyes away from mine as he shuffled timidly.

My eyes traced his movements. “Tell me what, Spike?”

He shifted anxiously in front of me. “It’s about this dream I had.” He paused. “It’s about you.”

“You woke me up in the middle of the night to tell me about your dreams? Spike, you’re unbelievable!” I cried loudly. “Go back to bed. I’m sure it can wait until the morning.”  I repositioned myself in my bed and tried to get comfortable. Spike didn’t budge an inch.

“Twilight, please listen. I’ve been having this dream more frequently lately. I’m starting to get really worried,” he pleaded.

I turned back to look at Spike, his pupils were dilated. What kind of friend would I be if I didn’t hear him out?

I let out a large breath. “Okay, I’m sorry I acted that way, Spike. Of course, I’ll listen to you.” A ghost of relief covered his face momentarily.

“The dream,” he began slowly, “never changes. It’s horrible, Twilight. I’m chasing you through the Everfree Forest, but you’re running faster than I can keep up. No matter how loud I call out to you, you never look back. I could have sworn that whenever you heard my voice, you ran faster.”

Spike was shuddering. The shifting of his scales matched the beat of the rain. It was obvious that he was doing everything in his power to remain calm. “All around, I can hear the howls and screams of the creatures, as if they were laughing at us—at me. You weren’t yourself, Twilight.  Something was wrong with you.”

I cast a speculative glance at Spike. “Wrong? What was wrong with me?”

“I eventually lost sight of you within the forest,” Spike ignored my questions. “But after a few moments, I came to this clearing in the trees. The ground was covered in moonlight. What stood in front of me was an enormous cliff that stretched farther than I could see. Down below, I could see the Everfree River.”

Spike’s widened eyes never left my own as he continued to speak. I rustled uneasily under his glossy eyes. “Off to the side, I could barely make out your figure. You were standing on one of the ledges that stuck out from the cliffside.  Your head was pointed down towards the rushing water of the river.  Y-your coat was stained. It was covered in bl—”

At that moment, a bolt of lightning sliced through the sky outside the window along with the crash of thunder. I leapt a few inches into the air.

“S-spike, what was I covered in?” I asked shakily. He stood silently, his unwavering stare pierced into me. For a few seconds, I could see his lips quivering, unable to speak. Instantly, he broke the silence.

“You were covered in blood, Twilight!” He screamed. “And at that moment, you always turned around to look at me.  You always had this large smile on your face. Then, without warning, you always turned back to the river a-and jumped!”

My muscles tightened up. “I saw you fall into the water. Your hooves were thrashing around wildly. T-then, just like that, you stopped. I couldn’t see you anymore. You were gone. 

Spike was crying uncontrollably now. “No matter how many times I see this dream—your smile—it always terrifies me. W-why would you do those things, Twilight? Why? How could you hurt your friends? How could you jump knowing that y—”

“Can’t swim. I know, Spike. You don’t have to bring that up,” I said weakly. Moving over closer to Spike, I placed a hoof on his back. “Spike, it’s okay. It was just a dream. You should know better than anybody that I would never harm my friends."

Spike’s erratic breathing slowly began to return to normal. “I know, Twilight. I know you would never hurt any of us, but that’s why it was so scary. The dream, it was so twisted.”  

I patted Spike’s back softly. “Thank you for telling me, Spike,” I said. “If you want, we can talk about this in the morning.”

Spike shook his head. “No, I think I’m okay now. I’m just happy to get that off my chest. You’re right, it’s late. We should get to sleep.”

I gave Spike a small smile as I walked him to his little bed. Covered in a magical aura, I placed the small blanket over his body.

“Good night, Spike.”

“Night, Twilight.”

I turned away quietly and started walking back to my bed. However, I stopped in front of the window. Outside, the torrential rain fell upon Ponyville. Seeing all the water made me shudder. It was exactly like that night, so long ago. A cold sweat formed upon my brow as I took a few steps away from the window. Raindrops tapped against the glass.  

Spike’s dream caused me to unearth traumatic memories of my own that I repressed.  One by one, they resurfaced. Memories that I buried within me.  Memories that I tried to forget.


***

The relentless downpour continued its onslaught on the city below. The cobblestone streets were tributaries flowing into the main stem that led to Canterlot Castle. Wading through these rivers, I attempted to return home. Beside me, I carried two textbooks which were protected within a magical barrier I had procured. One of my hooves was raised to shield my eyes from the ice cold needles of rain.

“Twilight Sparkle, why did you have to insist to Princess Celestia that you were a big mare and that you could make it home all by yourself? She was right. I should have waited for the storm to pass before leaving,” I lamented regretfully.  I stopped to look back. However, it was a useless effort.  My visibility only extended for a few hooves in front of me. Turning back around, I fought onward.

My legs grew more numb with each passing second. Missing my next step, I stumbled, but quickly regained my composure. Squinting through the rain, I let out a heavy sigh. In front of me, I could barely make out the stone bridge that separated the two banks.  

The freezing rain and wind couldn’t keep me from smiling. “I’m almost home.” With great effort, I was able to climb up to the bridge. In comparison to the surrounding area, it was practically dry. Exhausted, I stopped to take a break. I turned my head towards the sound of rushing water that came from over the edge. Murky rapids awaited me. It was a terrifyingly glorious sight to see. The power of the water, which was strong enough to carry anything for m—

A bolt of lightning struck down upon a nearby tree, causing it to plummet towards me. I screamed and jumped back out of reflex. My heart skipped a beat. My hooves never made contact with the ground. I fell head first into whitewater, never getting the chance to take a breath as the grimy water and debris welcomed me with open arms. 

Upon hitting the water, I instinctively sucked in. The water forced its way down my throat and filled my lungs. I couldn’t even cough; I had no air. Struggling against the unyielding current, I tried to claw my way to the surface, but with every extension of my limb, I only grasped more water. Losing all sense of direction, I couldn’t tell if I was pulling myself deeper.

The current was causing me to spin uncontrollably. I twirled like a bowling ball as I headed further downstream. Attempting to call for help, I wailed hysterically.  But to my horror, no sound left my lips.

Fear and desperation caused my heartbeat to alleviate. Frantically, I started to flail, searching for the surface. My mind was going hazy now; an oppressive weight crushed my lungs. It was the feeling of death. With one last ounce of effort, I thrusted for what I thought was the surface. I was unsuccessful. A rock smashed against my head and my vision went black.


***

My eyes fluttered open. I had no idea where I was, but I did know one thing, I wasn’t outside anymore. “Is this what it feels like to be dead?” I asked myself.  Passively, I surveyed the room.  Realizing I was back in Canterlot Castle, I shot up quickly. 

“Heaven is Canterlot Castle? I never would have suspected that,” I said, massaging the back of my bruised head.  

“I’m afraid not, Twilight Sparkle.  This is just Canterlot Castle.” I turned to see Princess Celestia resting against my bed. Her eyelids were suspended weakly and her coat was dripping with water. A revelation dawned on me.

“Princess, did you save me?” I asked quietly.

“Of course, my student, do you think I would have just let you walk through a storm on your own?” she said. 

I smiled. “Thank you, Princess.” A cold shiver coursed its way through my body causing me to tremble. 

“Are you cold, Twilight Sparkle?” 

I nodded my head. Princess Celestia signaled the guards. “Bring us a bathtub full of warm water.  Twilight Sparkle, needs to get heated up.” Without a moments delay, the guards exited the infirmary.

Patiently, we waited for their return. The violent tempest continued to rage on outside the window. I didn’t feel like talking anymore than I had to. The last thing I wanted to do was recount what I had just experienced.

After a few minutes, the guards returned; a large bathtub rested on their backs.

“If you would kindly place it over here.” With her hoof, she pointed beside my bed. The guards acknowledged the order, then left without a word.

“Here, my student, wash up and relax,” Princess Celestia said calmly. I gave her another small smile before looking down into the bath. Instantly, my smile disappeared. Seeing the sloshing water made me uneasy. My heartbeat sped up as I grew increasingly nervous. 

The top of the water opened into a large abyss, waiting to devour me. My eyes widened as I started to back away. However, the water was inching closer to me. It started to expand, reaching out of the bucket. The steamy water clasped onto my hooves. Finally, the hysteria consumed me. I snapped. 

“No! No! Get that water away from me! I won’t go near it! You can’t make me!”


***

I slowly started my recuperation after this and by the time Princess Celestia assigned me to Ponyville, I learned to repress my fear in order keep my friends from worrying about me too much. The truth was, whenever I saw water, I always suffered from some form of anxiety, and Spike’s mental breakdown wasn’t helping me calm down either.

Surveying Ponyville, I frowned. I never liked the rain. I would probably be cooped up in my library until everything dried up outside. Breaking down whenever I stepped into a puddle was the last thing I wanted.

I turned away from the rainy view of Ponyville and took a couple deep breaths. I was safe inside my home; the water can’t get me in here. Trotting over to my bed, I slipped between the covers. I’m tired. I’ll give this some more thought in the morning. Closing my eyes, I waited for the Sandmare to take me away.

I felt a droplet of water hit my face. Trying to ignore it, I flipped onto my side. Another drop fell on me. Sitting up, I focused energy into my horn, creating a beam of light. I focused the rays toward the ceiling. I waited for what seemed like hours for the next drop to fall, but it never did. The light shined to every inch of the ceiling, but I couldn't find a leak anywhere. I lowered myself back onto the bed and closed my eyes cautiously. Suddenly, a third drop splashed onto me.


***

Morning had arrived, but it could hardly be distinguished from the night. The dark clouds blotted out the sun leaving the entire city blanketed in shadows. My eyes were bloodshot and my coat was soaking wet. I coughed loudly, which strained the inside of my throat.

“Great, I must have caught a cold,” I said, letting out another fit of coughs. A rustling came from behind me.

“Twilight, that’s a pretty nasty cough you got there,” said Spike. “You okay?”

“Just a little cold, Spike,” I said hoarsely. “My throat is pretty dry too.”

Spike nodded. “Give me a minute. I’ll be right back.” Spike left my bedside and ran off. I heard some movement from the kitchen. Upon returning, Spike presented me with a cup.

“Here you go, Twilight.” Spike smiled happily.

My eyes fell nervously to the cup. I could feel my temples start to pulsate painfully. With a shaky hoof, I took the water from Spike.

“T-thank you.” 

Holding it in my hoof, I stared down into it. The water had a dark green tint to it. Shocked, I looked up at Spike.

“What is this?” I said, lowering the cup so he could see it. Spike looked curiously into its contents before responding.

“A glass of water?” 

I looked back down. The water looked as if it was swirling on its own. I shook my head vigorously and using my other hoof, I massaged my temple. Unfortunately, that didn’t change what I saw within the cup. The green slop in my hoof began to bubble into froth. 

The sight caused my stomach to swirl and my knees to wobble. However, my parched throat begged for the liquid. Spike said it was just water. He wouldn’t lie to me. Right?

My eyelids shut as I lifted the liquid to my mouth. The scent of burning carcasses entered my nostrils. The liquid creeped down my throat. It was way too thick to be water. Suddenly, I gagged. The strange liquid clamped against the walls of my esophagus, suffocating me. I fell backwards crashing into a bookshelf. Multiple books began to rain down on me. A hoof went to my throat as I gasped for air. 

“Twilight, what is it? What’s wrong?” Spike said worriedly, rushing over to me. A tremendous pressure weighed down upon my head. In desperation, I charged my horn, searching for a spell that could help me. A book fell onto my head, causing me to shoot three beams of concentrated magical energy at the ceiling. The resulting explosions, ripped holes in the rooftop, allowing rain to stream in rapidly.

Finally, with all my effort, I hacked up the substance. A muffled scream came from Spike as the liquid latched upon his face. 

“Spike, I’m sorry!” I shouted, running to him. However before I could reach him, I stopped. Pools of water began to form, quickly turning into one unified mass. My knees were trembling as my eyes darted around the room. With each second, the elevation of the water rose, cascading from the bookshelves like a waterfall.

“N-no, what’s happening?” I said frantically. Upon seeing Spike, a shrill scream left my lips. Spike’s face and body were deformed. One eye had dissolved into a white yolk, which was spurting down his face. The liquid that had clamped itself onto him was now oozing from his mouth. 

“S-stay away from me,” I said. The water had now reached my bed. Its surface opened up into a portal, attempting to consume me, just like it did to Spike. I turned to the window at my bedside and fired a magical blast. The glass shattered, letting in more of the rain. I lunged through the window and landed on Ponyville’s flooded ground. The water was almost knee high. My heart skipped a beat, clammy hooves started rising from the water, dragging me down. 

“No, leave me alone!” I yelled, shooting my magic downwards. The hooves dispersed in splashes of water, freeing me. 

“Someone help me!” I cried. Water surrounded me on all sides. There was no escape.

Through the sound of rain, I could hear a gurgling sound coming from my right. A figure was speeding towards me. The only distinguishing factor was its pink mane. 

“F-fluttershy, is that you?” I called as loudly as I could, making my way over to her. However, this wasn’t Fluttershy. It couldn’t be. Its entire body was almost transparent. From its eyes, water was gushing out. The sounds that it was emanating were indiscernible. 

Once it came in range, it immediately grasped onto me, attempting to drag me down like the others had. I struggled to keep my head above the water.

“Stop! Let me go! Don’t put me in the water!” I hollered. The figure’s grip relaxed slightly. This was my chance! I broke free from its grip and delivered a swift buck to what I recognized as its face. A deafening wail resonated through my eardrums.

Turning around, I saw it had been launched back a couple body lengths away. It rose back up and launched itself at me. Before it could grab me again, a ray of light propelled from my horn. Having no time to dodge, the figure collided into it and dispersed. A warm liquid drenched my already soaked coat.  

I needed to get to high ground before it was too late. Instantly, the Everfree Forest came to mind. Its large cliff sides would provide a good vantage point and hopefully they could protect me from the water. My hooves clattered against the ground hastily as the dense forest rushed to greet me.

Stealing a quick glance behind me, I could see that I was being followed by something. I lowered my head and charged as fast as I could, gritting my teeth. My muscles were strained. 

Entering a clearing in the woods, I ran to the highest point I could see—the edge of a cliff. I stopped and looked down. To my relief, all I could see below was mounds of dirt, and they were dry! The edges of the cliff must have protected them from the rain. 

My eyes scanned my surroundings. Hundreds of the water creatures were standing behind me, along with the possessed Spike. A strong force tugged at the corners of my mouth. I win. You can’t follow me down there.

Without hesitation, I turned back around and jumped. A victorious smile was plastered upon my face.