//------------------------------// // Ch. 16: Vitality // Story: Sin // by MemoryLane //------------------------------// Something in Cashmere seemed to have...sparked. I don't understand. When we first met him, he was pretty timid, and a little cocky. Now he's the opposite. He's trying to lead everyone, which I don't have a problem with per se, I just hope he knows where Ponyville is. Because the rest of us seem to have gotten lost, and the map isn't being much o a help since we're pretty much surrounded by woodland. Anyways, I feel like Cashmere has changed. Maybe he's finally standing up for himself. True, he has been treated pretty badly ever since we found him, and crashed his party. Right now, he's standing proudly in front of us, leading us on to our destination. I think. "Do you even know where you're going?" Envy sighed darkly. I could just tell that she was going to instigate something with him. Cashmere huffed haughtily, not even bothering to look in her direction. "Yes I'm sure. Canterlot is right near Ponyville, so all we have to do is go back to my hometown, and then Ponyville should be right nearby." He explained cleverly. "But how do you know how to get back to your hometown?" Covette asked, causing Cashmere to sigh. "Because I live there?" I saw Rarity give Covette an annoyed glance, as if telling her not to start anything, but silently. But Covette didn't seem to care. "But you just moved there. How do you-" "Will you please hush so we can can just travel in silence. Hm?" Cashmere asked, politely, but with a tint of anger. And that's exactly what we did. We travelled the rest of the day in silence, and all night, for that matter. Things have never been so tense between all of us. It seemed like the only thing that I could read from everyone's else's faces was that they all had an extreme dislike for someone else in the group. And it killed me inside, knowing that there was really nothing I could do. Sure, maybe in the end everything will work out between everyone, but there's never a guarantee. Hatred is just another word for contempt, which is just another word for selfishness. Eventually, we did end up back in Canterlot, but no one was very happy to see us. All the ponies that we passed down the street gave us disgusted glares, all four of us. Rarity was broken hearted, probably thinking that there went her chances of ever living here. And Cashmere was downright embarrassed. I guessed no one had forgotten his party that we ruined. His reputation is now in shambles because of us, and I felt absolutely terrible. I heard some of the insults coming from the classy ponies that we passed on our way through the city. "Ugh...can you believe them? Them and their...filth?" "Worst. Party. Ever." And other such things. I could see Cashmere sadly droop his head in an attempt to not make eye contact with others. Rarity looked like she wanted to shout back at the commentators, but she didn't. It really wouldn't help much. Occasionally, Covette would chuckle at the remarks that others were making towards the stallion. Cashmere was hurt. He was so cocky and brave earlier, but now...he's back to his old self. And it almost hurt me to see him that way. It's like he's never happy. But having too much money for a long time can do things like that to you. Everything to you is just a material that one can sell and buy. But the things that matter such as love and friendship, not even he can buy. The sun was starting to go down, so(Much to Cashmere's joy) we decided to stay at his mansion for the night. Although he was a little leery at first, after remembering that Covette had almost robbed him before. So him and Rarity almost threatened her to behave herself. To which she reluctantly agreed. I knew that the inside of his mansion was quite large, but after exploring past the foyer, I discovered that it is actually very massive. There were enough rooms as that neither of us had to share, and more. My accommodations were very...roomy. It seemed like it was perfect for me. Most of the room was a bright yellowish color, giving me the kind of childish atmosphere I think Cashmere was going for. The rug, the sheets, the walls, all were very fulvous. Except for the curtains and picture frames hanging up on the walls, which were all a bright pink. At first I wondered how I was going to be able to sleep with all the bright colors in my room, until I realized that the room had no window, which didn't make sense. What if there was a fire? This room would be like a death trap. I just shrugged it off, I didn't think that it would really be an issue since I was only sleeping here one night. I didn't have a chance to see Rarity or Covettes room, but I bet they suited them as well also. There was a clock on the dresser right next to my bed, which shone a bright red the time: 8:30. Well...there really wasn't much to do, and my stomach was growling loudly. I would have expected Cashmere to have one of his servants(Who aided us in finding our rooms, and whom are very nice) to map dinner. But they didn't. But it didn't matter to me. I still have a ton of food left that I can nibble on. I took out a container that I had made before everyone had departed about four or so days earlier. Mmm...salad....I began to happily. But after a few bites, I sighed and set the container on the dresser. The food reminded me of home, which reminded me of my animals. I wondered how they were doing without me... I wasn't in the mood to eat anymore, so I jumped on my bed and scuttled under the covers. I was exhausted, and we still had another three more days ahead of us. I had to get as much rest as I could. I turned off the lamp that was next to me and watched as the room became overtaken by the dark. I tried not to think about it. About the darkness, and the ominous noises that the mansion made, about the fact that I'm sleeping in a strangers house, and not in my own bed. I set those unnerving thoughts aside fell asleep mere moments later. *** CRASH "AAAH!" A feminine squeal caused me to jolt upright groggily from a deep slumber. I was sleepy, but I was still aware of what was going on. I knew that voice anywhere. "Rarity?" I whispered to myself. What's happening? I jumped out of bed and ran for the door, only to open it to reveal the darkness that is the hallway. The only light was from what came through the windows. I looked left, and then right, trying to figure out which way the scream had come from. I had to find Rarity's room. My heart started to pound in my chest, and the little voice in my head told me to go back to sleep, and that it was a real issue, let Covette or Cashmere handle it. I almost immediately shook that thought out of my head. There was no way I was going to do that. Come on Fluttershy, you know better than that... I took a deep breathe and walked out to the hallway very slowly. My worst fears began to plague my mind, what if there was an intruder? Or Rarity had some sort of accident?A part of me wondered where the other three were, and why Covette or Cashmere didn't wake up from the scream. It was fairly loud, and this mansion carries sound pretty well. "R-R-Rarity?" I called out, only to receive nothing in response. I didn't like this, I didn't like it at all. I felt like something was going to pop out at me any moment now, almost like in a horror film. I walked down the hallway towards the foyer, the only place that I actually knew the location of. The sound of indistinct chatter finally filled my ears, causing me to let out a small side of relief. When I looked down one the large, curved staircases, I immediately saw Cashmere, Covette, and Rarity all chatting amongst themselves loudly. "W-What's going on?" I asked, causing the other three to stop arguing and to turn to me. Covette instantly sighed at my sight, and Rarity looked relieved. I walked down the stairs to talk to them. "Oh! Fluttershy it's HORRIBLE." She said while dramatically putting a hoof to her forehead, almost hitting one of many green curlers in her hair. You could tell she was just sleeping just by looking at her. I raised an eyebrow. "There was an intruder." Covette said bluntly. I let out a sharp gasp. My mind immediately jumped to radical conclusions. I'm lucky to be alive! "W-What? Did they take Cashmere's money?" I asked, looking at Covette. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't her doing again. "Don't look at me!" Covette gritted. "They only took one thing. And it was that damned Medallion!" Rarity looked at the ground guiltily, feeling bad of herself as to let it get so easily stolen. "What!?" I whispered. Not really wanting to believe it. "Who would break into a million bit mansion and only take the Medallion?" I questioned. Cashmere shrugged, but was very happy that everything else of his is in order. "I don't know..." He groaned, running his left temple with his hoof. Rarity sighed. "I'm sorry. It's my fault..." Rarity started, but I cut her off politely. "No, it's fine, you couldn't have known." I tried to assure her, but I don't think it worked very well, as she still looked very depressed. Good thing we didn't really need the Medallion as of now. There's still two more, and we have the ponies that we came here to get. So there really isn't an issue. But the only question is mind staggering: Why? *** The next morning was very...awkward. Everyone was gathered around the kitchen table, not saying a word as they dug into their pancakes that Spike had generously prepared. Pinkie and I had had a good sleep, that was for sure(Pinkie Pie was talking nonstop about a dream she had. Something about feathers and chocolate...and Pony Joe?). But when I looked at Warble, there were large bags under his eyes, and he was trembling slightly. Either due to anxiety or lack of sleep, I couldn't tell. But he kept nervously looking over at Aphrodite, who had a satisfied grin on her face. Her mane was strewn about sexily, but she didn't seem to mind. She looked like she fought a rhinoceros last night. I tried not to put the obvious pieces together... But Pinkie did it for me. "So, how did everyone else sleep?" Dammit Pinkie... "Oh I slept pretty good...you know. The usual..." Aphrodite breathed, obviously lost in thought about something. She then quickly excused herself to the restroom. When he had made sure that she was gone, Warble glared at Pinkie, and then me angrily. "Never. Again." He deadpanned, bringing his shaking down under control. I was going to ask what happened, but he beat me to it. "You wanna know what happened? You don't want to know!" I didn't reply, but he kept talking anyways. "At around midnight I woke up and turned over in my bed only to find her staring at me with those....eyes!" Oh, I knew those eyes all too well..."Then, later that night, I think it was two in the morning...I woke up to find her IN MY BED. Before I could freaking scream, she puts a GAG over my mouth! She keeps saying these creepy things that I will NEVER get out of my head. 'Don't worry hun, it won't take long'. What the HELL-" I had a feeling he was going to rant for a while, but it's best I don't interrupt him. He's having a moment. "Then she proceeds to take her hoof and put it on-" "OKAY! I don't need to hear anymore!" I exclaimed, putting my hooves in front of my face. Pinkie had the the most intense look of awe on her face. Intruiged by Warble's story. "But...but I want to know what happened!" She stuck out her lower lip and I shook my head. What Aphrodite does to ponies in the night is NOT something I want to know. Besides, what she did to Warble, she probably would have done to me the night before. That's not something I want to think about. "I don't!" I yelled, putting my hooves over my ears now. My poor, poor ears... About thirty seconds later, Aphrodite returned from the bathroom and sat back down on the table. She took a bite out of her pancakes, only to realize that Warble was still staring at her in fear. She let out a sick laugh, and nuzzled his neck with her head. "Don't worry. The stinging sensation will go away after a few hours..." That's it. I pushed my half eaten plate of pancakes away from me into the middle of the table. "Ok. I'm done." And with that, I got up from my seat and made my way for the kitchen. Warble thought it'd be the good idea to do the same. "I'm not hungry." He mumbled as he got up and left, leaving Pinkie, Aphrodite and Spike still left in the kitchen. Spike turned away from the griddle and licked his paw, and ran it through the green spines on his back, somehow making them slick back. He set one elbow on the kitchen counter, trying to act cool. Or what he thinks is "cool". "You know. I make these pancakes with love~" He said, looking over at Aphrodite, with a sly grin on his face. The mare just rolled her eyes. I could hear Pinkie giggling from the other room. *** Ennui had to help me put Rainbow Dash on my back. I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to bring her out into the cold again, but I really didn't have a choice. She could die if she stays in here any longer. I stepped out of the carriage, grunting with each step I took. Ennui didn't really know what to do to help me, so she just stood by me to make sure that I don't accidentally drop her. Fortunately, the snowstorm had stopped, and it was only snowing small flakes right about now. Unfortunately, we were now dealing with snow that roughly came up to my knees. Ennui and I trudged through the snow, with her a little bit in front of me so she can lead the way. I really hoped that this cabin that she was talking about wasn't very far away. If it was, maybe staying in the carriage wasn't such a bad idea. But it was too late now. We were already outside, and I was already freezing. "Psh. I feel like more of a frozen one, than a chosen one...or whatever it is." Ennui shivered as she began to high knee through the snow. I chuckled a little bit at her joke, hoping that maybe it would help me warm up a little inside. It barely worked. It was about a mile later where we finally saw the cabin. By this point, I couldn't feel my hooves, and most of my face was frozen. I predict that it was definitely below zero. I would've packed cold weather gear if I knew I was going to have to travel out this far. The cabin was fairly small, and from the outside, it was beautifully made. The wood was so fresh it looked like the cabin was made just yesterday. Outside of it, lay a pile of firewood. "Told ya it wasn't that far." Ennui smirked, quite proud of herself that she helped save everyone's life with her curiosity. I knocked on the door. "Hel-OMPH" I said as I was pushed face first into the snow, sending Rainbow Dash with me. "LOOK OUT! I got this." She boasted, taking out a very small and fragile stick and begin to poke it through the small key hole. I shook the snow out of my hair and took a gander at Rainbow, who had begun to shake again. "What is yer deal!?" Before I knew it, the door to the cabin was already open, and Ennui was standing there proudly holding the stick in her hoof. "I said I got this." With that, she walked over to help me out of the snow bank. Sometimes...I just want to strangle her. Ennui helped me bring Rainbow Dash inside the cabin, which wasn't anything special. It mainly consisted of a bed, a couch, a fireplace, and a stove, along with a few other living appliances that were ideal for living in a place like this. Ennui and I set her down on the couch. I searched around for a comfy blanket, and after I found it, I draped it around her. I stood by her side, waiting and watching. I was scared, which isn't something that I'm used to. I was scared that I was going to lose one of my best friends. If that happened, I don't know. I wouldn't know how I could possibly live with myself. "Oh hey! There's food in here!" Ennui announced, as she went though the refrigerator. She squee'd as she took out a large piece of apple pie and forcefully closed the door and took a set on the very old and messy bed. The bed's frame squeaked as she sat down. "Don't sit on there! Who knows who's been sleepin' there?" I told her, but she just shrugged me off. "I don't care. A bed's a bed to me." She exclaimed happily as she took a large bite out of her piece of pie. I went back to looking at Rainbow Dash. The blanket seemed to be working, as her shivering had gone down some. I finally felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe things would turn out better than it had seemed they would. Sure, Rainbow and me didn't get along to well, but there are two kinds of enemies. The first one is the one that you hate. The one that you must beat at all costs. And the second is the one where you're enemy pushes you to your limits to make you a better pony. And that says "good game" whether she wins or loses. Rainbow Dash is the latter, and why I respect her and love her so much. I heard a creak behind me, and abruptly turned my head. Ennui was off the bed now, standing on her hind legs in front of the now opened door. Behind her was a stallion. I think. He was a pony that I have never even seen before, and he looked a little bizarre. He was definitely older than me, and maybe a few other ponies I know. His mane and tail was like a flame, almost reaching his shoulders in light and dark streaks. His body was grey like smoke. His cutie mark unsettled me though, albeit I wasn't sure what it was supposed to represent. It was some sort of flaming wooden cross. I also noticed that he was also holding a survival knife up to Ennui's neck. "A-Applejack" She wheezed, a fearful tear falling from her eye. She looked like she was actually about to collapse from fright. The stallion shook her and held the knife closer to her neck, making her shriek. "Shut up!" He yelled with a loud and overpowering voice. It had almost hurt my ears. He turned his gaze from Ennui to me, his evil red eyes staring into my own. His face contorted into sheer anger and hatred, and I was a little nervous about confronting him. One wrong move... "Who are you and what are you doing breaking into my home!?" He howled, ignoring Ennui's struggling completely. All three of us knew that she wasn't strong enough to be able to escape. "Whoa! Look, just settle down an' we can talk this o-" "NO! I will NOT calm down!" With every other word he shook Ennui forcefully, only frightening her even more. "You're trespassing on MY land! That means I have the right to kill all of you!" He said, looking behind me at Rainbow Dash. What he had said sparked a fury of my own, but I struggled to keep it at bay. "Sir! We were in trouble. Mah friend Rainbow Dash was dying an' we needed to take shelter. This is the only place we found!" I explained truthfully. But I'm not sure that he seemed to even care for our safety. Well, yeah. I could tell just by the fact that he has a knife pinned to Ennui's throat. "Why should I care! I don't like trespassers!" He shouted, only getting more and more furious. "Please, don't hurt 'er. She did nothing wrong-" "Yes she did! She's the one who picked the lock to get in here! I saw her!" He said in a low and gravelly voice. Ennui whimpered, afraid of what was to come if something wasn't done. I looked down in defeat only to notice something. My Medallion wash flashing repeatedly. That means... "You...we need you." I uttered. The stallion furrowed his brow. He changed his position. He put his other foreleg around Ennui's neck and pointed the knife at me, getting ready to threaten me this time. Without even thinking, I yanked off my hat and hurled it at him like a frisbee. Before he had time to react, the hat hit his knife with enough force to knock it out of his grip. He doubled back in surprise, and thus let go of Ennui. She hurriedly ran and hid behind my back instinctively. "What the-!?" His eye's almost turned a deeper shade or scarlet. "Look! Please calm down. Ah know rea'ize why we're here. Let us explain. First off, let meh introduce mahself. I'm Applejack." I pointed at the shaking Ennui behind me. "That's Ennui." And lastly I pointed to Rainbow on the couch. "That's Rainbow Dash." I thought that maybe if I introduced myself, maybe it would get him to calm down. Ya know, small talk. "Who are ya?" I concluded. The stallion was still boiling inside, and he muttered through gritted teeth while standing strong and powerfully. "Kindling! What do you want?!"