The Recluse
Chapter 33
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My Diary
Property of Live Light
January 7
Alright... this page, and then one more. Then I have to get another one. Come to think of it, it's already overdue. A new year, after all.
I've not been writing much in this to conserve paper... so I'm writing this stuff as kinda small. If I write too less like this, at least I'll have a little bit more of a page to talk about what happened another day.
In the time since my last entry, I've visited Greg in the hospital. Which reminds me, I should probably mention that recently, a Changeling came into town, hence the reason why Greg is in the hospital. And I met a crazy doctor. With a nice time machine. It's bigger on the inside. Anyway, Greg (That name sounds so unnatural) is making a good recovery, he should be fine in a couple of months.
Fluttershy and I did go on a date... I think mentioned that on my last post... but looking back, the way I worded it was really creepy. That was purely unintentional. This one was a sort of romantic dinner. Well, it was better than the 'romantic' place the Doc let us go to. I don't think I want to talk to him again. Sure, the planet looked nice. If characters I imagined weren't living and rather deadly.
...Ugh, that just sounds stupid. 'Honey, I De-Shrunk The Things From My Novel.' ...Sounds like a stupid, stupid, stupid idea for a film. A B Movie, I think those things are called. Of all the ponies that could have had some wondrous thing happen to them, why did it have to be one that sounded like a stupid idea. I feel like fate's laughing at me, somehow. Or even Princess Celestia.
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Elsewhere, in Canterlot, Princess Celestia was looking over her student, Twilight Sparkle's recent friendship reports, and felt a slight migraine. Having lived for a very long time, she could tell somepony's faith in her was questioned slightly. As these things were more of a common occurrence, as everypony loses their temper slightly, she dismissed it, and continued reading on.
She did, however, give a rather fed up sigh.
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Anyway, the date was fun, we both enjoyed it, then we returned home. Confidence boosted.
I really don't feel like writing anymore. I'm just gonna stare at that thing outside the window. It looks like it's at the Everfree Forest, but I've never seen it before. It's a rather suspicious... THING. It's very shadowy. Oh well, wonder if Fluttershy's noticed.
Staring at... THINGS,
Live Light.
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Light finished writing down his latest entry into his 'journal.' He frowned, examining the journal. It looked rather used, from the times he wrote in it during his life as a recluse. He had a look at what he had written down. He then decided to make good on his statement near the end, and stared at what he described as a 'thing.'
A 'thing' was a very non-descriptive way of describing what seemed to be a castle, but he had a bunch of reasons for not putting much effort into description. For one, it looked completely pitch black at the moment, so for all he knew, it could be some large balloon construct by some foals. After thinking about it, though, it seemed highly unlikely. After all, it was out in the Everfree Forest. Another reason it's a 'thing.'
What would a castle be doing, suddenly built without announcement, in the Everfree Forest, of all places? The Everfree is truly not the best place to be. Not even in a group. You'd probably get seperated anyway. And then you meet some strange, decrepit stallion, who thinks he's really friendly, but he's actually rather creepy, and when he disapproves, he says, 'Ohh, what're you gonna tell your parents now?' regardless of their age, and he eats zomponies too.
At least, that's what Light thinks would happen. He's never met anypony like this, but this is still the thing that he probably fears most. More than ducks.
When he was young, he was rather overly dependent on his parents, no matter what. If there were ever any problems, he'd have somepony to talk to. He was happy and felt safe as long as a family member was somewhere in the house. So, because of the co-dependency that would probably fit Rarity better than him, he was rather afraid of being left alone for a while.
So afraid, he even drew up a conclusion that somepony would abduct him. And in an effort to make himself less afraid of abduction, he thought up the creepiest pony he could pretend existed... somewhere. He wouldn't know his name, otherwise that would spoil how the pony would be a stranger. He'd wear rather ragged clothing, look as though he hadn't slept for days just to find Light, and their bones would be sorta fragile. He'd be under the delusion he was very kind, and he would certainly mean well, but he'd tend to offer food, hug, be really concerned about the economy, eat cotton candy, offer cotton candy (Whether he had it or not), and ask people if they wanted to be his friend.
The tactic Light was using in creating the 'Ideal Stranger' was that he'd be so afraid of this stranger, that other strangers would be less frightening, and he could find some help without being overly panicked. This, however, just made him afraid that the Ideal Stranger would be the one abducting him.
As a result, he only really went out for school and hanging out with friends, if they were safe. Thus, he is now, at times, geographically challenged.
The point is, anything could happen in the Everfree Forest, so why not one's imaginings coming to life? The Ideal Stranger is somewhere in the Everfree Forest, waiting for him. 'Are you secretly fasting right now? Do you want some food?'
Live Light shuddered, then, trying to take his mind off the haunt he created, which was, in hindsight, a stupid idea that seemed like a good idea at the time, looked at the 'castle' thing in the distance. His eyes squinted a little, trying to see the windows, the doors, even whether it's made of bricks or stone. He looked around and found some binoculars. He held both sides with his front hooves, leaning back on a chair to keep his balance.
He didn't see anything still, and fell to his side anyway. At the time of writing his note, it was night time, and Fluttershy was, at the moment, asleep. He started to feel tired himself, anyway. So he decided to go upstairs to bed and get a good night's sleep. Maybe in the morning, he'll be able to notice the tower in the Everfree. Maybe.