I opened the door to the library as the sun was beginning to set. "Twilight? Anypony home?" I called out into the dark library. I paused for a second at the doorway, remembering the dark night I had crash landed. Something wasn't right...
"SURPRISE!!!" yelled a roomful of ponies. The lights came on and the pink one, Pinkie Pie, leapt clear across the room to land next to me.
"Welcome to Ponyville! I've been wanting to throw you a party since you crashed but Twilight and Doctor Stables told me parties aren't allowed in hospitals..." Pinkie trailed off as I smiled and nodded my head. I could see what Ms. Cake was talking about, this pony must run off pure sugar and if the party was any indication I had a long night ahead.
After a few moments of stunned silence as my heart rate returned to normal I noticed Pinkie had finally stopped talking and was looking at me expectantly. "Thanks Pinkie, this party is great." I smiled look around, somehow it seems like everypony in Ponyville was in the library. I had a sudden urge to grab some punch and find a nice, quiet corner to watch everypony dance.
Twilight came over after Pinkie had bounced off towards the cake, the same cake that was in the park it seemed. "How did she get my cake over here from the park?" I must have had a confused look on my face.
"I've decided to just explain it as ‘it’s Pinkie Pie.’ I am glad you made it over, and if you introduce yourselves to everypony I'm sure you can find a job and a roommate" Twilight cheerfully said. The air did seem to have an energy in it and I was soon loosening up.
I headed over to the only other Pegasus in the room, a cyan mare with a rainbow mane. "Hey Comet, I'm Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in all of Equestria!" Rainbow hovered in the air striking a macho pose which came off looking rather silly. "Twilight was telling me how you crashed into her library!" Rainbow added.
"Thanks Rainbow, so I notice there aren't many pegasi here. Are you in charge of weather?" I asked casually.
"Yeah, I'm the lead weather mare in Ponyville. We're getting ready for winter and several of the pegasi are rounding up extra clouds. I heard you're looking for work, we could use another pegasus and the mayor will be able to give you a salary." Rainbow continued to hover in the air, quite comfortable floating over everypony. I thought about flying around gathering clouds, it sounded pretty easy. I also thought about what was out there that had shot me out of the sky.
"Thanks Rainbow, I'll take a rain check on that job," and I walked off to talk to more ponies.
"Hi, I'm Comet," I greeted an orange mare with a cowboy hat. "Howdy, ah'm Applejack, and ah run Sweet Apple Acres." Glancing at the mare, I noted her three apples cutie mark, and the muscles of a pony who has worked every day of her life.
“Good to meet you, Applejack.” I replied. “Do you by chance have any work around your farm?”
Applejack grinned. “Ah heard you might be lookin’ fer some work. Ah need tah harvest all th’ apples before winter comes, and ah need all the help ah can get. Why, we even have some guest rooms you could use.”
She seemed like an honest pony, so I accepted the offer.
--------------------------
I headed around the room introducing myself to everypony. Before the night was over, I had met the elements of harmony and learned a great deal about Ponyville. With all the party games and cake, I was soon exhausted.
"Comet" Applejack addressed me, "It's gettin' late and we should head back to the farm and get ya settled." I looked outside and sure enough it was pitch black, the new moon barely casting any light around. Turning to face Applejack, I noticed most of the party guests had already left. I was again gripped by that dread in the back of my mind, I didn't know why but I knew for certain I didn't want to be out at night.
"Thanks, but I'm really tired. Hey Twilight!" I called over to the librarian, "I don't suppose you have a guest bed? I'm exhausted."
Applejack just looked at me and I tried not to be nervous, but somehow I could tell she knew I was holding something back. "Oh, sure thing Comet. I had Spike prepare the guest bed earlier in case you needed a place to sleep," Twilight replied. "Thanks" I told her and looked back to Applejack, who seemed willing to drop the matter. I breathed a sigh of relief, the last thing I needed was to tell a room full of ponies I was afraid to go out at night.
"Hey Spike, thanks for getting that guest bed out" I told the small dragon.
"Oh no problem Comet, and it's nice to have a colt around for once. You want to see some of my comics about Daring Do or Batcolt?" The purple dragon offered.
"I'd love to do a little reading" I responded and we went to examine his comic book collection.
~*~
I don't remember how long we'd stayed up reading comics, or Spike chatting about his crush on Rarity. Spike had hoped I might have some advice for him but as I was quick to remind him, I had amnesia, so I suggested just being himself.
Now I lay in bed looking at the ceiling, it was still dark out and I wasn't sure how long I had slept. I decided to get up and get some water, remembering that Spike slept in a small basket I was careful getting out of the guest bed. I looked over but his basket was empty, he must have gotten up too. I quietly headed for the stairs and noticed Twilight's bed was empty too. I recalled Spike telling me how she liked to burn the midnight oil studying.
I had made it downstairs when I heard noises coming from the basement. After I got a drink of water my curiosity got the best of me. Light from a firefly lantern flickered across the library, and I took it down to take with me. The floor was in disarray from the party with as many books as streamers laying about. I made my way over to the basement door and stepped through it. The door slammed shut behind me, nearly causing me to drop the lantern. I tried to open it but it was locked now, from down below I could hear talking. I would just ask Twilight what was going on.
I headed down the stairs but I wasn't in the library anymore. All around me were damp brown walls, supported by thick beams of rotting timber. The voices were still there but seemed more distant, and each step echoed down the long mineshaft. I thought of going back, but behind me was only darkness. Biting down tightly on the firefly lantern, I proceeded ahead.
It started slowly as I neared the corner, the sense of dread was back. With it I could feel all the happiness from the party earlier in the day fading away. All I knew was that I should get back in bed and stay inside, I shouldn't be happy, I should know only fear.
I rounded the corner and saw myself standing with my sergeant in my golden but worn guard armor. Before us everypony was fighting some type of unicorn that was covered in black shadow. Everypony that attacked, or tried to defend, was sucked into the shadows and silenced. The sergeant's horn glowed brightly as he tried to hold back the darkness and protect his squad, he turned to me and said "Go now! Report to Princess Celestia and stop for nopony! We've disturbed something most foul in the caves."
I saw myself flee out of the cave, and I saw the sergeant's protection spell completely surrounded by the darkness. Then there was nothing but silence and the darkness, I hadn't even noticed my lamp go out. My eyes tried to adjust but all I could hear was a deep laughing and a set of eyes... red eyes staring straight into my soul. He knew I was watching.