"Right...so we got the shovels, the lantern’s attached to the pole, and I've got the instructions." Apple Bloom said, glancing over their inventory. "Anything else we need?"
"Think that's it." Babs answered. "Let's shake a hoof. I don't wanna be out here too long." She shuddered as she looked around at the empty graveyard. "This place gives me the creeps."
The fillies made their way out into the graveyard, staying close to each other, finding comfort in the heat of another living body. They both had the eerie feeling that something-or somepony- was watching them. Nobody was, of course, but the sensation of tense dread didn't leave.
A small sign finally announced their arrival to the correct location. At first, it looked like the plot was full, but careful inspection showed that there were two empty spots at two opposite ends of the section. "Which do ya think he wants?" Apple Bloom asked.
Babs shrugged. "I don't think it matters. Pick one."
Apple Bloom glanced back and forth between the two bare patches of earth. Deciding it didn't matter, she chose the one on the far left.
After taking their positions, the two started digging furiously, banging shovels together constantly and hindering progress. They eventually figured out that they weren't getting anywhere, a wisely decided to dig on different sides. But soon they got a huge shock.
The silver end of Babs's shovel smashed through the roof of a banged-up box.
They stared at the unexpected blockade. Apple Bloom tapped the top of the box with her shovel. "What is this?" she asked, utterly bewildered.
" I dunno. Bring the lantern closer." Babs instructed. The lantern was lifted and hovered over the gaping hole in ground that the duo crouched in. The box was rather small. Babs shuddered. Did they just hit a coffin?
This was not what she signed up for.
Apple Bloom quickly clambered out, not too pleased with the unexpected turn this little adventure was taking. Grave-digging? Sure. Grave-smashing? No thanks. Babs stayed where she was, curiosity gluing her to the spot. Maybe this wasn't a coffin. Maybe it was a treasure chest! This wouldn't be a bad place to put it. Nopony would look for one here.
"Gimme a light, would ya?" she called up.
Apple Bloom looked back down at her cousin. "I don't like this, Babs. We should leave." she pleaded. But her comrade would her none of this. "C'mon, swing that lantern over here. I ain't moving 'til I know what this is."
With a reluctant whimper, Apple Bloom moved the lantern over to Babs. Babs smiled in thanks and immediately turned her attention back to the box. She hesitated for a moment. What if this really was a coffin?
She shook the thought away. That was future Babs’s problem. With a strong kick, she broke the lid.
It was a coffin, of course, and she accidently poked a corpse.
She jumped back, a scream frozen in her throat. Apple Bloom cried out in fear, dropping the light in the grave. Thankfully, it didn't break. Unfortunately, it illuminated the dead pony. It was a navy-blue pegasus, just about their age, with a bright orange mane. Its right ear was torn to shreds, its front left leg bone was partly exposed, and all that was left of its tail and right wing were bones. The body was a horrid mess of cuts and bite marks, and its skin was stretched tight over bulging bones.
If that wasn't bad enough, Babs could swear it was moving.
No....it had to be some trick of the light. Corpses didn't move, save for the occasional decomposing twitch. In fact, that was probably the reason for the disturbance. The body was moving as it rotted away. Perfectly natural.
And, as if that perfectly sound reasoning was a cue, the corpse opened its bloodshot eyes and slowly sat up.
The filles stared at for a moment, then did what any sensible filly would do: scream in terror and run the buck away.