//------------------------------// // The friendly Ghost // Story: Our Haunted House // by Iridescence T Wind //------------------------------// "I'll never be nothin' but a scary ol' ghost without any friends..." -Casper the Friendly Ghost ---∞∞∞---∞∞∞---∞∞∞--- Another day, another haunt. Thus was the life of a ghost, though she didn't mind it. After an almost countless amount of years there were always ghosts about the world somewhere, be it in an lonely attic or basement of some unfortunate who had died early in life. Some with things left undone, others with no knowledge on how to pass on, or rather a guide. Some of these ghosts just like their living counterparts would be able to cause great harm, and make another ghost to join them in this lonely version of the forgotten afterlife. Other fellow ghosts would wish only to be left alone, scaring the young and naïve foals when they trespassed upon their haunts at night from badly done tests of courage. Some even, offered help or companionship to the few who would stay long enough to see them but like all ghosts of her knowledge, they all had one thing in common. They flourished in the darkness. The night of the ever graceful princess of the same name, it was only in these times that the ghosts of the world would appear to the living. Some of these would appear more so or not, as a ghost could choose to not present themselves upon the world. Some would take the form of a specter, a morbid type of a ghost who looked similar to a ponies skull and grey robes, which reached unsettling heights matching that of ,or more often then not, taller then the princess of the day. These ponies were often the case for most accidents that lead to death in the peaceful land of Equestria. She however, wasn't one of those creepy old child molesters or vengeful spirits. Thinking back there were still dozens of different types of ghosts. From harmless little wisps who were once little more than children when they perished, to the growling feral ghosts who wished nothing but malice on those who lived in their old dwelling. There were all sorts for this reason. Some of them more sane then others and certain few strong enough to even exist during the day, oh how she wished. Instead of all those cool things however she was a Markless, a pony of adult age who had died before getting her cutie-mark. Doomed as well to seek out her mark until she found it before she could pass on. While rare the 'Markless' types didn't exactly have a reputation on passing to the actual afterlife at any sort of rate. The fastest one having taken the unfortunate stallion almost a thousand years before he found his cutie mark in the midst of a rainbow color explosion from the sky that had happened only a few years ago. All but one however, one who had lost her life because of the rainbow explosion and became one of the last Markless ponies in the spirit world while the rest drifted off to their eternal peace. She wished her life hadn't ended so unfortunately that day, she did however like the perks. Being able to fly and phase through stuff was a plus. Being a Markless had it's own perks as well, she was able to do about anything she wanted within a reasonable expanse. Her ghostly body not bounded down to one particular spot like most ghosts and to some measure copy their abilities to see if it were her talent as well. Though that usually had it's own downsides as nothing she copied from her ghostly brethren was quite as effective as the original, some, like a hypnotic lullaby of the Sirens(1) would put her to sleep as well if she ever copied it and put it to use. Her mind was drawn back to the present, her current haunt an old building she had found around the edge of a rather peaceful town, the sun was setting and the resulting twilight had begun to allow her to manifest upon the world once more, her long slender light blue body complete with a darker blue mane and tail, the pair of red stripes that decorated her mane sticking out about an inch from the rest of her straight mane that had bangs that ended in an abrupt bowl like cut to clear her vision, a haircut she had done often herself instead of messing with the snooty hair salon ponies when she was alive. Her gentle hooves floating ever so softly an inch above the ground, she glided throughout the house she had decided to live in for a while, if only for it's change of scenery. Though a rather odd, purple light gave her pause as she passed towards an doorway, something which was unnatural for sure but what? She listed off the things in her mind with purple light sources only coming up with a blank, something new perhaps. Well she wasn't one to back down from exploration, she was already dead! Though the sight she came across was far from what she expected... ---∞∞∞---∞∞∞---∞∞∞--- Meanwhile in Ponyville Library... ---∞∞∞---∞∞∞---∞∞∞--- Twilight C. Sparkle, once just a student of Princess Celestia, and now the bearer of the element of magic and student of friendship as well had taken on a new role at her mentors request. The Pokédex that had been given to her gave few answers to Twilight's innumerable questions, but one thing was for sure; nothing was as it seemed. After the mass kidnapping that had taken her best friends as well as herself, she had felt the need to increase her own protective spells. Combat spells, however, were in short supply for study. Having since the last war been more than a thousand years ago when the Griffon Empire had attacked and been beaten off as the Elements of Harmony turned their cruel dictator Emperor Chip, into stone(2). Thus the spells she would have to find would be based off any possible thing she could find. As a result the Pokédex, with it's massive amounts of data had been optimal for research. She had already figured out things such as Calm mind, which she had already learned from watching Soul teach the Crusaders what seemed like forever ago. Now however she had to apply her own magical style of thinking, forming spells to suit her needs as she observed and tried to copy the effects of the Pokémon attacks into Unicorn magic. Though she was met with a limited success thus far. But on with her free time she would try, she would not want the same mistake to happen again, and while Celestia's guards searched for Soul, her mixed feelings about the situation persisted. Soul had saved her friends as well as her own life, yet in the act had committed a crime that was deemable by something Equestria had not seen since Nightmare moons banishment. Execution; oh how she shivered at the word, the cold feeling as the remains of an army was dead, killed by Soul in his quest to save them. But she would have to put that out of mind for tonight, her research would also have to wait, she had a event to attend, a young fliers competition that Rainbow had entered. Though she held no doubts rainbow would win, after all, what other Pegasus pony could clear an entire sky in ten seconds flat? None that she could think of at least. Leaving the unfinished spell she traveled off, unaware of the dozen royal guards stealthily hidden in the room. As the mare left, all but one of these shadows would follow her out, the last having an bright pink fur around her light blue eyes giggling lightly as if an inside joke, scanning over Twilights paper before fixing an error or two with the help of one of her many strange items and bouncing along in a quiet sing song, "Super ninja guard Twilight safety troopers go!" The Pink mare would lead the expert patrol team everywhere and anywhere, sometimes even between where's. That was always fun as well, though she had been told to double if not triple security on her friends by the royal highness herself. No one would suspect that she, Pinkamena Diane Pie was actually, a member of the S.N.G.S.T. Even though she did give Twilight hints towards it now and then. Sad, how nopony would know how many times the seemingly carefree pony had done one or two little things to save the world with her super sensitive patented Pinkie Sense. Though a party pooper would occasionally spoil her mood again as a annoyed Pegasus who had previously gained leadership in one of the largest attempts to overthrow the princesses had stated yet again, "Pinkie, for the last time we are not S.N.G.S.T. We are just-" Whatever Thunder Lane had been about to say was interrupted as the eccentric mare shushed him with a oddly muffin scented hoof to the mouth, "Shusshhhhh she'll hear us!" the third member among them whispered, her yellow crossed eyes momentarily both concentrating on the ex-rebel-leader. Thus Twilight went on towards her rented hot air balloon, where many of her friends(3) were waiting to head up to watch the competition and perhaps get a tour of Rainbow's home town, their leader, having already changed out of her outfit on a seconds notice also waiting at the balloon with impossible speed having been right next to the rest of the guard less than a few seconds ago. Though none of them questioned it, Pinkie pie was, and always would be a mystery to the rest of the squad.