//------------------------------// // Nightmares are on the horizon... // Story: One Trip We Didn't Plan // by That Pegasus Over There //------------------------------// One Trip We Didn't Plan Chapter 14 It was late, the moon had already begun its descent in the sky. There would only be a few more hours of night left. In the heart of Luna's magnificent night, shadowy figures scampered on the cliff overlooking Canterlot. They could see the Ambassador's Wing of the castle. They tittered and exchanged several clicks before one pointed toward their destination. It pulled out a piece of paper with two humans on it. The figure turned it over to show its five companions what was on the back. Humans Ambassador's Apartments Rooms AA-413 + AA-414 The figures nodded before taking flight toward their destination. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Goodnight, Luna." The two human boys had finished their tea with Luna and getting ready to return to their rooms for the night. They had talked much of human politics and how America's government was run. "Thanks for the tea, Princess!" "Goodnight, boys. We hope thee sleep well tonight." Luna said as she saw the two human teenagers to her ebony doors. "Oh! Kevin, where did thou get thy broken spear from?" Kevin thought for a second, forgetting he still had Fugientes Interfactor's broken spear with him. "This? This came from the guard you sent to get us. He pointed it at me, so I broke it. Kinda flimsy if you ask me." Luna sighed. "We knew our sister doing away with actual spears in favor for decorative ceremonial ones was a mistake." "Woah, hold up." Doug interjected. "You're saying the Royal Guard doesn't have any real spears? Just ceremonial wooden ones?" "Yes." "That's comforting." Kevin muttered. The two young ambassadors walked back through the castle toward their rooms. They walked back in silence too tired to say anything. It was either very late into the night, or very early in the morning depending upon how one looks at it. They arrived at their rooms and said goodnight when something occurred to Kevin. "...Doug, we don't have keys." Doug looked at the doorknob. "You know, I think you're right. But..." Doug looked closer at the doors. "...there's no keyholes on these doors." "Now what?" "We didn't lock it soooo..." Doug turned the doorknob and opened the door. "...it should open right up." "Right. Well, goodnight." "G'night." Kevin and Doug went into their respective rooms and locked their doors. Kevin took off his boots and jumped into the bed. He quickly fell asleep and began to dream. Doug did not fall asleep nearly as fast after he took off his boots and sat in bed. He stared at the ceiling of the room for a long time before moving to the balcony to gaze at the moon. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Kevin was dreaming about home. He had just arrived back at his house from a long trip and was stepping out of a truck. "Ah. It's great to be home." He said as he started walking. Inside his house there was food waiting for him. His mother's cooking. "Good to see you home dear." His mom said. As Kevin sat down, something was amiss. He didn't see his fat5her anywhere. "Oh, your father's outside fixing the lights again. Don't worry about it." Just as Kevin was about to respond, the stove exploded. The entire house was on fire. Everything from the floor to the ceiling was burning. He ran outside and watched. It was gone. His family, his home, his metaphorical 'rock' in life, was burned before his eyes. Kevin blinked. He didn't know what to think. His former home was now burning, and he was scared. The one memory he held onto that kept him sane in a world full of Technicolor ponies, gone. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Doug's dream fared no better maybe even worse. For what started out as him looking out over Canterlot on a cliff, turned into violent bloodshed and burning below him. He did not notice the four cloaked figures walk up behind him, for it was only when one spoke did he realize they were there. "You caused this you know." Doug turned around startled by the appearance of the four figures. They were cloaked so only their faces showed, or in some cases, what was left of them. "The death of so many ponies is on your shoulders." The one speaking was a skeleton robed in black. Next to him stood a man armored with a Greek chest piece. It reminded Doug of the Spartans from the movie 300. To the warrior's left, stood the remaining figures. One's face was wrapped so that only his eyes were exposed. The other in tattered rags and a tattered cloak. He looked malnourished- unhealthily thin. Doug wondered who these people were. "You are wondering what we are, aren't you?" The one whose face Doug couldn't see. "You should know us. We've ravaged your world for a long time now." "Who? Who are-" Doug stuttered. "Come now, you should recognize me of all people." The skeleton spoke as flesh began to form around its bony face. The skin darned to an unearthly ash gray, and eyes red a blood rolled into their sockets. "Maybe you know me better in this form, no?" Doug knew who it was. It was a character concept he designed to embody death for a game. "Yes its me. And by association, you should know the others." "Th- The f-f-four horsemen." Doug said in fear. He knew they were fore told in Medieval times to bring about the apocalypse, but he had always passed them off as legends. "Legends? Pfft. Tell me, how long has there been wars raging on Earth?" The warrior said. Doug knew their names. He didn't want to admit they were right in front of him. "Do we look like legends to you?" "Yes, War. I have come sweeping up after you for a long time now." Death spoke. "Don't forget that I helped start your wars." The malnourished famine said. "Time's up. We need to go. Bugs will be upon him soon." The fourth, Pestilence, interjected. "There will be a conflict before you, young one. And none of the choices you will be faced with will be pleasant. Then the dream ended. Doug screamed.