//------------------------------// // Bump in The Night // Story: Where I am Needed // by Saviour From The Dark //------------------------------// Where I am Needed Chapter 4, Bump in the Night Salvatore was ecstatic! For the whole day he and Twilght read through nearly every book in the Library, every page dust clad or not they read it. If anything the purple mare seemed just as excited to teach Salvatore about Equestria's history, making sure to tell the tales of Nightmare Moon and Discord. There was nothing to stop Twilight from giving her human house guest as a nice long lecture and demonstration of magic something that immediately drew his full attention and will to learn himself however Twilight had to explain how Unicorns are naturally able to use magic whereas other ponies cannot, this slightly dampened his hopes yet he still enthused his will to learn. Nevertheless Twilight agreed to teach him when she could, depending on what her friends had planned, to which the reaction was another joyful hug sending her to the floor. His education of ponies also involved the species of pony Earth, Pegasus, Unicorn and the renowned Alicorn, which is the most rarest and powerful type of pony. After the day of reading books Twilight explained to Salvatore her plan to introduce him to Ponyville, to make a good presentation of him. He would receive a warm welcome due to the kindness of ponies yet fear of something new is a common trait in every form of life, no matter how friendly or how threatening they are. As Luna, princess of the night, raised the moon and created a beautiful night sky for all to see before going to rest their heads, Twilight decided it was the correct time to go to call it a night especially after so much studying with her new human friend, which so thoroughly enjoyed especially feeling like a teacher. Twilight showed him to his temporary bed down on the couch which she provided spare pillows and bed sheets in order to make his night more comfortable after more praises and thanks for allowing him to stay followed by more hugs, stronger and somehow tighter. They both said goodnight and both closed their eyes awaiting slumber and sweet dreams to sweep them away, Salvatore hoped the latter would not take his mind this night. In reality it was like any other night nothing out of place with nothing abnormal or deviating from the norm of all nights in Equestria, more specifically Ponyville. As Twilight's eyes closed and her mind drifted into a dream wonderland however the same could not be said for Salvatore as his nights were mainly darkness as dreams only brought bad things to him, from suppressed memories to horrific images. It was just not natural for him to have dreams, it never was. Long nights of bountiful sleep would usually result in a few seconds of darkness from his perspective, no fantasies or dreams, aspirations only darkness awaited him in the night. As his breathing finally deepened and sunk into a slow and steady pattern it was well known slumber's chains had enslaved his tired soul. The night Library was so peaceful with the nearly inaudible sound of breathing and the moon's faint light poured through the windows lighting what it could, in a comforting furthermore soothing glow. Twilight was fast asleep and having dreams of being the greatest Unicorn in Equestria, famed for her skill and prowess with magic. A light smile made itself at home on her muzzle yet was it the dreams that made her happy or finally some company? Spike had made himself very available to helping Rarity with her customers requests of new clothes, repairs or alterations. Spike was actually home mid-afternoon the next day but still the knowledge of another presence in the house was just the comfort Twilight needed to sleep with a smile on her face. Little did she know….more than one being was currently in her place of residence, four to be exact. These things were not interested in the peaceful mare but what slept peacefully and contently on her couch downstairs. Salvatore remained unaware of the intruders, he was too tired to have the energy to. He did not show it but his body was worn out and his mind not too far from the same tree, dulling his awareness. Four slick shadows found their way to loom over him in a demented manor. Their forms hold no real shape or figure yet you could tell something beneath the conjured dark mist surrounding them that told you something was alive, it was malicious in intent and malevolent as a being could be. From their strange forms dark blades appeared yet they did not strike immediately like savage beasts oh no that was after they tormented his mind. All of their invisible eyes stared intently at him then one closest to his head glided its hands over his temples as if it was applying a soothing massage yet what it was doing was tearing its way into his memories and dreams. While this happened the others glided their formless hands, if they could be called such, over their prey's body. Salvatore's entire body bucked…..then it began shaking soon his mouth opened in silent screams of agony. As the creatures witnessed this the silence was their laughter, as they watching him wreath and cringe with agonizing sorrow. They all raised their blades high above their heads, preparing their blades to strike where the most blood would pour from. They did not want to just kill him, they wanted to make a bloody show of it…..literally. The silent signal to strike was just about to given….Then. Then it happened….a faint blood red glow emanated from Salvatore, bathing the silent assassins and half the room in its light. They just stared…..waiting for something to happen. The glow was coming from his scars….. After what seemed like hours for the awaiting killers passed they resumed their plan to strike. The air began to chill…death approached the young man who had gave his life to save Humanity and now was about to die at the blades of cowards. Without a single second to waste, a moment of hesitation, and the blades met the warm, soft and comfy interior of… The sofa. The creatures heads twitched in communication with each other, trying to reason what had just happened. Had their prey just been led asleep awaiting their blades? A blood red glow bathed them….they slowly turned. What they saw was their intended kill standing, facing them. His eye was still closed yet there he stood, silent a blade meeting the softest flesh before stroking the across to flood the floor with hot blood fresh from the throat. The only sign of life was the pulsating blood red lines across his body, previously seen as scars. The glow as they now only noticed was pulsated like a beating heart with unnatural, twisted life. A light seemed to be coming from his face, it was the wound that took his eye. The scar trailed jaggedly from his right temple to his chin. Slowly the eyelid began to open and as it did the darkness where an eye used to be slightly shocked the attackers for they did not expect this from their target. A crimson light began to swirl in the darkness of the eyeless socket and gradually it began to swirl faster and faster until a crimson orb replaced the once vacant socket. The creatures watched as this creature before them was definitely not what they had been informed of when tasked with his death. They all turned to each other to discuss in their silent tongue. After formulating their plan over the course of a second and as they turned to face the target with a new plan of attack they saw he had….gone!? Again? The only sign that the target had been standing their staring at them was a fading trail of blood red light that went straight in a circle around them….and behind them…..one of the creatures had stopped moving entirely to which it's comrades investigated. Asking silent question then awaiting a silent response….. The answer…..A fist through its chest as little did they know, Salvatore or his body had manoeuvred behind them then waited to play with Its food. What was unseen was the hand twisting around and squeezing various vital organs before bursting forward with a powerful punch, sending blood spraying everywhere. They jumped away from the scene to assess the situation in order to do this they formed darkness around themselves in order to make a new plan of attack. As the darkness faded from the creature currently stuck on Salvatore's arm it was only now did It see that these creatures were in fact small, thin and fragile creatures that hid behind an intimidating visage. A grin made its way onto his face and slowly as his something was draining it, the creature began to slowly form into blood. All of the blood that had been spayed also found its way to Salvatore's leg and began to flow upward until it was simply…..absorbed. Two of the creatures struck out simultaneously seeking vengeance for their fallen comrade and there was no trickery of evading or hiding this time. Instead two blades had dug deep into his flesh, one in between his ribs and the other into his shoulder. For a second it seemed as if Salvatore had been released from his mortal coil…that was until a sharp…toothed grin spread dominated his features. His fist shot toward the closest living things face, turning it into a mush of bone shrapnel and raw bloody flesh. Then he stepped forward and twisted, smashing his elbow into the side of the other's face, leaving a very similar result. Once again the bodies were reduced to blood and began to be absorbed by whatever was now in control of Salvatore's body. Glowing blood red lines which were his scars now slowly began to push…push through his skin. It was blood pushing through his skin yet it wasn't his own. It was a collected form of the vital essence he had collected from the cowardly beings. It was not his part of his own essence but under his skin, an unmovable curse. Tendrils of blood broke free from his flesh and immediately as they had broken free they searched for one other, connecting and intertwining, to form a connected network of pulsating ruby liquid. It did not stray too far from the flesh as it longed to be joined together. All the scars were now simply connected to one another through a simple line none of them over lapped the other as this was just the beginning. The beginning of something young and new….it would soon grow into something strong and dominant. In some ways the sight was beautiful, the flowing rivers pulsated along flesh while they bonded. As they did bond it began to fuse and began to glow brighter, symbolising newly forged power from the blood of enemies. Now finally connected with one another they sunk back under his flesh, resembling a second set of veins running with demonic, glowing blood. Along with this new feature also the crimson orb had obtained a fiery orange pupil, as if it burned with hate and rage. Finally ready to land the final blow the last creature struck from its unknown hiding place. Little did it know that as soon as it did it had finally been caught in both hands of the beast that had slaughtered its companions. Then began the process of crushing it with pure unnatural strength, bones audibly snapped and as a result organs were pierced by its own bones thus torn apart from the inside by the fibre of its own being. It could be seen as a twisted embrace as it was clearly dead due its vital organs being both crushed and pierced simultaneously. The being was then absorbed, the same fate as its comrades…. After the process was done and all remaining evidence of conflict was absorbed, not the tiniest trace left. The being in possession of Salvatore's body inspected the recently regrown arm, giving it a small test, the arm tensed then relaxed then the fist clenched before stretching all the fingers. Salvatore was then moved back to the couch and got back onto the sofa and under the covers, as if nothing had ever happened. The glow of blood had now died down and began to fade as well as the eye dissipating into nothing once more… Finally just before returning to the secluded parts of Salvatore's mind a voice said "Hunger…sated". What was this voice? What is this new power? Is something wrong with Salvatore or is this the shadow of the bright light that is Salvatore? Does he know or will he remember? Will Twilight ask about that new arm? These are all very good questions that shall be revealed….. However we have only just begun on following his journey. These are simply the first steps on the path he will take. All questions will be answered….but not now…..no the time is too soon.