Written Dreams trotted out of the barn, looking back and chuckling seeing Mitta shying away a bit at the exit. He walks over to her and takes her hoof, leading her out into the sunlight of the town, “I‘m starting to wonder how long you‘ve been in that barn.” Mitta looked down in response, sighing a bit before shaking her head and looking back up at him with a light smile,
“A… long time.” Written Dreams continued down the path off to their right after leaving the barn, looking from left to right slowly as he walked, taking in the scenery with a bright smile on his face,
“This town is really beautiful Mitta, I envy that you live here regardless of the curse.” Written Dreams said as he looked down at Mitta who was looking down at the ground as they walked, the pegasus raising his hoof and patting her head as he walked with her, “What does it look like at night?” Mitta’s ears drooped a bit more and slowly raised her head again, looking to him with a sad look,
“The town becomes what it truly is, a dark and decayed town. All of the houses are falling apart and the trees around the outside of the town are all dying if not dead already. If you‘re staying here for a while then… I suppose you‘ll see it eventually.” Mitta stopped walking as her sentence ended, looking across to the light brown colt with a sandy blonde mane and tail. He stood at one of the party tables, seeming to be occupied and in deep thought, “Mr. Dreams…” Written Dreams blinked as he looked over to her in response, tilting his head a little,
“I actually prefer Written Dreams. But you seem worried about that pony. Are you alright?” Mitta continued to look at him silently for a few moments before nodding and smiling lightly,
“Y… yeah I‘m alright.” Written Dreams then continued walking, trotting over to the pony and Mitta’s eyes widened as she held out a hoof, “H-Hey wait up!” She then hurried after him, standing next to Written Dreams as he stands a few feet away from the pony,
“Hello there, my name is Written Dreams.” The colt turned his head, giving him a lazy look and simply stared at him sleepily in silence for a few moments before he spoke,
“My name‘s Gladstone.”
“Have you noticed anything shiny on the ground around here? I‘m looking for something for a friend.” Gladstone seemed to pause for a few more moments before he spoke once again,
“Shiny…? I don‘t know what you‘re talking about.” Written Dreams nodded in response with a light smile before turning to Mitta,
“Alright thank you Gladstone, come on Mitta.” Mitta nodded and followed the pegasus as he continued down the path, watching him looking at the houses before a light sparkle caught her eye and she pointed off to the side,
“I think I see something over there Written Dreams.” Written Dreams paused for a moment as he heard Mitta’s words and looked at her before following her hoof and grinning,
“That might be what we‘re looking for! Great work spotting it Mitta!” Mitta paused and took a step back as he raced over and picked it up, trotting back over to her a moment later with a grin on his face, “Thanks a lot for helping to find it Mitta, it was pretty well hidden I don‘t know if I could have found it by myself.” Mitta looked away with a light blush on her face, shaking her head as she looked to the ground,
“Really it was nothing…”
“No need to be modest Mitta. You did an excellent job spotting it. Come on, lets head back to Roneo now.” They then began walking back towards the party tables near the barn where he believed they’d find Roneo again, Mitta staring at the ground the whole way till Written Dreams turned his head looking down at her, “You‘re not complimented or praised very often… are you?” Mitta only silently shook her head in response, continuing to walk with her head hung low and a blush on her light-grey cheeks, “Well then I suppose I‘ll be doing a lot of it then!” Mitta’s head rose and she blinked looking at him in mild surprise,
“Really I‘m nothing special! You don‘t have to go so far out of your way Written Dreams, really.” Written Dreams only laughed in response, giving her a light grin, his eyes arching as he smiled,
“Out of my way, hehe, it‘s not out of my way to tell somepony when they‘ve done a good job. Ah, here we are.” Mitta looked ahead to see Roneo and Starlet talking to each other, Written Dreams and the light grey mare walking over to them before the pegasus speaks, “Hey, Roneo, good news! Mitta here spotted your gem so we‘re bringing it back to you!” Roneo held out his hoof as Written Dreams withdrew the gem from his bag and handed it over, the tan pony smiling gratefully as he took it and set it on the table sliding it over to Starlet,
“Thank you so much for finding it you two, Starlet? This is for you.” Mitta remained watching the two for a few moments before she blinked and looked around not seeing Written Dreams next to her,
“Erm… where‘d you go?!” She then heard a whistle behind her and the mare turned seeing him a bit down the path around thirty feet from her,
“We should let them have their privacy, Mitta!” Mitta felt a warm smile spread onto her face and she trotted over to Written Dreams before the two of them continued down the dirt path.
A few minutes of walking later the two found themselves back in the middle of the town, a few houses around them and Written Dreams, as usual, looking around at everything they passed before he stopped walking and turned to her with a happy smile, “I count seven houses. That would be… you, Roneo, Starlet, Gladstone, Grey Hoof and uhm…” Mitta trotted ahead a few steps and pointed towards a house around the corner, a lime green pony with a neutral green mane and tail waving to them both as she stood next to one of the houses, a hose in her mouth as she watered a few flowers. Written Dreams looked over to her and cracked a smile, soon walking towards her with Mitta a few steps behind him. Written Dreams trotted up to the pony as she had just set down the hose and turned off the water as he smiled towards her, “Hello miss, I‘m Written Dreams.” The pony raised her hoof, shaking with Written Dreams before their hoofs touched the ground again and she spoke,
“Very nice to meet you Written Dreams, my name is Three-Leaf. Have you been in Sunny Town long?” Written Dreams thought for a moment in response before shaking his head slowly, his eyes closing as he did so and smiled as he opened them once again,
“Not very long really, just about an hour or two.”
“How long do you think you‘ll be staying with us?” Written Dreams paused at the question, looking at Mitta’s worried expression as he thought and looked back to Three-Leaf with his normal smile,
“To be honest this town is really peaceful. If I weren‘t taking this journey I’m on right now I might even buy one of these homes for my own and live here with you all.” Three-Leaf gave a rather dark smile for a split second but then it faded to a normal and cheerful smile as she nodded to him,
“Who knows, maybe you‘ll just decide to stay with us instead of leaving.”
“Hmm, perhaps, but even if I don‘t I still plan to return some day. The ponies here are just so kind, I really feel a connection with you all already.” Written Dreams and Mitta soon continued on their way past Three-Leaf and over to the North-eastern exit of the town. Mitta paused as they stood near the gate and she looked at Written Dreams with a worried expression,
“You… you didn‘t really mean what you said to Three-leaf did you?” Written Dreams watched as Mitta walked over to the door of the house right next to the exit and slowly opened the door, watching him the entire time but Written Dreams nodded his head letting out a light chuckle,
“Every word actually. Although I feel like I would need to work out some kind of deal so I wouldn‘t get cursed… I‘d still like to go out exploring every once in a while you know?” As he spoke, Mitta simply stared at the pegasus with a dumbfounded look but nodded slowly as he finished,
“Y…Yeah I guess so.” She seemed to pause as she looked off down the trail away from town, “So you‘re going to finish the cycle so you can talk to Ruby now…?” Written Dreams looked off down the trail, walking a few steps out of the gate before looking back at Mitta,
“Nah, I figured I‘d just get the key for now. As Applebloom described it… once she went inside that house everything went to hell. I‘ll see you in a few minutes Mitta.” Mitta motioned to the inside of the house as she nodded to him, the worried look still heavy on her face,
“Okay then… when you get back feel free to some inside, It‘s a bit past dinner time but I‘ll make something for us if you‘d like…”
“That sounds excellent Mitta. I‘ll see you soon.” Written Dreams then trotted down the path, feeling a shudder go down his spine as the light faded around him and the trees showed their darker state. Written Dreams let out a steady breath as he walked, looking up at the sky and watching the sunset steadily disappear, looking behind him at the moon creeping up into the sky. The pegasus continued down the path for a few more minutes before he looked ahead at a rather large house with its back against the dense trees of the forest. He walked slowly over to the well and fit the crank in his bag into the hole in the side, turning it till an old wooden bucket lifted from the water, Written Dreams lifting an old and rusty key from it and he tossed it into his pack before walking back down the trail away from the house, “That little filly looked really shaken up about what she saw inside that house… too bad she didn‘t tell me what it was.” Written Dreams began to hum softly to himself as he passed the fence and walked back into Sunny town, looking around slowly before grinning to himself. The town remained intact although it was still dark. Some of the lights on the strings above the party tables were still on, giving the town a sort of ‘late night party’ feel to it. He turned and walked up to the door to Mitta’s house, pausing as he knocked on the cold wood, “Mitta it‘s me!” The pegasus paused for a few moments when he received no response, reaching out and pushing on the door it slide open and he trotted inside, looking around slowly before tilting his head, “Mitta…?”
A few moments more of silence passed before his ear twitched, the sound of muffled crying reaching his ear and he walked over to a closed door and knocked on it, “Mitta? What are you doing shut away all by yourself again?” Written Dreams waited for nearly a minute as the crying gradually slowed, a sniff being heard before he heard Mitta’s voice,
“I… don‘t want you to see me like this. You‘ll just run away.” He rolled his eyes, his hoof reaching out and touching the door as he shakes his head, the door creaking a bit as it opens and Written Dreams walks inside,
“See you like what-- oh.” Mitta sat before him, staring at the ground as she silently wept. Her mane was in tangles, bits of hair missing in small patches from her mane and tail. Her body was a much darker shade of grey, almost black and portions of her flesh were rotted away, leaving holes in her torso and hooves although her head was almost completely intact. Written Dreams stood in the door way, just looking at her for a few moments, Mitta looking up as she heard the clopping of hoofs growing louder and as she looked up he was standing before her. He reached out and wiped away her tears with a gentle smile and shook his head, “Worried about nothing.” He laid his hoof on her head, patting her a few times before taking a step back and standing before her, “Would you mind if I stayed here tonight? I‘ve got a big day of getting chased by zombie ponies tomorrow.” Mitta was silent, her eyes watering as she stood up, still looking at the floor before she met his gaze,
“Of… of course you can. You can use my bed if you‘d like.” Written Dreams watched as she motioned to the large bed next to her and he looked at it for a moment before shaking his head,
“No, that‘s alright. I‘ll sleep on the couch out in the living room. I actually prefer couches… they have that kind of feeling like a sleeping bag out in the wilderness that I love so much.” As the minutes passed Written Dreams made himself comfortable on the couch out in Mitta’s living room. The house was very dark, leaving the inside indescribable although it didn’t look like Mitta had any personal belongings much at all. Written Dreams laid down and gradually fell asleep, breathing normally as Mitta laid awake in her own bed, her tears streaking her pillow as she stared at the wall of the room.
Written Dreams’ eyes slowly opened a few hours later, his ears perking as he heard talking from the front door. He didn’t move his head, but looked across seeing Mitta standing in the doorway and another pony, mostly rotted away standing before her. The voice was male and sounded ethereal, since his jaw was hanging a little, “Mitta you can‘t protect him from us. He‘s asleep right now why not just turn him and I‘ll be on my way?” He heard Mitta sigh, but he saw how she was standing, barring the entrance,
“Grey… he‘s different from the ponies who have come here before. How many do you remember who actually stayed the night even after seeing any of us as an alternate form?”
“Even so, he also has a mark. That‘s not something that me and the rest of the town can just ignore. Let me through Mitta.” He heard Mitta growl in defiance, her stance widening as she stood before Grey Hoof,
“You know how I know he‘s different? He didn‘t just leave me in the barn like all of the others do. He brought me with him and actually cares about me unlike all of you!” Written Dreams closed his eyes as he continued to listen, the light splash of tears hitting the wood floor as Mitta continued to talk, “And when he met Three-Leaf… he even said that he would like to possibly live here once he‘s done with the quest he‘s on. There‘s no need to turn him, he doesn‘t fear us!” Grey Hoof took a few steps back and paused hearing Mitta’s words as he stared at her,
“Mitta. Once he enters that house there will be no more protecting him. It‘s only a matter of time before you slip up.” He heard a growl and the angry clopping of hooves from Mitta as she stared down Grey Hoof,
“Go back home Grey. You‘re not welcome here.” The sound of fading clops echoed away followed by the closing of the large door, Mitta’s sigh came next before she turned and walked over to the couch. There was nothing but silence for a few minutes before Mitta laid down at the foot of the couch, curling up and laying her head down, closing her eyes, “Sometimes I think Grey just needs a good buck to the face.”
“You really seem to resent them all Mitta…” Mitta slowly opened her glowing red eyes as she sighed a little,
“The only one who seems to care about me at all is Three-Leaf but that‘s only when I can get out of the barn… Roneo‘s always blocking the way… Starlet doesn‘t really do anything, same with Gladstone. All Grey cares about are his stupid parties to draw ponies in and curse them. Sometimes I just-- Hey!” Mitta felt herself lifted onto the couch, embraced tightly by the pegasus, his wings draped over her as she heard him chuckle softly,
“You worry too much Mitta.”
“I look disgusting… I feel disgusting… why would you hug me?”
“Sometimes all ponies need is someone to listen and hold them.” They both remained silent after that, Mitta eventually falling asleep with a small smile on her face and Written Dreams falling back to sleep a few minutes after.
The pegasus’ eyes darted back and forth as he ran through the destroyed town, turning his head seeing the zombified Three-Leaf rise from the decayed ground in front of him, “Don‘t leave…” Written Dreams paused, watching her movements as he cautiously moved around her, the glowing red eyes of the pony staring into his very soul. Written Dreams turned away from her and continued before his eyes widened, a large boulder in his way and one of the cursed ponies walking towards him,
“Not good.” His wings spread and he jumps but he hit’s the ground a moment later with a groan, pushing himself back up and pushing the boulder hard, sliding it quickly across the ground and slips through the open path before skidding to a halt, Grey Hoof standing near the end of the clearing in front of him,
“Look at you now. All alone and about to be cursed. Why not just walk over here and we‘ll make it quick hmm?” Written Dreams narrows his eyes with a growl as he gets down low and lunges towards the path, seeing Grey Hoof racing after him at an incredible pace,
“Not good!” Written Dreams turns back looking ahead and his eyes widen as Mitta runs up and jumps over him, slamming hard into Grey Hoof and pins him to the ground with a dark growl,
“Get out of here now!” Written Dreams only looks back for a moment and nods, running down the trail and towards the exit of the town. Getting through the gate he races down the winding path in the trees, avoiding the rising ponies and the ground giving way around them,
“Almost…” Two rise up, barring his path and his eyes dart to the thick wall of trees on either side, the pegasus leaping and running across the bark sideways as he grins, “It‘s times like this where I‘m glad I’m a pegasus!” Only a few minutes later Written Dreams burst from the trees around Zecora’s home, looking around quickly and then behind him before pausing, “Whew… lost them…”
After his encounter with the zebra Zecora, Written Dreams walked towards the exit of the forest, smiling lightly as Ruby was waiting for him.
“And then I told him of the next clue and he headed back into the forest again.” Ruby said as she turned to face the two of them, the three standing at the edge of the forest, the soft glow of the moon illuminating the grass and trail leading away. Twilight smiled gently as Ruby finished her story, the three mares bumping hooves before Ruby turned to go,
“Thank you for the story Ruby. Give our regards to Mitta next time you see her.” Ruby looked back at them, smiling as she looked at them through her glowing yellow eyes,
“I‘ll be sure to. Farewell Twilight Sparkle. Farewell Princess Luna. May your hooves be swift and your minds all the swifter.” Ruby then disappeared into the forest, leaving the two mares walking out of the trees and Luna looking up at the sky as Twilight looks ahead,
“Well Twilight, we‘ve got our heading so lets go.” Twilight gives her a happy nod and soon both of them are walking down the path, the huge mountain far in the distance.