A layer of apprehension settled among the three of them. Sitting around the campfire with Discord sniffing around the cooler was unpleasant to say the least. Sweetie Belle sat anxiously trembling next to him, Discords eyes followed and studied their moments like a curious dog. The crackle of the fire was the only thing that made a noise, even the wind that had been howling fell silent. With a slight pause Discord slipped his scaly tail around the cooler and smiled slyly.
Sweetie Belle's mind drifted away from the fire, and from Discord and out towards the strange pit in the ground. It wasn't all that menacing, more strange and confusing. None of her friends had seen it before, not even in the daylight, It seemingly appeared in existence as soon as Discord arrived. But darkness seemed to hover over it, but it also had a strange alluring attraction to it.
Applebloom let out a nervous, dry cough, and a cold shiver ran up her spine and she shot a worried glance up towards Discord, wishing he would leave her be. A bead of sweat ran down her forehead when she saw him wink at her. He unwrapped his tail from the cooler and slide right next to Applebloom, uncomfortably close.
'' So Applebloom, how do you think Scootaloo is doing ? I mean it's only been about....7:34 seconds., I'm sure she's fine. You all get your cutie marks, and you win at life right ? Or so that's what I think happens. '' As she spoke Sweetie Belle and Applebloom could hear the ground rumble.
All three turned their heads towards the hole in the ground. it drizzled water, then like a geyser water erupted into the sky and spraying all of them down , it smelled like burnt rubber. Scootaloo came drifting out in a pool of dark, murky mud. Her body shook violently and her head thumped against the ground, making a sicking thud as it connected.. With eyes stretched back in shock, Sweetie Belle and Applebloom ran to their friends side. Discord sat back quizzically, his eyes filled with a spark of surprise. Scootaloo's eyes sat pressed loosely together as her mouth sagged open.
They started to shake her friend awake, but nothing helped. Frantically Applebloom slammed her hoof hard into Scootaloo's chest and she shot up in horror. She stopped and looked around, she didn't seem to no where she was. Scootaloo held her gut and turned to the side and violently vomited on the grass. After Scootaloo settled she laid her head on a bed of moss and drifted off to sleep. With gnashing teeth Applebloom raised her towards Discord.
'' Ah knew it, Sweetie Belle get Scoots. We should of never of agreed to this, you could of gotten her killed ! '' she yelled.
Discord tilted his head and raised a brow. '' Um yes... But as you can see she's fine isn't she ? Just look at her, with some good sleep and some soup she'll be fine within a week. ''
Rage built inside Applebloom, '' Ugh ! Just be quiet and go, Applejack was right. No wonder nobody likes you.... '' Her words hung in the air. Discord sat bad in the shadows and let his blood cool. But before he could settle it fully, like a whip she lashed out in spite.
'' Ugh ! Are you so dumb to think I would bother hurting you ? Your not even worth the time. '' He regretted his words immediately
'' Ah hope you got your kicks because were packing up and leaving ! ''
'' Stop and listen, if Scootaloo couldn't do it, who's to say you can't ?--- '' For some reason he felt strange as the words rolled off his tongue.
Applebloom shoved Discord off before he could finish,She grabbed Scootaloo and helped her down the trail back to Ponyville. Feeling empty air behind her Applebloom spun around and saw Sweetie Belle starring at the ground. She looked towards the pi in the ground and back to Applebloom.
'' Um .... I mean, I know Scoots couldn't do it, but maybe- ''
'' Save it, are you crazy ?.... Ah'm not going to stay here with him another second. If you want to play this game, go right ahead, come get us when you got your senses back in order. ''
In that harsh, but well deserved response, Applebloom took the sleeping Scootaloo back onto the trial and vanished in the darkness. Sweetie Belle regretfully looked towards Discord, who with uncertainty dripping from his eyes nodded his head towards the hole. With a sigh and a confused frown, Sweetie Belle neared the abyss and peered into it. She felt a sudden urge to crawl in, and she did, letting the soft darkness kiss her cheek.
. . .
Soft breathing surrounded her, bouncing around her like an echo. Her bones ached and when she tried scrambling to her hooves, but pain shot up and down her body. Sweat poured down her face, seeping into her bone dry mouth. Sweetie Belle tried looking around but all she saw was darkness. She didn't know where she was and chastised herself for her stupidity, she should of gone with Applebloom.
Rubbing caked saliva from the corners of her mouth, she tried feeling around in the darkness for anything. Sweetie Belle shot back in horror when her hoof grazed over a fleshy mound. She nearly vomited and pressed herself against the cold, damp wall. It felt like stone with engravings carved in it, this definitely wasn't a cave.
Sweetie weakly got to her hooves, her knees trembling from her own fear. Her eyes watered and she gagged when a sent of decay filled her snout. The stench was so immense that she fell back onto the chilling floor and rolled around trying to stop herself from choking. The stench filled the space around her and her eyes watered, even holding her snot as tight as she could couldn't save herself from vomiting.
Sweetie's Belle's breath became shallow and and her deep breathes filled the silence around her. She wiped away the sweat that pooled in her eyes and peered deeper in the darkness. As her eyes adjusted the room became clearer, but it was still like seeing threw muddy water. She froze in place and listened intently to the silence. She could... feel beings around her, just on the edge of her mind. Perhaps she wasn't alone, she could hear breathing from somewhere around her. She studied her surroundings as best she could, when muted steps echoed outside and she just barley managed to pick up on them.
The steps seemed to shuffle aimlessly up and down the hall outside, it seemed angry. Sweetie Belle pulled herself up from the ground and slowly walked deeper into the darkness. She shot her frantic gaze at a light that that appeared at the far end of the room. She scrambled towards the orange glow. The light only reached a few inches from under the creak in the wall, maybe this was a door. Sweetie Belle slide her hoof up the door until the felt an ice cold handle.
The door shifted and began to slowly creak open, she shot back in surprise, falling back onto the freezing stone floor. A blinding orange light poured into the room and she held her hoof in front of her face to block the worst of the light. Even with her hooves pressed firmly into her eye sockets, pain from the sudden burst of light still made her eyes burn.
In the doorway, a familer figure of a silhouette stood, It's features smudged by the light and a hood obstructing it's face. In it's hoof hung a lantern with a golden flame, too bright for her eyes to take. The silhouette starred, and then slightly jostled in place. Sweetie Belle's heart thumped in her chest, as the rhythmic beat of her heart rang in her ears.
The silhouette wavered a bit as a bitter breeze rolled in from the hall, as if it was difficult for it to stand. It's hood hung low, just low enough to cast a dark shadow across it's face. The only things she could make out were it's pale, glinting eyes. It slightly nodded it's head towards the door and took a step towards the shivering mare on the floor. Sweetie Belle crawled back, but stopped when her back hit a slimy stone wall. The room had gotten smaller, and now the silhouette starred, inches from her face.
Sweetie Belle held herself tight, not looking away from the figure. She thought she could hear a distant cry, but it could of been the wind. The silhouette brought the lantern up to it's face and shadows danced on it's sunken face. It was her sister, but it couldn't be.... Whatever white she had in her eyes had been replaced with a deep crimson, her stern expression looked pained and cold.
Sweetie Belle didn't not feel the frigid air seep around her, nor her heart beat. In fact she could not feel anything at all, she was numb from the shock of her '' sisters '' gaze. The hall's piercing beams had softened and Sweetie Belle could focus ever so slightly on the background. Her sister a step to the side and let the warm glow bathe over her Sweetie Belle.
A soft voice spoke, and Sweetie Belle could recall the words, It was Rarity. It was about the story when the campers came back from hiking in the woods and found their entire campsite in ruins. She chuckled at how silly the story was, and how she would stay up for nights fearing the dreaded trash monster. Thankfully the tense pain and fear she felt before seemed long gone.
The voice soon turned into song and Sweetie Belle could fell herself lift up. It didn't hurt anymore, it was like a hazy dream. Sweetie Belle looked towards her sister, but she was gone. Only a diamond sat in her place. Hearing the song play in her head Sweetie Belle welcomed the light. She walked, but she didn't move, she felt but didn't feel, but wariness slowly drifted into her mind.
The door and room was consumed by the light. In front of her sat a pool of wavy sunlight, it called to her. The voices were of her friends, one even sounded a bit like Celestia, and another, Luna. Sweetie Belle put her hoof in front of her and was about to touch the ripples of sunlight when the air ran cold. She could feel something grab her neck and she started to choke. The sunlight dimmed and seemingly cried in pain. Sweetie Belle fought the invisible force, but it was too strong. She felt the fear once more.