//------------------------------// // Creeps in the Night // Story: Power, Was All I Desired // by Penguin_Pop34 //------------------------------// "Dagi, are you sure we're going the right way?" Sonata asked Adagio as they silently creeped through the Everfree Forest. It's now midnight in Equestria. And while ponies are sleeping in their comfy little beds, the three ponies were walking on the damp moss. Crickets chirped, creatures lurked and swallowed in the darkness, and the moon was the only bright thing in the sky, and no, it's not made of cheese. Aria insisted that they should rest for the night. And Sonata and Adagio willingly agreed. "Finally, my hooves are aching so hard," Adagio sighed in relief. As Aria set up the sleeping bags and tent, and Adagio prepared dinner, Sonata had the duty to find firewood. Okay, Sonata. Time to put your magic ability to the test. How do you use that illuminating spell again? she thought as she trotted deep into the forest. She stopped and looked back. Sonata could no longer see her two best friends. "Okay, c-calm d-d-down, S-Sonata. You c-can do this. Just us the illuminating spell." Her horn glowed a magenta color, and after five minutes, she successfully made a light just enough to see a least a yard of the forest. And guess who decided to greet her? A manticore! "Uh, hi! I'm Sonata. I'm sure you don't have a name, but could you please not hurt me? It's been a bad day." The manticore tilted it's head and started to crawl towards a helpless Sonata. "NO! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME! I DON'T WANT TO DIE! AHHHHH!" The manticore rushed towards her, with sharp claws ready to slice her. Sonata looked back, trees closed up on her, making a natural cage. "Get back!" Sonata shot a magic beam onto the manticore's arm. It screamed and shoved Sonata with his body. And after a scrape of the manticore's claws, it huffed and crawled away. "Did you hear a scream?" Aria asked. Adagio's eyes widen. "SONATA!" "Dagi, h-help me," Sonata said. Her voice was faint in the darkness. "No, no, NO!" Adagio screamed and forced herself deep in the night. "Adagio! What the freak are you doing!?" Aria ran after her. They both ran, and ran until they find Sonata, lying helplessly on the ground. Her front left hoof was twisted, and there were scrapes here and there. Adagio lifted her onto her back and rushed back to camp. "Who hurt you!?" Aria yelled. Adagio began wrapping bandages on Sonata's hoof. Sonata slightly opened her eyes. Some drops of blood fell on her eyelids. "A, m-manticore. I t-tried to reason with it. But he was, a meanie." Aria glared at her and screamed, "YOU STUPID SONATA! YOU COUD'VE GOTTEN KILLED!!" Sonata weakly smiled. "I bet you are going to say that I'm the worst huh?" "NOT NOW!" Aria screamed. Tears fell furiously from her eyes. Sonata frowned and looked at Adagio. "From now on, we should stick together. To make sure this never happens again." Adagio helped Sonata in her sleeping bag. Aria looked away. "I need some time alone." Adagio hesitated. "Be careful. We don't want the same thing to happen to you." Adagio closed her eyes. Her last words before she sleep was, "I should've came here alone." As the tent closed up, Aria buried her head in her hooves. "I can't do this. I can't do this." She repeated that line for a while until she cried herself to sleep. "Cock a doodle do!" The rooster called to another beautiful sunrise. Adagio began to pack up the tent to move on. Aria silently began to make wooden crutches for Sonata, who was practicing her magic, shooting beams at carved targets she carved on the tree trunks. "Must, get stronger, to, defend, myself. Must never, let that ever again." Aria begged her to stop. But she kept going, until she passed out. "Please..." Aria whispered. Why did Sonata change? Usually she's her quirky self. But now. Everything has gotten into her. During the afternoon, Aria was watching Sonata, as she was using her band new crutches, and Adagio was walking silently. Only birds were out, chirping peacefully. The creatures that were lurking went back to their habitats. So Sonata was half relieved. "I'm sorry for making you guys worry. I just don't want you guys to get involved." Sonata sighed. Adagio turned around. Her gloomy face shocked Aria. "Please. Don't talk." They kept walking and walking. Day and night, Adagio remained silent, Aria felt grumpy and yet upset, and Sonata whimpered from time to time. Aria began to think more and more about the journey ahead. She sometimes fell behind in her own thoughts, but she couldn't help it. Every night on their journey, Aria began to change more and more. She keeps hearing noises, and voices saying, "You're not worthy..." On their last night, Adagio stopped to look at Aria. "Are you okay? We haven't heard from you in a while." Aria turned around. She felt shaky and walked towards Adagio creepily. She whispered as she walked. "You're not worthy my little Dagi..."