The House Remembered

by Waxworks

The house will remember

The day finally came when Plum was going to bring his mother to see the house he had worked so many years to fix. Glory and he had moved in, and Glory had his own room now, and Plum had his own as well. Both of them respected Tikbalang’s privacy and left her alone in hers when she needed it, but today Glory was in her room sitting on her bed while she paced back and forth.

“You’re sure the dress looks good?” Tikbalang asked again.

“Yes Mummy, it looks fine. Grandma will love you,” Glory said.

“But what if she doesn’t?”

“She will.”

“But what if…” Tikbalang was interrupted by the sound of the door opening downstairs. “Oh no, I’m not ready. My skin is still missing!”

“Just wait until Daddy mentions you, then come down, okay?” Glory said.

“Glory, your grandma’s here, come down!” Plum yelled from below.

Glory Seed hopped off the bed and trotted out the door. “Coming Daddy.”

Tikbalang was left alone up in her room. She’d put on a nice dress and fancy shoes. They were in some old foreign style, which was another reason she thought she must have been from outside Equestria before her death. Or she spent a lot of time traveling. But she looked nice, with her mane done up, her dress clean, the only part of her that was unpresentable was, well, herself, with her skin missing.

She waited, listening as Plum took her around the house. The older mare commented on the excellent work he’d done in revitalizing the place, ooh-ing and ahh-ing as they went. Eventually she asked the question Tikbalang had been waiting for.

“But this house is huge. Is it really just going to be you and Glory living here? We could fit the whole family inside this place. What do you plan on doing with all the space?” The mare asked.

“Ah, well you see mother, the house isn’t really mine,” Plum said.

“You mean something legal? Then why can you live here and not the rest of us?” The mare said.

“Not exactly, the old owner still lives here,” Plum said.

“But the place has been abandoned for decades. Did they come back?”

“No, she’s been here the whole time. Do you remember that winter when Plentiful Posies got lost in the woods, then the whole town saw a ghostly light in the woods?”

“Yes, I do. It led to your sister and you never explained… wait… you don’t mean?”

“Mother, I would like to introduce you to the Tikbalang who cursed and blessed us all these years,” Plum Pudding said.

At her cue, Tikbalang stepped out onto the upstairs landing, and slowly descended, Plum’s mother staring at her with her mouth wide open. To her credit, she didn’t scream in fright, nor did she yell at her for all the blame she must have placed on Tikbalang for her family’s misfortune. She just looked, and closed her mouth in thought after a few minutes.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Tikbalang, as your son has named me. My own name has been lost for many years, so that one will suffice,” Tikbalang said.

Plum’s mother kept staring, her eyes flicking between Tikbalang’s hollow sockets and her jagged exposed teeth. “Plum, may I have a word with you outside?”

Plum Pudding took his aging mother out the front door, leaving Glory and Tikbalang inside. Plum came back in after a moment and picked up Glory seed, probably at his mother’s urging, and Tikbalang was left to herself while heated voices argued outside the front door. It went on for several minutes, until all three stormed back inside, with Plum’s mother in the lead.

She came up to Tikbalang and stood with her head held high. “Plum tells me you aren’t actually a natural spirit, but the ghost of a pony who lived here, is that true?”

“It is.” Tikbalang did not address her with any honorifics. It didn’t feel ‘right’. She was much older than this mare, and giving her an inch wouldn’t be acceptable.

“My son tells me you helped us many years ago, and all these years you’ve been here watching my grandson while Plum worked to repair your house, this is also true?”

“It is.”

“Well, they’re both very much alive, and our orchard is healthy, they have a new house to live in that is much more grand than the old one. I suppose I have you to thank for his change in attitude since the death of his—“ her eyes flicked down to Glory and she cleared her throat “—since death brought him so much grief.”

“I do not claim that, but I appreciate his company, and he seems to appreciate mine. Glory and I get along very well,” Tikbalang said.

“Then… I have no other complaints. It’s an unusual circumstance, but nopony is worse the wear for it. You are welcome to your new home, Plum. It is a work of art and you should be proud of it.” Plum’s mother turned and marched out the front door.

Once she was gone down the hill, Tikbalang turned to Plum. “I can’t tell if she liked me or hated me.”

“She liked you well enough. Mother has always been very superstitious, and seeing an actual ghost has probably confused her. She’ll warm up to you eventually.” Plum grinned. “She won’t let us stay here alone during Hearth’s warming, and this house is much bigger than our old one, so she’ll probably ask to spend it here, despite your presence.”

“Hearth’s warming. That would be something,” Tikbalang said.

“I think it would be lovely. There are enough rooms for my entire family, an impressive fireplace and kitchen, and if I can get plumbing working before then, it will be a cozy Hearth’s Warming indeed,” Plum said.

It had been years since Tikbalang had ever spent a winter with anypony but herself for company. This would be a welcome change of pace, no matter what they thought of her appearance. Now that she had three ponies vouching for her goodwill, there was less chance somepony would freak out at her and call on a witch hunt.

“I would like that indeed,” Tikbalang said.

“I would love that! Now I’ll get so many more presents!” Glory said.

Tikbalang felt a warm sense of happiness fill her. She didn’t know the circumstances of her death, or where she had been buried, but now, with all of this surrounding her, it no longer mattered. She had a family, and despite her appearance, they didn’t care either. They had each other, and that was what was important.

Even if years down the line they all passed away or left, even if she herself one day went wherever ghosts were supposed to go, she had this for now, by hook or by crook, through richer and poorer, through their sickness and their health, as long as the building that enclosed them stood, the house would remember.

And that was enough.

The End.

Comments

[leondelsur]

sublime history....

[The King of machines]

how the fuck are you not more popular?

[Waxworks]

8414381
Thank you, I'm glad you liked it.

8414475
I write mostly horror, which is a very niche genre. It's made even more niche by these also being fanfiction of My Little Pony.
Glad you enjoyed it, though.

[Azelze The Mephistocorn]

Love!! It!!

[The King of machines]

8414672
eh, that might explain it.
I'm more of a wandering reader ill read anything that's not either second person or shitfic I don't tend to stick to any genre or fandom in particular.

[Pony Knight]

Beautiful. Never found out what happened to her or how she died. But I have got to admit that was awesome

[Tempus]

This deserves more likes, it was quite the nice read. Very heartwarming!

[Brony of the Revolution]

That story was absolutely beautiful. I'm a little sad that we didn't get to know more about her backstory, but at the same time it adds to the realness of it.
I'm inclined to check out some of your other stuff as well. You're a very good story teller.
I hope to see more fiction like this in the future.

[DaydreamsOfAStranger]

I got a lot of Garden of Discord vibes reading this. Very wonderful, all the same. Bravo!

[rikithemonk]

I agree with the others, your a very good writer. My original thought was that you were doing a "spin" on the H.P.Lovecraft short story, "The Outsider"

I was surprisingly wrong. This is very much a unique and fantastic story in its own right.

The Monk

[Viper Pit]

this was very sweet tho the ending im afraid i let my imagination get the better of me

[Waxworks]

8647496
I'm glad you enjoyed it. It was the first "good" ending I'd written in a while. Bittersweet, at the very least. Thank you.

[Viper Pit]

8647562
you are welcome tho I wouldnt mind a squeal about glory seed

[Razalon The Lizardman]

This last chapter felt super rushed.

I mean, I enjoyed the story, but this kinda ended it on a lackluster note. Even if it was a happy ending.

Still, I'll give it a like and a fave.

[Twilight_the_spy]

I like this story, almost wish there was a sequel or that it was a bit longer so we could find 9ut more of her backstory/how she died, but I like the current ending too...

[Waxworks]

8806197
I understand. I have considered it, but I always fear that whatever answers I give as to her backstory will be unsatisfying. Whatever I imagine will not be the same as what someone else imagines.

[rikithemonk]

I got a wild hair to relisten to this story. I think this is your best one.

The Monk

[Waxworks]

8850105
Thanks. I'm glad you like it. It felt very bittersweet to write, and was the longest story I'd written at the time.

[skybird010]

This was really good! I like and don't like that there's no sequel. I want to learn more about her but at the same time, it ended well. Maybe a one-shot side story would be cool. It wouldn't have to include very much of her backstory to keep up the mystery but just enough for Hearth's Warming. Like a tradition of hers or something. You did leave some hints about her life which I liked. Like how she was a dancer and possibly died of a disease (possible consumption given the time period hints) It was really cool. It reminded me of the Giving Tree. Whatever you decide to do with it, this is your story

[Waxworks]

9070787
I'm glad you liked it. For some odd reason this story seems to get the best reviews as they come, though I suppose I can see why. I don't think I'll do anything more with it, but thank you for the compliments.

[skybird010]

9070966
you're welcome!

[DarkGred]

This is really a lovely, beautiful story, I can say.

[PaulAsaran]

You can has review!

[Janiecarmody]

In the nostalgic embrace of "The House Remembered," every nook and cranny echoes tales of cherished moments. Amidst the whispers of time, House Cleaning Services stand as silent guardians, preserving the sanctity of each memory etched within those walls, ensuring that the home's story continues to unfold in a pristine and welcoming space.