Nightmares from reality.
Reality from Nightmares
The name’s Dustwing, I am your typical middle aged Pegasi. I remember it like it was yesterday, an ordinary Friday night. So, of course, I was out drinking with friends. I drank, um, a bit… and passed out.
When I woke up I remember being freezing cold. I got up and looked over my surroundings, seeing nothing. Suddenly I heard a voice!
“Welcome! You have been chosen for the tests!” spoke the voice. “What do you mean the test? And who are you?” I said.
“I am the examiner, and the tests shall begin! Proceed through the door now.” A door suddenly opens up in front of me. Interesting, that wasn’t there when I woke up.... I walk through the door and see a glass of translucent liquid. “Put your hoof in the liquid now.” The voice said. “Why? What will happen?” I asked. “DO AS I SAY!”
commanded the voice. I slowly trotted over to the glass stuck my hoof in the liquid. Suddenly it felt as if 100 volts of electricity was being shot through my body!
The pain subsided and the voice started talking again “You are brave… I like that. Proceed through the next door.” I walk through the opening and see four statues, both on opposite sides of the room. I hear the voice “One of these passages leads to your escape, the other leads onward to conquer the rest of the tests. Look inside you, you will find the answer. But be warned, choose the path in which your heart does not agree with, and you will be exterminated.”
Jeese, that’s a heavy decision. I want to escape these tests, but is that what I really want? I have done nothing with my life, I work a dead end job, only have a handful of friends, and my education is meager and little. If I leave I can live my normal, boring life. But if I stay… I have a chance to move on, do something. “Which passage is which?” I ask.
“The path with the blue eyed statues is the way forward, the red eyed statues the way out. But be warned about yet another thing, if you leave a friend will die. Take your pick.” I walk forward to the middle of the room. I look at the red eyed statues, then look at the blue eyed statues. I trot slowly to the blue eyed statues and close my eyes as I trot through.
I felt a volt of energy beam through my body, then everything went dark.
I hear nothing. I see nothing. Though, as I awake my senses seem to slowly return to me. “Congratulations! You passed the test!” the voice told me. “B-but I g-got hit by t-the energy.” I mumbled “That is exactly the point my friend!” the voiced exclaimed. “It shows how loyal you really are to the ones you love! Now, back to business, through the next door if you please.”
I go through the next door and see green light, buts that not all I saw. In the light there were various types of ponies. I saw earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi. But there was something off, none of them were moving. Upon further inspection I notice that there skin was grey and they all looked like… rocks.
My eyes followed the green light up the room and see a mare, her fur was a light gray and her hair was a dark purple. Hmmm… I guess all I have to do is cross the room without touching the light. I crossed the room and said to the examiner “Haha! Is that all you can throw at me examiner? “Nope!” he replied.
Suddenly it was like 1000 hot knives were pressed against every pore in my skin. Every pore. The voice started talking “Lets see how well you do with pain shall we? Scream and your mother dies.” It took every single possible ounce of endurance I had to not yell or scream in pain. “Wow, you did amazing! On to the next test!”
I go through the door limping in pain and see a long, high corridor. “Good. Now, for this test you shall have a helper. Say the name of the one you would like to help you.” The voice said. Well, I guess Berrypicker is always willing to help. “I choose one of my closest friends, Berrypicker!” I yelled. “Very well” said the voice, “Then Berrypicker it is!” Suddenly, a flash of white light blinded me as Berrypicker appeared out of thin air! Just like that! “Berry!” I yell as I run to her.
I hastily help her up and give her a quick hug “Where am I? She asked. “You have entered the tests, I can not assist you with this one. You are on your own. Good luck.”
“Dust, what’s going on?” Berry asked worriedly. “I woke up here in this hole and this strange voice has been telling me what to do” I explained. I looked around and thought to myself: I don’t understand what’s going on, what is supposed to be the test here? “Um, dust?” “What Berry.” I responded. “ I think it’s about time to go!” Berry exclaimed.
As I look back I see… horrific things. They still haunt me today. They look like a slug, but with knives and blades and chunks of metal sticking out everywhere on the body, claw-like things stuck out of the sides, made of iron, they looked like a griffins talons. But with five claws instead of four, it was easily the most horrifying thing I have ever seen, and probably will be for the rest of my life.
We started running towards the exit as fast as our legs could carry us. “Dust! Is it just me or does the exit look like its not moving?” I looked over at the door and just as Berry said, we were not moving any closer to the exit than we were 5 minutes ago.
Berry was starting to lag behind me. “Berry! Grab my hoof!” I told her. She grabbed my hoof and I started to fly. I held her close and Berry yelled “Look! The door!” I tore my eyes away from the monsters and I see the door get closer! “I think that the more affection we show for each other the closer the door gets!” “What is wrong with you? You sick monster!”
“I hope we can still be friends after this.” I said as I tenderly kissed Berry on her lips. Hm… she taste like strawberry chapstick. I thought as I kissed her.
The door was suddenly right in front of us. I zoomed through and slammed the door before the monsters could finally get us. “CONGRATULATIONS! You have made it to the final test!” a gun popped up with a small table in the middle of the room. “Now, go pick up the gun.” I trotted slowly to the table and picked up the gun. “Good.” said the voice.
“Now shoot your friend. In the head.” The voice told me.
“WHAT!? NO WAY!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “DO IT NOW OR YOU BOTH DIE!” commanded the voice. I start to argue but Berry holds me back. “Dust, I’m sorry.” She said right before she bucked me right in my head, knocking me out cold.
As I awoke I called her name… and heard no reply. I opened my eyes and see a body, Berry was dead on the floor. Gun in her hoof, and hole through her head.
“Berry… why? WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?” I screamed at the top of my lungs. I heard no response. I lost control. I went insane. It was to much for me… I pulled the gun to my head and pulled the trigger.
“Huff huff huff.” I was in my bed, it was all a dream.
I flew as fast as I could to Berry’s house and did all but break open the door. “Dustwing… its 7:30 in the morning you better- before she can finish speaking I fly into her and knock her down. “Dustwing! What are you doing?” I back away sheepishly and apologize. “I’m sorry, I-i thought I lost you. I love you” “I… I love you too Dust”
End story