Nightmares
The trees were big, and scary. Their branches were gnarly, and they reached out to Sweetie Belle. She screamed while she ran. She ran, and ran, as fast as she could.
"Don't run away, I just want to play with you," a voice said. When Sweetie Belle heard it, she ran even faster. There was a mare chasing her. She had a coat as dark as the night, and hair as red as blood, and she had no cutie mark. But the thing that scared Sweetie Belle the most about her, was that she had no eyes. Her face was a black pit of darkness.
Sweetie Belle screamed as loud as she could. She was tangled in a mess by her blanket.
"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity raced to Sweetie Belle's room. Concern was written across her face. "Sweetie Belle, what happened? Is something wrong?" Rarity took Sweetie Belle into a comforting embrace.
"Nothing's wrong," Sweetie belle began. "I just had a nightmare.
"Sweet Celestia, I thought it was something dangerous. This has been happening for three weeks. Sweetie Belle, dreams aren't real. And no matter what happens, you'll always be safe with me," Rarity cuddled her younger sister. Sweetie Belle fell asleep in he hooves.
...
There she was again, back in the haunting forest in the deadly night. It has been two months since Sweetie Belle had gotten her cutie mark. It has been two months since she's been having this nightmare over and over again. And that scary mare was there again, only this time, there was no where else to run. Sweetie Belle had reached the end of the forest. On the other side, laid an endless void of blackness.
"I've got you now," the mare said. She reached for Sweetie Belle with her bloody hooves.
...
"Sweetie Belle, are you okay?" Scootaloo asked her unicorn friend. Sweetie Belle coat and hair were a mess, and her eyes were bloodshot.
"She yawned before answering," I'm fine. Just had a bad night, it's nothing to worry about."
"Ya sure?" Apple Bloom asked. She had never seen Sweetie Belle come to school like this. The filly always kept her mane and tail neatly combed.
"Yeah, I'm sure," Sweetie Belle answered. She glanced towards the window, and saw the blank face of darkness from her dreams. Sweetie Belle yelped, and fell off her seat. Fear gripped her body.
"Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, helping her friend up. "We need to tell yer sister!"
"Yeah, you've been coming to school like this for a month, now," Scootaloo said.
"No, no, it's fine. I'm really okay," Sweetie Belle said. But she was not okay. She hated lying to her friends, but she was too scared to tell. The mare might hurt them.
Sweetie Belle began on her homework for school. She had to finish off of a few comprehensions for English class. She took out her writing utensils, and began writing. On the side of he page, she saw a face with a sharp-toothed grin. The mare. Sweetie Belle screamed, which felt like the thousandth time she did that in the past two months.
"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaimed. "What is the matter? You just interrupted me from my work!"
"Oh, sorry, Rarity. I thought I saw... Something. But it was nothing, really," Sweetie Belle said.
Rarity sighed before saying, "well, alright then. But if you need to tell me something, I'm always there for you." Rarity trotted off to finish her business.
...
"Sweetie Belle, you're sure you're okay? You've been getting us really concerned about you," Scootaloo said. Sweetie Belle looked just like she did when she came to school yesterday.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure. Just having insomnia problems, but it's all working out," Sweetie Belle answered.
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom didn't know what to do. It has been three months already,m and Sweetie belle still isn't alright. They've never been in this situation before. They really wanted to help their friend, but they also didn't want to force her into doing something she didn't want to.
The bell rang before they could do anything. Sweetie Belle trotted off home, leaving her friends behind. She couldn't face them, they would know too much. She continued her trek to home. But wherever she'd glance, she'd always see that black face. Sweetie Belle shivered. I shouldn't be scared, Sweetie Belle thought. Like Rarity said, after all, it's only just a dream, right?
"Hello there, little one," A voice said. Sweetie Belle turned to see the mare. She could see the endless pits of where her eyes should be. Sweetie Belle was paralyzed, unable to move. But it wasn't only that, she could feel something else holding her to the ground, something trapping her, and not letting her go. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. Sweetie Belle shut her eyes as hard as she could.
"I'll come for you one night. Then I can play with you... Forever," the mare's creepy voice said. But when Sweetie Belle opened her eyes, the mare was gone. It was like nothing had happened at all. Sweetie Belle hesitantly walked home.
That night, Sweetie Belle shivered in her bed. She was afraid, especially this night. This night, she had a strong feeling that the mare would come. For her. She heard a sound of dripping liquid. Sweetie Belle turned around it see where the sound was coming from, but when she got up, she realized it was coming from her hoof. Sweetie Belle opened her mouth wide.
"Hush, little one, I'm here," the mare said. She was standing right next to Sweetie Belle's bed with the wicked grin on her face. Once again, Sweetie Belle couldn't move. She couldn't scream for help. The mare took her hoof, and lifted it to Sweetie Belle's heart. With one loud thump, she smashed it inside. Blood sputtered everywhere. The mare was gone.
Morning eventually came, and Rarity happily trotted over to Sweetie belle's room to wake her up. "Sweetie Belle! Rise and shine, it's time for school!" She opened the door, and stepped inside. Rarity gasped. Blood was coated everywhere. And Sweetie Belle was still in her bed, with a big bloody hole in where her heart was. Rarity screamed. She ran for help.
...
Sweetie Belle's body was cleansed from blood, and placed in a coffin. She was laid in the ground in front of her gravestone. Everypony Sweetie Belle knew came to her funeral. Rarity's eyes were dry from crying all day. Her friends were there to comfort her after her loss.
"Rarity, I'm so sorry," Twilight said.
"It'll be alright, Rarity. We're all here for you," Fluttershy said. Rarity nodded. She was quiet when the whole funeral began. But out from the corner of her eye, she caught a dark figure looking back. She finally understood what Sweetie Belle had been scared of all along. She knew who the murder was.