The Summoning
It was a rather quiet November day in Canterlot. Nobody was in the street. No familiar whistling through the trees. Just silence. Except for one thing. The loud sound of rubber screeching across the gravel. A gust of wind picked up some leaves nearby, as a BMX soared past the area. On this bike, was star athlete Rainbow Dash. Her hair blowing aimlessly in the wind. Her speed was unmatched by anything else on the road. Not even the wind. Which pricked her face with its cold. She gritted her teeth, her breathing now heavy. Just a few more blocks and she'd make it.
"Ugh! Why is it out of every other guy, Sunburst has to live on the edge of the planet!"
She thought angrily. Her feet pedaling the bike as fast as she could. She already knew it was late. The sun diving down past the horizon line plus the cotton candy-like look of the sky gave it away. It was almost evening. And if she knew Sunburst, which frankly she didn't, she hoped he wasn't too harsh on deadlines. Tonight was the night after all. One where the "Stars are aligned in perfect orientation!" his nasally and for lack of a better word nerdish voice echoed in her head.
She groaned in frustration. Tilting her head back at the sky as she rode forward. She soon regained her original cycling stance. As she looked forward down the neighborhood. Squinting, she could barely make out his house. But with full determination and confidence, began to speed towards it.
After a few minutes, she finally ended up on the street where his house was scrunched in with the others. She smirked to herself. Noticing the street name, Aries Avenue. After only seeing it from a distance, finally getting close to it was an odd feeling. He had a strange home. Almost like one from a sci-fi novel. Elongated stilts by the side to support the massive and almost comical observatory. Which looked as though half-hazardly placed onto the top of the house. Resting in an odd, crooked position.
"Well he sure has an acquired taste."
She thought to herself. As surprisingly, she rode up to the strange teen's driveway. Tossing her bike onto the grass as if it were an unwanted toy, she began up the stairway. As if her legs didn't already hurt! She finally reached the final step, breathing a sigh of relief. Giving herself a small victory, as she raised her arms in pride. Before long, her dignity stepped in. And made her stop. Trying to get a formal posture, she extended her index finger and rang the front doorbell.
DING DONG BING BONG
The house stirred. Making the soft, yet noticeable jingle. She pulled her hand away, resting it beside her hip. As she heard noises from inside. Some faint like the hurried footsteps of an excited youth, others more akin to a battlefield. Crashes and mechanical whirring coming from inside. Before she knew it, the front door opened suddenly. A lanky and slouched-over figure greeted her. His face was hidden by the light cast behind him. But Rainbow already knew who it was.
"Hey Sunburst!"
Rainbow broke the awkward silence. Waving at him. Sunburst nodded, very obviously timid, as he opened the door further for Rainbow to enter.
"H-hey Dash. What's up?"
The small voice finally spoke. With a bit of hesitation. As Rainbow dash walked into his house. Her nose was immediately assaulted by the smell of cleaning supplies and an odd fruitiness. She wrinkled her nose, turning back to face Sunburst with a smile.
"Not much. You?"
She asked with a raised eyebrow. Sunburst shrugged. Saying,
"I...I didn't think you'd actually come. D-dash. It means a lo-"
"Yeah, man! No problem!"
Dash replied. Cutting him off to make the conversation feel less awkward. But by doing this, she made it even more so. She took a deep breath, noticing the stillness in the room she invaded it by adding.
"I wouldn't pass up an opportunity like this Sunburst. You can count on me!"
Rainbow gave the timid boy a confident smile. He returned with his own, less confident smile. He began forward, almost bumping into Rainbow as he walked towards the living room. Rainbow followed slowly, noticing all the fallen boxes, books, and other furniture. It seemed he forgot to pick it up in his haste. Soon enough she met up with him again. His living room was decorated with many small trinkets and candles lined up. Looking like a scene from a horror film.
"So uh, what exactly are we doing here? All you gave me were some vague details and this."
She reached in her pocket, pulling out an odd and flat stone. A strange symbol was carved into the top of it. Sunburst gave a smirk, calling her over with a head shake. Wanting to tell her this information as well as he could, he began to speak.
"So, as I said before, tonight is a very special night! With tonight being All Saints Day, the stars are in a very particular pattern tonight. Known to astronomers as, Mortui Resurgunt. Roughly translated to-"
"Okay, man. Enough with the lesson. Just get to the point."
Rainbow interrupted him. Rather rudely. At this point, she was feeling a bit ticked off and wanted to go home. So the last thing she wanted was to sit there and listen. Sunburst rolled his eyes, then continuing at a more fast pace.
"So we're just gonna be summoning a spirit using our tools. And hopefully, record it down on this notepad. As evidence for paranormal activity being real."
He spoke in one breath. After finishing, he began to pant. Rainbow just huffed.
"Okay then. So uh, what do we do?"
She asked. Tilting her head to the side. Almost as if rehearsed, Sunburst brought out a matchbook. Striking by the side with a single match, bringing a small bit of flame. Before planting it down on the wicks of a few black candles. Lighting them all before dousing his match. Sighing, as he brought forth more supplies.
Crushed up Ginger and Tabasco in a sandwich bag, about 6 salt rocks, a yellowed photograph, a glass cup, a crucifix, and a sort of cloak. Rainbow looked at these items in confusion. As Sunburst began to organize the items. First by making a small circle on the wooden floor with the crushed up spices. About the size of a throw pillow. Shortly before placing the candles around the circle, although far more spaced out. As he set up the ritual, Rainbow couldn't help but be both impressed by his knowledge and fast movement, but also skeptical and a bit beleaguered by the situation. Deciding to fill the silence yet again, she decided to jokingly tease him by asking.
"Is this all necessary Sun? Like can't we just ask the ghost or whatever to just come out and chat?"
Sunburst groaned, rolling his eyes as Rainbow broke his concentration. He turned to her, sighing.
"Unless you wanna get possessed by a supernatural entity and have your body used as a gateway for undead souls to escape from, then yes, it is necessary."
He said with a bit of frustration in his voice. As he soon placed the photograph inside the glass jar. Putting it gently in the middle of the spice circle. The picture was of a man, not much older than the two of them. it was notably old, judging by the weathering on the photo and his fashion sense. Rainbow tilted her head. Still puzzled by all of this.
"So... whats the rock fo-"
As she spoke, his hand reached for the stone he had given earlier. He held in his hand, looking up at her again.
"We don't need the stone!"
He said abruptly and a bit dryly. Casually tossing the stone behind him. Not noticing the glass vase it was aimed for.
SMASH
The nicely decorated vase hit the wooden floor like an anchor. Immediately shattering into a million pieces when it made contact. Both Rainbow and Sunburst winced looking behind them at the newly made mess. Sunburst inhaled sharply through his teeth, as Rainbow looked back at him. Asking loudly.
"What the? Then why'd you give it to me!"
She asked. Motioning to the rock, which sat still on the floor. Surrounded by many shards of sharp porcelain.
"I dunno! God my mom's gonna kill me!"
He stated in a panic. Placing his palm against his top teeth. He stepped up, beginning to head towards the mess. Then all of a sudden the lights switched off. Sending the room into total pitch-black darkness. Except for the glowing candlelight. A girly scream came from one of them, as Rainbow stood. Using the tools given, she grabbed a lit candle and walked towards Sunburst. Who was now very embarrassed.
"Sunburst... D-did you scream?"
He looked away bashfully. The flickering light caused by the candle causing shadows to lick across his face. He just nodded, his eyes still not facing Rainbow. She sighed, facepalming.
"I knew this was a bad idea."
She murmured. Soon, a soft buzz began, and the lights turned back on. Sending a sigh of relief from both parties. She looked back up at Sunburst with surprise. Then calmly stating,
"What happened to the lights?"
Sunburst shrugged again. Both people now feeling an unrelenting tension.
"I-It usually happens during one of these for me. St-still gets me though."
He admitted. Trying to kill the tension with some humor. It didn't amuse Dash.
"So what you're saying is some spooky demon stuff is happening right now?"
She said using her own colorful language. Probing the frightened egghead. Not that she wasn't frightened either. She just knew how to hide it well.
"Y-yeah."
He shudders after saying this. Beginning to walk back to the ceremonial circle. Hastily trying to finish setting it up. With a crucifix behind the glass and an unlit match on the top, it was seemingly ready. As marked by him proudly stating,
"Ta-da! There it is!"
He motioned towards his circle. Being very happy with his tidiwork.
"W-wait, hold on!"
He said, suddenly plucking Rainbow's candle from her hands and placing it in its missing spot. She huffed.
"The least he could have done is asked."
She crossed her arms. Hoping this ritual could be done and over with already. She was now more than before, tired of this. And although she didn't want to say, she also wanted to leave because of the fear she felt. She sighed, sitting down beside Sunburst. Both are a bit away from the circle. She glanced at him a few times, before returning her gaze back to the circle.
"Are you gonna start Sun?"
She asked with a bit of impatience. Huffing with a bit of her teen angst.
"I-I thought you wer-"
He spoke up softly. Cutting himself off, awaiting another interruption, but never having one. He sighed.
"I'll do it."
He got on his knees. Tying the cloak around his neck, letting it drape down his sides. She softly snickered, as it looked a bit dorky. Even unfitting. Like a child's size. He didn't seem to notice, as he began to recite some words, Rainbow laid on her back and stared up at the ceiling. Kind of bored by the long-winded speech Sunburst had to give. While speaking in this strange language she didn't know, he struck the match sitting atop the glass with the flint. Setting it ablaze once more. The delicate fire not looking uncommon around the many other ones.
"Klaatu barada nikto!"
He said these last lines with gusto. Lifting his cloak up into the air and letting it fall down softly. With such a grand delivery, Dash was wakened up from her trance. Staring up at Sunburst, who seemed to be hurriedly reciting the verse again in a soft tone. He sounded frustrated. She scooched beside him, placing a hand on his back.
"Was something uh, supposed to happen?"
She asked. Trying to provide comfort to him. She could tell he was a bit upset, as he repeated. Then he exploded back at her. Yelling,
"YEAH! OF COURSE, THERE WAS! WE WERE SUPPOSED TO GET A SIGN FROM THE SPIRIT!"
He panted again. His chest was heavy with frustration. Rainbow was taken aback by this explosion. Even a little hurt. This normally quiet and somewhat dorky classmate was so excited to perform this. But it all seemed like a bust. His fists shook beside him, as he angrily knocked over the ceremonial items. Making soft thuds against the wood. The glass cup even gaining a small crack in it. The photograph flopped down limply. As Rainbow patted the poor teens back. Trying her best to be a good friend.
"H-hey Sunny. It's okay that it didn't work. Stuff like this just isn't real I guess."
She was embracing him now, pulling the overwhelmed teen into her caring arms. As he softly sobbed. His breath shook, waving like radio static. As he spoke up weakly.
"Th-th-thank yo-ou Dash."
He looked up at her. A small smile on his face. Causing Rainbow to smile back at him.
"There, there pal. No need to get so fussy."
She said in an almost maternal tone. He soon pulled away, sniffling. Blowing out each candle he could. After blowing the light away, he stood, offering his hand to Rainbow Dash. Who then stood on her own without help. He awkwardly put it down to his side again. Looking down, he spoke,
"S-sorry ab-bout that. G-g-guess this stuff isn't so real after al-"
PHWOOOOOSH
A sudden and very otherworldly sound soon entered the room along with a chilled gust of wind. Before long, all the lights suddenly turned off. Both Sunburst and Rainbow Dash huddled close to each other in fear. Their breath shuddering. Sunburst felt another feminine scream rise in his throat, he opened his mouth to begin. Starting with an odd groan, before Rainbow placed her palm on his mouth.
"SSSSHHHH!"
She said loudly. In order to tell what was happening. Sunburst shook his head, replying with a soft and short,
"Okay!"
He gave off a strange laugh. She turned again to face him. Feeling this, he spoke again.
"S-sorry! Nervous!"
He laughed again. As the eerie darkness continued to haunt them.
"Sunburst! What did you do!"
She asked in a whisper yell. Her fears all throughout the night were finally getting too much. As she began to think what was happening was indeed supernatural.