> I am still here > by Idiotboy24 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Longing for Help > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The world hates me... They all hate me... I´m so lonely... I´m so scared... scarred... Forgotten... Ever since that day, that very day, everything changed for me... I´ve been starved of love, I have no Friends, only those who despise me for being the one who is too scared to be normal, I didn´t ask for any of this, I didn´t ask to be tortured by monsters who feed off my fear, I didn´t want Ponies to think I was not worth helping... Is this real? Is any of this real? I don´t know because every time I lay down to sleep, they come out to play with me, All I can ask is for the slither of hope to reach out and bring and end my suffering, but I know it won´t, because even if they get me, it turns out to be fake, an illusion made by me... or is it? I can´t tell anymore... Mom has been trying to help me, Therapists, Doctors/Nurses, anything at all that could help, but nothing works, I can´t do this anymore, especially since I´m a primary target for bullying, because of my scared nature and inability to truly get angry at anypony, it just made me being a target go up tenfold. However none of it compares to how I feel waking up in that place, a restaurant for Colts my age, a place for family and fun but for me it is nothing more than just a dead world, my Tartarus, my purgatory, a place of never ending nightmares but every time I´m caught and then I wake up, it´s a never ending cycle that I can´t escape. Nopony believes me, I have tried so many times to get help from my Friends, but even they have limits in trusting me. The only one who really even listens is Sweetiebelle, who I’ll be honest right now I’ve had a crush on for quite a while. Even though she hasn’t experienced what I have, she understands the pain I’m in and doesn’t judge me for it, upon the contrary however I dislike Diamond Tiara and her friend Silverspoon who will do anything to make me feel worse about my problems. Heck even the six ponies who’ve helped stop big threats don’t believe me, even the one who lives on an apple farm and is known to tell when anypony is lying or not, she can’t read me apparently believing all to be a foal’s tale. Most give me dirty looks for acting ”Acting out of line.” I hate it. I hate it all! All of this pain and suffering I go through is nothing more than a cruel, hurtful and fear ridden joke aimed to make me suffer and for what? What made me the perfect target? I don’t know at all anymore, but at least I still have a friend to talk to every now and then, but he rarely shows up seeming ti always be busy in the most stressful of moments. All I can ask is just one thing… help me. It was morning, Eric was just about ready for another terrible day at school. So far he’s been bullied so much, he can’t even tell difference between a normal comment and a deliberate jab towards him. He faced behind him looking at the parental figure. “Love you, mom!” She made eye-contact for a second before facing away. “Yeah, son… see you later.” She sounded so bored as if her one son, was the entire reason as to why she felt this way. Who upon hearing what she said, felt the stinging pain of hurt directly hit him in the chest. Without another word he made his exit out of the house, closing the door behind him it was somewhat early being around 7:00 AM he was aware that many ponies weren´t up at this point in time, so taking his chance he trotted towards the schoolhouse where dread started to build in his chest almost all of the students there made fun of him, not realising how much it hurt him mentally and emotionally. His friends were the Cutie Mark Crusaders or the CMC for short, they talked to him and discussed about cutiemarks a lot, but it didn´t bother Eric as he hasn´t really experienced anything that special to discuss, even if he had something interesting to say it would go completely under the rug like as if he´d never said anything at all. Mrs. Cheerlie wasn´t that much help either, only lecturing him on how he should be improving on his school work, yet no matter what Eric said to try and explain why he was always behind on work she would think it was a lie, she was empathetic and did care about him but she did it in a way where it sounded harsh. Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon were the worst of them all. No matter what he did, no matter how often they did it, he would get bullied and they´d get off Scot Free. Even during the whole Gabby Gums incident, the only punishment that Diamond Tiara faced was getting kicked off the news team while the CMC were given nothing in return, no apologies, no reward for being honest... just nothing. How come one specific filly can do all this crap, yet get a simple slap on the wrist? While the CMC do something not nearly as bad or hurtful, yet get grounded and do a bunch of chores? None of this made sense to Eric, the genuine hypocrisy was astounding and completely unwarranted. After his thoughts on everything had died down, he looked up at the entrance to the schoolhouse right in front of him. The dread only increased as it became almost apparent, that he... was late. How? How did time fly that quick? How come nopony had helped him break his train of thought? Oh, wait he remembered, nopony liked him, not a single soul did. Crack Eric just processed the noise, what was that? it sounded like it came from his mind, his inner thoughts but how? Nopony could hear noises from their brain, more specifically a crack. However Eric shook away anything he was thinking of, as he bolted inside like a bullet. Not wanting to be lectured again, he just hoped he hadn´t missed too much class. > Why do they hate me? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eric approached the entrance of the classroom, he could hear the chattering of the students. the He knew what would happen as soon as he stepped through the door, they were all going to stare at him with mocking eyes while Mrs. Cheerlie would look on with shame and disappointment, he prepared to face the music slowly peeking around the corner into the room he saw everypony there just talking. Without another word he bolted towards his chair managing to get in his seat without issue, but when he looked up straight ahead, all of them were staring at him and just like he thought they all had mocked him with their eyes. The only ones that seemed to pity him were the CMC, they could only watch their friend shrink in his seat from the immense pressure of the class. “Mr. Eric, it appears you are late again, eighth time in two weeks. Very record breaking I might say, but it it not a good thing.” The voice made itself known, as Eric could only look on in fear at Mrs. Cheerlie who stared at him with disappointment like he had predicted. “Sorry Mrs. C-Cheerlie, I-I-I just got s-sidetracked.” He meekly explained while stuttering, causing her to sigh heavily as she placed her hoof on her face. “This is getting out of hoof, Eric. I´ll have to arrange a meeting with your mother later this afternoon, but for now just follow along.” Eric nodded at her words with a frown, as he just sat there listening to her talk about the subject on the board. It all went away when he heard snickering, looking up to see both Diamond Tiara and SIlverspoon they laughed at his misery he saw Sweetiebelle looking at him with pity, his frown changed to the smallest smile ever before reverting back to the same frown he had been holding for minutes. This was going to be a long day for him. Recess had come around after a long class, Eric began heading towards the farthest bench away from the other students. He heard them all snicker as he passed by, making snarky comments as well he tried to ignore them as best as he could successfully making his way to the bench. He sat down unpacking his snacks for the moment, he was eating peacefully by himself in one of the few moments he actually felt free of the pain, but it was all shattered by a new voice who he didn´t want to see. “What an embarrassing entrance, I´m surprised they´d let a colt like you come to school. After all you´re just stupid and scared, nopony likes you so why don´t you just leave you freak!” Eric turned to see Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon smugly looking at him, his frown increased upon hearing that word. Freak He wasn´t on the greatest mood at the moment especially after everything he had been through, it was starting to get to him, the pressure was getting too much for him to handle. He didn´t want to make his situation worse, and Diamond´s nasty comments weren´t helping. With a deep breath he finally responded to Diamond Tiara. “Look, I am not in the mood right now. I already have to deal with the crap that everypony else gives me, so go away and pick on somepony other than me.” He began walking away only to be blocked by her, she didn’t even try to hide her scowl it was clear on her face how she felt after his request. “Why should I bully somepony else? Unlike those blank flanks, you are nothing. You’re the weakest colt I’ve ever met, and you think it’s funny to spread lies, about monsters you think you see? At this point you should’ve left town.” Eric was on the verge of losing it, he didn’t want to deal with her anymore today. He quickly ran around her, accidentally making her trip over and fall onto the ground. He made his way back towards the schoolhouse, hiding behind the wall out of sight. Once he sat down he felt the tears on the brim of his eyes, but he didn’t let them fall. He couldn’t let Diamond Tiara be proven right, he had to remain strong no matter what happens to him. The sounds of the other colts and foals gasping, and audibly speaking reached his ears as he felt the fear of what consequences would follow from accidentally tripping Diamond Tiara. His thoughts however stopped, when he looked ahead of him and saw eyes. Dark, Lifeless, Judgemental, Empty eyes. The staring from both parties continued as Eric started to breathe quicker and quicker, his heart beats were loud enough to sound like drums. This felt like it went on for hours, days, months? He didn’t know. Suddenly he was pulled out of his panicked trance, when a voice called out loudly. “Eric!” He snapped his head towards the direction of Cheerlie’s voice, before snapping back to where he had been staring only to find nothing there. Without anymore hesitation he walked slowly around the corner, to see Cherrie looking at him with disappointment along with everypony else except the CMC. “Eric! You should know better to not physically hurt anypony, you’ll be coming to my office immediately after recess and your mother will be taking you home!” Cheerlie berated. Eric held his solemn expression knowing very well he couldn’t argue back, but he tried. “It was an accident, besides she was calling me a ‘freak’ and being nasty.” Cheerlie however shook her head. “No lying, you can save it for your mother! Now come on!” She turned angrily towards the schoolhouse entering. Eric faced Diamond Tiara who snickered at his punishment, he however didn’t care and followed behind his teacher. This was going to get very messy. The silence from the room was unmatched, as Cheerlie stared at the colt with disappointment. “Eric, when is this going to stop?” He could only face away from her as the images of what he saw earlier kept replaying, those eyes just wouldn’t leave him alone. Why? Why can’t anypony believe him? Suddenly the door from behind Eric opened and his mom came in, showing equal amounts of disappointment. “Hello Mrs. Cheerlie.” “Hello Ms. Falconry, we’re here because you’re son injured another student.” Cheerlie explained. This made Eric’s mom (who’ll I’ll refer to as Falcony) looked down at her son, whom didn’t face her instead staring at the ground. “Is this true?” She asked hoping it wasn’t true. He didn’t respond. “Is. This. True?” She asked more demanding. Eric finally faced his mother. “It-it was an accident I swear.” The answer was met with dead silence. “Even if it was an accident, I’m afraid I’ll have to suspend your son for a week.” Both family members faced Cheerlie for her cold comment. “Why a week?” Falcony questioned heavily. Cheerlie simply shook her head. “He’s been acting up, not paying attention, continuously ignoring rules and as of today injuring students. “I don’t want to be this mean, but until he improves this is what has to be done. I’m sorry.” Cheerlie apologised honestly. Eric simply hopped out of the chair walking towards the door, which caught the attention of both mares. “Where are you going?” Both of them said at the same time. Eric turned to face them both sighing heavily. “You aren’t sorry, because you let Diamond Tiara get away with so much and have me and anypony else take the fall. “I really wish I could believe your words, but I don’t. You’re as blind to the the truth as anypony else.” He turned and opened the door leaving the room. Both mares could only look on in shock at how he spoke, the words cut deep. Very deep. “I’m sorry about that! My son usually doesn’t think to much about what he says, and it causes him say things that aren’t nice and-“ Falcony was cut off by Cheerlie. “No he’s right to say that. I don’t like being harsh on him, but I can’t do anything else otherwise they’ll kick me out and get somepony nastier to teach them.” Cheerlie told her. “Spoiled Rich.” Falcony added growling. “I just hope your son is okay.” Cheerlie added on. “I’m doing my best, but I feel as though he’ll quit on me. Ever since that day.” Falcony slowly began to tear up. “What happened that day, exactly? If that’s okay?” Cheerlie requested. Falcony breathed heavily before facing Cheerlie, with as brave of a face as she could. “It all happened…” But she couldn’t do it. “You know what, never mind.” Cheerlie’s ears drooped as she felt worried for Falcony. “Are you sure? I could help you, and-“ But Falcony was already standing up out of her seat. “Thanks for the offer.” She smiled sadly before turning towards the door, leaving the building dead silent. Cheerlie could only stare in sadness as she wondered, how she could’ve done better to help Eric. But Spoiled Rich had to be a problem, forcing her to be harsh on an innocent student… how she wish things could be different. > Feelings that can’t be formed > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eric walked through Ponyville head hung low, passing by the many ponies that stared at him with usual looks of distain. He was used to it by this point, and he honestly just didn’t care anymore about how they felt. All that mattered was these nightmares, creatures, things, that continuously haunted his mind. They’ll never leave, they never stop torturing him and all he could do was watch as he tried holding back tears. Crack There it was again that noise, it was even louder now he knew it was real. But as he tried thinking more about it, he felt something behind him turning to see the face of a yellow bunny. That had an emotionless face reaching for him ready to take him decaying as it got closer, with a yelp escaping his mouth he fled the other way as everypony else just stared with the same dirty looks. “Freak.” One mare muttered. “Insufferable” A stallion voiced. But it meant nothing as he could only hear his breathing, get faster and more frantic as he ran. He eventually ran behind a building, sitting down placing his back against the outer wall, these monsters were appearing more frequently now… why? He was so lost in thought that when he felt his shoulder be touched, he jumped in fright turning to see none other than Sweetiebelle looking at him with concern. His fears and worries calmed down upon settling on her beautiful eyes, he began breathing slower as taking the time to recover from his panic. “Sweetiebelle? What are you doing?” He asked finally mustering up the courage to speak. She still held a concerned face as she replied. “I heard noise from outside, and came to see what it was. And now I know.” She explained smiling. Eric for the first time today smiled as well if only a little. “That’s nice to know. That somepony cares about me.” Sweetiebelle then hopped down next to him, giving him company as to make sure he didn’t feel lonely. “What happened this time?” She asked. Eric now facing her with a sad frown, was trying to hold back the pain he felt. “I don’t know, it was like a giant yellow bunny. And it tried to grab me, and it started look worse the closer it got.” He placed his hooves on the sides of his head. “What, did I do to deserve this?” He questioned with his voice breaking. Sweetiebelle could only look on with sympathy as she then wrapped her hooves around him, bringing the frightened colt into her warm embrace. “Don’t worry, I’ll always be there for you.” She whispered, which made him accept the hug. He felt his face burn from blushing, but he ignored it for now. “But that’s not the worst part.” He whispered back. Sweetiebelle then pulled out of the embrace, but continued to hold his shoulders. “What’s happening?” Eric hesitated wondering if this was something he should tell her. “The visions, all of the monsters, everything, it’s happening more frequently and I’m scared.” Sweetiebelle could only continue to feel bad for him, he was suffering and all she could do was just talk to him about it. However her thoughts were stopped as a familiar voice entered her ears, which made her wince. “Sweetiebelle! What are you doing being with him?!” They both turned to see Rarity, and she wasn’t happy to say the least. Sweetiebelle could only look at her sister nervously. “I-I was trying to make him feel better.” However Rarity rolled her eyes at this groaning, as she placed a hoof to her face in frustration. “This is why I don’t trust you outside the boutique, especially after school where you have troublemakers like him.” Crack Eric felt each word against him cut deep into his soul, did he really cause so many problems that his mere existence was a bad thing? He didn’t know, and what’s worse is that she was one of the element bearers that protected their home. So the fact she was saying this out loud to him without any hesitation, told him everything he needed to know. “That’s not fair Rarity, Applebloom, Scootaloo and I always do stupid things and yet we’re still accepted. But when he’s seeing things that are hurting him, he’s automatically singled out because of it!” Rarity however didn’t give her sister a chance to continue. “And how is seeing giant creatures normal? I don’t see any around here, he’s just looking for attention and you know it!” That’s when Rarity came to realisation, after seeing Sweetiebelle’s face remain stern she gasped. “W-What you like him?!” The little filly lost her stern look, Immediately being flustered. Rarity having enough growled in disappointment, as she pointed her hoof towards her younger sibling. “Sweetie head back inside now.” “But Rarity-“ Sweetiebelle was cut off by her sister once more. “Now!” Rarity demanded. With a defeated sigh Sweetiebelle looked at Eric with sad eyes. “See you tomorrow Eric.” She then proceeded to walk away slowly as if to not leave h alone. Rarity then faced the young colt who held so much guilt, he got her in trouble because of his existence what else could go wrong? Rarity approached Eric with a deep glare making him shrink from how terrifying it was, as she breathed out her next words. “Don’t ever be around me, my sister, or the boutique ever again or you’ll find out what happens if you do.” She hissed. The tears brimmed on the edge of his eyes, not just because of her words but the fact her face had changed into a disfigured version of Rarity, with sharp teeth and saliva dripping from the mouth. It made him freeze in fear as he almost felt death grabbing at him, slowly towards his mind. He was never going to make anyone happy, he’s a curse to the world, a disease, nothing more than that and it was the truth. Crack He only looked down as he began turning around, saying his last words to the furious mare. “I’m sorry.” He whispered. Rarity caught onto the tone of his voice, it was something she’d never expect from a colt. It sounded Broken, and she didn’t know if that was a good or bad thing. She however couldn’t dwell on it any further as Eric began walking away, his head still hung low with shame. He couldn’t dare himself to face her again, especially with how her once admired face turned into a vicious demon. He shook his head to get rid of the thought, he just needed to remain calm and get home without hearing what other ponies had to say about him. It would’ve worked out if it wasn’t for something else. ‘You’re lying to yourself.’ He went wide eyed from that, he looked around trying to figure out who just spoke to him. But nopony was near him, so was he just hearing things? He continued his walk home when it came back again. ‘Why do you continue to hide how you really feel? They all despise you, and yet you think you’re the problem. Take a look around you, you’ll understand.’ Eric was taken aback there was a voice speaking to him from his mind, how is that even possible Nopony could have such a thing happen to them especially earth ponies like him. But he followed through with the voice’s order and he knew why, all of the ponies around stared at him with a mixture of emotions that he couldn’t comprehend. It was daunting he continued to walk, moving slightly faster as he passed by multiple ponies that all faced him with the same look. His breathing got faster alongside his galloping, more and more figures passed all turning demented, alongside some just being the monsters he’s seen before. But he would then accidentally run into something, falling onto his haunches he looked up only to see the same giant bunny from before staring down at him with hate. He felt they giant beast get closer reaching out for him, as the bystanders stood around him becoming shadows of what they once were laughing at him. It was all interrupted by a voice. “Watch where you’re going kid!” Eric blinked and everything changed back to normal, but what he saw as a Stallion who looked at him with anger. “I’m sorry.” Eric muttered pawning at the ground. The stallion walked around Eric leaving, while all the other ponies looked at Eric with disbelief. “Can’t watch where he’s going.” One said aloud. “Trouble wherever he goes.” One mare stated. “An abomination.” Another pony added. Crack It was getting too much for Eric as he hesitantly walked back home, all while hearing the comments from the ponies. He didn’t know how much longer he could this pain, but he was sure he would break soon. Arriving to his front door he opened it slowly, as he walked in closing the entrance. He made his way to his bedroom where after entering, he sighed sadly hopping onto his bed. He laid on his back staring up at the ceiling and knew for a fact, that no matter what happens he’s going to be stuck in that nightmare again. And without so much as another second to breathe in the world around him, he closed his eyes dozing off into another restless sleep. > Interlude: Unknown Forces > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nighttime, it’s usually quieter around now with most ponies going to sleep. While the moon shines down to bring out the gorgeous stars, it was what made everything worth it. Luna had always found herself to be in the element around this time, especially in the dream realm where she’d help ponies from their nightmares and bring their pain to rest. It wasn’t always easy, some were more stubborn than others but if she were to be telling the truth, she enjoyed her job even when it was fatiguing. Until around a year ago, she’d managed to catch wind of one particular pony’s dream or nightmare in this case, that she went to go find out what was going on. However no matter what she did and no matter how hard she tried, she could never access the dream. And what prevented her from doing so she wasn’t all too sure about, until recently when there was something else. A presence, a thing that was forcing her out and making sure to contain its victim. And she could nothing to help the innocent soul, whatever this thing was it knew she was there, it was a thinking being that had control. The princess’s fear grew when that reality set in, and so her mission was to make her way inside the nightmare and stop whatever was doing this. All in secret as to prevent a potential problem with her sister, and each failure to help the colt felt like a punch to the gut. Her stamina only lasted so long, and it only worked at night which made it worse. How had it come to this, she’d wish she knew of it sooner but there was no changing the past. The guilt ebbed in her mind, a innocent pony was being tormented and all she could do was watch as it got worse from the outside. She didn’t know what was in these nightmares, only that they were horrible and never stop attacking. Luna woke up abruptly from her nightly duties her breaths fast, and senses limited. She’d just tried to enter the nightmare again, and failed again this time it was even quicker than the previous nights. But that wasn’t what she focused on, it was something she’d discovered within the attempt. As she tried entering the dream, it wasn’t noticeable until she felt it and her mind was shattered. There was more than one presence within the colt’s mind, multiple different individuals were occupying it and she hadn’t known. Stumbling her way towards the balcony she looked up at the moon, which reflected her face back towards her with pain from her failures. “Why is it so hard?” She sniffled. The tears brimmed on her eyes, she was failing to help which only brought her inner pain out more as she remembered how cruel being Nightmare Moon was. ‘Is this what Nightmare Moon, was trying to inflict on the world?’ She asked herself. Luna could only close her eyes as she tried to Re-Enter the dream realm, the last thing she said before going back was something she’d remind herself throughout the attempt. “I just hope he holds out.” > Broken > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The world around the young colt was dark, empty, lonely, cold, unforgiving, silent, beyond recognition. That’s all there was around him, just the checkered floor below him and a endless void that stretched out. The only reason he could even see the floor at all was because of the light from above, shining down onto him faintly lighting up the small area around his space, everything else was just a mystery but he could care less. He’s been here one too many times and it was never going to change, always him running from the monsters that haunted him. His mind was a chewing toy for them, they continue to gnaw his dreams into living Tartarus. It was pain, nothing more than just the long, burning, agony of pain to what was once a stable mind. He couldn’t think straight, these things will continue to haunt him forever. He knew it wouldn’t end everypony but Sweetiebelle had abandoned him, Princess Luna hasn’t shown up to help him. Why was he the one to suffer out of every single god damn pony, nothing made sense anymore as he kept looking down at the ground. He just gave up trying to escape them in his dreams, they’re always one step ahead of him and knew how to corner him to a swift death, before he would wake up and be forced to repeat. He’s small, they’re big, he’s weak, they’re strong, he’s worthless and they’re worthy. Nopony cared, and he would die knowing that was the case, and he wished he knew why they did hate him. But it was so sudden, it was like a mood shift they were all genuinely friendly with him. Then once these monsters started appearing, they all changed. It was at first just a simple look of annoyance or just the minor frustration, but then it became cold shoulders, glares, snide comments and everything else that you could think of. It never went as far as physical violence or abuse, but it seemed closer to that every waking second that passed. But now he didn’t care, he just wished for it all to end Nopony was going to miss him. “Please stop.” He whispered not moving from his position. All became silent as the quiet void continued to go on, nothing changing it was just the lonely colt at the centre. ”Eric” The colt’s ear twitched as he slowly raised his head, he looked around slowly checking to see who said his name… nothing. His head slowly fell once more, but he then stopped frozen as he began looking up once more to face straight ahead of him. And what he saw was something he’d usually back away from in fright, but this time he didn’t flinch he could only stare with a blank face. A yellow bear, with a black top hat and tie, it appeared more mechanical, with a microphone in its right paw and had empty dark eye sockets with white dots sitting in the middle. It sat in front of him, mouth closed staring at him with no emotion to speak of, head tilted to the right. Eric could only hold a frown as he looked at the yellow bear, it was mocking him by sitting there why hadn’t it moved to attack him? Running out of patience Eric finally spoke to it. “Go on. Attack me, Scare me awake, and stop wasting your time. I already have to deal with you everyday, what more do you want from me?” Nothing. It simply watched him. This only angered the colt even more. “What are you waiting for?! Just get it over with already!” Nothing once again, this was getting beyond frustrating. He could only sigh. “Please, just do it.” He began breaking with his words. He closed his eyes to prevent the tears from coming out, he wasn’t worth crying for. He’s just a parasite to the world after all, who’s going to care if he died? ”No. You don’t need to heed for more pain, I’m here to give you a chance to be free.” Eric could only go wide eyed from that, he snapped up to look at the yellow bear who had moved his head slightly as it spoke. It’s voice was quiet, robotic, whispering. “You’re serious?” Eric asked his face full of disbelief. ”Yes. We’ve been trying to reach you for a while now. It’s been quite the struggle, you’re mind is much different from the others. But we’re now here to give you a proposal, a choice that will grant you your freedom.” Eric could only grow confused with the fact it said ‘we’ but he ignored that, as he wondered exactly what else it had to say. “Go on…” he whispered. ”If you choose to have your freedom, you’ll help us in return with something important and get back at all of those who wronged you. But if you decline, you’ll be haunted by what you fear forever… do you accept our offer?” Eric contemplated it for a moment this was his chance to be free of his pain, but it sounded like there was something else going on that the bear wasn’t letting on to. However he’d rather not indulge in the pain he felt for so long, than continue to suffer forever it was something he didn’t want ever again. With a firm look he faced the bear in the eyes, nodding as he came to his final decision. “Yes. I accept.” The yellow bear who had been constantly moving it’s head, snapped it to being straight up staring ate the colt with what appeared in o be satisfaction. ”Then the proceedings shall begin.” The void that polluted Eric’s mind began to clear up as he began rising, he felt the fear inside of him go away and instead be replaced with new emotions. The yellow bear disappeared as Eric continued to rise, until he felt everything go back to reality. His bedroom, the place where it all began. The nightmare, his decline, his newfound path. He stood up as his posture became more confident than ever, his face looked straight ahead facing the mirror on the wall. His eyes opened looking at himself in the mirror, the shadow that reflected behind him wasn’t his own it was the same bear. And Eric was not scared, as he closed his eyes for a second before reopening them again and instead of his usual blue eyes it was a giant light that shot out, spreading across the town of Ponyville. It was a sight to behold as he only had one thing to say. “It’s me.”