My Little Nightmares

by A Winters Rose

A Strange Dream

Six's eyes fluttered open, and she was greeted by darkness. She lay on a wooden floor, surrounded by the faint scent of old wood and dust. A lantern on a small table cast flickering shadows around the room, making her feel uneasy. The air was stale, and the silence was oppressive. As she sat up, the creaks and groans of the wooden floorboards beneath her made her jump.

Disoriented and confused, Six looked around, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings. The room was small, with no windows, but multiple doorways led out of the room. She had no idea where she was or how she got there. Panic began to set in as she scrambled to her feet, her yellow raincoat rustling as she moved.

Desperate to escape, Six moved from doorway to doorway, but each one only led to more corridors, more rooms, and more questions. Her heart raced as she called out, "Hello? Is anyone there?" But only the creaks and groans of the old wooden floor responded.

Just as she was starting to lose hope, Six heard the faint sound of laughter in the distance. It was a warm, carefree sound, drawing her in like a beacon. Following the noise, she made her way through the winding corridors, her hooves echoing off the walls.

As she turned a corner, the laughter grew louder, and Six's heart skipped a beat. She quickened her pace, her hooves pounding against the wooden floor. The sound of laughter seemed to come from a doorway up ahead, and she burst through it, hoping to find a way out or at least some answers.

Instead, she found herself in a clearing, surrounded by towering trees that seemed to stretch up to the sky. The laughter had stopped, and an unsettling silence fell over the clearing. Six looked around, disoriented, and that's when she realized she was still within the complex – there was no sky above, no stars, no moon. The air was heavy with an artificial stillness.

The trees, though tall, seemed to be confined within the complex, their branches stretching up towards the ceiling of the enormous, enclosed space. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and growing things. Six's eyes scanned the clearing, searching for any sign of life, any indication of where she was or how to escape. But there was nothing, only the oppressive silence and the feeling of being trapped.

Her yellow raincoat seemed to cling to her like a security blanket as she stood there, frozen, trying to make sense of this bizarre, artificial world. The laughter, the trees, the silence – it was all so surreal, so dreamlike. Six's mind reeled as she struggled to comprehend her situation.

As she stood there, her eyes scanned the clearing, searching for any sign of life or any indication of where she was. The silence was oppressive, weighing heavily on her shoulders. She took a step forward, her hooves sinking into the damp earth. The air was thick with the scent of growing things, and the trees seemed to loom over her, casting long, ominous shadows.

Suddenly, a faint rustling sound came from the underbrush. Six's ears perked up, and she turned towards the noise, her heart racing. A small, furry creature emerged from the bushes, its large, round eyes fixed on her. It was a rabbit, but not like any she had ever seen before. Its fur was a strange, iridescent color, shifting and shimmering in the dim light.

The rabbit hopped closer, its ears twitching, and Six felt a strange sense of calm wash over her. She reached out a hoof, and the rabbit nuzzled it gently. For a moment, Six forgot about her predicament, forgot about the strange complex and the unknown dangers that lurked within. All she could think about was the soft, gentle touch of the rabbit's fur.

As Six gazed into the rabbit's eyes, she felt a sense of unease creeping over her. The creature's gaze seemed to bore into her soul, and its iridescent fur began to shift and writhe like a living thing. The rabbit's face began to stretch and contort, its features melting like wax in a furnace. Six's calm demeanor shattered as the creature's body began to twist and elongate, its limbs stretching like rubber.

The rabbit's eyes turned into black voids, and its mouth opened wide, revealing a bottomless pit filled with thousands of razor-sharp teeth. The teeth seemed to be screaming, their points glinting in the dim light. Six's mind recoiled in horror as the void seemed to pull her in, drawing her closer to the abyss.

She tried to scream, but her voice was frozen in her throat. The last thing she saw was the endless, gaping maw, its teeth churning in a maddening rhythm. Then, everything went black.

Six's eyes snapped open, and she sat up with a start, her heart racing. She was back in the holding cell, the cold, grey walls closing in around her. The memory of the rabbit's transformation still haunted her, and she couldn't shake the feeling of dread that lingered. Her breath came in ragged gasps as she looked around the cell, half-expecting to see the monstrous rabbit lurking in the shadows. Her worries were unfounded in the end.

The door to Six's cell creaked open, and something stepped halfway inside her cell. It was a large thing, wearing black and blue clothing in a almost uniform-like fashion. It looked at her for a second, then beckoned her to follow it out. "Time to go, kid. You're free to go."

Just like that?

Six was cautious. She had assumed she would be kept here, as a prisoner. But now that this creature was telling her to leave... it could only mean ulterior motives, right?

She wasn't sure if she should be following so easily, but she also didn't want to risk antagonizing it. She stepped out into the corridor, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds of the research center. The guard led her through a maze of corridors, each one filled with strange contraptions and ponies in lab coats hurrying to and fro.

As they walked, Six's curiosity got the better of her. She gazed around in wonder, taking in the sheer scale and complexity of the facility. Everything seemed so... modern, so advanced, and so clean. This place was so different from what she was used to, and she was eager to learn more.

Where is it... he... taking me?

Taking the feeling in the very atmosphere itself, and the animated expressions on the faces of the beings here, Six did not feel like she was in danger. It was the first time she felt like this in a very long time. The people of this place, it was very clear to her. This was a community. An environment where all the people trust and help each other, because that's what communities do. So where did she fit in this community? She wasn't sure if it was possible, if they were willing to accept her.

She wasn't sure if she wanted to be accepted.

It wasn't long before her escort abruptly stopped. Six looked over to see what the guard was doing. His horn glowed a light blue color, levitating a keycard through a slot which opened the door. The same aura around the floating keycard pointed to the fact that the floating was his doing.

Magic?

They walked inside a bigger room, which Six took more interest in compared to the others. Not because of the large alicorn standing in the middle, but because of the tall glass window planes that designated the exit - the outside of this facility. She could see a blue sky.

"Twilight Sparkle, this is the... unusual pony we found with the broken Watch Box," the guard explained, before nodding at Six and retreating back into the corridor.

Six's eyes fixed on the pony standing before her. This was Twilight Sparkle, she assumed. Twilight's gaze was soft and kind as they met eyes. Six felt strange from the interaction.

"Hello, little one," Twilight said, her voice like music. "I'm Twilight Sparkle. I've been trying to figure out who you are and how you ended up here. Would you like to talk about it?" Twilight's eyes were full of genuine concern, but Six's instincts told her to be cautious regardless.

She hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. But there was something about Twilight's warm smile that put her at ease. Maybe it was the sincerity in her voice or the way her ears perked up when she spoke. Whatever it was, Six found herself wanting to open up to this pony.

Twilight seemed to sense her hesitation and changed tactics. "Why don't we get some lunch and talk about whatever you're comfortable sharing?" She gestured to a nearby table, where a delicious-looking meal was spread out before them. "I promise, no pressure."

Six's stomach growled at the sight of the food, and her resolve began to weaken. She nodded, and Twilight beamed with excitement. "Wonderful! Come, sit down. I would have wanted to go to that new café downtown, I've heard great things about their sandwiches. But the kind ponies here offered this meal for free, just for you!"

Six's eyes widened as she took in the variety of dishes on the table. Everything here looked delicious. Twilight smiled and gestured for her to sit down, and Six complied, her eyes fixed on the food.

As they sat down, Twilight began to serve herself a modest portion of salad and sandwich. Six, on the other hand, loaded her plate with everything in sight. She was famished, and the aroma of the food was intoxicating.

Twilight chuckled at Six's enthusiasm, but said nothing, letting her guest enjoy her meal. As they ate, the silence between them was comfortable, and Six found herself relaxing in Twilight's presence.

After a few minutes of eating, Twilight spoke up, her voice gentle. "So... do you mind if I ask you some questions?" Six looked up, her mouth full of food, and nodded slightly.

"Well, can we start by telling me why you snuck in here? You know, it's not nice to go in places your not supposed to be." Twilight's eyes were kind and non-judgmental, and Six felt a pang of guilt. Even though she didn't actually do what she's being accused of.

"Don't worry, your not in trouble. I just want to know why you did it?"

She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to think of how to respond. And as she looked at Twilight, she felt a strange sense of trust. Maybe it was the way Twilight sounded, or the way she seemed to genuinely care about Six's well-being. Whatever the reason, Six found herself wanting to open up to this pony.

"I... I don't know," Six said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I was somewhere else, and then I was here. I don't know how I got here or how to get back." She looked back down, trying to avoid eye contact.

Twilight's expression was sympathetic. "We'll figure it out. I promise. But first, can you tell me why you broke the Watch Box? You know, the box with a screen on it, in project room number six."

"I didn't mean to." Six responded quietly.

Twilight kept up the same appearance for a few more seconds, before deciding to go back to her food. Six decided to follow along. The period of silence didn't last too long however.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I didn't get your name." Twilight suddenly asked her.

"...Six."

---

As they walked out of the New-Tech Center, Six couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder. The sky was a brilliant blue, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers. She had never seen a place like this before. Everything seemed so... peaceful.

Twilight chatted amiably as they strolled through the streets, pointing out various landmarks and explaining the history behind them. Six listened intently, her gaze drinking in the sights and sounds of this new world. For the first time in a long time, she felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could find a place to belong here.

Comments

[Puppet Maker]

WELL! This was something I didn’t expect to see updated today! Very nice surprise there. I’m excited to see what happens next!

Have a great day!!!!!

[Stabbymelon]

A update! Ty for the chap!