The Ponyville Horror

It's an odd blessing that most of us can go through life not knowing of the unspeakable horrors that lie just beyond our sight. It's true of course that terrors beyond imagination and comprehension exist out there, and I believe most ponies understand that to some extent, even if they would never consciously admit it. Unfortunately, not all of us are so lucky. Which is why I must temporarily set aside my fears and write of what happened during my short stay at Ponyville…

I suppose it all started a few months after I completed my studies at Canterlot University. I was preparing to leave Canterlot to find a more suitable place for my work, which mostly consisted of sifting through dusty old tomes for bits of history others were interested in. Canterlot had a fine library to find such tomes in, but the city itself was far too loud and raucous for my tastes. I had begun searching for a quieter place for me to relax and conduct my research when by chance I came across Ponyville. The location was ideal as the small town itself was only a few hours outside of the city by train. Even though the town was so closely located, it was still somewhat isolated thanks to a mountain range and a large, extensive forest nearby. I immediately began preparations for moving into the village.

I had hoped to settle in quietly at some far corner of the town and begin my studies at once, but of course that was impossible. I should have realized that in such a small village, word of a newcomer would quickly spread and I would be hounded by the curious locals. Had I known how quickly word could spread, I may have abandoned the town altogether and looked elsewhere to study. I wonder now how much better it would have been if I had decided to do just that. Hindsight seems to be more of a curse in my case than a blessing.

Hardly a day had passed since entering Ponyville when she came. Boxes were still unpacked and my books were scattered haphazardly in every corner of my small house. She didn't seem to mind though as she bounced right up to my open window and surveyed the scene. I was slightly miffed at the rudeness of the pink earth pony, though I quickly set it aside after realizing that in such a small town, openness was likely quite common. I politely asked her inside and introduced myself as Clover Leaf.

No sooner had I finished saying my name when she began her introductions. "Hi I'm Pinkie Pie! Welcome to Ponyville oh you're really going to like it here everyone's so friendly and nice and oh! We're going to have to throw a party celebrating you coming here and oh boy we're going to have cake and decorations and I'll invite all my friends and they'll invite their friends because everypony likes a Pinkie party!" I was momentarily taken back in shock by her boundless energy. Where it came from I didn't know and I wasn't sure if I wanted to know. I politely declined her offer and explained that I wasn't much of a partygoer and I had only come to Ponyville to quietly pursue my studies. Something in this must have amused her since she giggled at me before shaking her head. "Silly! You're going to need friends in Ponyville! You can't keep your head in dusty old books all day. My friend Twilight tried that once and she got sooooo bored eventually and I was soooo bored too because I couldn't spend time with her but she stopped reading them so often and now we spend time together and have lots of fun because that's what friends do!"

I was amazed that she never seemed to run out of breath, no matter how long her speeches were. I mulled her offer over for a bit as she continued speaking in the background. I realized this may be the best thing to do if I wished to continue on. I surmised that after the initial party, curiosity in me would likely die down and I could move about the townsponies freely and undisturbed. I quickly agreed to her idea for a celebration, which made her far happier than I thought possible.

"Oh boy oh boy oh boy! It's going to be great and we're going to have the best cake and balloons and games and I'm going to go start planning right now!" She dropped the book of mine that she had been paging through and rushed out of my house. After her flurry of excitement, it was almost strange to hear my surroundings become so quiet. I sighed and went back to settling in. I casually glanced at the book of mine she had been looking at. I was mildly surprised, for it was one of my more arcane books detailing a cult that had a strange fascination of the undying. Most of the text was illegible to the majority of scholars and it was only by extreme luck that I had even managed to find such a book. I closed the guide and set it aside, not paying much attention to the exact page she was looking at. It is only now that I recall that the book was open to an image drawn by the cult leader, some fellow with a scratched out name 'Qi Ch… Slaris'. The name itself was of no importance but the image… I had often looked through the tome before but I had never paid much attention to the image or its gory details. Now it is one of the few things that fill my head. The detail at which the artist drew his perversion of pony life, what sort of sick stallion was he? It is no wonder he was banished from the kingdom centuries before any of us was born.

If anyone ever reads these words of mine and wonder if I am digressing from my original story, I apologize. This is more taxing on my nerves than I had imagined and it is only with great care that I continue on.

Ashamedly, I admit that I felt rather uncomfortable at my own party. It wasn't that the celebration was bad in any way, but rather that I was surrounded by so many strangers who were wishing me well-being. Looking back at the gathering, I realize now that it was the quiet before the storm. Pinkie Pie stayed by my side constantly, introducing me to each new face. I was surprised to see my own neighbor at the gathering. Pinkie introduced the yellow pegaus as Fluttershy, a close friend of hers. I replied that we had met previously since we lived next door to each other. She was a more withdrawn pony than I was and I had assumed her to be even more of a loner. Yet she seemed at ease next to Pinkie Pie. This in turn helped me to relax and enjoy myself a bit more. I was even more surprised later to learn that Twlight Sparkle was a resident of Ponyville. I had heard how she was a top student at the university before being pulled aside by the Princess herself for private tutelage. I wished I could have spent more time with her at the party and discussed some theories together but sadly we were unable to. For the most part, the celebration went on without incident. The only thing I can think of mentioning was something that meant little to me at the time. It was Pinkie's insistence that I was now a 'true' resident of Ponyville, even though I had only been there a few days. At the time I merely thought it was some type of town custom and I was happy to leave it at that. After the events though, I cannot help but realize her words had some deeper significance.

After the party it was just as I imagined. The town's interest in me died down to nearly nothing and I was free to pursue whatever studies I wished. I was able to translate one of my more voluminous tomes during the next couple weeks and send it back to the University for further checking. I was confident in my abilities to translate from the pre-Equestrian languages, so I didn't worry about my work. I began to take a small interest in the townsfolks' doings. For several days I wandered around, checking out the various shops and stores. If I bumped into Pinkie Pie or any of her friends they were always more than happy to show me around. Gradually I began to be more comfortable around them as they continued to show kindness towards me. It wasn't until several weeks later I began to wonder if this seeming overflow of kindness was hiding something more sinister…

My suspicions began one day at the Sugarcube Corner, the small bakery that the Cake family ran. Pinkie Pie seemed to work for them, though her wages and employment never were clearly defined. I only knew that she lived above them in a small apartment and really, that seemed to be all anyone ever knew. I had asked various ponies several times what she did there but no one seemed to know, nor did they care. There was a strange air of something like indifference towards Pinkie Pie, though I couldn't place why it existed. She seemed to be exceedingly friendly to everypony and absolutely despised being on their bad side.  But one day she acted strange, well, stranger than usual. "The number," she would say. "The number, its come. It's time for the number. The number…"

I found her like that, babbling at Sugarcube Corner about numbers as everypony else ignored her. I curiously asked Mr. Cake what was wrong with Pinkie, but the most I got out of him was that it was one of her strange phases. She would every so often go on about numbers and other strange things. This would last for a few days before she would return to her normal excitable state. He assured me it was normal before giving me my order and turning to the next customer. I didn't think much of it at the time, but I believe I began to be unsettled at that point. As for Mr. Cake, I really do believe he had no idea what was going on. How could he, being the simple-minded pony that he was? He understood little of the larger mysteries of our world and wouldn't care to learn about them. Perhaps it is best that way. I have seen the mysteries of the world clear as day and regret every moment of it. Their dark, abysmal horrors live on in my mind, driving me deeper into madness. Maybe it was that way with Pinkie Pie, I don't know. I think she was perhaps always one with the darkness. Or maybe the darkness was one with her.

True to Mr. Cake's word, Pinkie Pie stopped her mad rantings a few days after she began. No one seemed to pay her abrupt change any mind, but I was still curious. I decided to invite her to my house so we could have a chance to discuss what happened. I knew Pinkie would never miss a chance to spend time with her friends, so she showed up right on time. I asked her inside and she produced a cake seemingly out of thin air. "I always come prepared!" she said with a grin. After some small talk I steered the conversation towards her strange phase the other day. I asked if she had any obsession with numbers, to which she replied no. I then wondered why she had kept on and on about numbers the other day if she wasn't obsessed with them. She replied by putting down her slice of cake and looking at me silently.

I grew somewhat uncomfortable at her stare as the moments slowly ticked by. She finally spoke, though she didn't answer my question. "Do you still have that old book I saw the last time I was here?" she asked smiling. I blinked in confusion before shaking my head. I explained I had translated it some weeks ago and had sent it back to the university. She seemed taken aback by this and tears filled her eyes. "But… I needed that book! She needed it."

I must have looked her very questioningly because she immediately perked back up. "Oh well, I'll do fine without it. And the numbers are just a thing of mine. Don't worry your wittle head about it." She patted my mane as a mother would pat a child's head. I grimaced before realizing she had already left, taking the last of the cake with her. I really should have left it all alone there. I almost did to tell the truth, since nothing of note happened for some time. Pinkie Pie continued to be Pinkie Pie and I continued to send in my translated tomes to the university.

And then one day I walked into Sugarcube Corner. It was strangely quiet. I had come before the store had opened to talk with the Cakes about my weekly order, but they were nowhere to be found. I assumed they had gone off somewhere, probably with the babies, when I spied the basement door wide open. This wouldn't be so odd if I had known there was a basement, but this was the first time I had noticed such a thing. Curious, I stepped over to the door and peered down into the darkness. I was suddenly hit by a wave of uncontrollable fear. The darkness seemed to cloud my vision, drawing me into its gaping, unfeeling maw. A coldness washed over me as I felt the darkness itself seep into my skin in a way nothing had before. I gasped for breath and then it ended. I shook my head and blinked rapidly, as if I had awoken from a trance. I saw Pinkie Pie standing before me, her head tilted to the side. "What are you doing looking in my basement silly? That's my spot and no one's allowed down there!" She said with a giggle. I was still trying to clear the fog from my head as I feebly answered that I didn't know it was her basement and I was just curious. "Be careful being curious," she replied almost mockingly. And then I was outside of Sugarcube Corner.

These strange occurrences in my life began to gnaw at me. I think it was their abruptness that ate at my nerves the most. Whatever the case, I began to observe Pinkie more closely. Later that afternoon I watched as she spoke, seemingly to herself. "It's time… already? The numbers… the number is up. Her number is up. My friend. It's time. Tonight? Yes. Her number is up. It must be tonight. Her number tonight." It was happening again, her strange fascination with numbers. I was determined now more than ever to get to the bottom of this strangeness. I decided to wait until dusk to make my way back to the bakery to see what I could find.

That evening the entire town was deathly quiet. It was almost as if everyone knew something was wrong, even if they didn't know what it was. Sugarcube Corner had closed that afternoon and the only other visitor that had come by was Pinkie Pie's friend Rainbow Dash. I crept under the window as best I could to hear what they might be talking about inside, but I only heard muffled speech and noises. I was beginning to give up hope when I suddenly heard the opening and closing of a heavy door. Daring to peek inside, I saw the room was empty. I waited for a few more moments but heard nothing. I began to fear they had perhaps gone outside the back way and were now watching me. I quickly quelled the fear as irrational and decided they had likely gone into the basement. Did I dare follow them?

Unfortunately for me I did dare. Taking care not to make any noise, I went inside the bakery and placed my ear to the basement door. I frowned when I still heard nothing. Perhaps they had gone outside after all. Looking around the door I spied no cracks. It fit into its frame perfectly, ensuring no air could get in or out. Curiously I found the door seemed to be made of much older wood than the surrounding bakery walls. Somehow, it must have been there before the bakery had been built. I knew of no other way into the basement so I had to take my chances with the door. Foolish as it must seem to just barge in the front way, I was left with little choice. I silently put my hoof on the knob and pushed in. The door seemed to open even before I pushed on it as it swung silently back, inviting me into its abysmal mouth. Steeling myself, I groped my way towards the first stair.

I was instantly hit by a stench that inexplicably brought fear to the pit of my stomach. I instinctively thought of death and the putrid smell of the decaying flesh. I tried to calm my nerves as I made my way slowly down the steep stairs and voices came into hearing. They were slightly muffled, but the sounds of other ponies renewed my energy and I made my way down the rest of the stairs into the basement. It was barely lit by a few scattered candles. Thankfully the bottom of the flight of steps was obscured by shadows, so I could observe the entire room without being seen. And then a scream broke through the silence.

I nearly fainted right there as I saw the source of the scream. Oh Celestia why?!  Who would do such a thing? Unspeakable horror filled my every nerve as I shook. I was watching something nopony should ever see or ever have to go through. Why I ask? Pinkie Pie couldn't have been a pony. There was no conceivable way that we as creatures could be driven to do something so terribly, unimaginably evil. Darkness shrouded the corners of my vision as I went numb. Looking back, my eyes were only on the table and the two ponies, though I now remember every inch of that abominable room in excruciating detail. I remember seeing all of the other ones, everypony else she had numbered. They were strewn about everywhere, in grotesquely evil poses. They mocked the form of ponies, if they even had a form at all. There were other things she had done to them, things I dare not repeat or even think of. I would likely be driven mad by the thought of them. Of all the horrors she had done to them… the rivulets of—No! I mustn't think of it!

I must have made some noise. That's the only way Pinkie Pie could have seen me in the darkness. She spoke to me though I paid her words no mind. I was already leaping up the steps, past the mocking door and outside of Sugarcube Corner. Outside all was quiet as usual, the quiet that I hated so much. I feared the quiet and what it meant for I no knew why no one ever paid her any mind. There was a certain spell she held over the town. Ponyville was her plaything. I hid from the inescapable void of the black sky and left town never to return.

I am now back in Canterlot, where I have remained for the past three days. The fear has not left me though. I have spoken to none of my old friends I doubt that they even know of my return. No one must know I am here… but I know she knows I'm here. Her last words echo mockingly in my ears, "It's your turn. Your number is next… she has told me so." How I loathe the dusk that grows even now outside my closed window. And how I especially loathe what I saw that night. That body… Celestia how could she? A sacrifice I'm sure of it. A sacrifice to their old goddess Qi. It will never leave me; Rainbow Dash's screams… if Pinkie had to sacrifice her why did she have to cut her while she was still yet living?

I hear her now. Night is here. She paws at my door, giggling obnoxiously. My number. My number is up.