FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Children of the Night

I woke up and everything was shaking around me. I was laying down on my back in the bed of some kind of closed in carriage on a worn out mat and we were moving quite fast. As I came to, Patches came through the curtain from the front. I still couldn't see very well, but I could tell it was her. She knelt down beside me, but didn't say anything. She just stared off into the distance as if pondering what to say.

I spoke first, "Patches...what's going on! And did my father...did he..."

Patches took one deep breath, then locked eyes with me. "Your father was turned to stone...Winter...I, I'm sorry..." I placed my hoof in hers and she calmed down. "I have a confession to make," she said, trailing her eyes off into the distance again. "I'm not who you think I am."

My eyes widened at the thought. 'Not who I think you are?' I said to myself. I've known Patches for years! We went to kindergarten together..."I was sent by our leader to keep an eye on you...and I failed," she said letting out a sigh. "Listen Winter. Have you heard of the Children of the Night?"

I nod my head, "Yeah, but isn't that an old pony's tale?"

She smiled and shook her head, "I assure you it isn't. I am a Child of the Night, as are many others...and so are you...Listen, I know you have questions, but all will be answered soon. Just be patient," she said, kissing me on the forehead. My cheeks must have went red, because she laughed as she got up and went to the front of the carriage.

'Well this certainly is an interesting turn of events' I said to myself. I mean, what she's saying is plausible. I never knew my mother. My father said she died from an illness when I was too young to remember. Perhaps she was right, but it still didn't all make sense to me. My head started to ache again and I could feel a haze coming over me, so I closed my eyes and tried to get some sleep.

Darkness ensued and sleep came fast; so did the dreams. My dreams are usually simple and easily understood, but the nightmare that came; Luna herself couldn't have imagined. It didn't feel like I was asleep, just darkness with no reality of what was going on around me. Then there was light, a blinding light and then I was standing in my bedroom suddenly. My thoughts went to my father, so I ran downstairs and saw him eating at the table with my sister. "Father!" I yelled, but he was unphased. "Icy?" my sister said nothing. I was a ghost to them. They could not hear me, nor see me. I yelled again, screaming in pain, then my father stopped and looked at me. He was about to say something, but then he went cold and turned back into stone. I cannot explain the pain I felt. It was my fault. He warned me not to go and I couldn't leave it alone. The house started shaking; everything was falling off the walls. Then the floor broke in half from underneath me and I fell into an abyss of black, a shroud of nothingness.

I thought I'd be falling forever, but next thing I knew I was laying in the grass atop the hill where I always did. My sister was there. She walked slowly past me, looking more sullen than she usually did. Then she stopped and my father's stony apparition appeared in front of her. She knelt down and tears flooded her eyes as she sobbed quietly. "I'm right here! Can't you see!" I yelled, but it was folly, they couldn't see me. This was really happening, my father turned to stone because of me and now my sister is alone. The pain I felt was unbearable. I kept expecting for Luna to show up and take this dream under control, but it never happened. This dream was not of her realm. Then everything went black again, which was fine by me. I didn't want to be here any longer...

"When will he wake up?" said a mare with a deep voice. I had finally awoke.

"When he is able to." I could tell that was Patches voice, "He is still weak from the fog. Come on, let's let him rest."

They both left the room and I opened my eyes. I could see much better now. It was a dark room filled with a few candles. Everything was wooden as if I was inside a tree. And that I was, it was carved out by something or somepony. I tried to sit up, but a splitting headache sent me right back down and I fell out of my bed. Patches came rushing in.

"Winter? Are you ok?" she helped me back into my bed, "Here, take this. It tastes bad, but it will help with the headache."

I took a drink and it was quite vile. I almost couldn't keep it down, but I somehow managed and the headache went away instantly.

"Better?" Patches said, cocking her head to the side and raising an eyebrow.

"Much..." I said as I sat up and stretched my wings.

"Winter, I am afraid I must tell you something..." she paused, "...Your father."

"I know," I interrupted. "My dreams...or so I thought they were."

"Visions from the demon queen," she said, "They were meant to break and torture you. They should be gone now. I think the fog has worn off."

"Demon queen...fog that puts you to sleep...seems I've got a lot to catch up on..."

"That you do...Um, you see, my father was also turned to stone, but that was years ago and nopony knows of a cure, except to defeat the demonpony that haunts us all."

"So there's still hope for our fathers," I say.

She looked me in the eyes and a tear rolled off her cheek. Then she smiled, "Yes, I suppose there is...now that we have you."