It was a unusual cloudy in Ponyville. It was school field trip to a pony's art gallery. The pony's name who made the many arts in this gallery was Dark Paint. Apple Bloom entered with the rest of her classmates and Ms. Cheerilee. The earth pony filly put a laced, light pink handkerchief with Apple Bloom in her mane to hide and follow her class. She got that handkerchief from Rarity for her birthday.
"Alright, students, we're here to see an exhibition of works by an artist named Dark Paint..." Cheerilee said to her students. "And they don't just have paintings, but also sculptures... and all kinds of other creations! So enjoy and don't make a ruckus!"
Apple Bloom wander around the gallery alone, seeing her friends looking a painting of a stallion hanged upside down by a rope. The art of the gallery have difficult names she doesn't understand, but she still enjoyed it. There were many of them, like the sculpture of a giant rose, the Coughing Stallion, Your Dark Figure, the Red Mare, and the Abyss of the Deep. Apple Bloom wondered about that first word of the work of art in the heart of the gallery, but shook it off.
She was running out of art to view until she noticed a fairly large painting used with mostly charcoal. An eerie atmosphere surrounded the art, as if it's not just a masterpiece but as something else too. Apple Bloom's eyes squinted, trying to read the plaque under the painting, but the only word she understands was 'World'.
"Maybe Ms. Cheerilee knows what it is." Apple Bloom said to herself. "Or maybe even Sweetie Belle. She knows a lot of fancy words."
The lights flickered, making the pony look up. The nearby chatter quiet down. Not a single sound of other ponies besides herself. It was too quiet for Apple Bloom's taste. Only hearing her own hoof steps, she walk towards the gallery's entrance. The lights suddenly turned off, leaving Bloom into a panic for the glass doors.
"Somepony! Help!" Apple Bloom shouted with a few tears in her eyes, trying to open the doors with all her might, but no luck.
She doesn't want to be alone in this dark place. She just wants to be with her friends again. Apple Bloom wipe her tears away and walk towards the window closest to the reception desk. She knocked on it, hoping to get somepony's attention. The earth pony let out a surprise gasp, taking a few steps back as she saw some kind of red liquid coating half of the window.
"What's going on here?!" Apple Bloom shouted.
She went upstairs and noticed the window. She sworn she saw somepony's shadow pass by it. The filly slowly walk towards the glass barrier and cautiously and quietly tap it. She let out a shriek when somepony tapped it. Her eyes widen and she quickly went to the big painting, hoping to get away from the windows.
"Don't worry, Apple Bloom. You're a big girl." The filly said to herself, calmly.
The filly notice some blue paint leaking out of the painting's golden frame.
"This wasn't here before." Apple Bloom said, taking a closer look at it.
She jumped at the sounds of splattered paint as she turn around. The floor around her have a blood-like color of paint that seem to form letters. It said, Come Bloom. She could feel herself shaking, turning back to the blue paint, which formed into words that said, Come down below, Bloom. I'll show you some place secret.
"Below?" Apple Bloom said.
Her thoughts came to the big painting of the big shark creature.
If that's where I'm suppose to go, then... Apple Bloom thought.
The Apple member went to the painting and noticed one of the cordons that surrounded the painting was replaced by a set of blue hoof prints. Approaching it slowly, Apple Bloom look at the painting. It felt very realistic with every step she took closer to it. Stepping on the paint, she slipped. Instead the hard feel of the floor, Apple Bloom felt something like water.
Opening her eyes, Apple Bloom could see a more ocean-like place of deep blue as she held her breathe. The flow pulled her down, watching the many hues of blue. She glanced down and was struck by a great amount of fear. The shark creature she saw in the painting. It was alive and heading for her. Her hooves kicked into action, hoping to swim back to the surface, but she now could see is red once the creature swallow her into its mouth.
No... No... I don't want this. I want to see my cutie mark someday. I want to see my friends and family again! No... No... Apple Bloom thought, closing her eyes.
"Ow!" Apple Bloom shouted, feeling the landing to the solid ground.
Her eyes open to the color of deep blue. Her heart pounded, wanting to get out of here.
"Calm down. Calm down." Apple Bloom said to herself, trying to wonder what just happen to her.
The filly look around and saw a single hallway with two almost identical paintings. The difference between these paintings was the colors. One was red and one was blue. Apple Bloom decided to go to the right with the blue painting.
The walls of the hallway have COME in a brighter shade of blue paint as Apple Bloom walk down it. Her eyes saw something red that stick out from the blue. It was a red rose in vase on a stand.
"It's pretty!" Apple Bloom said, taking the rose.
The rose have only a few petals, making the filly feel sad for it. The vase was filled with water that almost seem to sparkle and place it back in the vase. Before her very eyes, the petals of the rose grew back like magic.
"Wow!" The filly said, amazed, taking the rose back.
She gently tuck the rose behind her ear. Apple Bloom notice a door in front of the stand and move it out of the way. Luckily, the door was unlocked.
She was soon face to face with a large painting of a pale mare. Her blue mane seem to come out of the painting as she smiled with her eyes closed. In the middle of the room was a blue key that was different shade of blue than the room. Using her mouth, she pick up the key, but dropped it when she saw the mare's eyes were eerily open with a wider smile. Apple Bloom quickly pick up the key and ran out of the room as fast as she can.
The Apple member's eyes widen when COME weren't on the walls anymore. Instead, it was replaced by THIEF in bright red. Apple Bloom dropped her key for a loud shriek when she hear the sounds of splattered paint on the ground. In the same color, the paint on the ground said, THIEF. Apple Bloom ran for her life as she reach the other side of the hallway. At this side, there was a door and a detailed painting of a fish.
Apple Bloom try to open it, but it was locked. Remembering the key in her mouth, she used it to unlock the door in front of her.
I just want to go home. Apple Bloom thought, not knowing the horror ahead of her.