"Do you think we're safe here?" Sweetiebelle whimpered as she and her friends set up their sleeping-bags in the Apple Family's living room. There was no way they were going to sleep in Apple Bloom's bedroom after what they had just encountered.
"I don't know; the instructions say if ya burn the board, the spirits will get even stronger..." Scootaloo sighed.
"Well, this oughtta be a fun night..." Apple Bloom grunted sarcastically in annoyance as she climbed into her sleeping-bag. The Cutiemark Crusaders all closed their eyes to go to sleep but they were constantly awoken by the sound of hoof-steps echoing throughout the house.
"It's prob'ly Big Mac, Apple Jack or Granny gettin' up to use the bathroom..." Apple Bloom reassured herself and her friends just so they could get a goodnight's rest. The fifth time they were awoken however, it was three A.M., an hour known to most Ponies as the Nightmare Hour and this time, the Cutiemark Crusaders heard a different, much-more, terrifying noise.
"Let me in...IIInnn...Let me in..." Groaned the deformed spirit of Firefly from outside as she tapped on the window with her fore-hoof.
"No! Go away!" Apple Bloom snapped as she pulled her pillow over her head. She didn't just feel that Firefly wanted to get into her house, she felt that Firefly wanted to get into her soul and take over her body for her own and there was no way she was going to let that happen, murder victim or not, the ghostly-Mare was not welcome in her home. Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle too heard the Mare's distorted pleas, but Scootaloo just decided to try to ignore them all and Sweetiebelle decided to hide within the imaginary-safety of her sleeping-bag.
Some time went by before the ghostly-noises had finally stopped and Apple Bloom now felt safe enough to actually try to get some sleep.
"Finally..." The Earth-Philly yawned as she rolled over onto her back. Her tired eyes widened into a look of horror however, when she noticed the intimidating spirit of Bartholomule floating over her bed with wide, wild eyes. Clutched close to his chest within his fore-hooves was the crochet blanket that Granny Smith usually kept on the couch as he slowly lifted it up over Apple Bloom's head, in an attempt to smother her. Apple Bloom let out a small shriek and zipped herself up within her sleeping-bag, shivering with terror as she silently prayed for morning to finally arrive.
Meanwhile, Granny Smith had awoken in the middle of the night to get a glass of apple juice for her dry throat. As she turned on the light upon entering the kitchen, The pale-green, elderly, Earth-Pony was unaware of the sinister reflection of Bartholomule in the metal awning above the oven, watching her intently, before disappearing within seconds. Granny Smith poured herself a glass of apple juice and turned off the kitchen light, before beginning to head back to her bedroom. As she made her way down the darkened corridor, she stopped in her tracks when she could have sworn that she heard the faint sound of a Colt moaning in pain. She turned around to face the source of the noise and her eyes widened with horror at the sight. There was a Colt with Donkey-like ears and a full-body cover hanging upside-down from the ceiling like a bat slowly making his way over to her with his eyes rolled to the back of his head and his fore-hooves outstretched in front of him.
Granny Smith let out a blood-curdling scream, causing her to drop her glass of apple juice onto the floor, the glass shattering upon impact. This somehow went unheard by the rest of her family members as she attempted to run away from the ghostly-figure. She tripped inches away from her own bedroom-door however, and let out yet another shriek of terror as she was dragged down the hallway by her hind-legs. The next day, Apple Bloom now felt safe enough to emerge from her sleeping-bag with a tired yawn and bags underneath her fall-colored eyes.
"What a night..." She groaned as her two friends emerged from their sleeping bags as well, appearing equally as tired and disheveled.
"I reckon ya'll didn't get much sleep last night either, huh?" Apple Bloom yawned.
"How could we?" Scootaloo snapped, inpatient from the amount of tiredness she was feeling. The three fillies were just glad that it was currently a weekend. The Cutiemark Crusaders' conversation was interrupted however, by the horrified shriek of Apple Jack. The three friends ran toward the area that the screams were emanating from but their paths were blocked by Apple Jack and Apple Bloom's older brother, Big Macintosh.
"Ya'll go play outside, now; this ain't somethin' you three oughtta be exposed to..." The red Earth-Colt frowned as he gently began nudging the three Phillies away from the hallway.
"What's goin' on, Big Mac?" Apple Bloom questioned curiously as she leaned over to look past him. Her eyes widened with shock and terror at the sight of Apple Jack crying over the body of what was once Granny Smith, but this wasn't the worst part; the worst part was the look on her Grandmother's face as it was contorted into a horrified and pained scream.
"G-Granny?!" Apple Bloom sobbed as she and her friends were quickly shoved outside by the sympathetic Big Mac. Apple Bloom was unable to speak or even think straight. The ambulance showing up in her front yard were a blur along with everything else in the world around her as all she could bring herself to do was cry, uncontrollably. Scootaloo and Sweetiebelle tried their best to console her as her Grandmother's body was removed from the property and escorted to the nearest funeral home.
Even after night had fallen and her friends had already left because of how late it was, the traumatized Apple Bloom hadn't moved from her spot on the front porch as she just laid there, sobbing softly to herself. Apple Jack slowly made her way outside and laid down next to her younger sister, staring down at her in concern.
"You okay, sugar-cube?" She questioned softly, but Apple Bloom didn't respond. Of course she wasn't okay; she had just lost her Grandmother.
"W-What happened?" She finally managed to squeak out.
"Well, the ambulance said that...Granny just had herself a massive heart-attack...That kinda thing's normal with older ponies..." Apple Jack sighed, on the verge of tears again herself.
"C-C'mon inside; I'll make ya some cider..." Apple Jack offered as she lead her younger sister back inside.
TO BE CONTINUED...