Part 13 – Ghosts
Once Mr Berrytown was filled in on the events of Dream Valley and Applejack, he had decided to follow Dazzleglow and Sparkler. Happyglow, Starglow and Brightglow went their own way in their attempts to find out where Mr Berrytown's daughter was.
The entire group tried everyone, Baby Berrytown's friends, her teachers at school and all the places she liked to go. Much to Mr Berrytown's growing dismay, none of them had seen her. In the town square, he found a bench and flopped down on it. Dazzleglow and Sparkler sat on either side of him.
"She has to be somewhere, she can't have just disappeared," he said, taking his glasses off. He rubbed his eyes then covered his face.
"We'll find her, or at least what's happened to her," Sparkler assured him.
"Has your son seen or heard anything?" Dazzleglow asked, "Any noises, cold."
Mr Berrytown nodded. "He's been complaining his room is very cold. Then he says he keeps hearing noises outside. His sister has heard it too, she comes to sleep in the bed with my wife and I."
Dazzleglow and Sparkler exchanged a look.
"Mr Berrytown, would you object to me staying overnight?" Sparkler suggested.
Mr Berrytown's eyebrows raised and he tilted his head. "What do you think is there?"
"We dealt with something similar, and know the signs to look for. If it's the same thing, then we can hopefully find your daughter."
Mr Berrytown said nothing for a moment, then nodded. "I don't think my wife will have any problem with it, not if it'll find our daughter."
Sparkler smiled. "Not to worry. I'll sleep in the living room and if anything happens, I can see it for myself."
Dazzleglow waited until Mr Berrytown left, then pulled Sparkler toward her. "What are you doing? You can't take them on!" she said.
"I don't plan to," Sparkler answered with a shake of her head, "I want to see if it's the same as what happened at your home."
"What then, if it is?"
"Then we know what to look for." Sparkler hugged Dazzleglow and stroked her mane. "Don't worry about me, I'll be all right."
Seeing it was clear she couldn't argue, Dazzleglow nodded reluctantly. She stood, watching as Sparkler caught up with Mr Berrytown, and continued to watch until they were out of sight. Once gone, Dazzleglow sighed and turned away.
It was here that Brightglow found Dazzleglow, sitting on the bench, watching the horizon as the sun went down. She sat next to her friend, and gave Dazzleglow a friendly bump on her shoulder.
"Where's Sparkler?" Brightglow asked.
Dazzleglow sighed and slumped forward. "She's gone to investigate Mr Berrytown's home. If it's the same things that happened at Paradise Estate."
Brightglow nodded. "That makes sense." She tilted her head. "You're worried though."
Dazzleglow glanced to her, then nodded. "After everything we went through with Applejack." She paused. "I don't want her to go through that."
Brightglow leaned on Dazzleglow's shoulder, and put her arm around Dazzleglow. The unicorn leaned into the embrace, and there they stayed until Happyglow found them hours later.
When they returned to the house, Dazzleglow waved the rest of the ponies in as she wandered over to the edge of the fence. Brightglow noticed her absence and trotted over to her.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
Dazzleglow lit her horn up, and on the ground, small, glowing writing appeared. "I'm checking my wards," she replied, "If there's a way I can strengthen them further or if I need to consult the Princess Ponies."
"I'll come with you then."
Dazzleglow nodded.
She waited for Brightglow to join her at her side, then walked around the house. Periodically, she would stop, light her horn up and the writing would appear on the ground. She then scraped at the ground with her hoof, lit her horn up even brighter, and let the writing fade away. Once satisfied, she moved onto the next one.
"What do you think the problem is?" Brightglow said, following Dazzleglow.
"I'm not sure. The wards should be strong enough to keep anything away." She paused, sighing. "At least until Applejack and the like."
Brightglow approached her and gave Dazzleglow's neck a nuzzle.
Dazzleglow repeated the action around the perimeter of the house, each ward now shining bright before disappearing from sight. Brightglow followed, looking over her shoulder. Dazzleglow stopped, then turned back to her.
"Did you hear something?" she said.
Brightglow threw a last glance to the path that led to the town, and shook her head. "No, it's fine." She smiled. "Come on, let's go inside. No doubt Happyglow has started dinner."
Dazzleglow nodded.
They went inside and sat down at the dinner table. Starglow was already there, having set the table and handed out cutlery. She caught Dazzleglow's eye, mouthing to ask her if she was all right. Dazzleglow smiled in response, though Starglow was not convinced.
Happyglow come through carrying plates and placed them in front of each pony. She returned to the kitchen to retrieve her own, and she sat down next to Starglow. They ate, talked, trying to avoid discussing the pale ponies, the shadow creature and Mr Berrytown's missing daughter. Dazzleglow remained distracted, playing with her food and moving it around the plate. She ate little, excusing herself to her room.
Dazzleglow lay on her bed, book between her hooves, when a knock came at her door.
"It's open!" she called.
Brightglow came into the room and trotted over to Dazzleglow's bed. Dazzleglow drew her knees to her chest, in an attempt to make room for her friend. Brightglow sat down on the bed.
"Are you all right?" Brightglow asked.
Dazzleglow nodded. "I'm just worried about Sparkler."
Brightglow tilted her head. "Is that all that's bothering you?"
Dazzleglow sighed. "That thing coming so close to the house, and my wards didn't keep it away."
"I'm sure once we know more about it, you'll be able to get rid of them." Brightglow pulled her into a hug. "We all trust you, and don't have any doubt you'll be able to protect us."
Dazzleglow gave her a squeeze, then frowned when she felt Brightglow stiffen. She held her at length, saw the look on Brightglow's face, and followed her gaze to the window. There stood the shadow, looking in Dazzleglow's window.
"What is that thing?" Brightglow uttered, moving closer to Dazzleglow.
"I don't know, it was here last night too," Dazzleglow told her.
The shadow continued to look in the window, before it turned and walked away. Despite that they could no longer see it, they could hear it. It walked around the house at a steady pace, passing Dazzleglow's window more than once.
Brightglow's head snapped around to the open door of Dazzleglow's room. "Did you hear that?"
Dazzleglow too looked around, and frowned. "I didn't hear anything."
"Something was…crying."
Dazzleglow felt her stomach lurch in a sickening movement.
"You didn't hear it?"
Dazzleglow shook her head.
Brightglow sighed. "Maybe I'm imagining things."
"No, you weren't. That's how it started for me, with Applejack."
"Oh pony feathers."
The shadow stood at the window once more, and this time, Dazzleglow did hear the crying. The spectre of Applejack and the events of Paradise Estate now haunted the glowing ponies.
Dazzleglow stood up from the bed, Brightglow quick to follow. She headed out of the room, following the sound of crying. By this point, both Happyglow and Starglow were out of their rooms, both having heard it. They too followed Dazzleglow and the crying until it led them back into the living room.
In the corner of the room, a hunched shape sat, curled up. It sobbed softly.
The four ponies stood, transfixed, listening to it cry. The longer they stood, the louder the sobs became, until it was almost screaming, its voice and sobs hoarse.
It stopped.
The few moments of silence were unnerving, though they wished for the silence when the shape started to growl. It turned its head slowly, its mouth opened wide, before this time it did scream.
Dazzleglow stepped forward, her horn lit up. She sent a glowing ball of magic at the shape. It cried out when the magic hit it, and faded from view. She let out a deep breath and sat back.
Happyglow was by her side in seconds.
"It got in," she said quietly, her voice quivering and on the verge of tears. "My wards aren't enough."
"We'll figure this out, don't worry," Happyglow assured her, pressing her forehead against Dazzleglow's cheek.
"I need to see the Princess Ponies, or write to Princess Aquamarine, at the very least."
Happyglow nodded. "All right. Write to your friend. I'd prefer if you were here, so we can look after you."
Dazzleglow couldn't help but smile. "Ever the protector, Happyglow."
Happyglow smiled too. "You know it." She ushered everyone out of the room. "Come on, we'll all stay in my room. Bring your pillows and blankets, it'll be like a sleepover when we were baby ponies."
When they passed Dazzleglow's room, the shadow still stood at the window, staring in with its lifeless, blank eyes. Starglow marched over to the room and shut the door.
"There, look in the window now," she said.
They went into Happyglow's room, set up their blankets, pillows and spread out the spare guest mattresses on the floor. There they stayed until morning, when Starglow got up early and served them breakfast in bed.