True- nervous? Yes I am Nervous, even as I was, I am now.
Why, might one ask? About my Sanity- the madness that has opened and freed me from the curse of acceptance.
It was never a descent for me, but more of a rise. One could only Imagine the greatness of the madness with in my very being, yet with that nopony can understand what I had to do. You see, without passion and care, I truly loved that mare. She did nothing to offend me, not once did she raise her voice. No, she did not even let out a scowl. Now that mare was the most sweet and kind of all ponies to be known. However there was that one thing, the very thing that destroyed her innocence... no not her innocence, her charm. On the very front as of all ponies have, there was that eye. Right on her beautiful gray face, was that one eye, it never matched the other. Whenever I entered her suit, I would hand over her food, and as a thank you she would bring that one eye down and have it rest on my soul. Sending the very cold of the great pit Tartarus into me.
I could of just walked out you know - been safe from that eye. But how could I if i know that the orb stayed in assistance to haunt all life around. I had to stay and solve the problem.
Honestly- I don't know how I came up with the idea, It just started as an idea to fix the eyes. It was just a matter of time before it became too late to realize that the eye could not be fixed. With that very conclusion, the fate of the young mare was sealed.
Now this is the point: You fancy me mad, insane, illogical, and cruel. I'll tell you something right now: mad ponies know nothing, The insane can't think, the illogical are dumb, and the cruel are illogical and thus, also dumb. You should've seen me, my work of both intelligence, and patience. Creeping up the stairs, you see I don't have wings like she does, but I can still be quiet if I need to be. I would walk up to her door- and oh so silently, I would open the door- Not quickly mind you, but slowly. Once the door was open just enough to get my head in, I thrust ever so gently as my head, and just my head entered the room. For three weeks I did this, poking my head into her room, using my horn to emit a thin beam of light- a light that would rest right on her left eye. It had to be the left eye, for that was the eye that threatened all of pony kind.
Day after day I would serve her, she not knowing my brilliant plot. For I would walk in to serve that mare with all the confidence and pleasure the world could give. As I looked into her one right eye, the only good one, I nearly felt bad for what had to be done for it was not her fault. Then I would see the laziness of the left, and my mission would be reconfirmed, she had to go. A small sad sacrifice really, but happy all the same. As I would assist in the house keeping she would talk, her cheer filling any soul with joy, yet it was her eye that tantalized that bliss, a sad curse that she would soon be free of.
Weeks passed again, yet with my patience my time soon came. It started like any other night- with me creeping up the stairs in perfect silence. Making my way to the door, the carved wooden barrier that called out to me. Like a habit that was burned into me I slowly opened the door without making a single peep. placing my head through the now existing crevice, I then looked around in the dark room. Like all the other times, I could not see a thing for the darkness blanketed the room like it was wanting to protect whatever was in there. I let out a soft chuckle from within, but she must have heard me, not knowing how. Hearing movement from within, I imagined the pegasus sitting up. "Who's there," came the mares voice, "By Celestias name, tell me who is there."
Most would think that by then I would of retracted by fear and retreated from being caught. But oh I did not, for I planed for this to happen. I waited there standing still- no not even moving a muscle. During that time my senses picked up on breathing, not the breathing of peace, nor was it the breathing of love. No this was the damned breathing of the worst form of anxiety! I could hear her stifled breath as she told herself that it was all but the wind, that the night will soon pass. But despite her own futile attempts to wager down her terror, her brain would not be fooled into a false sense of peace.
Still I waited in absolute stillness, listening intently to her own distilled breaths. she continued to tell herself that all was safe, all was calm. That nothing in this world could harm her, not under the protective eye of her protective servant. Yes me being that protective eye, doing my duty to protect all from hers. Finally on what felt like hours, I decided to carry on to the next segment of my insidious plan.
Without hearing her sit back down, I used my horn once again and for the last time, and placed it on the left eye- and found it open. That yellow eye staring back at me, bugged open with fear. In an insult the coldness of Tartarus, that coldness filled my soul as anger filled my logic. This is when I must tell you that while some would say I am Mad, and no matter how hard they try to convince me- I am not mad it is a heightened sense of reality, and that over-acute sense gave me the greatest of all blessings-and curses. A drumming, a beating, first as calm as a ticking of one of Time Turners creations, soon intensified to a deafening war cry. A war cry that was still muffled like being enveloped in cotton.
That sound, I knew that sound. It was a sound that surrounded the very definition of fear, the disposition of which, is what the mare was. Looking at her I could smell the sweat dripping off from her blond mane, I could hear her coat start to pail. These were all blessings that came from my over-acute sense, blessings that gave me the strength of what needed to be done. It was however- that sound, the sound of the her pure heart. A heart plagued with the eye of intense evil.
As I looked into that menacing eye, more rage filled my veins at that time than any other time. I stood there using my magic to light up that eye, that menacing eye, the very orb that spawned from the pit of Tartarus. As I stood there, so still that I would've made a statue look animated, the beating grew louder- and louder… and louder. It was with that realization that the thought came into me, a thought that struck my heart with fear. If I could hear the heartbeat, the time would come where even the ponies outside could hear it through their walls.
It was then, at that time when I had to make my heroic move. Moving faster than what that mare could even possibly comprehend. I moved to her bed side grabbing her and pulling her off the comfort of her sanctuary- that sanctuary that will save her from her sinister eye. If I were not a strong stallion, surely I would of failed- no I was not only strong, I was determined- that is the greatest of strengths. Pulling her off the bed, all she could do was let out a shout. Once I had managed to move her down to the ground I pulled the mattress off from the bed and forced it on top of her, then I sat on top and waited for the drumming to cease.
As I sat there I laid my head down to listen. Listening as the beating of the drums died down. First was the struggle that the young mare gave- It soon died away. Then the beating of her precious heart started to slow. I listened to the gradual decent of the failing heart, as it slowed and weakened, I being no longer afraid of people hearing her heart, for it was now so quiet that I could not even sense it. Soon that sound that I had come to love and hate, died all together. The mare was free from her curse.
Dragging the limp body to the room next door, I hoisted the carcass and placed it into her vile bathtub, and began to to cut and carve the body. I started with her legs, using my saw that I prepared many days ago. Scraping and grinding into her tissue, severing limb from body as her organic fluids flowed down the drain. Limb after limb did I do this, then I started on her mark, the mark of bubbles. I carved out that mark and set it to the side, as I proceeded to sever the head from neck. Each thrust on the saw gridded on the tip of the spine, but after feeling the nerves give out I detached the head and lifted it up before me.
Grabbing my spoon, the one I had sharpened for this very purpose, I buried it into her left dead eye. Splitting the skin of the eye lid, I licked my lips as I dug around, trying to find the optical nerve. Sensing the soft snap of the nerve being severed, I scooped out the damned eye from its home. "No more," I said, "No more will you haunt me!" With that said I picked up the fur with her mark and laid it down before me, placing the large evil eye on-top of it. I then wrapped it up and placed it next to me.
Washing all the limbs and body, I placed them into a bag- a bag that I had prepared from the beginning. I then rinsed out the tub, so that not even a bit of blood would stay behind to stain. After I had cleaned not only the mess, but also my self. I grabbed the bundle of fur and walked down to the kitchen, where I approached the apparatus that was to free me from the eye.
It was a blender, a crystal clear blender with a black lid, that had belonged to my dear master. Looking down at the bundle in my hooves, I then tossed that eye into the blender, gifted to her by that Pinkie Pie. Turning on the machine I watched as my senses slowed down time, blessing me to see what no normal pony could see. I watched as the blades skinned away the fur, revealing that fateful eye. It was looking at me, even as the blades sliced ever so slowly through that cursed thing. Cutting the top third, revealing the thick crimson liquid inside. Then it cut and shredded the bottom half, filling the beaker with that same crimson blood. Only the iris and center of the eye remained as it got drowned into the vat of gore. The golden ring looking at me as the blades swiped through it with ease. I watched as the last of the eye was liquefied and destroyed from existence. I grabbed a jar and lid, and poured the brew into it, sealing it to never be disturbed again.
After cleaning the apparatus, I made my way upstairs, not only with the jar-but with a tool to lift up floor boards as well. Retrieved the mangled corpse from the bathroom and went back to the mares old room. There I dismantled the floorboards and placed the mangled body with in, and as a finishing touch, placed the jar next to the bag of flesh. I then replaced the boards and sealed to boards in such a manner that nopony would know any less. My dead had been done perfectly.
It was then that I realized that I was ever so hungry, I looked at the time and noticed that it was only early morning still, not even light out yet. So I made my way back down to the kitchen and made myself a lily sandwich. I began to devour the meal, when I was suddenly interrupted by a knock- a knock that came from the front door.
I went to the door and found, some of the royal guard at the front steps- three ponies to be precise, one was a unicorn and the other two where pegasi.
In complete confidence I invited them in for they informed me that a neighbor had heard a shout in the middle of the night, and had come to investigate. I smiled and told them to have a look through the house. I knew that they would not find anything, for I had played my part with exact accuracy. After inquiring if the mare who had lived here was present, I informed them that she was in fact out of town visiting family. They took in my words rather well and proceeded to search the house.
My confidence got the better of me, for I had lead them into the very room where I had done the deed. Having offered tea to my visitors, I gave them hospitality. I soon then took up my own seat right above the spot where the mare now lay, and began to have a conversation about casual things. That was when I started to get a ringing in my brain. I did not think much of it, for the talk I was having with my distinguished guests was quite enjoyable. However the ringing grew, and I soon came to recognize it. I watched the faces of the guard, watching for any sign that they have heard it too. Sweat spilling down my face, the ringing growing louder- louder… and louder. I started to talk in a little bit more of a raised voice, hoping that I could drown out that horrid sound, fearing that the guards would soon hear it as well.
No- I see one of the guards smile, at that moment I knew that he was onto me. I had then declared to myself that I would not lose this game, I had bested the master of myself, and i would best the guard as well. The ringing, beating of a heart grew in my mind, now I was certain that the sound was not coming from my head, but from under the floorboards at where I sat.
I started to bang my hoof on the floor, still hoping to drown out that reclusive noise. Yet the officers still sat there conversing merrily with one another. My mind was racing, as to why they would not leave- obviously I had one the game and surly there was no reason for them to stay. No- they were still here like they knew something. Why, could they hear the heart? I picked up my seat and started to hit the ground, the guard still oblivious to my ach and suffering. There joyful voices searing into my head, as my strength failed me. I was losing the game. The damned beating ringing in the room, the joyous talking of glee emitting from the ponies before me. The beating- the joy -the beating- the joy - the beating, the joy
"Villains- cease your lips- I admit the deed" I dove to the ground and pride out the floorboards, reached into the bag and pulled out the red lump "Here is the beating heart of Ditzy Doo!"
Author's Note:
Yes, this is my rewrite of Edger Allan Poe's Tall Tail Heart. Never as good as the original, however I could not resist for that man can write insanity perfectly. Hope you enjoy. (Note: This particular story is not meant to be drastically gory.) The stories after this however will be... at least most of them will.
Mr. Flare
Also, if you have not noticed yet. This is a collection of random stories, some will carry a story while others are a stand alone.