Username: FoalMoon
Show Name: Missing Pieces
Barn Name: Crow
Story:
Crow found his box in the crooked hands of an oak tree, covered in moss and surrounded by decaying leaves. Nothing grew around it, and the area reeked of decomposing material. The only thing that lived within a five-foot radius of the box was the tree, and oddly enough, the tree’s roots gripped the box tightly, almost squeezing it. The box was a mystery itself, covered in unreadable scribbling and strange, curving symbols. Despite the surrounding grime and dead-ness of the box, it’s mahogany wood seemed polished and flawless, and the cedar sections of the box seemed to shine.
Crow, being the curious creature that he was, pawed relentlessly at the poor oak’s roots, trying to set the box free of their grip. After a while of pawing, he became impatient and brought his hoof down a bit too hard. He was met by a sharp crack, breaking the root, and the box was free. It shone even brighter, not a spec of moss dulling it’s glossed surface. Crow sniffed it, and nudged it over with his nose. Should he try to open it? Everything around the area was either dead or dying, except the tree, so it might not be a good idea.
Despite his previous doubts, he rolled the box over, revealing a small latch that kept it closed. He gripped it between his teeth, working the latch open, and popped the lid of the box open with a snap. Inside, a black suede with white interlocking symbols covered the wood, and nothing else. Crow blinked, surprised. He’d thought something, anything, would have been inside. Huffing, he turned around, losing interest with the seemingly empty box, when something stopped him in his tracks.
His surroundings had changed from a lively world with blue skies, puffy white clouds, and green leaves, to something dead and decaying. The smell of rot and mold filled his nostrils, and took in the sight. Dead trees with peeling bark surrounded him, and inky flowers leaned in towards his slight feathering, tainting the white on his fetlock. Particles of unknown substance floated through the air, and the undergrowth was sticky and oily. The sky no longer had a blue hue, it was covered in ashen clouds, leaving him in the dark. The only thing that appeared remotely alive was the tree, and the surrounding plants. It was the exact opposite of what the forest had looked like before he opened the box.
Crow closed the box, relieved when the color returned and the occasional singsong of a bird filled his ears. This wasn’t something to be messed with, it was an other-dimensional transport. A source of energy so powerful, it could rip the boundary between this world on the dead one. Crow was flooded with his own questions about the box, are there other horses in the deadworld? Or did everyone see what I just saw?
Crow stiffened, realizing he would need to keep this box, or else someone might misuse it. Leaning down and clamping it between his teeth, he trotted home and put a lock on the latch used to open it. Nevertheless, he still keeps it with him at all times, worried that one day someone with a tainted heart will take advantage of it’s power. Despite what you might be thinking, a deadworld could actually be helpful. You could hide things there, and maybe even release monsters of unknown origin and deadliness into the living world.
Yes, the 'deadworld' is loosely based off of the upside down. I'm Stranger things trash
