







History:Shoot the Messenger wrote:You pride yourself on being rather shrewd,
And yet you never show me gratitude.
I'm sick and tired of playing your dumb game;
I'm hurt and you're the one to blame.
I hope when you think about the things you say,
That you know you need me; I don't need you.
And you knew not to shoot your messenger....
Well, if you didn't, then now you do.
I just wanna will it away...
But even now, you taunt me still.
You pretend to think it's okay
That I'm the one that holds your quill.
Carnival Cupcake's eyes widened in fear as her breath came out in ragged pants. She gasped for air as her golden wings pumped faster and faster, propelling her forward, just out of the reach of the horrifying creature following her. She heard whispers in the shadows that surrounded her, blocking her vision out. Her uneven breathing was the only sound that reached her numb ears.
She felt claws wrap around her tail and yank her back.
She screamed in terror.
She jerked upright, sitting in her bed as she gasped for air, still screaming at the top of her lungs.
Scarlet Shadow awoke instantly, her horn glowing grey with magic as she looked around the room for whatever was making her roommate so terrified. When she figured out that it was a dream, she landed on the floor, her magic grabbing the younger pony and levitating her over. Scarlet Shadow hugged the younger filly until the little one broke down sobbing, staining the alicorn's purple PJs with teardrops.
"Shh," she whispered to Carnival Cupcake. "Everything's okay now. You're safe."
Starburst raced in through the open door, her mane a tangled mess and her loose PJs practically falling off of her shoulders. Her greenish-magenta colored magic was flaring and ready to attack any unwanted visitors. Risky Strut was directly behind her, green eyes slightly dazed from being awoken in the middle of the night. "What's wrong?" she demanded, trotting towards the sobbing filly with a concerned look on her face.
Scarlet Shadow looked up with tears in her eyes. "Another nightmare."
Risky Strut nodded and waved as he trotted off. "I'm getting some sleep. Call me if there's anything else y'all need."
Starburst nodded in understanding. "Get some sleep, buddy," she called after him. Turning to Scarlet Shadow, she explained his absence. "He has a performance tomorrow night and needs all the sleep he can get."
She nodded, quickly turning her attention back to the filly in her arms. Carnival Cupcake was crying a little less now, but tears were still streaming down her cheeks.
Starburst came over and hugged them both, bidding them goodnight. "If you gals need anything, don't hesitate to wake me, okay? I don't have anything planned for tomorrow, so I don't need as much sleep as Risky does. I'll be on the couch if you need me."
Scarlet Shadow smiled. "Thanks, Starburst."
"Not a problem." With a flick of her tail and a brief smile, the pink pony exited the room.
Scarlet Shadow stayed with Carnival Cupcake for the rest of the night. They fell asleep next to each other, curled up on the hard Oak floor.
The next morning, Scarlet Shadow thought she was up first. With her grey magic once again glowing, she fixed both her bed and Carnival Cupcake's bed as well, making sure the sheets were straightened the the pillows fluffed for the next time they'd sleep. With a loving look at the young filly and a swish of her medium-length tail, she trotted out of the room, closing the door softly behind her with her magic. Turning and trotting down the hall, she entered the kitchen and was met by Starburst.
"Hey there, sister," the pink pony said with a smile. "Get some sleep, at least?"
"Yeah," Scarlet Shadow said, itching her head. "I'm really worried about Carnie, though."
"She's been having nightmares more frequently, hasn't she?"
"Practically every night, now. And each time she says it's the same thing - some monster is chasing her and grabbing her, and as she's being pulled back, she screams. The act of screaming wakes her up." Scarlet Shadow sighed, rubbing her tired eyes. "It sounds like something I would be dreaming of - not a filly like her."
Starburst nodded, turning to the cupboards and levitating a bowl down from the shelves. "What with your past, I'd agree with you. You went through so much as a child...I'm surprised it's not you who's having nightmares every night."
"I do have nightmares every night."
Starburst paused, unsure of how to answer as she levitated the bowl in mid-air.
"I just don't let them scare me," she finished, a hardened look on her once-soft face. "I'll see you later, Starburst."
"Yeah...see you later," she murmured, waiting for her sister to leave the room before levitating the bowl down to the counter. She cracked two eggs into the bowl and whipped them up, preparing breakfast for herself and her roommate, Risky Strut.
Risky Strut awoke a couple hours later to the sound of birds outside his window. He smiled, changed out of his PJs, and trotted into the kitchen, apologizing to Starburst about the trail of spines that he'd left in his wake. "I'll clean 'em up before I leave," he said, nodding to the pink pony behind the counter. "What's for breakfast?"
"Scrambled eggs."
After glancing about the kitchen and not finding any food, he was confused. "Where's the breakfast?"
"In my stomach."
Risky Strut's look was not amused. He glared at the younger pony.
"What?" Starburst said sweetly. "I made you some, but they cool down awful fast, and when you weren't up and they became cold, I HAD to eat them."