Hi, name’s Whately—with a dubya.  Welcome to town. How was the train ride? Bumpy, eh? Hope you like it here—the place is brilliant. Fog rolls off the hills in the morning, engulfing the whole place in it. Sometimes the fog clears up by midday, and once it does, you could see Lake Toluca appear. A lot of people love it here. It’s a beautiful place.

What year is it?  Are you crazy, it's 2000.  You know, Princess Luna began her rule around 1000.  Right after Celestia died.  Is it just... amnesia?  Oh it is.  Sorry for doin' that.  

It has lots of bad PR, though, for a Resort Town.  After that whole fiasco with the Element of Laughter cutting people and making cupcakes, this place kind of fell apart.  After that, some people discovered some things about the town.  Apparently, there’s been a history of crazy cults and insane people. There was that tale of a pony murdering her son because of the “People in the Mirrors”.  Then the Element of Honesty started to kill people and make dresses out of them.  Then the Element of Loyalty going insane and killing random people.  There was another tale of a beaten up man wielding a bloodied steel pipe, who apparently blabbered about monsters around town. They found him dead the very next day, beaten to a bloody pulp and practically ripped apart.

Then there was that girl who “died” in the fire. She was taken to Alchemilla Hospital for severe third-degree burns. Hearsay around the town says that the house was set on fire by the girl’s parent. Crazy stuff, huh?

You got a pretty nice jacket there, friend. Cold, huh? Yeah, that’s town. Did you know? I saw a couple another day—a sickly wife and her nice hubby. Guy had the same jacket as that.  Well, not that color—he had it white. There was a peculiar red spot on it though.  He also kept his hood over him.  I couldn't see his face.  He had a rough voice, like he had a cold or something.  I forget his name. J-something.  Ah, I remember.  Jeff.  

Everybody knows everybody here—‘cept for them tourists like you. Though, you are thinking of moving here, right? Yep. Well, you’ll love it here for sure, bubba.

Where are we now? Nathan Avenue. The tourist folks come here through I-90, make use of the town’s pubs, stores, restrooms and the like. I think they leave a part of their hearts here—a happy memory—an’ they come back. Oh, yeah, hope you ain’t tired.  You’d be walkin everywhere. I don't quite know how it was back in Canterlot.  Don’t worry, the scenery will seduce you. Hey! That’s Jim—hey, Jim!

Jimmy mustn’t have heard me. He’s the school custodian. Wonder why he’s in south vale now.

So I have a store near Harris Street—its a little shop called Desired Artifacts. I know, it sounds fancy an’ all. Hey, maybe you could stop by, eh? Ha! Just pulling your leg, friend. It’s a General Store-slash-Pharmacy. So you know where you’d get your pills, eh? Hahaha!

Well, what else is there in a peaceful town like this? Believe it-or-not, we have a Bowling Alley—yeah, Pete’s Bowl-a-Rama. Ah, you bowl, huh? Maybe we could get together sometime an’ play. Sounds like a good idea, eh? Thattacolt.

You probably should bring your bags to your motel room—that’s where you’d be stayin, right? Alright, come with me. Onyx's Inn isn’t too far away.

Just find the check-in counter and I’ll be on my way. I got some errands to do, friend. You could ask Onyx to tour you around if you want, but I suppose you need your rest. You’re from Canterlot, right? The trip must’ve been tartarus on your sleeping habits, with the train ride an’ all. Went there once, an I hurt my flank just sitting in the bus.

Alright, bubba. I’ll be off. Tell Onyx I said hello.

Onyx

Is he gone? Come on, look. Thank Celestia. Things here aren’t what they seem. This place is not your ordinary resort town. Hay no—I can’t even think of what to call it. I haven’t seen another pony in nearly a month. Tell me, what do you see? Just what the hay do you see? It’s not real. None of it. This place has gone to tartarus, friend. Whately is the bucking devil.

I’ll tell you what you see—and you just agree with me. This place is dilapidated, the motel is crumbling. The whole town is dead. You see the fog, do you? Oh Celstia, you do!

I was taken here by the Devil. He damned me to attend to this motel, and killed my wife, just like that. He rules the town, now. Rules whatever’s inside that fog. Whatever it is, it ain’t pony. What? Don’t tell me you haven’t seen those things.

He will say that I’ve owned this for thirty years, and he’s right—but I’ve stayed here longer than I feel. I can’t leave, man.

Get me out of the receptionist desk, man. I could get you out of here alive.

Ah. The look on your face tells me you think I’m crazy. I’m telling you, friend, I’m not. Trust me. I think I know how to get out—that thing doesn’t see everything in this town. Do you trust me, friend?

Thank you for freeing me.

Listen I—

Do you hear that?  That thing’s so loud. It’s an Air Raid Siren—like the ones they use for fires. I can’t hear myself think!

Hey…caaan…you…buddy…? Can…you…hear…me…

Whately

I apologize for that. Onyx…Onyx is something. Twenty two years ago, he killed a woman staying in the hotel. He was committed in Brookhaven Hospital. For two decades he stayed in that place, ‘til he was released by the docs. You know why he killed that woman? ‘cuz his MAMA made him do it. I kid you not. Half way through his incarceration, his wife died—from that fire I told you before.

Where are you now? A room in Onyx's inn. I paid with my money. Of course, no one’s attending to the receptionist’s table. Onyx is in the drunk tank in Neely’s Street. I went by with Stash, the town deputy. We saw Onyx caressing you in his arms, blood on your forehead. Blood on his hooves, too. We were afraid you were dead, so Stash took Onyx to the drunk tank, and I checked you if you had a concussion. I feel bad for you now—I hope it doesn’t alter your view on our little town.

Daang, friend, we were terrified. The doc came by afterwards and said you were okay. Phew.

I think you should get some rest. You need it. I’m going by the drunk tank at the sheriff’s office to see Onyx. You should probably join me. We’ll talk this thing straight. I know you want answers, too. ‘Cuz that’s what I want. I’ll be going.

Sleep, buddy, sleep like an angel.

Onyx

The town is starting to change.

"...starting to change..."

"...starting to change..."

I can’t help myself—I can only sit here and rock my body back-and-forth, back-and-forth. Thank Celestia you’re awake. I don’t know what to do. He knows I told you. That’s why you slept. I was taken away, too. He showed me something that I shouldn’t have seen—a nightmare that came from his own mind. I can’t tell you how horrible it was, to have seen it. Wait…wait…wait…wait…

What?

I…forgot what I was saying. What was I saying was I saying something about my wife? I can’t remember. I can’t remember a thing. I can’t remember who I really am, and who are you?

Are you a newcomer?

Are you new?

Are you?

Are you?

Are you new here?

I know it’s coming. I can’t be seen with you! He’s powerful—that demon! It’s him and his laugh. How it echoes in the night. Buck buck buck buck buck...don’t you see—it’s getting darker! It’s all fading into black. No—not fading—it’s all consumed by black.

Can’t you see it? Can’t you?

This town…this town is a gateway to something darker. Don’t you understand it? Don’t you? This is not a biblical or a religious darkness—it’s worse.  Tartarus is not a place in a different plane—Tartarus is here. It’s in our minds.

This town is the gateway to our own minds—our own subconscious. Don’t you understand that?

That’s why I cannot live. I shouldn’t be alive right now. I should be losing my mind. Bring me back to Brookhaven, mama. I can’t live here. I’m too weak.

You! You still have a chance. Get out of this town, while you can, because the Devil is coming after you.

They say he could be very friendly. They say a lot of things about him. Get out of here if you can—get out of here!

I could buy you time, but you have to get out. You have to—

Whately

—step out of the room, first, friend. Dr. Crane’s here to analyze the patient’s mental capacity, but that’s all just formalities. We all know Onyx has gone into some wonderland he made up. The poor stallion. I think he just couldn’t get over losing Gertrude—his wife. Onyx loved that girl, even though she didn’t actually love him back. That Gert…now she might look friendly an’ all, but don’t let that fool you. She was horny as a tartaruscat back in the days. I can’t express how sorry I am to make your first day in our town so horrible. I’m sorry, friend, that this has to happen to you. How can we make it up to you? A free pass to Canon Hotel? I could help with that! How about it, huh?

We can’t let your first day in town be ruined. After all, you’re staying here for a long time, right?

Oh…by the way, I forgot to tell you the name of this cozy little resort town. I don’t know why I didn’t mention it before.

Welcome to the town of Ponyville, friend. I hope you enjoy your stay.