As I left the farm, I took a good look around at my surroundings. I could see the colossal city to my left and a forest, which looked like the Everfree, to my right.

If Derek was around, then my guess would put him in the forest, as he wouldn't want to be seen. With this logic in mind, I entered the forest. At first I was a bit nervous, but I kept reminding myself that this was the afterlife and that nothing could hurt me. I walked for a few minutes, listening to the sounds of the birds which dotted the sky, before I came across a forest clearing.

"Seriously?" I said to myself. "Another clearing? The last time I was in a place like this I was reunited with my brother."

"And then," another voice said, "you watched him die."

I froze.

"Who said that?" I demanded. "Show yourself!"

I heard the sound of snapping twigs and turned around, only to find myself looking at... myself. My double walked over with a grin on his face and looked me up and down.

"If you're looking for Derek," he said, "then you're wasting your time because he's not here. He never has been, and he never will be. So you might as well leave."

"Who are you?" I said. "What are you? And how the hell do you know all of this?"

"Luna may be the guardian of the afterlife," my doppelgänger replied, "but that doesn't mean she's the only one who can visit it as and when she pleases. There are two others who have the same ability she does. One, of course, is Celestia."

"And the other?" I asked. "I don't know of any other alicorns besides Cadence and Twilight."

My double groaned and facepalmed with an audible smack, dragging his hand down his face.

"How many alicorns do you know who can change shape?" He snapped. "And anyway, who said I was even an alicorn?"

I mulled these words over for a moment before realisation hit me and I let out a groan of my own.

"Of course it would have to be you." I replied. "Because only you would want to fuck with my mind like this."

My double grinned and snapped his fingers. A second later I found myself looking up at a grinning Discord. He clapped his hands excitedly and conjured up a pair of sofas, one of which he lay on. I sat down on the other and sighed.

"So," I started, "are you going to tell me how you came to know that my brother isn't here? Also, how did you even know about him in general? It's not like I ever told you."

"As I said when I first met you," Discord replied, "I was still able to hear during my imprisonment in stone. I just so happened to be eavesdropping when your brother made his appearance."

"Okay..." I groaned. "But how do you know he isn't here?"

"Luna is in charge of the positive aspect of the Equestrian afterlife." Discord said. "I, on the other hand, happen to be in charge of the negative aspect of said afterlife."

I thought this over for a moment before my eyes widened, much to Discord's glee.

"So basically," I paused for a moment, "you sent my brother to the fiery depths of Tartarus?"

Discord nodded feverishly, to which I responded by standing up and flipping over his sofa. He landed on his back with a thud, still laughing like a madman.

"Fan-fucking-tastic!" I snarled. "How the hell, pun not intended, am I supposed to see him now?"

Discord stood up, wiping a stray tear from his eye, and laid a hand on my shoulder in a friendly manner.

"I can take you there." He said plainly. "If you are that keen to see your brother, I can send you to Tartarus so that you can get the closure you so desperately crave."

"Okay then." I snapped. "Do it. Send me to Hell."

Discord removed his hand from my shoulder, folded his arms and shook his head.

"My dear John," he said, "I'm afraid it's not that simple. I'm afraid the spell to send you there only works on one day of the year... Nightmare Night. Then, and only then, will you be able to get what you desire. But I suggest taking somepony with you, for the depths of Hell are not to be tread lightly."

"Fine." I nodded. "Nightmare Night can't be that far away. In fact, I think it's only a few weeks."

I looked to Discord for confirmation, only to narrow my eyes when he shrugged instead.

"You'll have to ask somepony who knows." He said. "In fact, I think I can hear her coming now. I shall take my leave, John, but I promise I will see you again."

He leaned in close to me and whispered.

"Because I will be showing you your worst nightmares."

With a final cackle he disappeared, just as Applejack came into the clearing. She came over to me and nuzzled my leg.

"There ya are, John." She said cheerfully. "Ah came ta tell ya that the sun is comin' up soon, so tha spell Luna cast will be wearin' off. Did ya have any luck findin' yer brother?"

I shook my head.

"No," I replied, "I didn't. Because he's not here. You were right, hon, he's been sent to Tartarus."

Applejack's face fell.

"Ah'm sorry, sugarcube." She said softly. "Ah knew ya had yer heart set on talkin' ta him."

"And I will." I said sternly. "Tell me, AJ, how long is it until Nightmare Night?"

"A month." Applejack raised an eyebrow at me. "Why, what do ya have planned? Nothin' strange, Ah hope."

I picked her up and hugged her tight. She gasped at the sudden display of affection but returned it nonetheless.

"I'll explain everything when we wake up." I whispered. "But know this: I won't think any less of you if you don't take me up on my offer, as it's not that much of a concern for you."

Before Applejack could reply, the world around us began to fade as Luna's spell wore off, catapulting us back into the waking world.

Author's Notes:

Apologies for the late update and the short chapter.

I've only recently got a few ideas for this story, so I'll be writing it a bit more often now.