NG: Y'know, it's funny-- the first thing that went through my mind when I got that call was 'this is gonna be a bad one'.

I work search and rescue. I'm on the special night rescue team because of my vision. That's how I got my cutie mark, right? It's kinda… I dunno. Nevermind.

Anyway, I was at the cabin. We--me and the other folks on the search and rescue team, that is--have this cabin. It's not official or anything. It's not, like, a government cabin. It's just a place that a few of the guys chipped in to buy for when we're on call. It's kinda nice, y'know? Like a vacation. Most times, at least. When the radio's quiet.

Sorry. I dunno why I'm telling you all this junk. I'm sure it's in the file, right?

GRIN2258: Just… tell us the story in whatever way feels most comfortable, miss.

NG: Sure. Right. And don't call me miss, I… just. Night Gxxxxx is fine. Nigh if that's too long.

GRIN2258: Nigh?

NG: Yeah, like 'the end is nigh' or… 'nigh impossible' or something.

So the call came in at… I'm not sure, actually. I remember it being dark enough that I had to hold my map under the porch light to read it, but the sky was this weird peach-y color? I could have sworn it was later than dusk, but… well, anyway. It was sometime after dark, I guess. Close enough.

Weirdly, I think the thing I remember most is that I was sitting in the plastic lawn chair, right? The cheap, white kind that just feel sort of… I dunno, just gross to touch. And I was already uncomfortable enough as it was, but when the radio started buzzing I leaned over to turn the volume up and the chair buckled under me. Then do that, y'know? You know those plastic ones I'm talking about?

GRIN2258: Um… sure.

NG: It's just so clear in my mind. I feel like I could rebuild that chair exactly right now if you gave me the right stuff. And… if I knew how to cast stuff in plastic. Do you cast stuff in plastic, or is that something else?

GRIN2258: Miss, if we could--

NG: It's Night Gxxxxx. I don't mess with miss."

GRIN2258: Night Gxxxxx, then. Can you please tell us about the encounter itself?

NG: [pause] Look. I appreciate what you're trying to do, here, but this sort of stuff happens. It's not as out-of-the-ordinary as you might think, especially on search and rescue missions, and doubly so at night. Magic has a way of manifesting in weird ways when it doesn't have anything to do with itself.

We think of magic as something we make, but that's really not true. It's something we draw on. Like a well, right?

In some places there's droughts because so many ponies are sucking up the magic from the well. Big cities, y'know? Everything there works predictably because all of the magic is accounted for. You're not gonna run into something like this in Las Pegasus or Manehattan. Even someplace like Ponyville is probably a stretch, to be honest.

In places where there's really nothing there--or, y'know, nopony there--you can have floods. The well goes unused, the magic runs over… big ol' mess. All sorts of weird stuff. The more disused, the more lifeless, the more un-magical the place is… the more agency it has.

GRIN2258: I… don't think there's any scientific basis for what you're telling us. Could you please do you best to stick to the facts, m-- Night Gxxxxx?

NG: Of course there isn't any scientific basis. There isn't any scientific basis for the 'encounter' you're investigating, either. I'm trying to, uh… what's the word? Contextualize. I'm trying to contextualize all of this for you, okay?

GRIN2258: I understand, but--

NG: You told me to tell the story how I felt most comfortable. This is how I feel comfortable.

GRIN2258: [pause] Continue.

NG: Gee, thanks.

Where was I, again?

Oh, right. The chair.

So the chair buckled as I'm reaching for the radio and that gets everyone laughing because-- well, hey! Look at Night Gxxxxx! They're on the ground! Hilarious! And, I dunno, I was all flustered over it and so I said I'd… head out alone.

It was stupid. I know that, now. Very aware of how stupid it was. But the call that came in was a pretty basic first aid thing--just some pony who'd twisted her leg and needed some help getting out of the woods--so I figured it was no big deal. She wasn't even all that far out, just by [REDACTED] Lake. Maybe a few minutes at an easy pace, tops.

So I grabbed my bag from inside the cabin and headed out towards the lake.

GRIN2258: And what was in your bag?

NG: [pause] Is that important?

GRIN2258: It could be.

NG: Um… gee, lemme think… flashlight, rope, splint, flares… definitely my multitool. Small first aid kit-- that's standard. Headlamp… actually, I may have taken the headlamp out.

GRIN2258: Any magical items or talismans?

NG: [pause] No? Why would I have one of those?

GRIN2258: Any personal effects?

NG: Uh… uh, no. Just-- y'know, just the stuff for the job. Th-that's all I ever carry, y'know? Don't wanna be weighed down with junk you'd wanna save. That can really trip you up in a mission scenario.

GRIN2258: Are you sure?

NG: [pause] Yeah.

GRIN2258: Okay. What happened when you got to the lake?

NG: Well, on the way over I had this weird feeling that there wasn't any wind. I was flying a few yards above the ground, which isn't usually very turbulent. Especially in the woods. Still, though, you usually catch a little breeze or two. But there was just… nothing.

The longer I flew, the more concentrated I got on trying to feel for the wind. By the time I turned up at the lake I… kinda didn't know where I was? I mean, I was at the lake. But I'd gotten there on autopilot, I guess. I… I really shouldn't have been there. Like, geographically. I flew in a nearly straight line the whole time, but I should have had to go around a small ridge to get there from the cabin. Either that or fly above the trees…

But, yeah. I got to the lake and I saw… a lighthouse.

I mean, I shouldn't have to say this but there isn't a lighthouse on that lake. There's no boating of any kind allowed on that lake, much less boating that would require a lighthouse. Plus, y'know 'lake' really isn't an accurate way of describing that thing. It's small enough not to have a name at all, to be honest. You can see clear across it most nights-- could probably skip a rock over it if you really put your mind to it.

So of course I see the lighthouse right away. Its light wasn't on, so I hadn't noticed from a distance, but when I came out of the woods at the edge of the lake I was close enough to see the brickwork lines.

I called out for the pony that had asked for help, but there was no response. I had a… well, not a bad feeling, really. Just a weird feeling. About the lighthouse. It felt sort of… fake? Like the light didn't seem to be interacting with it right. Like it was some foal's first scene painting and they'd screwed up that bit by adding a lighthouse in after the whole thing was done.

[pause] So, you're not gonna complain about my editorializing over the lighthouse?

GRIN2258: The lighthouse is what we're interested in, Night Gxxxxx.

NG: Tsk. Right.

It didn't take too long to circle the lake. The pony on the radio had said she was right next to it, right on the sandy part? The shore on that tiny thing is, like, a foot wide, max. But there was literally not a single soul there.

I was thinking about giving up, but then I was like, aha! Maybe she got herself inside the lighthouse to wait. I'd have done the same thing, y'know? Stay out of the elements?

So I walked up to the lighthouse and--

GRIN2258: You did?

NG: Yeah.

GRIN2258: Did you experience any difficulty reaching the lighthouse?

NG: [pause] No? What do you mean?

GRIN2258: Did it take… longer than expected?

NG: [pause] To reach the lighthouse?

GRIN2258: Yes.

NG: Uh… maybe I'm just stupid or something, but I really don't understand the question. You mean did I misjudge the distance?

GRIN2258: [pause] Let's just move on.

NG: Okay, fine.

So I walked up to the lighthouse--which was in no way difficult--and opened the door. Opening the door was also about as easy as I expected, in case you were wondering.

And…

Okay. I really don't know how to describe it other than just [REDACTED]. I mean, there's just no way a [REDACTED]. I leaned in as far as I could, but I didn't want to let the door close behind me. I was worried I was gonna be trapped.

I yelled a few times. The first few, nothing. Then, finally, I heard this voice say that I [REDACTED] and I'd have to [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] if I wanted to leave. The voice kinda came from the building? Like I couldn't seem to pin down where it was coming from. Sounded like a really good surround sound system. Cheerful enough, though. Not very threatening. Except for the [REDACTED].

So I… left.

I didn't look for the pony. She didn't call back in, either. I… still don't feel great about that, to be honest.

[pause] If you don't have any other questions for me, I'd really like to leave."

GRIN2258: Actually, Night Gxxxxx, we have something of an opportunity for you.

NG: An opportunity? You realize how sketchy that sounds, right?

GRIN2258: We'd be compensating you-- [REDACTED] bits per day.

NG: Holy horseapples.

GRIN2258: We're not sure how dangerous the experience is going to be, exactly. Based on previous testimony, we are anticipating at least some threat to your health in the form of magical anomalies. We don't currently have an estimation for how long this opportunity will be providing you with work, either.

NG: Okay. That's… nevermind. Go ahead.

GRIN2258: Applicants need to meet a series of rather niche qualifications, and you seem to fit what we're looking for.

NG: I-if this is about the night vision thing, it's really not all that--

GRIN2258: It's unrelated to your night vision, though it may be an asset to our team.

NG: [pause] Okay.

I… fine. You got me. I'm interested.

-----------------------------

NOTES:

Suspected incidence of the Hesperides Anomaly, cannot be confirmed

Following interview, subject Night Gxxxxx was hired as a temporary member of the GRIN investigative team for exploration of the Hesperides Anomaly. Investigation is ongoing as of [REDACTED]