//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: The Slender Mane // by ThiefoftheDarkness //------------------------------// It was Nightmare Night, and as Twilight Sparkle sat around a campfire with her friends and a small group of fillies, she felt slightly uneasy. It felt like someone was watching her… Brushing it off, she reasoned that because it was Nightmare Night, and like anyone would be, she was just a little nervous. “All right, now who wants to hear scary stories?!” Rainbow Dash shouted, interrupting Twilight’s train of thought. “Oh! I love scary stories! Can I tell one? Please! I have a good one picked out!” Pinkie Pie was practically beside herself with excitement. Apple Jack calmly said, “Now calm yerself Pinkie, ain’t good getting so excited, ya’ might get hurt. Besides, I have a right good story too.” “Oh but I have a simply amazing story that I want to tell!” Rarity whined. “Um girls, maybe we should just let Rainbow Dash tell the first story. Then we can all take turns” Twilight reasoned. “Ok, but I want to go next!” Rarity exclaimed. “Ok little fillies! Are you ready to hear the story about… the Slender Mane?” Rainbow Dash questioned. “What’s the Slender Mane?” a small filly, named Gentle Sweets questioned. “Why, It’s only the most terrify pony in all of Equestria!” “Even more terrifying then Nightmare Moon?” Sweetie Belle asked. “Yes, and more dangerous!” The small crowd of fillies and colts gasped. “How can it be more scary? I thought Nightmare Moon was supposed to be the scariest pony?” Scootalo asked. “Well here is the thing, at least you can offer candy to Nightmare Moon, right? Well the Slender Mane is different. He won’t stop for anything! He won’t stop until he has eaten you! All you can do is wait for the sun to rise. He likes to hide in tall trees, and he is so thin, you might not even see him! Until it’s to late!” Several of the ponies gasped in fear, and one small little filly began to cry. “Alright Rainbow Dash, that’s enough! You’re scaring them!” Apple Jack interrupted. “Yeah, maybe we should just talk about peaceful things, like trees.” Fluttershy said quietly. “Alright, just let me finish!” Rainbow Dash said, before turning back to the fillies. “As long as you keep your lights on, the Slender Mane can’t get in, because the light is his weakness.” Rainbow Dash added, and some of the fillies calmed down. “But Rainbow Dash, what does he look like?” a colt named Honey Comb asked. “Well, like I said, tall, thin, and did I mention he has no face?” she asked. “Alright fillies, story time is over! We need to head home!” Twilight interrupted. “Aww, no fair! I wanted to tell a story!” Pinkie Pie cried out. “Look Pinkie, the little ponies are terrified.” Twilight pointed out. “You’re right Twilight, besides, it is getting pretty late.” Rarity stated. “Ok, everyone, follow us to the middle of Ponyville where your mothers are!” Rainbow Dash said as they started walking. “Twilight?” The small filly, Gentle Sweets asked, “Is there such a thing as the Slender Mane?” Twilight smiled lightly. “Of course not. And even if there was, Princess Celestia would surely help us.” Gentle Sweets calmed down, and gave a small smile. ---The next day--- Twilight was awoken by a crowd of ponies trying to comfort a crying mother. Fluttershy was standing next to the her and asked, “What’s wrong, Mrs. Sugar Candy?” “M-my baby! Gentle Sweets disappeared!” was all she could choke out before sinking down and fainting. The ponies gasped, and suddenly, everyone was talking at once. “Quick! Get Sugar Candy to Nurse Redheart!” “Get they Mayor!” “What is our fillies disappear as well?“ Rainbow Dash flew down from a cloud she was resting from, asking, “What is all the fuss about?” “Gentle Sweets in missing, and Sugar Candy just fainted.” Twilight explained. They suddenly heard galloping, “Oh my golly, is she alright?!” said Apple Jack, who had just walked from Sweet Apple Acres to sell her products, but now she rushed over to Sugar Candy. “She just fainted, her child Gentle Sweets is missing.” Fluttershy informed her. Oh my gosh, quick, Rainbow Dash, can you fly over Ponyville and look for her?” “Sure can, Apple Jack.” As Rainbow Dash took off, Apple Jack said to Twilight and Fluttershy, “You go calm the crowd, I’ll take Sugar Candy to Nurse Redheart.” “Ok, I’ll calm the crowd, Fluttershy, go find Rarity.” Twilight said, as she walked over to the crowd. ---With Rainbow Dash--- Rainbow Dash flew over the trees when she noticed something on the ground. Swooping in closer, she noticed it was a filly. Gentle Sweets, to be precise. Gasping, Rainbow Dash landed on the ground, and noticed small injures on her legs and back. The little pony’s eyes were closed, but she was still breathing. Thanking Celestia, Rainbow Dash swooped down and picked up Gentle Sweets, but not before an uneasy feeling settled in her stomach. She took of flying, and began to hurry back to Ponyville. ---Back with Twilight--- “Everypony, please calm down!” Twilight shouted, and managed to capture their attention. “Everypony needs to head home, and get their family back here. I’ll go get the Mayor.” Everyone agreed, and about ten minutes later, everyone had come back with their families. “Citizens of Ponyville! We must not panic! We will find Gentle Sweets!” The Mayor shouted. “But what about our fillies?” “Yeah! What if ours go missing too?!” Shouts from the crowd erupted. “Please calm down! I assure you, no more fillies will disappear!” About then Rainbow Dash flew down, supporting Gentle Sweets on her back. When she landed, she immediately shouted “Quick! Take this filly to Nurse Redheart!” A wave of panic swept through the crowd once more, as everyone saw the injuries on Gentle Sweets.  Twilight watched as the crowd panicked, when she thought of an idea. ’I know! I’ll write to Princess Celestia!’ She hurried home and shouted “Spike! I need you to take a letter for me!” Spike, who had been sleeping comfortably jumped up. “Alright, alright, did you have to shout?” “Spike, this is an emergency!” “Alright!” Spike grabbed the paper and quill and waited for Twilight to begin. “I need your help! The town is panicking because a filly disappeared, and when she was found she was hurt! The wounds are strange, I don’t think a regular pony could have done it! What should we do?” She ended the letter. “Should I send it now?” Spike asked. “Yes!” Twilight said, exasperated. Once the letter was sent, Twilight waited anxiously for a reply. Spike hiccupped, and out flew the letter, which Twilight rushed over. It simply read, “I‘ll be right over.” “What?!” Twilight shouted in shock. “Sure this is big issue for Ponyville, but it’s not big enough for her to have to come here!” Soon she heard knocking on her door, and when she opened the door, she was surprised to see Pinkie Pie standing there. “Pinkie? What are you doing here?” Twilight questioned. “Princess Celestia flew to Sugarcube Corner! She asked me to come get you!” Pinkie Pie said, looking mildly worried. “Ok. Come on Spike!” Twilight said, and they headed off the Sugarcube Corner. ~~~~~ Once there, they noticed Rarity was no where to be seen… “Citizens of Ponyville! I have received notice that a small filly has been wounded. Is this true?” Princess Celestia said gently. Cries of yes flew from the crowd. “Very well. May I see her?” “Ma’am, she is with Nurse Redheart.” a pony from the crowd declared. Princess Celestia paused, before once more beginning to speak “If this is the work of who I think it is, then I must see the young filly immediately. Do you know where Nurse Redhearts clinic is?” she questioned her guards. “Yes Ma’am. She lives a little to the east.” “Very well. Everypony, I request that you come with me.” Princess Celestia said as she walked out of the door. Everypony nodded and headed out in a neat line, so as not to cause panic. ~~~~~ “Oh my! You Majesty! How may I serve you?” Nurse Redheart exclaimed as Princess Celestia walked over to her. “I need to see one of your patients. Gentle Sweets, to be precise.” “Oh yes your Majesty! But first, I need to look after a patient I found. She was lying in the field where I pick some fruits for my medicine.” “Which pony?” came a shout from the crowd. “Oh you know her, she is the one that makes those beautiful dresses. I think her name was Rarity…” “OH MY GOSH!” A high pitched scream erupted from Fluttershy’s mouth as ran past Nurse Redheart to her best friend. “Rarity…” Fluttershy looked as though she were about to cry. Rarity’s hair was messy and cut up, along with two huge bruises on her cheeks. There was a long gash from the end of Rarity’s neck to the edge of her Cutie Mark. “Rarity… W-who did this to you?!” Fluttershy said between sobs. “I think I know who the culprit is, Fluttershy.” Princess Celestia said, walking over to where Rarity lay. She took a look at Rarity, and turned around to face the group of ponies. “Citizens of Ponyville! I am afraid that we are dealing with an evil being known as the Slender Mane.” Princess Celestia shouted.