The Stare: Malevolence of Evil
Chapter 5:
'…The Malevolence Of Evil…’
Four days later...
“Zequus, are you ready?” Shadow Rush asked his friend who found himself in the bathroom.
“Just give me a minute! This darn costume is a real bugger to put on, and I want to look good for a biscuit.” his muffled reply rang through the door.
Tonight was Nightmare Night. Shadow Rush and Zequus had to get in the last minute a pair of costumes from one of Swiggie Pie’s friends, for a party was given tonight at Guilty Sparks’ library. They had completely forgotten that this Friday of this week was a holiday due to their deeply immersed studies they were so deeply into in the previous days.
For his share, Shadow Rush had gotten from this Woven Webs mare a zombie costume, while Zequus had gotten the ‘generous’ part by acquiring a large oreo cookie costume. Shadow Rush snickered at thoughts of his friend inside such an outrageous disguise, irony at its greatest splendor. He then heard the bathroom door unlock and turned to have the glimpse of the funniest thing he’d seen in a while, exploding in laughter.
“Shut up, bonehead. If you’re going to be like that, I’ll make sure that you find yourself dead.” Zequus sternly ordered his friend as he glared at him, hoping that it could kill.
“Alright, oreo. Let’s go before your temper makes you melt and lose your colors. Oh wait, you can’t. Due because black and white aren’t colors!” he said before again laughing alone to his lame science joke.
Zequus could only lower his head and sigh in shame at his misfortune, regretting that he had gotten the worse share of the deal earlier today before leaving with his friend their apartment.
The two wobbled downstairs and got out of the apartment building, as they saw ponies in costumes of all kinds of ghouls and monsters already wandering in the street as they all make their way towards tonight’s highlight: the ‘Treehouse of Horror’. Shadow Rush and Zequus followed the monster mash flow as they engaged in conversations with the other fiendish creatures.
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Twenty minutes later, they arrived outside the library as they saw the place was being packed. They saw a mummy and another zombie at the door, greeting the invitees and wishing them a happy holiday as they entered. They recognized the mummy as Swiggie Pie and the zombie as Guilty Sparks. Shadow Rush smiled at the sight of the latter one and called out for her. The zombified mare looked for the source of her name being called, and saw a grey zombie unicorn waving at her in the distance. She smiled and indicated her mummy friend to come along, together trotting off towards the other pair.
“Good afternoon boys. How are you two doing?” Guilty Sparks said.
“Good afternoon Sparks, we’re doing real fine. Well except that this stupid cookie here got stuck in the stairway every time he took a step.” Shadow Rush replied to the enthusiastic mare as he pointed at his zebra friend.
“Hey, that isn’t true! I only got stuck on every new staircase that we arrived to.” his reply was said in an annoyed, but playful tone.
Guilty Sparks quietly giggled at their conflict, before the two colts laughed in unison, quickly joining with them. It was after this they had noticed Swiggie Pie was not heard since they had grouped. The three turned to a mummified Swiggy Pie, who had been apparently staring at Zequus ever since she had arrived along with her friend. Her wide-eyed stare was now making Zequus uncomfortable in doing so. The mare then burst into tearing laughter, rolling on the floor as she held firmly her ribs.
“A zebra inside an oreo cookie costume! Now aye’ve seen everythin’!” she wheezed in between her teeth, her face scrunching from the uncontrollable laughter.
“Alright, well I’ll see you later. We’ve got to stay outside to greet everypony until we make sure that all who have been invited came.” Guilty Sparks said to Shadow Rush before he trotted off inside the library with his friend.
Once they made it inside, they found the place already crawling with many ghouls chattering amongst each other, playing games in friendly competitions, drinking with their friends, or were already intoxicated as they sang along with their comrades. The place had all sorts of costumes worn by the many present in the place: dragons, skeletons, scarecrows, royalties, monsters and many more. In Shadow’s opinion, the least original he’d seen was the two human criminals he saw the first night, Graves and Twisted Fate, disguised as…each other. As for the scariest was none of the horrible monsters he saw, but was the Stalliongrad pony in a disturbing Princess Celestia costume.
“I am pretty pony princess. Brush my mane, BRUSH IT!” he said to ponies around him while holding a fairy wand and a brush in his hooves, prancing and hopping as if doing ballet.
They all seemed to slowly back away from the ugly princess. He was already scary enough as it was, becoming the ultimate proof that a giant pony like he could become a lot scarier by all simply wear something meant for the opposite sex. Shadow Rush knew that the Stalliongradnian would regret it the next morning considering that this stallion was drunk out of his mind, or at least he hoped.
Putting aside the disturbing visualization, Shadow Rush and Zequus looked at each other with a grin appearing their faces knowing this was going to be a great night.
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The party raged on with the night, ponies danced and drank as music blasted the dance floor. The joyful atmosphere fueled by the holiday spirit bringing everypony together as more of them continued pouring into the place. Despite his ridiculous costume that he wore, Zequus was now surrounded by a few mares he had acquainted on the dance floor, making small talk with each one of them. Shadow Rush on the other end, was just sitting on a bench, looking around aimlessly but not lost. The unicorn just didn’t have the spirit to engage into something exciting, as if there that something was missing tonight. He sighed to himself as the song currently playing was coming to an end. Then he felt somepony poke him on the right shoulder and turned around to see Guilty Sparks, smiling at him.
“Hello Shadow.” she said.
“What are you doing all alone there? Aren’t you enjoying yourself?” she added
“Well, yes. I am enjoying all of this, its just…I don’t know, I feel like there’s something missing in all of this.” he added dissatisfied.
“Hey, come on now. It’s Nightmare Night, no one should be feeling down. Wanna come dance with me at the next song?” she asked him.
Shadow Rush turned his head back to look at her magenta eyes, deeply blushing as he did so.
“Oh I wouldn’t dare, my dancing skills are not the most refined as I would say.” he admitted to her, his gaze not leaving hers once.
“Oh come on, I can’t be that bad. Plus it’s only for fun. Do it for me?” Guilty Sparks insisted him.
As if by pure coincidence, Zequus the oreo was passing by along with his groupies and heard their conversation. The two unicorns turned to see him as he faced them.
“Shadow Rush, are you *hips* kidding me? He’s a *hips* total beast when it comes on a dance floor, you’ll see. Like *hips* killin’ the others with no mercy. *hips*” he said completely drunk, but truthful.
“Oh alright, let’s go.” Shadow Rush grunted, defeated once again by Zequus.
Guilty Sparks was happy to hear this, as she got up with Shadow Rush towards the middle of the library. She looked at him in the eyes with genuine likening for his decision and took his hoof into hers. He was taken off guard by this, but when he noticed her gaze on him, he could only offer a smile. They stopped in the very center the library’s dance floor, as now they waited for a new song to come in.
“You know, I am still not sure about this. What if it is a song that I don’t know? Because to be honest, I haven’t listened to much of today’s music and I probably won’t know what to do once it starts to-“ he was interrupted by Guilty Sparks’ hoof that had placed itself on his lips to shut him up.
“Just believe in yourself. Because I do.” she whispered into his hear as she pulled him closer, before pulling back.
Shadow Rush was now having the same feeling he felt when he had first met her. The rising tingling sensations in his stomach making him feel nervous, but strangely at the same time, courageous. Then he heard a scratching noise from the speakers as the song was about to play, followed by a blasting shockwave of bass that shook throughout the library, making everything in his body vibrate.
“Fillies and gentlecolts! Welcome to the 206th annual Nightmare Night festival in Ponyville! We regret to announce, that tonight will be your last, as for there will be no tomorrow. Due to because everypony in town having changed into infernal creatures from Tartarus, and that ponykind is rapidly going extinct through the same mutating assaults of drum, and, bass.” a booming voice was heard as a dark figure revealed itself on the stage, while a show of strobbing lights of all colors flooded everything but him.
“Instead, I bring you tonight, the musical recreation of the end of the world. Fillies and gentlecolts, I give myself, DJ Scratching Disc, as a pony sacrifice to the bass goddess, and prepare yourselves to GET READY FOR THE STOMPING!” he shouted into his microphone at that last part as the lights turned at him, everypony in the place cheering as they were getting ready for this world ending stomping.
Shadow Rush’s eyes went wide. He absolutely loved this DJ! Shuffling and tectonic moves were now in his selected list to dance to this following song. As he turned towards Guilty Sparks, his eyes became full of confidence, as hers became filled with anticipation. They simultaneously frowned as their eyes met with one another, a wild grin appearing on their faces. Their bodies now shook with anticipation as they could not wait any longer for the drop to kick in.
Then, the bass dropped, and they engaged into combative dancing. Shadow Rush lead the dance as Guilty Sparks tried to imitate his moves. As she was having a hard time in doing so, the colt was having no troubles in gracefully twisting and spinning his hooves all over the place. The female zompony, after having given her best to keep up, could only now look at her partner’s dancing as she abandoned, resorting instead to a typical body swinging as she looked at the unicorn with amazement.
(Zequus wasn’t kidding at all! He really is a dance floor beast!)
Other ponies quickly took notice of the zombie unicorn’s dance, as they one by one stopped to turn and look at his moves, bringing awe to any gazing at him. All who had stopped dancing to look at him were now cheering him, bringing Shadow Rush’s spirit up. He accelerated his movements, transiting between tectonic, shuffling and even break dancing. A circle was now forming around him and Guilty Sparks as ponies pulled themselves away, leaving the two unicorns alone in the middle. This was bringing more attention to them as more and more ponies assembled around them and cheered the colt. Shadow Rush was now being overwhelmed by acceptance, as Guilty Sparks could only feel pride crawl in her as she saw him stealing the show.
In the far back of the library, Zequus was sitting with his harem of mares all desperate to get some kisses from the handsome cookie. He did notice the crowd of ponies all forming a circle, his curiosity made him get up to see what was going on. As he somehow expected, he saw his friend in the middle, raving with blazing passion. He chuckled, and a sensation of righteousness grew in him, until it was cut short by a mare kissing him as she pushed him back on his seat. This mare turned out to be the mummified Swiggy Pie, with stoned passion found in her gaze as she kissed the zebra intensely.
At this point, the unicorn prodigy slowed his pace as the song took a slow turn. He was exhausted, but his actions were noted as it was only now that he noticed all the ponies encircling and making an uproar. Suddenly, another pony, he being disguised as the famous Coltrean artist Psy, joined inside his circle and challenged him to a dance off after he pushed him in a friendly and competitive manner. With his eyes, Shadow Rush confirmed his acceptance of this challenge as he glared at his opponent. They took a readied stance as the two waited for the second bass drop of the song. Shadow Rush turned his eyes towards Guilty Sparks and then back to his challenger just before the waited moment came. At the signal, the two started their showdown, giving their best shots at transitioning between twists and turns. This competition was fierce, as Shadow Rush was actually breaking a sweat at the moment. He started feeling fatigue taking over his body as his movements begun to slow down. The moment he was about to let it all go, he heard the crowd shout in repetition something.
“Zombie! Zombie! Zombie! Zombie!”
This gave Shadow Rush the needed strength, and he made a sudden come back when he stood on one of his hindlegs, turning on himself as he spun his two forehooves on each other at a constantly accelerating speed. The crowd suddenly exploded in joyful shouting, their favorite dancing zombie was back in the game and was surpassing his opponent, who was now desperately doing his costumed character's famous dance. It was clear by the crowd's hooting at the Psy imposert that Shadow Rush had now won the challenge.
His head dropped in defeat, facing down to the floor until Shadow Rush lightly punched his shoulder before holding his hoof in the air, asking for a hoof bump. The competitor gladly returned the favor as the song was finishing and everypony in the library was now clapping at the victor. Shadow Rush looked around him, noticing just how many ponies were now praising him, if not the entire place did. The lights came back on, as a speaker made a few screeching noises.
“Alright fillies and gentlecolts. Because of some ‘minor’ show stealing inconvenience, we demand for the zombie unicorn to stand up and show himself. We want to hear what he has to say after this outrageous performance he let us all assist.” Scratching Disc’s microphone-amplified voice was booming, making Shadow Rush grin in pride after his DJ idol had now acknowledge him.
He gladly did what the DJ had bided him to do, and he cleared his throat.
“PLAY PONY ROCK ANTHEM!” he screamed out in full capacity.
Scratching Disc looked at him with peculiarity hinted by his eyebrows, before he turned back to his DJ set and placed a CD in it. He rubbed it, creating the ever satisfying sound of DJ scratching before he nodded in satisfaction, pulling his microphone close to his mouth.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts. This is Pony Rock Anthem, requested by…?” the pegasus DJ asked curiously.
“Shadow Rush! My name is Shadow Rush!” the unicorn replied back, hopping high in the air as he did.
“SHADOW RUSH!” he yelled in his ear-piece before another song ripped the room with bass.
Fellow ponies were now pulling up Shadow Rush by his flank and pushed him over their hooves place, his body went up and down from the crowd surfing. Eventually, his carriers slowly put him down on the floor before diving back on the dance floor, leaving Shadow Rush behind with a particular mare he was with before. Guilty Sparks approached him and ran a hoof over his mane, widely smiling as she did so.
“That was amazing Shadow, I knew you could make it. You stole the entire show and everypony was just…wow!” she said with excitement.
“I know! Thank you, without you I could not of ever achieved something near to this.” he said back to her, with a thankfulness in his voice.
“Want me to go at it again? I still have enough strength for the rest of the night, you know.” he added, somewhat hinting something there.
“Pardon me for my language, but FUCK YES!” she said with total passion, as her hoof was grabbed by Shadow Rush and was taken back to the dance floor.
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It took twelve songs in a row before Shadow Rush finally sat down on a bench, Guilty Sparks at his accompany. The two were now completely out of breath after all the dancing, Shadow Rush now pumping water steadily in his mouth to refuel his body. They had been conversing for a few minutes now, telling each other some of the things they enjoyed in life and speaking of themselves.
The room went dark and the song currently playing faded away before the speaker emitted a noise, indicating that the DJ was just about to give an announcement.
“Fillies and Gentlecolts, I hope you had fun tonight. My time behind the turntables is over as I’ve been told that it is time for the next scrub to play his set of music. Before I leave you all for the night, I’ll play this classic by Led Dirigible . It’s got to be one of my favorite by them, and probably yours too! Everypony, this is ‘Staircase To Heaven’. Thank you and have a wonderful Nightmare Night!” he finished before leaving, starting the song as he did.
With this announcement and the promised song now playing, the two sitting unicorns turned to each other, with eyes connected to each other in passion. Shadow Rush smiled and got up on his hooves before offering his hoof to Guilty Sparks.
“Guilty Sparks, would you like to come dance with me to this last song?” he said with a smile, not breaking their eye contact.
She looked at his hoof for a few seconds, taken in surprise as she did not expect this. Her gaze stayed on it before she looked up at him, her eyes shining in content.
“Yes. I would gladly go dance with you to this last song.” she said softly, grabbing his hoof as they made their way, blending in other couples who were already softly dancing.
They each put a hoof around each other’s necks and connected their horns together, moving together to the flow of the music carried them as they both silently closed their eyes shut. Time went by slowly, enjoying each other's presence as they danced to the smooth song.
Their hearts raced, but not in a bad or awkward way they had felt it many times in the past. This was different, created by what they felt for each other. This was their special moment together, adapting to these emotions they could live with forever, as their proximity to each other was the only thing that now mattered in the world. It was easily explainable what they were feeling for each other at the moment, but to them this was completely alien. The two were in deep thoughts, both of them searching for the word in their heads as they tried to describe to themselves the unstoppable forces that were engaged. Guilty Sparks got it quicker than Shadow Rush, due to her feminine side. She opened her eyes to look at her colt, smiling as she did.
The word was ‘Love’.
“Hey Shadow?”
“Yes?”
“What did you mean by ‘dance to this last song’?”
Shadow Rush was taken back by that as he did not expected her to have asked this, a lump now forming in his neck from stress before he swallowed it down. Although he had wished that she had not asked this question, afraid of how she would react to the following statement he had in mind.
“I will be leaving tomorrow. After this, I’ve got to go back home and set things up for our trip.” he said calmly, but his joy leaving his face.
Guilty Sparks was now her turn to be taken back by his statement. Her face quickly losing all of its happiness that she had gained since the beginning of the dance.
“But…but why? You told me you’d be staying for another two days!” she said, as her voice grew irritated.
Shadow Rush looked away from Guilty Sparks, his look transmuted into expressed guilt as the memories of what Princess Celestia told him rushed in his mind. In one hoof, he absolutely wanted to tell her the confined truth about his mission and its reasons, but on the other hoof he didn't want to betray her feelings with the verity behind it. With this confusion he became momentarily livid as he became unsure what to tell the bitter mare. Then, as a hunch tingled the back of his head, this telling him to stay loyal to her while admitting the truth about his reasons to be here in Ponyville.
“I’m tired of this masquerade. I’ll tell you everything.” he said, noticing that his partner was now looking at him perplexed.
“Princess Celestia is my tutor, and Equestria has been under assault by an army of dragons that came from a far away land, where they treat ponies as inferior to themselves. Our forces are managing to keep them out of equestrian territory, but this protection wont last forever. My tutor told me, and other important ponies, to develop a spell that would either wipe their army clean or force it to surrender. I came to Ponyville after discovering the existence of The Stare as you know. But as she granted for my departure, she strictly ordered me not to make friends here and to only perform research. I'm truly sorry, Guilty Sparks.” he added, his voice cracking up from emotions building up.
Guilty Sparks looked at him in an expression of both amazement and disgust. She felt stupid how she was so blind all this time. Such a pair of ponies could not have just come to Ponyville for just simply researching a spell, they were here for some arcane weapons development. And the dragon’s story that had been so quickly revealed to her, she now understood why she had met with some unexplainable troubles when attempting to leave the borders in the past few years. All of this became so fascinating, but the statement that he had added afterwards was just so wrong. How could the almighty princess of the sun ever say that to one of her subjects?
“But I love you! I really do, Guilty Sparks. You are a fascinating girl, the only one that I’ve ever been able to speak to as a normal individual and understand!” he said with authenticity. Guilty Sparks was taken back by those words, now looking at him straight in the eyes.
“It’s just…I can’t stay any longer. One day I will come back to Ponyville, and I promise. Because I cannot even think of leaving you, even if I have to so soon. Please don’t think other wise of me.” he added as he looked away from her with tears filling his eyes.
She placed her lips on his, kissing him with passion. Shadow Rush, in complete disarray by this, closed his eyes and let the greatest moment of his life take place. They stayed in this locked position for a few seconds before separating, opening their eyes as they pierced each other with a stare of passion and love. The colt was just about to open his mouth to speak before the mare brought a hoof on his lip, shutting him up before he wanted to do so.
“Shut up tiger. You just hit the jackpot.” Guilty Sparks said in a soft and alluring tone, enough for him to comprehend her.
They both smiled as they reconnected their horns together and kissed again, repeating that last action until the song ended.
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-In Canterlot Castle-
Princess Luna was staring down a telescope aiming down to Ponyville, witnessing the cute couple dancing together.
Her smile curved upwardly, glad for her sister's prized student and his fortunate turn of events. He had finally met somepony that he loved and made a vow to her, the strongest bond that existed in Equestia, if not the world. Although the confidentiality of the mission was breached, she did not gave a single flying feather about it. The princess turned around to face a now pleased looking Princess Celestia who nodded to her sister.
"And you are telling me that you called it?" the princess of the night asked her sister.
"As indeed I did, dear sister. You know what that means!" she chuckled, Luna now rolling her eyes as she felt defeated. Princess Luna threw a sac containing one hundred and twenty-five bits at Princess Celestia who caught it with her left hoof, smiling as her sister's waged bounty now belonged to her before trotting away.
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Author's thoughts: You are forced to continue listening to the song, or else I will smite thee.
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Lights came back flooding in the library with everypony now disassembling from their previous unisons as they all begun to talk with each other, now becoming the party's main ambiance. Shadow Rush and Guilty Sparks headed towards the exit door and they both opened it together and headed through, stopping at a nearby bush as they removed their costumes.
“I must leave now. I’ll come see you tomorrow morning before Zequus and I have to leave.” he said as he was getting ready to trot off, until he felt something tug on his hoof.
“Please. Stay with me. Only for tonight, I want to be with you.” the unicorn mare said to him, holding his hoof.
“Sorry, but I have to. Royal duties and all. Just be sure that you have a leaving party here at noon my ride won’t take it lightly if I arrive late.” Shadow Rush said in a humorous tone, smiling before kissing his mare and waving her goodbye as he left.
Guilty Sparks smiled at him as he left, looking out for him until she saw him fade away into the night. She turned back towards the door and began hopping and giggling like a filly in happiness from the happy turn of events that had happened, as she headed towards the door. When she got inside, she noticed through one of the windows the bright full moon, shining all of its majestic beauty. All she could do is continue having the glorious memories of before, as she took the beautiful moon as a good omen.
Much further away, at the EverFree forest’s extremities, a creeping figure stopped dead in its tracks to take a look up at the full moon. Its evil eyes regarding it as a good omen for her hunt before spreading its half torn wings and took off to the sky. An eerie whine screeched in the sky as it flew towards its destination: Ponyville.
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When Shadow Rush left in a hurried gallop, he did not take notice the costume-less Zequus and Swiggie Pie making out on the bench. They in return did not notice the colt running off, as they continued their dirty talk. They then heard the loud giggling made by somepony. This had made them get up and try finding the source of a happy mare known as Guilty Sparks before they noticed the door closing. They looked at each other with curiosity and an evil smile appeared on their faces, as if they had both shared the same idea to go investigate. They hopped off the bench and galloped to the door, opening with their bodies with great force. Guilty Sparks was the first thing they saw to their left as they arrived inside.
“Oy Sparks, where’s th’sweet prince of yours?” Swiggie Pie exclaimed to her unicorn friend.
This had gotten Guilty Sparks attention as she saw her two friends standing behind her. She grinned like a madmare as she was still hyped up from the events of before. Her two friends, instantly knowing what this grin meant, each gave her a hug as they waited for their respective turn.
“Where is this lucky colt? I must congratulate him before it is time for us to jolt.” Zequus rhymed in pride, sure of what he was saying was true.
“Oh he went back home. He wanted to leave early to finish up on a few things for his departure tomorrow. And when did you two get together?” she replied without hesitation.
Swiggie Pie’s face turned into complete horror to what her friend had just stated. She started to baffle incoherent words before shaking herself up, putting herself together after her horrible realizations.
“WHAT DID YA DO?! WHY DID YA LET ‘IM LEAVE? DO YA KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS RIGHT NOW?! AND DID YA KNOW THERE’S A FULL MOON?” she yelled on top of her lungs at her friend, who looked confused to her questions.
“Well, like I said he needed to go home to prepare his things for his departure tomorrow. And it is currently 11:16 pm and yes I do know there’s a full moon out…side…oh no.” she gasped in horror as her eyes went wide, realizing Swiggie Pie meant previously.
Zequus stood there, unsure of what they were talking about. He suddenly was pulled over Swiggie Pie's back by her newfound strengh, literally smashing through what was once a door and taking off in full hindleg sprinting, followed up by Guilty Sparks who galloped behind her.
“Uh, what is it that I'm missing, and how did you smash through that building?” Zequus asked the mare carrying him over her back with her superpony strength.
Swiggie Pie turned around slammed Zequus back his four legs, her forehead sticking against his as her eyes nearly came out of their sockets. Her breathing had become erratic and irregular as if she was having an asthma attack. She took a big gulp of air, readying for what she was going to say.
“TH’ WEEPIN’ FILLY, SHE’S REAL! WE LIED T’YA TWO! NOBARK ISN’T THAT CRAZY, well ya he kinda is, BUT WE DIDNT WANT T’SCARE YA AWAY IF YA KNEW ‘BOUT HER EXISTENCE. NOW SHADOW RUSH MIGHT BE IN GRAVE DANGER! COME WIT’ ME IF YA WANT HIM T’LIVE!” she yelled out loud, giving herself no time to take a breath in between her sentences.
Zequus’ eyes went wide with this revelation. He looked back and forth between Swiggie Pie and Guilty Sparks, trying to see if they were playing a gag on him. Their looks proved otherwise, and the sudden realization hit him as he got up and pushed himself to full throttle in his gallop, the two mares following behind him.
Shadow Rush was still on his way home, walking his way through Ponyville’s dark streets that were being shined by the bright moonlight of the full moon high above the sky. He whistled a tune that had gotten stuck in his head ever since he’d heard it at the party back at the library. His trotting did not change in pace, as he was now so immersed in remembering kissing Guilty Sparks that he hadn’t noticed that there was the figure of a pegasus standing on the rooftops above. Following him as it hopped onto a roof to another, the figure stalked her prey without making any noise. The game of predator and prey had begun ever since this prey of hers had arrived in this town of puny mortals, but it was only now that it was engaged.
(Good.)
A few minutes later, Shadow Rush stopped in his tracks as he noticed there something that wasn’t right. It seemed that he had forgotten about something very important, but he couldn’t remember what. He also took notice of his surroundings. It had become very silent for a while now, and the air had become uncomfortably cold and foggy for some reason. Yet, there was no such thing as a breeze or even a cloud over Ponyville at the present.
Then all of a sudden, the feeling of being watched by someone came to him. It was the same of when he had first arrived in Ponyville a few days ago. He started to look around his surroundings, quickly scanning for anything that was out of the usual. After having passed here earlier with Zequus, he tried remembering what was not in its place and what had moved, but found nothing out of the ordinary. He then heard a metal trashcan tumble, quickly turning around to find its source. At the corner of a street, he saw NoBark moving in the middle of the next street, moving in a limp as if he was injured.
“Hey, NoBark!” Shadow Rush called out to him.
The old looking pony looked around in dismay of somepony calling his name. Eventually, he found the source as he saw Shadow Rush waving at him. From where he was from, Shadow Rush saw NoBark’s eyes widen in terror, as if he was a horrible monster or something.
“Run!” NoBark yelled before taking off in a limping gallop before disappearing into the foggy night .
(What was that all about?)
Shadow Rush then heard the sounds of weeping. It sounded like the ones of a filly that was frightened, and it sounded close. He turned around to find a pony running off, crying loudly as she went. This had surprised him for a few instants, rendering him motionless for a few instants, before he gave chase to her. Turning the street, he saw her take another turn at the corner of a street. He groaned to himself to why he was doing this, but he knew that as a citizen of Equestria, it was his duty to help his fellow pony from next door, even if he didn’t like him or her or if he wasn’t from the same town.
His chase continued for a few minutes, taking twists and turns as he followed this young pony. Eventually, he saw her take a turn for an alleyway that found itself just about in front of him. He smiled as he finally had a chance to catch up to her and help her with whatever troubles she had. Moving at a slower pace than before, he went towards the corridor and penetrated its darkness.
“Hello? Are you there? Don’t be afraid, I’m here to help.” he said, making his voice loud enough so that she could hear him.
“No, please! Go away!” she exclaimed back, her voice still in fright.
“No, come! I need you.” another voice was heard, this time sounding different from before.
“Huh? Like I said, I’m here to help, so don’t be scared.” Shadow Rush replied back, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.
“You’re the one who should be, mortal.” a distorted voice was now heard.
He was taken back at that last comment. Shadow Rush started feeling his blood turn to ice as the unknown he was facing was now starting to scare him. It then occurred to him that this alley was very dark, and decided to use some of his magic to at least brighten up the place. As he did so, the place was flooded in a green light, and the figure of a yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail appeared in front of him. He glanced at her for a few instants, tilting his head in curiosity to who this pony was, as he did not recall seeing her in Ponyville during his stay. Although, what bothered him is that she was awfully familiar. But where did he see this filly before?
“Uh…hello?” he asked, his voice now uncertain and worried.
It was then her eyes opened wide, revealing as being glowing red and empty dark voids surrounding the blood-colored orbs. He then recalled who she was and what he had forgotten before, his memory coming back to whom this was: The Weeping Filly! A horrible realization came to his mind, as his racing heart told him to get out of there.
She existed after all, and she was there, ready to take him away.
His magic suddenly vanished away unexpectedly, and he now knew what he had to do: run. He turned around to make his escape, only to see his only exit being closed by darkness as she rose up from the ground. He backed up as much as he could until he hit the alley’s end. Shadow Rush was now cornered, and as he turned the Weeping Filly was now walking towards him with her malefic eyes wide open, trying to entrance him using The Stare that he knew all too well about. He closed his eyes in a desperate attempt of survival as he waited for her to go away. But he then felt two hooves grab him by his neck and pulling him up, leaving his legs dangling as they were only a few inches away from touching the ground. The unicorn tried using his magic to blast her off, but his horn would not respond, and he was quickly becoming out of breath as she started choking him off ground. He could feel that he was quickly becoming out of air, he had to find a way to get out of her grasp. His limbs were now hitting her from all angles, but she did not budge to these desperate attempts of escape. By reflex, Shadow Rush opened his eyes. He was met with the now disfigured and decomposed face of the filly he had seen, an ugly abomination of what she looked previously. She opened her mouth, letting out an ungodly horrifying sound of a gurgle mixed with a scream, as her stare was now transfixed to his eyes. As much as he wanted to look away, he couldn’t pull away or close his eyes. This was like the time he met Guilty Sparks back a few days ago, but instead this abomination was forcing him in keeping his open for its own sick purpose. The corrupted screech it had for a voice came to a halt as darkness over took him, blinding him.
...
Shadow Rush found himself in a strange place. He looked around him only to find that his surroundings were nothing but dark fumes rolling everywhere. This was an empty world that had no sound, no smell and no air. An empty, dark place filled with nothing inside of it. It took a few moments until that he saw that he was suspended in the air, neither falling nor flying. At this realization, he attempted to scream, but he couldn’t as if he became mute.
(Ok Shadow, you got attacked by the Weeping Filly. Just calm down, think of what you’ve read about her and The Stare. NoBark did say he survived…and that’s pretty much it. What now?)
“Your doom is what is coming…”
The unicorn heard a malefic voice reply to him. He spun on himself to try to find the source, but he only saw nothing. There were only the same fumes running everywhere around him. Suddenly, he was hearing a faint rumbling echo. He turned to its source, to find the dark smoke was now taking shape of something, and as it went on completing itself the rumbling became louder. This was very bad, and it wouldn’t get any better if he didn’t get out of there. The only problem was: he couldn’t move any more. He tried turning on himself to get on four legs, but his movements were in vain as he was now completely anchored to where he was. Then something occurred that it might be possible for him to use magic.
“Do not try. Your magic is futile here…” the malefic voice replied to his thoughts.
When Shadow Rush looked back at the transforming smoke, it had now completely taken shape of a gassy creature with two long stumps for arms and a round head with no neck, with pure white orbs that made up its eyes. He could only gaze at the thing and shook uncontrollably, his mind and body not responding in fear.
(Who are you?)
The gassy giant looked down with its lifeless eyes and stayed like that, finding an appropriate answer as it looked in its mind.
“I…am The Stare, the malevolence of evil. Suffer…” it said before it brought its arms to Shadow Rush’s head, keeping them held firmly on his temples.
Whatever it did, the effects were immediate, as for Shadow Rush now screamed in agony as it did something horrible to his mind.
He saw everything. He saw the suffering and death of every victim that came before him. His mind flashing with images of ponies betraying, destroying, murdering and raping the lives of others as they died horribly for their actions.
The Stare continued laughing down at his agony as the unicorn continued screaming.
Shadow Rush then assisted to the images of a Equestria with no life, no one left to roam its lands as everypony laid dead on the ground. He saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna tearing each other, his friends and family getting decapitated alive and even his love of his life, Guilty Sparks, leaving him for good before jumping off a cliff, smashing against the rocks found below.
Shadow Rush had stopped screaming, as instead was now crying profusely while his eyes rolled into his head. The Stare drained his innocence through his arms as they made their way towards his eyes, filling them up. The creature rumbled happily as it could feel the procession being complete.
The unicorn was now having all of his memories of his life being drained. All the ones from his birth to the night's party. All of which were being presented again to him in what felt like forever, but all of which happened in a matter of a few seconds. He saw how prideful he was when he was chosen to enter Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, when he first met Zequus, the good memories with his family and friends and more recently, him kissing Guilty Sparks.
Then, all of a sudden, they disappeared.
Darkness surrounding him was the last thing he saw.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Zequus, Swiggie Pie and Guilty Sparks had now been running for nearly half an hour while searching for Shadow Rush. Their first destination was his apartment, where he originally intended to be. But when arriving, they had not found him. With this alarming discovery, they immediately ran back to the streets as they all felt increasing distress growing. They explored together street by street, alley by alley while searching high and low. Guilty Sparks had even casted illumination orbs and tracking spells to facilitate their search, but to no avail so far.
They continued running down Ponyville's streets, until they all came to a halt. Before them was a crying filly dragging somepony behind her. The trio looked at her as she turned its head to face them. None of them said a word and focusing instead on the tragic sight that had befallen to this pony, followed by the painful truth: the Weeping Filly had completed her cycle of procession, and this pony was Shadow Rush.
The Weeping Filly let out an ear-piercing scream as she took herself to the air and dissipated into the fray of night, leaving an unconscious Shadow Rush on the ground. At that moment, the moon in the sky had now been covered by a large formation of clouds that passed in front of its rays.
“SHADOW!” Guilty Sparks yelled as she ran, along with her friends, towards his body.
When they arrived, they saw as the horrible realization came true: it was indeed Shadow Rush. He laid there motionless, his lifeless eyes reflecting the moonlight and his cutie mark completely vanished from his flank.
Guilty Sparks shrieked in sorrow as the tragic sight before her made tears uncontrollably flow out of her eyes. Zequus had also crushed by sorrow by the realization that his friend was now dead. Swiggie Pie could only sit back on the ground, as a feeling of regret flooded her as she felt that all of this was her fault.
Guilty Sparks and Zequus hugged each other, reaching for each other’s solace as their heads were crying onto each other's shoulders. With something that came as a hunch, Swiggie Pie moved closer to Shadow Rush’s motionless body. She placed his ear close to his mouth, then to where his heart would be, only to come to a shocking conclusion.
“He’s still alive.” she quietly said, as tears where now flowing down her cheeks.
As the two broke off their hug, they could sniffle and wipe their tears away with their hooves. Before they had any chance whatsoever to open their mouths, a powerful light shun upon them. As they looked up, they saw a flight chariot with a powerful spotlight under it as it hovered. Then, blinding light filled their eyes.