It was a dark day in Equestria. Clouds covered the sun and it was becoming dark out quickly. The three little ponies in the Everfree Forest began to worry, not knowing what to do as the last little bit of light began to fade out behind the clouds. As Luna raised the moon they were almost at their destination.
“So…what do we do after we get there, it’s almost night out?” Scootaloo looks at her two friends with a look of puzzlement on her face.
“Scootaloo makes a good point, Apple Bloom,” says Sweetie Belle, with a hint of worry in her voice.
“Don’t worry now, ya’ll, we’ll be just fine,” replies Apple Bloom matter-of-factly. “I don’t think that we’ll encounter too much trouble out here. Maybe we could find Zecora and stay with her for the night.”
“That sounds great and all, but where is it from here anyway?” asks Scootaloo.
“Yea, I mean I know you hang out with Zecora a lot, but how do you get there from here?” asks Sweetie Belle skeptically, doubting that this plan will work.
“Well…I don’t really know…maybe this way,” says Apple Bloom, pointing towards a darker part of the forest.
“Well…let’s try it,” says Scootaloo with a hint of fear in her voice.
“Yea, there doesn’t seem to be a better plan at the moment…” says Sweetie Belle, jumping at the wind rustling the leaves on the trees.
As the three little ponies continue on in the direction they are unaware of the pony following them. They continue on, jumping at all the little sounds that the forest makes as the night gets darker. The clouds finally scatter into the sky, revealing the stunning full moon. The light casts eerie shadows through the forest, making fake faces with the trees and leaves. An owl hoots at the sight of the moon, startling all three of the fillies.
“Dear Celestia, what was that!?!?” exclaims Sweetie Belle in a high pitched, panicked voice.
“I-I don’t know, and I don’t particularly want to stick around to find out!” exclaims Scootaloo, starting to move forward.
“Ya’ll get scared to easily, it was just an owl,” says Apple Bloom calmly. “C’mon, let’s keep moving so we can make it to Zecora’s.”
As they continue on they fail to notice the shadow that falls behind them. Having followed them since they entered the forest it is becoming anxious. It begins to pick up pace, staying hidden from the sight of the fillies. The mysterious pony uses her magic to move a large branch, making a loud rustling noise.
“Dammit,” whispers the pony to herself.
The three fillies pay no attention to the sound, too focused on their journey to notice it. As they continue on the pony follows quietly behind yet again. As the three fillies reach a clearing they begin to realize that they are nowhere near Zecora’s home or the exit. The pony waits in a bush on the side of clearing, hidden from sight.
“Well it looks like we’re lost,” says Apple Bloom, slightly worried.
“You don’t say!” exclaims Scootaloo angrily.
“Calm down now Scootaloo, she tried her best,” says Sweetie Belle.
“Yea, cut me some slack! I didn’t see ya’ll making better plans, so this was what worked!” exclaimed Apple Bloom angrily, staring at Scootaloo.
“Okay now, really, let’s all calm down and stop yelling like children,” says Sweetie Belle in a mother-like tone.
“Okay, how about we just try to retrace our steps backwards towards the entrance of the forest?” asks Scootaloo with a hint of annoyance in her voice.
“Okay, we’ll try it,” says Apple Bloom apologetically.
“I agree,” says Sweetie Belle, happy now that her friends have stopped fighting.
As they turn around they see the slightest hint of a silhouette in the bushes. The pony, seeing the curiosity on their faces, turns and runs to find a new hiding spot. As she runs she uses her magic to teleport her ahead farther, giving off an explosion of light in the night.
“Dear Celestia, what was that!?!?!?!?” exclaims Apple Bloom, fear hanging heavy on her voice.
“I-I don’t know…but I say we follow it!” exclaims Scootaloo more bravely than she feels.
“Well, who knows, it may lead us out of this forest,” says Sweetie Belle doubtfully.
The three fillies begin to rush after the mysterious figure. The pony, having quite the head start, stops for a break, again hiding in a bush. She watches to make sure she wasn't followed, but she remembers the fillies saying they should follow her. Relaxing a little after a minute she begins to lose focus.
“Well, I guess they didn't have the courage to follow me after all,” says the pony tiredly. “I think I should continue on ahead a little more and wait for them where I found them.”
As the pony begins to move she hears the three fillies walking in the direction of her bush. She peers out through the branches, seeing them a few yards away. She begins to back out of the bush, she hits the back of a tree.
“Ow, dammit!” the pony exclaims.
“She’s over there!” exclaim the fillies in unison.
Weighing her options, the pony feels her stomach growl.
“Well, no use delaying this meal anymore,” she whispers to herself.
The pony turns toward the ponies, her face covered by a hood. Just then a bolt of lightning flashes through the sky, revealing the pony’s cutie mark. It is of sharp, white fangs with blood dripping from them. The fillies catch this, and a look of fear plagues each of their faces.
“Well fillies, since you couldn’t control your curiosity you’ll die here now,” says the pony ominously. “I am feeling rather hungry after stalking you all night.”
“What have we gotten ourselves into?” asks Apple Bloom, fear prominent in her voice. “We’re too young to be killed here. What should we do?”
“Well, if we don’t want to die, I suggest we RUN!” exclaims Scootaloo, turning around quickly.
“I agree, there’s nothing else we can do,” says Sweetie Belle, turning equally as fast as Scootaloo.
“Do you really think you’ll get away from me?” asks the pony. “I doubt that you’ll make it halfway back to the clearing before you’re all dead!”
As the pony says this a wind knocks her hood off. Her blood-red mane shows brightly in the moonlight. Against her black coat it appears to be a river of blood flowing quietly through the forest. Apple Bloom sees this, realizing who the pony is.
“H-how can you even be real!?!?!?” exclaims Apple Bloom, fear dominating her voice. Her legs begin to tremble. “You’re just a pony from an old mare’s tale. You’re…you’re…Bloody Death, the cannibal pony of the Everfree!”
“Yes, you are quite right,” says the pony calmly, s all of her victims say this. “But alas, I am not just a mare’s tale, I am very real. And lucky for you I’m too hungry to want to make you suffer. Though that just means you’ll die quicker.”
Bloody Death jumps towards Apple Bloom, who barely dodges the attack. She turns and uses her magic to bind the filly to one spot. Scootaloo tackles Bloody Death in a quick motion, moving quickly out of the way of her snapping jaws. Sweetie Belle attempts to use her magic to lift a stick, having little luck. As Bloody Death binds Scootaloo as well, Sweetie Belle is just able to get a stick off the ground. She swings it toward Bloody Death, who stops it with her own magic.
“Good try little filly. Too bad you don’t have enough power to stop me!”
As she says this Scootaloo is just able to get out of the now unfocused grip of Bloody Death’s magic. She again rushes in and tackles her, but is slower to move this time. Bloody Death’s teeth scrape along Scootaloo’s neck, drawing blood and leaving a shallow wound.
“Are you all right Scootaloo?” asks Apple Bloom, nearly fainting at the sight of the wound.
“I’ll be fine, it’s only a scrape,” says Scootaloo matter-of-factly.
As they says this Bloody Death pounces on Sweetie Belle, just missing her neck with her teeth. Sweetie Belle uses her back legs to kick Bloody Death in the stomach. When she does this Bloody Death moves off of Sweetie belle, vomiting on the ground. Sweetie Belle takes this chance to pick a slightly bigger stick up off the ground and slam it against the back of Bloody Death’s head. Bloody Death falls to the ground, unconscious.
“Let’s not waste any time now!” exclaims Sweetie Belle. “We need to run!”
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom follow Sweetie Belle back through the forest. They reach the clearing again, this time not stopping to discuss anything. They run for a little while longer, running out of breath. They stop to take a break, thinking they are safe. Bloody Death is close behind, though, because when Scootaloo yelled she woke her back up.
Bloody Death sneaks up on the three fillies, binding them all with her magic. “Sorry girls, but it looks like I’ve won this game. Too bad for you the price of losing is deadly!” she exclaims, not taking notice of the ever present moonlight. A rustling sounds behind Bloody Death, and out steps Princess Luna.
“How dare you try to hurt such young children!” exclaims Luna furiously. “I do believe that ponies are vegetarian, not carnivores! You shall pay for your deeds here!”
“Ooh, Princess Luna, so scary!” exclaims Bloody Death mockingly. “I doubt that there is anything you can do to save them.”
As she says this Luna shoots a beam of magic at Bloody Death, knocking her backwards into a tree. She then proceeds to shoot another beam, impaling Bloody Death in the stomach. Bloody Death’s magic gives way and the three fillies break free of its grasp. Finishing the job, Luna fires one last beam of magic, hitting Bloody Death square in the head, killing her instantly.
“I’m sorry you had to see that fillies, but it was for the best,” says Luna regretfully.
“It’s okay Luna, we’re just happy you came along when you did,” says Scootaloo happily, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom nodding their heads in rapid agreement.
“Well it is my job to watch over my subjects at night. I take note of everything that happens in Equestria when the moon is up,” says Luna matter-of-factly.
“Well, all the same, thank you Luna,” says Sweetie Belle, slightly annoyed at the little lecture.
“Luna, can you lead us out of here, please?” asks Apple Bloom hopefully.
“Of course my dear fillies,” says Luna in a motherly tone.
The four ponies go back through the forest, and into Ponyville. As they all make it home Luna goes back to the castle, telling her sister of what happened.
“Well, dear sister, I believe it is time we act.”