//------------------------------// // The Cutie Mark Crusaders // Story: Encounters with the Slendermane // by magicman123 //------------------------------// Inside of the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse one late night. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootalo sat cuddled with each other with their eyes glued onto the big leather book that stood in front of them. A flashlight was taped onto Scootaloo's head as she read the book to her two best friends with the deepest voice she could possibly do as Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle listened to her excitedly. "But just as the dark figure appeared, he quickly grabbed for his camera on the cupboard next to his bed and snapped a picture at the horrifying creature that stood over him", Scootaloo exclaimed. "The flash that emitted from the camera gave him a quick clear look at the thing that continued to stare at him. The thing looked like a stallion, but it wore a blue mask and a black jacket, and where it's eyes should be were two dark holes with a black liquid dripping from each orifice." "However, the second the flash went away. The monster was no where to be seen. The end," Scootaloo finished. A moment of silence filled the treehouse before Sweetie Belle said, "What? Was that it? That wasn't even scary at all!" Apple Bloom nodded in agreement, "Yeah, that story doesn't make sense at all! Ah mean, what pony in their right mind would reach for their camera when a monster appears right in front of them!" "Yeah you guys are right," Scootalo said, "That story sucked. Seriously, why didn't the monster just kill the guy right then and there?! He had such a great chance to! But nooooo, he gave the guy like a whole minute to grab his camera, turn the camera on, turn the flash on and then take a picture!" "What a dinky story", Sweetie said. "This book kinda stinks as a whole to be honest", Apple Bloom continued, "We've gone through, what, four stories so far and only one of them was kinda scary." "The one with the colt who smiles a lot?", Scootaloo asked, to which Apple Bloom nodded. "I guess, but that one was really badly written though," Sweetie added. Scootaloo and Apple Bloom agreed. They all sighed in boredom. Another moment of silenced passed before Apple Bloom piped up. "So, wanna keep readin?" Sweetie looked at a clock that sat near them before saying, "Eh, it's not really that late. So why not?" "Let's see...", Scootaloo began as she flipped to the next page and read the title. "Haunt of the Slendermane." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It was too late. The Slendermane appeared from behind him and swung a tentacle at him, knocking him to the ground. Hornets looked up in a dazed horror as he was struck again by a tentacle with a large force. Then again he was pounded on. This continued on for several moments until Hornets finally lost consciousness", Scootalo gulped before continuing. "B-blood leaked from his nose and mouth as he laid on the hard marble floor. Then seconds later as the little bit of light in the room faded out and came back, his body was gone. And so was the Slendermane." The three fillies stared at the book silently for a few seconds before Scootalo said in amazement, "Woah." Apple Bloom too said, "Woah." Then Sweetie Belle. "WOAH." A couple more seconds passed. "That. Was. AWESOME!", Scootaloo shouted in excitement. "Yeah that was real spooky!", Sweetie said. "Ah really wish we hadn't read those other ones and just read this!", said Apple Bloom. "Yeah that was great!", Scootaloo said before yawning. As she rubbed her eyes with a hoof she asked, "What time is it?" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle both turned to the clock. "It's getting pretty late, we should really hit the hay", Apple Bloom advised. They all nodded at each other before tucking themselves into their sleeping bags. They all wished each other a goodnight before Scootaloo switched the flashlight on her head off, enveloping the treehouse in darkness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!", the trio screamed as they ran. "The Slendermane! He's gonna get us!", Sweetie Belle screamed in fright. The Cutie Mark Crusaders ran from their clubhouse as fast as they could. However, unbeknownst to them they had stumbled into the Everfree Forest in their panic. They maneuvered around trees and ducked under low branches as quickly as they could. Though not without missing a few times, giving them small cuts and bruises around their bodies. After a few more moments of running, they burst through a thick brush of leaves. Each of them tripped on sets of roots that stuck up from the ground, causing them to tumble over onto each other into a pile. When the dust from their fall settled, they were all laying on one another wheezing in exhaustion. Sweetie Belle coughed up a leaf in the process, Apple Bloom pulled a twig out of her bow and Scootaloo rubbed off some dirt and muck that had gotten on her face. Apple Bloom pushed herself off of Sweetie and Sweetie pushed herself off of Scootaloo. Then they all laid on the grassy earth for a few moments to catch their breath. That was when Apple Bloom realized something was wrong. She lifted her head up and began to look around tensely. "Uhh, guys." "... What?", the pegasus and unicorn said. "I-I-I think we're in the Everfree", she said in fear. "WHAT?" Scoots and Sweetie shot up and scanned the area around them before they squeaked in fear. "Oh no", Scootaloo said. "Oh no is right", Apple Bloom agreed. They stopped talking for a moment. Save for the sounds of crickets and cicadas ringing throughout the forest, nothing else could be heard. The trio slowly cuddled together, fear rippling through their bodies. The coldness of the night didn't help their situation in the least. "Wh-What do we do?", Sweetie Belle piped up. "I dunno Sweets", Scootaloo responded. "We could try finding a way outta here", the red maned filly suggested. With a quick nod from the other two, they then began heading towards the direction they had come from. At leanst... They hoped it was the way. Every once in a while one of them would step on a leaf or a stick causing them to tense up and panic. But after a bit they had gotten used to the noise pretty quickly. "We shouldn't have read that stupid book", Scootaloo said. "Yeah", Apple Bloom said. That was when Sweetie Belle tried to get their attention. "Guys..." "I mean, whose bright idea was it anyway?!", Scoots said in frustration. Apple Bloom looked deadpanned at Scootaloo. "Yours", she said in return. "Oh". "Guys.", Sweetie called put again. "Welp, looks like we'll be getting out of here in a bit anyway." "Yeah, hopefully ma family di'nt hear all our screamin''. "Guys!", Sweetie Belle shouted quickly. They both turned to her and asked, "What?" "Listen." And they did. "What? There's nothi-", that was when Apple Bloom shushed her. After a few seconds, Apple Bloom whispered, "Exactly." Puzzled, Scootaloo asked, "What do you mean?" "Ah mean where are all the bugs?" It took a moment for Scootaoo to register what she had heard. Then she looked at her friends fearfully. "What's going on?", she said. Cold sweat dripping from her brow. Then they heard a growl. The three of them spun their heads towards the direction that they heard the sound come from. It had come from a bush just about ten feet away from where they stood. Just then, a pair of glowing yellow eyes opened up from the bush. The Cutie Mark Crusaders backed away slightly. Then another growl sounded out before a head broke through the surface of the brush. It was a Timberwolf. "RUN!", Scootaloo shouted. The three of them sped out from the scene as fast as they could. As they got a bit of distance, the Timberwolf had burst out from its hiding place and began chasing after them. As they ran, they tried tricking the Timberwolf by weaving around trees and other obstacles to try and lose the wolf. But it always caught up with them. After cutting through a rather large tree, they found themselves cornered by two large boulders that stood in the way. As they turned around to try and get to another path, the Timberwolf had already blocked off their escape. "We could try heading off to the side over there!", Sweetie Belle said. "There's no way! He's too fast for us!", Scootaloo replied. Sweetie Belle began tearing up as the wooden creature slowly drew nearer. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo too began doing the same. The quickly cuddled up together and clung to each other. It would only be a few more moments before the Timberwolf would be on them. As the Timberwolf prepared to pounce, the three fillies closed their eyes and hugged each other even harder than before. "I love you guys!", Scootaloo cried out. Sweetie Belle only whimpered in response and Apple Bloom just hugged harder. Then the Timberwolf pounced. After a few moments of nothing happening, the trio slowly opened their eyes. "Are we dead yet?", Scootaloo whispered. "Ah... Ah don't think so?", Apple Bloom said in confusion. "Guys", Sweetie Belle as she poked both of them before pointing a hoof at what stood before them. In front of them stood a tall pony in a black suit with a white coat. The pony stood just as tall as Princess Celestia. Maybe even taller. Out of his back were four tentacles. Three of them waved around slowly and in unsettling motions. Wrapped around in the remaining tendril was the Timberwolf, struggling to escape its capture. "M-Mister?", Sweetie called out softly. The stallions ears pricked up before turning his head slightly to face their direction. To the trios surprise, the pony had no face. No eyes, no nose, not even a mouth. Well, not having anything would've still been better than just having a mouth. That would be horrifying. "It's the Slendermane", Scootaloo said before repeating. "It's the Slendermane!" She wasn't sure if she should be excited or scared or both at this point. She was just glad to still be alive. The Slendermane just nodded in response before turning back to face the Timberwolf. Another tentacle wrapped around the creature, making it harder for the wolf to struggle. The Slendermane then brought the wrapped Timberwolf high up into the air. It was about twenty feet in the air before he slammed it down onto the ground. The Timberwolf exploded into a quick shower of sticks, twigs and leaves. The three fillies just stared at the scene. A mix of horrified, gratitude and fear swam around their thought process. The tentacles were then sucked back into his form. It felt like a full minute had passed before the Slendermane had turned to face the three Cutie Mark Crusaders. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had taken a few steps back. Unsure of how to feel about their savior. Sweetie Belle remained where she has stood. "Sweetie Belle! Get over here!", Scootaloo said softly. To their surprise, Sweetie Belle had taken a step forward. She looked up at the faceless stallion in wonder before tearing up, causing her face to crumple slightly. Then to increase their surprise factor, Sweetie Belle leaped forward and hugged at the stallions right hoof. "Sweetie Belle!", her two friends shouted. But Sweetie just ignored them. Unknown to them, Sweetie Belle was repeating a couple word over and over again to the stallion and she tugged harder at his hoof. "Thank you". A tentacle then appeared out from his back again and wrapped itself slightly around Sweetie Belle. "Sweetie Belle no!, they shouted. She was too tired to care. Then he lifted Sweetie Belle up to Apple Bloom and Scootaloo's horror before place her on his back. She then went to hugging his back instead. The earth pony and pegasus sighed in relief before a couple more tendrils appeared before them. They looked at them, unsure of what to do before looking at the stallions face. He nodded slightly. Apple Bloom then slowly and carefully grabbed hold of a tentacle before being carried up and laid onto his back, behind Sweetie Belle. Then Scootaloo followed. When they all were stable, he turned around and began walking. Apple Blooms ears perked up. "Hey! The crickets r' back!", she said. "Hey you're right!", Sweetie Belle said with a smile on her face. After a few minutes, the group could see the exterior of the forest growing nearer. And within a few moments, they were out of the Everfree. The fillies all breathed a sigh of relief and could see the farm from where they were. As they continued riding the Slendermane's back, Apple Bloom cleared her throat before saying, "Thanks for savin us there mister Slendermane". "Yeah thanks", Scootaloo said. Once again, he nodded in reply. Before they knew it, they had reached their clubhouse. A loose branch hung from the top of the tree the clubhouse was built on. It was clinging on with a few bits of bark. The slight wind was causing it to sway about and knock against the side of the clubhouse. "Are you kidding me?! THAT was what scared the socks off of us?!", Scootaloo shouted in irritation before crossing her hooves and pouted. Slendermane carefully lifted the three off of his back and into the clubhouse before ripping off the branch and tossing it away from the area. Just as he was about to leave, he heard the three call out to him. "Hey Slendermane!" He turned around and stuck his head back into the clubhouse. Then he was attacked with hugs by the three fillies. They clung onto his neck and affectionately nuzzled their savior. In response to the hugs, he slowly brought up a hoof and hugged them back. The hug lasted for about a minute before they all released. Then he turned and began walking away. Behind him, he could them shouting their goodbyes. "Bye mister Slendermane!", Sweetie Belle shouted. "Yeah! Bye mister!", Apple Bloom said. "You're SO cool! Thanks for saving us!", Scootaloo shouted. The Slendermane turned around for a moment and waved back at them before disappearing into the darkness . The three Cutie Mark Crusaders stared at where he had previously been for a moment before turning to each other. "That was so coooooooool! He's almost as cool as Rainbow Dash! Maybe just as cool!" "Yeah! Who'd a thunk that we'd get to meet the Slendermane!", Sweetie Belle said excitedly. "Who knew he'd be such a nice fella!", Apple Bloom joined in. "Yeah...", Sweetie and Scoots agreed. A moment of silence passed by before Scootaloo spoke up. "I'm tired." "Yeah, me too", Sweetie Belle said. "Me three", Apple Bloom said. Then they all fell over and went to sleep.