//------------------------------// // Amends // Story: Shudderbones: The Necromancer of Flame Geyser Swamp // by SkelePone //------------------------------// "APPLEJACK AN' BIG MACINTOSH GIT YER LIL' COWARDLY HIDES DOWN HERE AN' SAY HELLO TO MISTER... eh what was your name again?" "Shudderbones, ma'am." "SKINNY LOANS!" Shudderbones and Apple Bloom facehoofed. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, now warmed up to Shudderbones, giggled and sang: "Skinny Loans, Skinny Loans!" Shudderbones scowled and a blast of purple and green light later, the two were running about, squealing as a blue mare's apparition appeared, chasing them about the sitting room, moaning. Apple Bloom laughed. Meanwhile, Applejack and Big Mac were still putting up a fight. "But Granny, that thing's a monster! Raisin' the dead an' all that. It's unnatural! Right, Big Mac?" "Eeyup!" "I don' want no arguin', missy, now git down here an' meet this kind feller, Scary Beans or whatever his name is." "But Granny-!" "NO BUTS!" "Big Mac, say something!" "Nnnope!" The three fillies and Shudderbones were now sitting on the floor in a circle, playing a very complex version of patty cake that Shudderbones was in no way skilled at. The large stallion was trying to carefully follow every step, but the three fillies were much quicker with their hooves than he was. "Alright, Granny, I'll come down if Big Mac goes first!" "Nope!" "Well, sorry Granny. Looks like THIS mare is staying UPSTAIRS!" "Ohhh you two, don't make me come up there!" Granny started clopping up the stairs. "Uh oh." "Eeyup." The Cutie Mark Crusaders were giggling away, braiding Shudderbones' long black and royal purple mane, much to his annoyance. They chattered amongst themselves, and Shudderbones couldn't help but listen (they were tugging his mane and his ears up, so he heard every word, whether he wanted to or not). They had rekindled their desire to be the Cutie Mark Crusader Matchmakers. "Ya think he actually likes A.J.? Or do ya think he was jus' bein' nice?" "I don't know. He seems more Rarity's type. But then again, he was wearing that old cape thing. And he's MUCH nicer. Maybe he's more of a Flutterguy, if you know what I mean." Shudderbones did not know what a Flutterguy was and did not want to know. "Guys, he's great at magic. Especially bizarro freaky magic. Obviously he's TWILIGHT'S type." "Twalaght? I dunno, Scoots. She's a Princess an' all... maybe Rainbow Dash? She likes spooky stuff." "Hahahahaha! RAINBOW DASH?! I doubt it. Anyways, I think that stallion Steampunk's gotta thing for her. And to be honest, I'd rather them two hook up." "You only like Mister Steampunk because he let you be his apprentice for a week!" "Nuh uh! He's super cool. Has all these flying machines, all these cool robot guys!" "Now now, girls. Maybe PINKIE PIE would like him." "But Sweetie, Pinkie likes EVERYPONY." Shudderbones sighed. Today was going to be a long day. "Applejack! Don' you talk to yer gran'mother like that, ya lil whippersnapper! Now get down there before ah BUCK ya down there." "Fine! C'mon, Big Mac." "Nnnop!" "Big MacIntosh!" "Eeyup." The arguing was immediately followed by quiet creaks as Applejack and Big MacIntosh tip-hooved downstairs, with a ticked-off Granny Smith close behind. They looked sullen, and not all that happy to be down. Shudderbones stood, and they turned to him. They were shocked to see a tall dark stallion, with a messy and crudely braided mane and tail. The fact he was trying his best to look composed and decent made him ever the more ridiculous. The way his face made him naturally look gloomy somewhat hid his kind smile, making him look miserable. Granny Smith stifled a cackle and introduced them to Shudderbones. "Applejack, Big Mac, this is Shudder... uh... um... Shudderbutt. Shudderbutt, you've meet, or rather seen, these two cowards. Applejack and Big MacIntosh." Applejack tipped her hat and Big Mac gave a nod. Neither of them looked into Shudderbone's luminous lavender eyes. Applejack's green eyes darted from her brother to Shudderbones, though. Shudderbones stopped trying to smile. They hated him, or rather they feared him. That much he could tell. It was no use asking them to do otherwise. He magically summoned his cloak and removed the ties and bands from his now knotted mane. "Well, I guess I'm off..." The Cutie Mark Crusaders whined. "Sorry, girls. I've had a rough night and I need to go get some sleep anyways." He opened the door while he threw on his hood, shading his entire face other than his long, protruding horn and his glowing eyes. The way back to his home went through Ponyville, and he didn't want to have a repeat of the last time he had stumbled into the town in daylight. With a swish of his cloak, he vanished from the Apple's doorstep. Big MacIntosh and Applejack looked at each other guiltily, and then turned to a disappointed Granny Smith. She simply shook her head, nickering quietly. The three fillies and the old mare trotted out the sitting room and outside, to the new day. "Well... Maybe he wasn' as bad as we thought he was... kinda like Zecora, am I right?" "Eeyup." "You remember where he lived?" "Nope." "Dagnabbit." - - - - - - - - - - - Shudderbones made sure to lock the gate to the fence encircling his gloomy, decrepit manor. He didn't want anymore visitors leading him on escapades of disappointment. He trotted inside, greeted instantly by his glowing skeletal companions. "Good morning, Rib Cracker. Hello, Humerus. I see your limbs have mended nicely, Heartless." He spoke, gloomily. The skeletons danced about him, glad that their life-giver and friend had returned. One skeleton, that of a mare with a busted head, stepped forward, clattering in question. "No, no. Everything is fine, Numbskull." The skeletal mare creaked sadly. "Yes, I gave the bow back. No, I do not want to talk about how it went. Right now, I wish to be left in peace. I tire." The skeletons dispersed, obediently, off to do various chores and activities that one would expect from reanimated bones. The one named Numbskull, however, stood there a little longer. Normally, anypony who knew her (which was limited to Shudderbones and her skeletal brethren) would think she was simply staring off into space, completely forgetting her tasks. But to anypony else, she seemed to wonder about Shudderbones' well-being. She turned about and went off to try and keep the second floor bath from landing in the first floor dining hall. Again. - - - - - - - - - - - - "Well, Ah reckon this is the place." Applejack said, later that evening as she and Big Mac stared up at the rickety old mansion before them. "Whew-ee it sure looks fancy. Old. But fancy. Rotten. But fancy." Part of the roof collapsed onto the patio. "Fancy." "Eeyup." Added Big MacIntosh, who didn't look so sure about this 'fancy' manor. He pawed a hoof at the padlock on the gate. Big Mac guessed that Shudderbones didn't want any visitors at the moment. But, as per usual, he said nothing of it. Then he saw the skeleton. Applejack yelped as Big Mac slipped behind her, quaking. She hadn't seen the animated bones moving towards them. The gate rattled as the skeleton mare groaned in greeting. Applejack's eyes went wide, but she tried her best to keep calm. She had to apologize to Shudderbones. Even if it meant talking to that... that... THING. The skeleton grinned at them (or at least Applejack thought that was a grin, hard to tell with a skeleton). It smacked the lock hard with a hoof, and the chains fell from the gate with a loud bang. They swung open, and the skeleton ushered the two cowering ponies in. It lead them up the porch (Big Mac's weight almost making the porch collapse) and inside. There, the skeleton shoved a broom into Applejack's mouth and a hammer and some nails into Big Mac's. Well, Applejack thought, what better way to say sorry than to do a few chores?