> It's Lurking in the Woods > by xStellar_Bubbles > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1: Settling In > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- On a chilling summer sunset, the crusaders, Applejack, and Rarity were all at the edge of Ponyville. On theirs backs, each of the ponies had small saddlebags. Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and Scootaloo all gazed into the distance to try to spot a certain somepony. The crusaders gave each other concerned looks. Scootaloo then turned to Applejack. "Hey Applejack, when do you think that Rainbow Dash will arrive?" she asked. The farmpony then gave a philosophical look. "Hmm, we left 'bout a few minutes ago. So, she'll arrive soon, little filly!" Applejack replied. "Alright! Hopefully she doesn't miss this trip. That last one was pretty fun, right Sweetie Belle?" Scootaloo said as she faced her friend. "Yeah! We all agreed on the idea and even made Rainbow sign a contract!" she said. Rarity became very confused and laughed at the absurdity. "My my, a contract? You girls grow up too quickly with your utmost early maturity!" she said. "Ah don't know what that means, but I'm taking that as a good thing." Applebloom said. As Scootaloo continued to stare in the pale blue yonder, she spotted a cerulean pegasus flying towards the group and gasped as the figure came in with a quick and safe landing. Scootaloo's eyes widened with excitement and ecstasy. "Rainbow Dash!" she called out as she went to give her idol a hug. Rainbow patted Scootaloo on the back as both of them backtracked. "It's good to see you too, Scoots!" Rainbow Dash said. "So, same place as last time?" Applejack asked. "Same place as last time." said Rainbow Dash as the group of ponies began to trot over to Winsome Falls for their second camping trip. Scootaloo looked at the path of the Everfree Forest and became quite anxious. "The Everfree Forest seems creepier this year..." -------------------- After a few more miles of walking, the ponies finally arrived at their camping spot. The same logs from the last camping trip were still lying on the soil. As they all sat down on the seats, Rainbow looked up at the sky and saw the bright shine of the moon from above. Perfect, she thought. "Hey guys, do you think you're all ready for another legend?" Rainbow asked. "We do! We do!" the Cutie Mark Crusaders all shouted. Rainbow Dash motioned her hooves to calm the fillies down. "Alright, alright. So, have you guys heard of the legend of Slendermane?" she said in a quiet and petrifying tone. The crusaders shook their heads in curiosity while Applejack and Rarity witnessed the storytelling. "You see, legend says that on a moonlit night like today, Slendermane, a slim pony-like creature with a tuxedo will wander about the Everfree Forest. And ponies who dare to stroll at where he lives, especially children, will definately meet this creature's fate. Some ponies who venture into the depths of the forests mysteriously disappear, possibly killed. But, nopony will ever know, for the fillies and colts in the Everfree Forest will never be seen again, for-ever!Mwahahahaha!" The crusaders let out a childish screams as Rainbow Dash continued to maniacally laugh. Each of the crusaders urgently latched on to their guardians who were sitting on the campfire logs. This time, Scootaloo was willing to go to Rainbow for a hug. "See? You're a tough little filly, squirt. There's nothing to be afraid of!" she said to her idolizer. "But, what's so tough about being so scared that I grab onto your coat?" Scootaloo said. "Well, at least it's better than having those nightmares like last time!" "Yeah, I guess so..." Rainbow Dash nodded. With her wing, she made Scootaloo move closer to her. "Remember Scoots, I will always be by your side, and you can come under my wing whenever you want to. So, never be afraid to come to me for help. Besides, I'm like your big sister now, right?" "Yes... big sister!" Scootaloo said as she hugged her guardian tighter. "Now, does anypony want to hear another story? I have a ton of them!" Rainbow Dash said to the ponies. "I think that's already enough storytellin' for today. We don't want our fillies to become jumping jitterbugs after this trip." Applejack said. "Besides, Rainbow's stories seem to get scarier every year." Applebloom added. "But, isn't it fun to be scared, though? Pinkie Pie said that!" Sweetie Belle claimed. "Sweetie, Pinkie Pie has her own approach on certain things. She is Pinkie Pie, after all." Rarity said to her sister. "Oh, okay. If you say so." Sweetie Belle said. "Yep, sure indeed. So, how about we go with the 'It's just a legend' undertake? After all, this here 'Slendermane' is just an old ponies' tale. Just like the tale of the 'Shadow Pony' and some other mumbo jumbo." Applejack said as everypony nodded at her statement. Suddenly, a gust of wind swept on the group of ponies and gave them all a chill on the fur coats. The campfire that was in the center of the placed logs was also starting to dim. "Wow, it's getting pretty cold!" Sweetie Belle said as she rubbed her forearms with her hooves in an attempt to stay warm. "It is fall, Sweetie Belle." Applebloom replied. Out of the small cart of other belongings that the group of ponies brought to this campsite, Scootaloo reached in and fetched her blue scooter and purple helmet. For a split second, she saw a towering figure in the forest. What was that? Hm, probably my imagination, Scootaloo thought. She then raised one of her hooves and grabbed everypony's attention. "You all don't have to worry, I'll bring the firewood!" Scootaloo said as she spotted Rainbow Dash giving her a worried look. "Don't you think that somepony should come with you?" she asked. "Nah, I'll be fine. Besides, I won't be gone for a while!" Rainbow sighed. "Scootaloo, you're going into the Everfree Forest for Celestia's sake. Nevermind about what I asked, I'm coming with you anyways," Rainbow Dash walked over to where Scootaloo was standing. But, she was stopped by her admirer's hoof in front of her face. Scootaloo shook her head. "Rainbow, I said that I'm fine. I'll be going now," "Squirt, wait!" Rainbow Dash didn't get to finish her sentence when she heard the batting wings and the whistling blow of the wind. Just be careful... > Chapter 2: It's Over > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Scootaloo was riding her scooter through the Everfree Forest, little did she know that there were notes attached to the trees. On them were phrases such as, "Don't look... or it takes you," and "Can't run..." Scootaloo was also getting mysterious nausea as she was strolling through the forest. In her vision, the Everfree created an illusion that it was closing in on Scootaloo. She wildly shook her head in an attempt to make the nausea stop. Ugh, what is wrong with me? she thought while she was rubbing her forehead. Ignoring the mysterious sickness, Scootaloo continued to search for loose logs of wood. She scanned left and right, but there weren't any signs of firewood. -------------------- Meanwhile at the camping site, Rainbow Dash was still standing at the area where Scootaloo took off. She had very conflicting feelings about the situation. I need to go after her, she may be in danger. But, Scootaloo might be able to handle it. She's a very brave filly, Rainbow thought while she was staring aimlessly in the depths of the Everfree Forest. One of her statements then echoed in her head. "Scootaloo, you're going into the Everfree Forest for Celestia's sake. Nevermind about what I asked, I'm coming with you anyways," "And I will, because I'm your big sister..." Rainbow Dash mumbled to herself as she flew and followed Scootaloo's scooter tracks. While she was still shivering, Applejack noticed the abrupt take-off. Now where are ya going this time? she thought. -------------------- After a few more minutes of scooter riding, Scootaloo saw a vague shape of a brown object laying on the ground. Yes, wood! Scootaloo stopped flitting her wings and came to a stop when she got closer to the firewood. After Scootaloo parked her scooter and removed her helmet, the headache and queasiness got worse. I really need to get back to the campsite after this, Scootaloo thought as she was slowly walking towards the wood. The noise of crunching leaves were heard in the forest. "Rainbow Dash! I told you, I'm doing just fine!" Scootaloo then picked up the piece of wood with her mouth. But when she looked up, she saw the slim and tall white pony with a tuxedo on, the figure she saw unexpectedly earlier. The difference between this pony and other ponies is that it didn't have a face. Scootaloo's jaw dropped, sending the firewood slam the ground with a thump. "Aaaah! Slendermane!" She swiftly grabbed her possesions and rode back to where the camping area was. Scootaloo wiped the sweat off her forehead in relief. "Whew, that was close!" However, the creature mysteriously teleported to Scootaloo and sprouted pitch-black tentacles from its body. They then latched on to her while a few limbs smashed the helmet and broke the scooter in half. Scootaloo can barely breathe with the forceful grip of the feelers. As the tentacles retracted back to where Slendermane was, Scootaloo began to sob in fear. Rainbow Dash, I'm so sorry.... With each of its arms, the mystical figure began to tear each of Scootaloo's limbs. She screamed in agony and pain as her arms and legs slowly tore apart. Scootaloo then began to hear the cracking of her own bones. When Slendermane tore off the last bit of Scootaloo's left leg, she was starting to see blood drip from the exposed muscles of each of her limbs, making a small puddle. Scootaloo was gazing at her arms and legs in such a horrified expression that she doesn't realize one of Slendermane's tentacles were crawling around her neck. But once she did, Scootaloo let out a terrified shreik. "Rainbow Dash! -------------------- I knew I shouldn't have gave up on her so easily. What was I thinking? Rainbow thought as she was still tracking the scooter wheel prints on the ground. Suddenly, Rainbow Dash heard the cry for help in the interval. "Scootaloo?!" Oh no, nonononono, Rainbow flew as fast as she could in the search for Scootaloo.Hang in there, I'm coming for you, Scoots! Right ahead of her, Rainbow Dash spotted an exceedingly tiny hint of purple. She soared over to it, hoping to find her dearest idolizer. "Scootaloo! I'm here for ya, kid! Where are you?!" Rainbow then gasped when she trotted a few steps forward. Now that lied in front of her were disembodied orange limbs. There were fairly large blood puddles underneath each of them. Next to the arms and legs were the broken blue scooter and the smashed purple helmet. The remains were also surrounded with miniature orange Pegasus wings. In the middle, there was the incorporeal head of Scootaloo. Her mouth was hanging wide open from the intense suffering. Blood leaked from the inside of the neck. The eyes of Scootaloo were pure white., there was a lack of pupils in each of the eyeballs. While Rainbow Dash gazed silently at the residue of her admirer, Applejack, Rarity, and the other two Cutie Mark Crusaders arrived at the scene. "Rainbow! We came as fast as we could! Tell us, what has gottin' inta- Oh..." Applejack said. The ponies gasped in shock of the trauma. "Dear Celestia...." Rarity said as she fainted. "She was a good crusader....." said Applebloom. "And our very best friend...." added Sweetie Belle. After snapping out of the disturbance, Rainbow Dash fell to the ground on both of her knees. I'm so sorry, Scootaloo.... I'm so sorry.... I should've been a better big sister.... It's all my fault....