//------------------------------// // Forest // Story: The Best Poker Face // by Chemtest //------------------------------// Slenderman is knocked out of his meditation, with a loud sound, comparable to a single drum beat, echoing around the entire Forest. The intention is made clear as he hears the beat around five seconds later, and the entire forest seems to groan and creak. Let the game begin... He reaches out with his sense, the forest welcoming back his familiar powers with open arms. He reaches further and further, until he finally detects a pony. Right at the edge of the forest, now trapped within by a ring of trees. He focuses on the pony, and analyzes the pony. His name is Mug’s Bottom, he is drunk and produces beer for a living, sister to Berry Punch. His fears include the Everfree Forest. Perfect. The hunt starts! He holds a hand up to his head, “If you don’t stop your incessant monologues then our pursuit shall conclude before done.” The pony finds a flashlight, and a strange message appears in his head, demanding he find pages. The drunk stallion decides it might be a good time to listen to the voices in his head a bit more. He begins to wander around the Forest, not seeing a way out. Slenderman waits patiently, knowing that the fear output increases when one page has been collected and the pony lulled into a false sense of security. Mug shines his flashlight around, barely able to see without it. It catches a tiny bit of white, and he shines the flashlight right over to there. A piece of paper is on a tree, telling in very plain words that ponies should run. Mug stumbles on over to it, and takes it off the tree. He smiles, and slightly laughs, “Ah, man, this is a wonderful early Nightmare Night attraction.” He looks around, “I hope whoever set this up wanted me to come in, because I may have to apologize real quick otherwise.” But when he puts the page into his bags, a sound radiates through the forest. A single drum beat. Then another. The rhythm is the exact same, creating the feeling of something walking confidently. Mug laughs again, losing a bit of his previous confidence, “Real... impressive sound system, eh? I... I should probably finish before Berry gets worried.” Mug moves on, yet he is more cautious. He shines his light around more frequently, and takes quicker steps. He then sees the second page, with big letters telling him to get out. He takes the page, and begins increasing his pace to almost a jog. The drum beat rings out the exact same, yet it seems almost like it is getting closer. His flashlight catches another hint of white, and he rushes to get another page, not even bothering to read it. Yet as he puts it in his bag, he hears a twig snap right beside him. He jumps back, shining his flashlight every way possible. He sees the snapped twig, yet sees no indication that there was any creature that stepped on it, else there would be a trail. He nervously laughs, and moves to the next clearing quickly. Another page sits on the tree, which he rushes to collect. Yet as he grabs it, he feels something wrapping around his leg. He jumps and yells, wheeling around and pointing his flashlight like a death beam. All he can see are trees, with their branches poking up into the air. He is about to look away, but he sees the barest hint of motion. A branch, or a vine, slowly creeping back to a tree from him. He shines his flashlight at the tree’s trunk, only then noticing how smooth and dark it seems compared to the ones around it. He moves his flashlight and eyes up, until he sees a glimpse of white. The creature stares down with a blank, white face. It tilts slightly as Mug looks at it. Mug backs up, slightly laughing, “Hey, uh, nice costume! Look, this has been fun and all, but can I go home?” The creature disappears, and he backs up into the tree. Only, he had moved five inches. It was at least a foot behind him. A tendril slowly begins to wrap around his neck. He looks up, and sees the blank white face looking down at him. He screams like a filly, and rushes through the forest. Yet he is suddenly stopped as he runs head-first into something. He is knocked down, and looks up to see what he ran into. The creature slowly extends it’s hand towards him. This causes him to run away in even more terror. He rushes through the trees once more, charging towards the exit. The wall of trees is in sight, and he increases speed. Until the creature suddenly appears. Between him and the wall. He tries to turn around, yet finds it hard to do so on the slippery dirt. Two tendrils wrap around his hind legs, and pull him to the ground. Then, they slowly pull him towards Slenderman. Slenderman holds Mug up in the air, face to face. He lets out a dark laugh, “Hello, dinner.” But then Slenderman bangs his own head, and shakes it. He then looks Mug in the eyes, “Do you wish to live, equine?” Mug nods rapidly, “Yes, yes, Berry wouldn’t forgive me if I died!” Slenderman nods, “Then I give you a very simple quest. If you triumph, then your life shall be back in your appendages. If you should find defeat, however, then your life shall no longer exist in the mortal coil.” He leans in real close, “Tell ponies about me. Spread fear, make them shake in terror. Do you still agree?” Mug nods, “Yes!” Slender lowers the wall of trees, “Then get out of my Forest.” Mug is dropped on the ground, and quickly rushes off into town.