//------------------------------// // Zarram the Stalker // Story: Zarram's Nightmare in Equestria // by BrendanandJohn //------------------------------// Author's notes: Sorry this took like a month to make and only for a thousand words. The chapter itself only took me a day, but I've been caught up with stuff. I'm going to try these shorter chapters to see if it'll make me post more, but I'm not going to try to make them short on purpose. I try to make each chapter and after the characters leave a given area, this time being some one's house. I'm also still looking for criticism. Tell me what you guys think about shorter chapters. Would you like them, or would you have wanted this chapter to extend into another area? But above all else, enjoy... ________________________________________________________________________ The lush grass rustled beneath Zarram's feet as he cautiously made his way to the mysterious cottage, taking note of it's unique architecture as he approached. The whole design struck him as something beautiful if not a little too small, with the front door handle being at about waist level and the door frame only allowing him passage if he slouched over. With a few knocks on the door, Zarram hoped to attract the attention of the resident, instead, however, he attracted the attention of the small yellow horse. Noticing the horse, he turned to it to discover that it was quite frightened, and in an attempt to calm it down tried talking to it with a friendly voice. "Hey there!" He smiled and continued "You're rather adorable, you know that?" The horse backed up, staring at Zarram with it's mouth agape, while the small white rabbit ran behind the house. "No, don't be afraid, I'm just here to see your owner, that's all. I'm lost" He smiled widely and innocently at the disturbed creature, revealing razor sharp teeth from cheek to cheek. The visage sent the yellow pony into a panic, causing it to run away frantically as a squealing noise emitted from it's mouth. Still smiling, Zarram stared at it as it ran away "Horses don't make that noise where I come from... I'm scared." Turning his attention back to the door he yelled out asking if anyone was home while pushing up against the door lightly, opening slightly as his body touched it. Without much regard to the owner's personal space or privacy, he opened up the door fully and waltzed on in. Taking a look around, Zarram soaked in the atmosphere of the cottage's interior. The walls were cream colored with an autumn red vine design on them. The door frames had pink heart and butterfly designs, while the window shutters had a brownish leave design. There were bookshelves lining the room as well, all filled with books about; nature, taking care of animals, healing in the form of a tree, and all that stuff. Other details included a couch, flower pots, and a dog bed on the ground, but nothing in the room seemed out of the ordinary. Zarram walked over to the circular window on the opposite side of the room, staring out of it once he had reached it, looking at the forest he had just left. "You know" He started speaking to himself "This isn't such a bad place. I mean, the only interaction that I've had was with an odd, adorable horsie, b-." Before finishing his sentence, Zarram was cut off by a white rabbit jumping through the window and grabbing hold of his face, hitting his eyes with it's back legs. "Oh by the empress, get it off" He screamed, hitting his head violently against the wall, failing to hit the rabbit with each hit. "I was wrong, I was so very wrong! This is not a nice place at all!" He fell to the floor flopping around like a fish out of water in a vain attempt to remove the rabbit from his head. The violent struggle for survival went on for what felt like hours, only to be interrupted by the sound of two beings bursting through the entrance to the house. "What in Celestia's name is that?!?" A loud female voice echoed throughout the room, startling the rabbit, causing it to jump off of Zarram's face, and even scared Zarram a bit as well. A softer, and obviously frightened voice responded "T-that's the m-monster. I told you it was real this time." The voice sounded more frantic once she realized the rabbit was battling the invader. "Oh Angel, are you okay?" The rabbit nodded. "Did you beat up that mean old monster?" The rabbit nodded. "Aren't you a good boy?" The voice sounded noticeably more happy while still maintaining it's soft demeanor. Zarram got up off the floor, and rubbed his eyes. It took a moment for him to recover his vision from the brutal attack, but when he finally recovered it, he was shocked to see no one there except the yellow pony and another one, this one sky blue with a rainbow mane. "Hey, where did you guys go." He scratched his head "I'm not a monster... Well, technically I am, but I have a great personality!" "Hey, quiet you!" The blue one blurted out "If you move an inch you'll be sorry!" Zarram was completely flabbergasted "B-but h-" "I said QUIET." The pony zipped through the air and hovered around Zarram. Zarram stared for a second, even more lost than he was just moments ago. "And they fly" He spoke to himself. "Hey, do you want trouble mister?" Zarram raised an eyebrow, and chuckled. "My silly, little pony. I assure you, I am a master magistrate of the Crystalshard Academy. There are few that can best my magical prowess." He snapped his fingers, fully expecting a conjured flame to appear in his hand, but alas, only a few sparks flew from between his fingers. "Heh, I said only few can best me" He snapped his fingers again and again, to no avail. Nervously chuckling he fell to the ground and begged forgiveness from the obviously irritated pony "PLEASE DON'T KILL ME!" He pleaded "I don't want to die by something as adorable as you!" "Than shut it and follow us. We're taking you to somepony that can tell us more about you." "Um, Rainbow Dash" The timid yellow pony spoke out, reminding everyone that she was there "I-I don't think walking around town with a monster is a very good idea." "Hmm, that's true Fluttershy, but when can we do?" Rainbow Dash thought for a moment "I know." She zoomed up stairs, leaving a rainbow streak behind her, and quickly came back down, holding a carrot, some tape, a blanket, and some scissors. She looked at Zarram, who was now frowning, with a smile. After some adjustments, and clever arts and crafts-manship, the disguise was ready. A blanket with eye holes cut out, and a carrot taped to the top, was draped over Zarram to conceal his identity. The blue Pony smiled at her work "I don't get how Rarity stresses herself out with this stuff, it's easy." "It's nice and all, but, umm... Why is there a carrot on his head?" Fluttershy questioned shyly. "Easy!" Rainbow dash flew next to Zarram, now in disguise, and pointed to it "See, he looks like a ghost, and that means he needed a Ghost Horn. All good ghosts have Ghost Horn." "It's true" Zarram blurted out "I'm undead, I know this stuff." "I... I see." Rainbow Dash nudged Zarram towards the door "Come on now, It's time to go see if the egg head has any books on you."