//------------------------------// // Chapter 14 // Story: The Slender Pony // by The Poet of Silence //------------------------------// Wounds aching, body sore, Fluttershy sat slumped against the wall of the hospital. Despite the fact that it had felt like she had waited all night, less than an hour had passed. Her chest hurt badly whenever she breathed from broken and dislodged ribs. Her lower legs were numb and cold, while her forehoof lay limp beside her in a pool of blood. Worse still was Fluttershy’s emotional pain. She struggled to hold back tears, despite feeling utterly weak and powerless. Angel was dead. Rainbow Dash was not in the right of mind. Celestia only knew what had happened to Twilight. Fluttershy felt like there would be no end to her strife and sorrow. Her mouth hung slack as her vision began to flicker. Perhaps I’ll die here, Fluttershy’s battered brain thought, Tomorrow, they’ll come to investigate why the hospital was locked, and they’ll find me here, on the ground, sleeping. Only I won’t be sleeping. Will I? Fluttershy sputtered out a weak laugh at her last thought, and then her eyes slowly closed, the darkness enveloping her like a warm blanket. Fluttershy was not in the hospital when she awoke. She was in Canterlot, in a room painted black and blue. Her head throbbed, as did her hoof, but aside from that she was remarkably intact. She braced herself, teeth gritted, and inhaled deeply. She expected to feel the fiery agony of her beaten ribs, but there was none. Her ribs had been healed. The door creaked open, and Celestia herself stood there, concern on her face as she looked at Fluttershy’s weak form on the bed. “How are you feeling, Fluttershy” Celestia asked. Fluttershy’s throat felt dry and raspy, but she said softly, “I feel a little sore, but, um, I feel fine.” Celestia looked relieved. “Good. We thought for a second that there was irrevocable damage,” the princess said as she looked out the window. “H-How did I get her, Princess? Y-You know, if you don’t mind me asking,” asked Fluttershy. “One of Luna’s guards found you outside the hospital while running an observational run over Ponyville. Tell me, why didn’t you just go into the hospital? The doors were unlocked,” Celestia said. Fluttershy replied, “T-T-They weren’t unlocked for me, Princess.” “Hmm. How odd,” Celestia muttered as she continued to stare out the window. Bright sunlight streamed into the room. “Fluttershy, I am sorry to have to say this, but you have found yourself in a very, very messy predicament,” Celestia said, “You have drawn the anger of a very powerful creature upon yourself.” “I-Is it the thing from the forest, the thing from the fog?” Fluttershy asked, feeling terror growing in her heart and mind. “Yes,” Celestia said flatly. Fluttershy’s eyes widened and her heart rate increased. “We don’t know exactly what it is, but we do know that it is very old, and very, very powerful,” Celestia continued, “Luna and I have taken to calling it the ‘Slender Pony’, due to its appearance.” “How do you know what it is?” Fluttershy asked, her interest piqued. Celestia turned to look at Fluttershy. “Because over a thousand years ago it tried to kill Luna. It would have succeeded, had I not intervened. Even so, I believe that it dealt massive mental damage to Luna, and began her descent into becoming Nightmare Moon,” replied Celestia. “It-It did something to my friend,” Fluttershy said, feeling sorrow enter her heart once again. “Rainbow Dash? Yes, I know. I believe that it did to her what it did to Luna all those years ago, only on a different scale. I take it that she is the one responsible for your wounds” Fluttershy nodded, and then said, “Something also happened to Twilight, Princess. I went to her house, and the place was a wreck. That was where Dash attacked me.” “Then we have to assume that the Slender Pony got to her as well and did something to her, but sent Rainbow Dash after you because of her strength,” Celestia said as her brow furrowed in concentration. “What about the Elements of Harmony?” Fluttershy asked. Celestia shook her head. “Even if all six of you were in the right of mind, I believe that the Slender Pony predates the Elements. They would be next to useless against it, and just as well, since it seems to become more powerful by absorbing the powers and knowledge of those around it. Perhaps that is why it took Twilight. Fluttershy was silent for several moments. Finally, she spoke, “W-What will we do now, Princess?” Celestia looked at Fluttershy. “Knowing the Slender Pony, it will not stay dormant for long. I imagine that it is already stalking its next meal as we speak. We must not tarry,” she said as she paced in front of Fluttershy’s bed, “You must return to Ponyville. Keep watch for anyone that is suffering from delusions or paranoia, as they may be the target of the next attack. I will dig through my libraries and see if there is anything I can find on this monster.” Celestia walked forward and touched the tip of her horn to Fluttershy’s forehead. Fluttershy was suddenly teleported to Ponyville, in the middle of the town square. The sky was cloudy, and the air held a bitter chill. Over to the side of the square, Fluttershy saw a pegasus arguing with the mayor. “What do you mean this weather wasn’t planned? All our weather is planned by YOU all, so from what I am hearing, it sounds like you just don’t want to admit that you messed up,” the mayor fumed. “I’m sorry, but this was not caused by us! We have no idea where this weather came from, and it is resisting our efforts to get rid of it,” the pegasus yelled. Fluttershy turned away from the pair and walked slowly towards Rarity’s house. She rapped on the door several times before Rarity answered. “Fluttershy, darling! What brings you to my house on this most horrible of days” The fashion pony exclaimed. “H-Hi, Rarity,” spoke Fluttershy softly, her conversation with Celestia still ringing in her ears, “D-D-Do you think that I could maybe, umm, you know, stay here, with you? It would just be for tonight, I promise.” “Fluttershy, of course you can stay the night here! I am having Sweetie Bell over for a while, but feel free to sleep on the guest bed,” Rarity replied, opening the door wider for Fluttershy to enter. “Why thank you, Rarity. I promise not to be a bother,” Fluttershy said as she walked into the house. Later that night, Fluttershy lie on the guest bed, images of black tentacles seared into her mind. She pulled the blanket closer over her head. Her eyes began to droop, and sleep began to cloud her mind, which was partially why she screamed and jumped when she heard someone else in the house screaming. Fluttershy tore up the stairs and saw Rairty trying to console a screaming and crying Sweetie Bell. “Shush, Sweetie Bell. It was just a bad dream. It’s all over now,” Rarity soothed. Sweetie Bell continued to cry. In that moment, as pity filled her mind, Fluttershy knew who the Slender Pony’s next victims were, and she knew that it would be hard enough to protect even one of them, let alone all three.