The carriage rolled away from the small building that housed a small brown, totally average pony by the name of Whooves. He sat back in his seat, a team of dark cloaked ponies pulling the vehicle to its destination, the drive even creepier than the team. The carriage sped away from Ponyville at high speeds, but Whooves had no way of knowing which way it was going. Maybe it was to a private school in Canterlot, or maybe a prestigious school out of the country, some place that would accept his failing entrance exam scores. Any place than what he thought it was.
This is surely starting off a strange week. Whooves thought as he stared out the window and remembered how this week started...
"Doctor! Get down here!" Time Turner called to his son, his wife Infinity standing next to him, trying and failing at hiding her excitement.
Whooves descended the stairs as slow as possible. He knew that they had seen his test scores, he knew that they knew that meant 4 more years of intermediate school and several hundred hours of retesting. All of that would cost money that they really didn't have. He reached the bottom and walked through the doorway into the kitchen. "What is it?"
"A golden opportunity has arisen for you, a sign from heaven as it were!" Time stood and walked over to his son, sliding an old looking piece of parchment towards the shaky colt.
"What the hell is this?" Whooves lifted the paper up to his face for a better view.
Everfree Academy Application Review Form
"Everfree Academy? This is the answer we have been looking for?" He looked up towards his parents who were nearly dancing with glee.
"You bet it is. It says that you can only gain entrance to this school through an extensive application review, so it doesn't matter that you failed every single one of you entrance exams!" Time smirked, a small twinkle reflecting off his pearly white teeth.
"Where...where the hell did you even find something like this? I've never even heard of this place!"
"Well that is an interesting story. You see, I was walking home last night after a "late night" at the "office", and this strange looking stallion was walking in front of me. Well he kept muttering to himself, so i thought that I would get around him...but I ended up ramming right into him. I got up and tried to apologize to him, but he was gone and this is what was left."
"So, you expect me to go to some school... that you got the application...from a drunken weirdo."
"Yes. Yes I do."
Infinity walked up beside her husband. "It beats being an academic reject for the next few years, right?"
"Mom, you're in on this stupid Idea too!?" Whooves stood there for a moment realizing the battle had been lost. "So this is really the only option."
"Mhm."
"Ugh...fine...."
Whooves sighed as the carriage pulled unto a small dirt road that led deep into the Everfree Forest. That’s odd , he thought as the team of dark ponies raced the carriage deep into the forest. He looked to the driver and noticed that he was being watched by him.
“On your way to Everfree Academy, I see.” The driver gave a small chuckle and lit his cigar without ever bringing a lighter to his face. This only added to his creepiness. He was tall for a pegasus pony; his features sunk in and darkened as if he were dead. His teeth were black and gritty, probably from years of smoking. Whooves however was focused on the driver’s eyes. It’s not that they weren’t there or weird, but they seemed to glow they looked straight at you, and they were looking straight at him. “Well I hope you have said your goodbyes, boy.”
“What in the name of Celestia are you talking about?” Whooves asked cautiously, prompting another dark chuckle from the driver. This really didn’t help to calm his nerves, but figured that all really nice places had creepy “help.”
“No reason, it’s just that. Well, to put it simply, we are about to reach the academy. Take a good look, my boy, for it just might be the last thing you’ll ever see.” The driver chuckled again, this time it was deeper and darker than the others had been, sending a chill through Whooves’ whole body. He sat back and felt a weight fall upon him.
This isn’t right, something is amiss. First this team of creepy ponies and this dark carriage, then learning the school is actually in the Everfree Forest. Well, I actually should have seen that one coming; I guess it’s not called the Everfree Academy for nothing. But this driver, there’s something about him I just can’t put my hoof on it, but whatever it is I don’t like it
After several more minutes, the carriage stopped at the edge of a large lake. It was a beautiful sight; a jewel admits the darkness that consumed every inch of the forest. It was the first thing to catch Whooves eyes as he stepped out of the carriage. It helped to relieve his anxiety, but no sooner did he turn around to face the school did it return. It was a massive school, probably bigger than even Canterlot Royal High, and that was the largest school in all of known Equestria! It was dark too. Unlike everything else in Equestria that shined like a gem, the school stood out like a dark mountain in a sea of dead trees. Even the forest around the school seemed to have a different feel to it than the rest of the Everfree Forest, darker and more sinister than even the darkest and deepest of holes.
What kind of place is this!? This can’t be the school, this just can’t be! Who in the wide world of Equestria would ever build a school this creepy and this deep in the Everfree! This has to be a mistake. I know, I’ll just get back on the carriage and go home. Mom and Dad will just have to understand that I can’t do this. It’s just too creepy!
He turned around to step back into the carriage, but it was no longer there. In his moment of anxiousness, the vehicle had sped away into the darkness that surrounded them, even in broad daylight.
“…Buck me….” Whooves started down the trail that led up to the school. It was a dark and winding path that weaved its way through the forest. The tree lining the path were all dead and decaying, the smell of rotting wood and death lingering over the road. Occasionally, a headstone or mausoleum would appear just a few feet from the road, hidden in the tangled mass of trees that surrounded the path. As he approached the school, they became more frequent.
He stopped in the middle of the road. “I can’t do this! This is a strange and deranged place and I can’t stand it. I will not go to some damn monk school or some religious cult school hidden this far away from civilization. It can’t be healthy for any pony. That’s it, I am walking ho-“
“WATCH OUT!” A voice called from behind him. It was a light and airy voice that stood out from the rest of the scenery. Whooves turned to face where the voice was coming from, but didn’t see anything.
“Hello? Who said that?” He spun around still seeing nothing until it hit him, literally. Something slammed into him from behind, sending him flying a few hundred feet into a tree. It was over and done with before he even had time to react to the situation before him. He felt the wood of the tree as his head slammed into it before he fell into darkness.
Several minutes later, Whooves awoke the sound of crows at his hooves, dirty scavenger that pecked and pulled at his flesh to survive. He kicked them away and stood. “Oww, my head. What the hell was that, a damn wrecking ball?”
“Nnnn…sorry, I didn’t see what was happening. I’m alil anemic so I don’t always fly straight. A-are you ok?” The same voice replied to Whooves statement. He turned to look for the source again and saw it. A light grey pegasus lay a few feet away, trying to regain her footing and stand. Her mane was blonde and was nearly straight, or would have been if she hadn’t just crashed into him at high speeds. He noticed her eyes right away, One was focused on him as she stood, the other turned away and moving around as if it had a mind of its own. She was not much taller than he was, but her wingspan dwarfed him by a mile. She wore a small rosary around her neck, a chain of silver pearls wrapping around a black choker that clung to her neck. She was beautiful, and he noticed it.
“Y-yeah, are you ok?” Whooves asked, distracted by her beauty and not caring about the line of blood dripping from a cut on his face. He walked over to her to make sure she was alright.
‘Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for…for…” She stared at the line of blood, her eyes widening as she got closer. She tried to fight the urge but even the sight of it had awoken a primal hunger within her. She collapsed against him, her coat seeming to lose its color. “N-no…it’s happening again.”
Whooves noticed this right away and held her up as best as he could. “Hey, are you ok?” He looked deep into her eyes and saw a coldness staring back into his own. Her beautiful eyes now filled with hunger and regret closed as she leaned closer to his neck.
“I’m sorry for this. Please forgive me.”
“Forgive you for wha-“He didn’t have time to finish his sentence before a sharp, burning pain entered his neck. He sat still, fear taking over his mind as it pieced together what was going on. Her pale coat, here large beautiful eyes and the lustful hunger behind them, even the pleasant sent of her mane. She wasn’t a regular pony. After several moments he felt the pain leave his neck and stared at Derpy. Her muzzle was stained with blood, two fangs jutting out from behind her upper lips. They sat there and stared at each other for a few moments before he began to back away from her.
“S-stay back. Please don’t hurt me.” He cried desperately, only to gain a giggle from the mare.
“I’m not going to hurt you silly. Why would I?” She smiled and started rummaging through her bag.
“You’re a vampony aren’t you?” He asked cautiously.
“Yeah.” She glanced over to him. “I-is that a problem? Do you not like vamponies?”
“Not like vamponies! Don’t be ridiculous.” He blurted out in a state of panic and shock, afraid to see what would happen to him is she became angry or upset.
She shot him a small smile, and even though he was afraid of her, even he thought it was cute.
“I’m so glad. I’m new here so I was worried I wouldn’t make any new friends. Also, I’m not ridiculous, I’m Derpy.” She giggled and pulled something out of her bag. “Muffin?”
“What?”
“Do you want a muffin?” She held out her hoof, a dark chocolate raspberry muffin sitting on it several inches from Whooves’ face. Ok, a cute vampony just tried to eat you and now she’s offering you muffins….POP QUIZ
What do you do?
A. Run home to mommy
B. Quietly walk away
C. Scream in terror and chant in ancient languages, begging Faust for a quick death
D. Take the muffin and forget everything that just happened
I like the sound of D
Whooves reached out and took hold of the muffin. “Thank you...uhh. I’m sorry; I don’t think I caught your name.”
“I already told you, silly. I’m Derpy.”
“…Derpy?” He asked, confused by her name. It seemed as if that was an insult more than a regular old name.
“Mhm, Derpy Antania Hooves.” She took a bite of her own muffin and chewed it happily. “What’s your name?”
Whooves stood up after realizing he was still laying on the ground in shock. “My name is Doctor Whooves.”
“Doctor Whooves? That’s a weird name.”
“Derpy is an odd name too.”
“No it is not! I happen to love my name, thank you very much Doctor.”
Whooves rolled his eyes and silently ate his muffin before gathering his things. “Well, I better get going before I’m late.”
“Me too.” She gathered her things and took off ahead of him. “See you later Doctor. Let’s hang out after the opening ceremonies and stuff!”
Before he even had time to respond, she was gone from sight. He sighed silently before walking off towards the school again.
Did she say vampony?
Homeroom
Everyone in the class had taken their seats as the large bell on the top of the building solemnly rang out across the land. Whooves sat in the back next to a large window as he scooped out the rest of the class. Most of the other students looked normal, save the two empty desks and a small blue manned mare a few seats away. The teacher however, seemed far from normal. Her curly pink hair that had two areas poking out, giving the illusion of cat’s ears, and her light pink coat stood in stunning contrast to the rest of the room. She seemed bouncy and airy, like she just came from a party after drinking 30 energy drinks, but she was the teacher none the less.
“Welcome to Everfree Academy! I will be your homeroom teacher for the next four years. My name is Pinkie Pie, but you may call me Ms. Pinkie.” She stood up and pulled down a list of rules that hung above the chalk board. “Now as every pony knows, Everfree Academy is not a normal school. This school is exclusively for monsters and other supernaturally born ponies.”
Even though he was not paying her much thought, the last 2 sentences hit his ears like a freight train. Did she just say ‘monsters’? No, she couldn’t have said that. That’s impossible! Monsters don’t exist!
“First we must go over a few rules. The first rule is that you are not allowed to release your normal pony disguise while on school grounds unless a special situation arises. The first part of co existing with normal pony society is to blend into society and keep your cover.”
Ok, this is getting too weird. She’s taking this joke way too far.
“Secondly, you are not allowed to reveal your true nature to any pony here. In society, if you we’re to reveal that you are a monster to a regular pony, they would have a field day. Witch hunts, angry mobs and genocide have all started when some pony spills the beans.”
Ok, some pony has to speak up. This joke has gotten out of control
He raised his hoof and started to speak before he was interrupted by a colt sitting a few desks over. He wasn’t the worst looking colt ever, but he wasn’t the best. He was short and white with huge muscles; his wings were tiny and looked like they could barely lift his body off of the ground.
“Miss. Can’t we just kill and eat every pony that is not a monster.” He spoke up, prompting a few silent conversations to spark all over the room.
Whooves sat motionless and silent. It was one thing that the teacher was going on about monster, but now the students too. This was either the biggest and worst prank in all of Equestrian history or…it was real.