//------------------------------// // Dark Carnival // Story: Monsters & Other Foalish Things // by _Medicshy //------------------------------// ”Scootaloo! Get out of here, go!” yells the older yellow filly, pushing the small Scootaloo out of the door and slamming it shut behind her. Scootaloo stares at the door, confusion in her eyes from the frightened determination she'd heard in the yellow filly's command. She begins to walk down the hallway, doing what she'd been told when the house is rocked by a large explosion, throwing her against a wall. She is stunned for a moment, but when her vision clears she is surrounded by smoke and fire. Terrified, she runs for the exit, nearly there before she realizes she forgot something. She runs back into the burning building, passing the blue and white fillies as she dives into her sweltering room, her hoof closing around a diary. She turns to run- The building is gone, the void filled with a freezing chill. In all directions, apart from the fire-bathed patch of woodwork she stood on, there is swirling nothingness, a maddening void from which nothing but terror flows. Scootaloo tries to press the diary against her chest, but it disappears, leaving her well and truly alone. At least until the eyes show up. All around her, from all directions, yellow glowing eyes and twisted, gnarled smiles track her cowering form. Slowly they coalesced into one being, only different from the darkness by sense of presence. It comes closer to the cowering Scootaloo, tendrils extending and freezing rancid breath running over her face. It smiles widely, snaggle teeth poking all directions as it whispers in a low growl. SCREAM. Scootaloo does, the wood beneath her crumbling away and sending her spiraling into a giant abyss, the crooked mouth open, ready to devour her whole. Scootaloo shot up in bed, clutching her blankets to her chest as cold sweat poured down her body. She was trembling and screaming, though she stopped that as soon as she realized, staring into the darkness of her room with pure fear in her eyes. Where is that beast... it's in here somewhere... watching me... She heard steps coming closer to her door and pulled her blanket tighter, watching the door like a bunny watches an oncoming wolf. When it opened, she screamed again, throwing the blanket over her head and yelling at the bed. “NO! DON'T EAT ME! GO AWAY!” However, instead of the searing pain of being eaten or the low growl of the beast, what reaches Scootaloo is a gentle hug and a comforting voice. “Scootaloo! Scootaloo! It's alright, it's just me! It's just Cheerilee.” Scootaloo threw the blanket off of her head, looking into the caring green eyes of her guardian. She wrapped Cheerilee in a tight hug, almost crying in relief, while Cheerilee rubbed her back lovingly. “There, there. It's alright. It was just a nightmare.” The sound of Cheerilee's voice was relieved too, as though from the scream she'd expected a burglar or worse. Scootaloo hugged her tighter, not wanting Cheerilee to go, even whimpering slightly when Cheerilee moved. She looked into those green eyes, fear behind her own. “Can... can I sleep with you tonight?” Cheerilee met the fearful look with a soft smile. “I'll do you one better. Scoot over, Scootaloo.” Scootaloo does, and Cheerilee gets into the bed next to her and placing a motherly kiss on her head. “That any better?” Scootaloo nodded, hugging herself close to Cheerilee, comforted not to be alone. “Much. Thank you.” Cheerilee just shook her head chuckling, lightly. “Of course. Sleep well, Scootaloo.” “You too, Cheerilee.” Scootaloo laid down on her pillow, a soft smile on her face now that she wasn't alone, though the memory of the nightmare still haunted her. It was just so real... She shivered slightly, hugging Cheerilee a little closer before finally falling back asleep. Scootaloo woke up with Cheerilee the next morning, bright and very early, still shaken slightly from the memory of the night before. However, Cheerilee's smiling face soon brought the little pegasus out of it. “You alright? No more nightmares I hope.” Scootaloo smiled back, shaking her tired head. “Not a one... Thanks again.” Cheerilee gave her ward a warm smile. “Of course. Now wash up and come downstairs, I'll have breakfast ready when you do.” Scootaloo nodded, getting up and going to the bathroom to wash her hooves and face. When she came out and went downstairs she found toast, jelly, and juice waiting for her, along with a Cheerilee, who was moments from walking out the door. “Here you go! I'll see you in class. And try to be punctual for once.” Scootaloo stopped her from leaving, an idea forming in her mind. “Actually... could I go with you today? If that's alright?” The teacher looked at her student like she'd just burst into flames. “You want to come in early?” She then placed a hoof on Scootaloo's head. “Are you sure you're feeling alright? Do you have a fever?” Scootaloo pushed the hoof off, slightly indignant. “Stop that! I'm serious! I want to come in early.” Even she could hardly believe the words coming out of her mouth, but her curiosity demanded it be sated, and there was only one way. Cheerilee looked at her as if debating the options, hesitance on her face. “I don't know... I have a ritual I normally do, and having a student there, even if it is you, could...” She looked at the puppy-dog eyes Scootaloo was giving her, holding out for only a few seconds before caving. “Oh, alright. But I need to focus on my class setup, so can you be quiet for me?” Scootaloo nodded eagerly, causing Cheerilee to smile. “Good! Then hurry up and eat. I don't know what suddenly gave you scholastic interest, but I'm certainly not going to stop it.” With that she left the room, leaving Scootaloo to inhale her food as quickly as possible. As soon as she was done, she ran back upstairs, grabbing her bag from the bed, a smile on her face as she realized how simply her plan was going to work. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom don't come in until right before the bell. I can pick Bluebell's brain before they show up! I won't be weird, I'll get to know what I want, it's foalproof! She ran back downstairs, meeting Cheerilee at the door, the teacher's bags laden with books whose weight she didn't even seem to notice. Cheerilee gave the young pegasus a smile. “You ready?” Scootaloo nodded, putting on her helmet and grabbing her scooter. When they went outside, locking the door behind them, Scootaloo buzzed slowly down the street as Cheerilee walked at a leisurely pace, the early rays of sunrise only now bathing the world in a light golden glow. The pace they took was painfully slow to the filly, who was eager to talk to her mystery classmate. But Cheerilee would not be rushed, walking with a pleasant smile on her face, every so often taking in a deep breath, eyes closed, before sighing contentedly. After another of these, the mare looked over to her strolling partner. “I just love early morning, before most ponies are even moving yet. The air's so fresh and sweet it's almost like candy. Don't you agree?” Scootaloo nodded, a pleasant, if quick, smile on her face. “Yeah! It's great!” As soon as Cheerilee's gaze was elsewhere, Scootaloo slumped, leaning her chin against the handle of her scooter and mumbling to herself. “Just wonderful... Even the roosters are still asleep...” Despite her grumbling, Scootaloo kept Cheerilee's pace, not rushing the morning walk through sleepy Ponyville. It seemed like ages before they reached the schoolhouse, and by then Scootaloo had to use every ounce of her will on to just lean on her scooter and groan in boredom. They'd left with sunrise just starting, and as Cheerilee opened the door to the class, the sun was over the tallest hill, the pinks and peaches of early morning giving way to the clear, wonderful blue of morning proper. Cheerilee went to her desk, setting down her bags before sitting, pulling out a book and a pencil and marking things off. Scootaloo put her scooter and helmet in their cubby, sitting at her desk and looking out the window towards the clock tower. Her jaw dropped. There's two hours until class?! I only thought I ever slept for one... She was about to groan loudly until she remembered Cheerilee working silently, getting the class in order. Instead she silently slumped in her seat, head dropping back and sighing. This is going to be a loooong wait. Scootaloo waited. And waited. And waited some more, shifting in her seat, leaning on her desk, playing with her pencil... She blew a lock of hair out of her eyes, letting it fall back into place to give her something to do. She watched Cheerilee, watched birds and pegasi in the sky outside, balanced her chair, tossed and caught her notebook... Anything to pass the time. And then she looked to the clock tower, heart sinking at the sight. It had been ten minutes, and she was already bored out of her skull. With an exasperated moan she flopped forward onto her desk, too bored to stop her forehead from hitting it with a resounding 'Thunk!' After an eternity in that position, the only sound the scratching of Cheerilee's pencil and the gentle humming of whatever tune was in Cheerilee's head, Scootaloo looked up, her eyes falling on her notebook and the homework she'd left undone the night before. With literally nothing else to do, she got out the text book, opening to the math problems for the day and placing her pencil in her mouth. She chewed on the eraser lightly as she thought, not enough to leave marks, just enough to have something to do, carefully thinking out the problem before her. At first it might as well have been written in ancient Chineighse for all the sense it made. Scootaloo hadn't been paying attention in class for... How long ago did the school year start? At least a year before that. However, as she set herself on it, really thinking it out, slowly it made sense. Eventually, suddenly, it just clicked, and while she wasn't sure she was fully right, she at least was getting the gist of it. She was almost even proud of herself, of how well she was able to make the numbers work, until she realized exactly what she'd been thinking. Wow. I am bored if this is fun. Still, she finished her homework, without help or copying for once, and closed her notebook, looking out at the clock tower again. It had taken her an hour, probably way too long for how many problems there were, but at least her wait wouldn't be so long. As she was turning back to her desk, she caught Cheerilee looking at her out of the corner of her eye. The purple mare didn't say a word, and her pencil kept moving on the page below her, but she had a wide, proud smile on her face which said it all. Scootaloo began to blush, realizing how much Cheerilee must have been waiting for this day and how long she'd been putting it off, with more than a hint of embarrassment. But before her cheeks could even warm, the door opened, the first of the students coming into the classroom. Scootaloo held her breath, heart rate picking up as she realized this was the moment she'd been waiting all morning for, hoping her time wasn't in vain... A navy blue mane peeked in the door, the little black bow holding it back bringing glee to Scootaloo's face. This was it! This was exactly what she was waiting for! She stood up, ready to walk over to the filly, when a noise caught her ear, causing her to sit back down. It was the giggling of multiple fillies, as behind Bluebell walked in Twist and Dinky, all three of them laughing and chatting and excited for the day. They quieted when they saw Cheerilee working, giving her a friendly wave, which she returned, before going back to chatting and making their way to the front of the class. Right... she's a nerd. Of course she'd be coming in with those two... Twist saw Scootaloo, visibly confused before she gave a friendly wave, which Scootaloo half-heartedly returned. The other two noticed her, and Dinky waved as well, though she was even more confused than Twist. Bluebell didn't even give her a second glance. Scootaloo tried to muster up the courage to walk over, to talk to Bluebell, to ask her a few questions, but... after all of that waiting, after doing her homework, she'd just be weird if she went up now. She saw the looks the other two had given her, and Bluebell didn't even know her. They were already a pod, quickly becoming fast friends, and trying to force her way into that would just make her stick out like a broken pinion. Scootaloo sighed to herself, suddenly tired for the sleep she'd missed earlier as she looked over at Bluebell, wishing she could talk to her without it being weird. I just need to know... Why does it have to be difficult? As she looked at Bluebell, her eyes were drawn to the black bag beside Bluebell's chair, and more specifically, the yellow beads and stitched smile of Bluebell's doll. She couldn't place her hoof on it, but that doll was only making it weirder, like it was watching her, judging her... Shaking her head to clear it, she then let her head rest against the desk, trying to get in a quick nap before her friends arrived and class began. But no matter what she did, the room just felt wrong. And it wasn't like she hadn't slept in class before, there was just this presence... like a timberwolf in the bush that you know is there, but you couldn't see... Try as she might, she remained awake up until everypony else arrived, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle coming in just before the bell, both surprised to see Scootaloo there. However, before they could ask, the day began, leaving Scootaloo and her uneasy feelings alone amongst her friends. Class crawled by for Scootaloo as she watched Bluebell like a hawk, waiting for the perfect time to talk. Of course, she had to keep up appearances, so she played dodge ball at recess, which, with her distracted, resulted in only the loud ring of rubber against her head and a strong stinging in her ear when she picked herself up from the ground. She was always the fastest dodger, so being taken out first to sit on the side and stare at the blue filly and her doll just got her strange looks. And not just from her friends. The terrible twosome made a point to call her out for her obsession, calling her Stalkerloo, and even Dinky and Twist ended up making sure never to be too far from Bluebell when Scootaloo was around. In fact, the one free moment she thought she could have used was when Bluebell requested to use the little filly's room. Within seconds Scootaloo's hoof was also in the air, asking for a break, but Cheerilee just frowned at her. “You know the rule Scootaloo, only one pony out of class at a time.” Finally, after the endless torture of the day, the school bell rang, everypony leaping from their seats and rushing for the door. The Cutie Mark Crusaders were out first, as always, but when the three got outside, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle realized they were two. Scootaloo, who had been right behind them, nowhere to be found. “Alright, this is jest getting ridiculous,” Apple Bloom said, searching the road outside the schoolhouse. “Where the hay could she have gone?” “She's still in love with that other filly! We should have kept better track of her. Weird things always happen when it's unrequited...” As Bluebell left the front door, alone for perhaps the first time the entire day as Twist and Dinky waved her off and went towards their homes, Sweetie Belle rounded the corner of the school, searching for her friend. She was immediately bowled over by a mass of orange, tumbling and rolling into the bushes in front of the school. The two fillies shook their head, both surprised by the other's arrival. “Scootaloo?” “Dang it! She's getting away!” Scootaloo leaped from the bush, wings buzzing to give her just a little more lift as she cleared the school's fence, following Bluebell down the path towards the Everfree. Her eyes were fixed, she was finally going to get her chance to talk to her, finally get a moment alone. A pink bow appeared in front of her, causing her to do her best to brake her jump with her wings and dropping her in front of a very disappointed Apple Bloom. “Scootaloo, I don't know what's gotten inta you, but it's downright creepy. How long are you gonna keep up this stalker act?” “Yeah!” said Sweetie Belle, pulling herself from the bush and brushing some of the twigs from her mane. “I can only guess how hard it is when somepony doesn't love you back, but you can't just go stalking them unless you're a vampony or something. If you aren't going to add them to the followers of Luna it just doesn't work.” Apple Bloom gave Sweetie Belle a very confused look, which just brought an eye roll from the unicorn. “Sheesh! Haven't you read anything? It's a common rule of romance: anything involving a creature of the night is no longer creepy.” Apple Bloom's look went from confused to flat. “Now I see why AJ keeps takin' the books you give me. That makes no sense at all!” She then shook her head, looking Scootaloo in the eyes. “But that don't matter none! Why're you being so weird lately, Scoots?” Scootaloo wasn't paying attention to Apple Bloom, edging to the side to watch Bluebell's tail disappear behind a stand of trees. That way leads to the Everfree... Why would she live so far out of town? Must be trying not to be weird either... “Scootaloo!” huffed Apple Bloom, moving to cut off the pegasus' vision. “Stop doin' that!” Sweetie Belle came up behind Scootaloo, wrapping a foreleg around her and patting her on the shoulder. “There, there, Scootaloo. It's alright. We'll find you somepony else to love, somepony who loves you back.” Scootaloo blushed bright red, pulling away from her friends. “I'm not in love with her and I'm not acting weird! I just...” What? Think she's the filly from my dreams? Yeah, that'll sound normal. And then that means I'd have to tell them about that... Scootaloo's wings and ears drooped, her decision suddenly infinitely harder. Did she tell her friends that and make herself the biggest weirdo in town to talk to Bluebell, or give up on knowing the truth to keep her friends? “I... uh.... um... I just... well...” The others gave her an expectant look. “Well...?” Scootaloo shrunk back, what little resolve dwindling at the pressure of her peers. “Well... I...” “Hey! Do you three want to come to a party?” a bright voice asked from down the road Bluebell had followed, catching the Cutie Mark Crusaders's attentions immediately. Scootaloo, thankful for the distraction, ran over to the voice's owner, none other than Pinkie Pie herself. “A party? Count us in! When and where and who?” “Why, in two hours at Sugarcube Corner, silly!” said Pinkie, smiling brightly at the three. Her usually free and frizzy pink mane was nestled under a small top hat, a matching tailcoat over her fur. She gave a snorting giggle, then looked at Scootaloo, amused and confused. “Where else would the party be?” “Well,” chimed in Sweetie Belle, “you throw house parties all the time, it might have been one of those.” Pinkie's face turned into a rare frown. “I tried that! But every time I did the mean old Mr. Brambles would catch me and throw me out of his house, and he refused to leave for me to set up the surprise! So I decided, since I couldn't hold a surprise party for him at his house, I'd surprise the town with his party at mine! That way he couldn't possibly stop it.” “Mr. Brambles? Who's he? I ain't seen any new ponies around 'cept for Bluebell, and my sister ain't mentioned anypony new either.” “Mr. Brambles is Bluebell's father,” said Pinkie. Scootaloo frowned. Bluebell has a father? Oh... Not knowing Scootaloo's thoughts, Pinkie continued. “The two of them moved into town last weekend, and I was only able to give them their welcome today! It's the latest welcome party I've ever given somepony! The injustice couldn't be allowed to continue!” Pinkie brought one of her forehooves into the other, a serious expression on her face. Then, after a moment, it switched to panic. “And I didn't decorate yet! I was too busy leaving invitations around... I knew I was forgetting something. Girls, would you like to help me decorate for the party? There's extra cupcakes just for eating while setting up!” Scootaloo was about to accept, realizing there'd have to be a spare moment at the party to corner Bluebell and clear things up, but before she could say anything Apple Bloom piped up. “I dunno, Pinkie. We might be too booked up crusadin' to help! Plus the last time we tried to decorate anything, Sweet Apple Acres ended up lookin' hit by a ribbon twister.” Apple Bloom gave Scootaloo a disapproving look, like she knew what Scootaloo would try to do. Anything tied to Bluebell was a bad idea while Scootaloo was acting so weird. “We might have to miss this one.” However, nopony had given the message to Sweetie Belle. “Miss a Pinkie Party? Are you crazy? Pinkie always has the best parties! Nopony's ever left one without having fun.” Scootaloo nodded eagerly. “Yeah! And we even get free stuff if we help out! It'll be great!” Apple Bloom frowned at the two of them. “Scootaloo, I don't really think...” “And we haven't tried a party planning cutie mark yet...” said Sweetie Belle mostly to herself, as if just realizing that fact. “Just ones for shindigs, meetings, get-togethers, and hoe-downs...” Sweetie gasped, grabbing Apple Bloom by the shoulders and shaking her. “We might be missing a chance to get our cutie marks!” “And free cupcakes!” chimed in Pinkie, joining Sweetie in shaking Apple Bloom. “Come on! You can't do better than that! We've got to go now!” said Scootaloo, joining the other two to shake her friend even harder. After a couple seconds of that, all three of them stopped in unison, giving Apple Bloom matching puppy-dog eyes and quivering lips. “Please!” Apple Bloom held her head for a moment, watching the nine wobbly ponies in front of her condense down to three, all pleading at her irresistibly. She didn't even last ten seconds. “Fine, we'll go help decorate.” “YES!” exclaimed Pinkie, jumping into the air and pumping her hoof in victory. In a flash she had the other three on her back, galloping at seemingly light speed as she headed into Ponyville. “This is going to be the best Surprise Surprise Party ever!” The decorating went off without too many hitches, though the third time all three of the Cutie Mark Crusaders had to be untangled from the streamers and de-caked they figured out that party planning cutie marks probably weren't in their future. Still, they were able to bring out and arrange pastries as Pinkie told them to, and the store was decorated and ready with time to spare for even the earliest of party guests. As the girls sat eating their helper cupcakes, Sweetie Bell reached for her cup of punch, pulling it up and drinking from it when something bumped against her nose. Opening her eyes, she found herself looking into vacant purple reptilian eyes, and she did what any normal filly would do in that situation. She screamed and flailed. Punch flew one way, Gummy another, latching deftly onto Apple Bloom's tail as she ran to calm down Sweetie. When she skid to a stop, her weighted tail kept going, whipping Gummy off of her and onto the outstretched hoof of Scootaloo, who was watching the ensuing scene and laughing hysterically, trying her best not to have punch fly out of her nose. After a moment she calmed down, giving the toothless alligator a quizzical look. “Hey there Gummy, how're you doing?” Gummy stared at her blankly, then, after a moment, quickly detached himself, almost like he was spitting Scootaloo out. He then landed on the floor, tottering over to Pinkie, who was trying to calm down the frantically shivering Sweetie Belle. “Sweetie! It's alright! It's just Gummy! You know Gummy! He couldn't harm a fly! He doesn't have any teeth. No, if you wanted something that can hurt you, I had a nightmare last night with this monster in it, big yellow eyes, huge angry mouth, coming at me like 'RAAAWWWWWRRRR!!!!'” Pinkie threw up her hooves and gnashed her teeth for added effect, which only served to make Sweetie jump, still startled from the sudden gator attack. However, it had a very different effect on a certain orange pegasus, who looked at Pinkie, surprised. “Wait, you had that dream too?” Pinkie nodded happily. “Mhm! But it's fine, he's a monster in a dream! Monsters in real life are way scarier.” It felt real enough when I woke up last night thought Scootaloo, but before she could finish it, Sweetie Belle squeaked in fright at just the mention of monsters, causing Apple Bloom to pat her on the back. “It's alright, Sweetie Belle. Monsters ain't real, everypony knows that.” Pinkie Pie turned to Apple Bloom, giving her a playfully serious look. “Oh, no, monsters are very real! They have their own combo and everything. Knee pinch, eye twitch, nose itch, stomach stitch. Though I only had that happen once...” Apple Bloom frowned at Pinkie. “No they ain't real. I mean, sure, manticores and Ursa Majors and cockatrices and other large scary critters are real, but 'monster in the closet' type things are just stories to scare little fillies.” Pinkie gasped when she heard that, giving Apple Bloom her full attention. “You don't know about monsters? Yes, the one in your closet is told to scare you, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist!” She jumped up and sat on one of the tables, gesturing to a couple of the chairs in front of her. “Come have a seat and let Aunty Pinkie Pie tell you all about monsters.” The Cutie Mark Crusaders all sat down in front of her in various states of attention, Scootaloo interested, Sweetie Belle frightened, and Apple Bloom dismissive. “We ain't little fillies anymore, Pinkie. We don't believe in monsters.” Pinkie gave them a sad smile, reaching her tail down off the other side of the table. “Then you missed out. But don't worry! I'll set you straight.” She lifted up her tail in a flash, Gummy on the end of it like a fish on a hook before he flipped off, opening his mouth wide to snap down on the end of Pinkie's mane. When he was in position, she leaned forward, ready to begin her story: “Everypony says that monsters aren't real, but they would be wrong. Monsters are all around us, and they fight and laugh and talk and eat like anypony, except we can't see them. You see, monsters are really good at hiding, which they do to keep from being bothered by everypony being scared by them all the time. Of course, ponies have good reason to be scared. One of every monster's favorite foods is pony, and they sometimes hunt it endlessly. And you can't fight them, because they're invincible except to other monsters. With their big claws and sharp teeth, they are very dangerous, and if you ever come across one you don't know, you should definitely run away. But sometimes, when a little filly or colt is lonely, or sad, or sometimes for no reason at all, a monster will come up to them and offer to be their bestest friend! And what filly would say no to having a big, friendly, invincible monster as their friend? And instead of eat them or hurt them, the monster plays with them and protects them. And monster play time is the best, because they can do anything! Take you to the moon, go deep under the sea, enter dreams... but what they like to do more than anything is play tricks on ponies that can't see them and fight other kid's monsters.” “Wait, if'n monsters are so big and amazin', how come we never hear about them? How come I never met one?” Pinkie shrugged at Apple Bloom's question. “Like I said, they're really good at hiding, and most of them got sent away a looooooong time ago. But every so often a monster will find some special little filly or colt, maybe one in ten thousand foals, and they will be inseparable. They will do anything to protect their foal and see them happy, even if it's sometimes destructive or mean to do it.” Scootaloo was the one who piped up next. “But, if they're friends to somepony, why would they show up in dreams or scare other ponies? Wouldn't their pony stop them?” Pinkie smiled mischievously. “See, that's the interesting part. Remember how I said they like to play tricks on ponies? Well, some of their tricks are meaner than others, and the pony they're friends with might not know, or might not care, that the monster is so mean. And monsters like being scary, even the nicest ones, so if they can scare a pony, they will.” Sweetie Belle shivered in place, causing Apple Bloom to give Pinkie an annoyed look. “Yeah, yeah, monsters, scary, whatever. You're just trying to scare us before the party. I still don't believe you.” Pinkie hopped off the table, her mischievous smile still there. “Suit yourself! But don't come crying to me when a monster comes to get ya!” She loomed over the three fillies menacingly, a dark shadow coming over the group, before turning around and bouncing away, humming brightly and happily, Gummy still attached to her hair. Right as she was about to leave however, she looked at her knee, rubbed her eye, itched her nose, and rubbed her side... she gave a thoughtful look, then shrugged, continuing into the kitchen. Apple Bloom huffed, taking a bite out of her cupcake before nudging Sweetie on the shoulder. “Eh, don't let Pinkie Pie scare ya. She's just being Pinkie.” Sweetie nodded, picking up her own cupcake. “Yeah, I know... There's no such thing as monsters. It's just a scary thought, huh?” Apple Bloom shook her head. “Don't let it get to ya. She's weird.” Sweetie nodded, and the two of them finished their cupcakes, waiting for the first party guests to arrive. Scootaloo, however, looked at the dark purple frosting on her cupcake, picturing the glowing yellow eyes and gnarled teeth that had haunted her dreams the last two nights... What if it is a monster... And does it have a foal, or is it on its own? She thought about it for a few more moments before she was pulled aside by her friends and Pinkie to set up the last party games and warm up the dance floor, losing her train of thought in the process. On the edge of the Everfree, in an old house on the edge of town, Bluebell returned home from school, placing her bag on the table and reaching to grab Nightshade out of it. However, as she did, her hoof fell across a pink envelope, three balloon stickers sealing it shut. Curious, she opened it, and it folded out in an explosion of confetti, the writing beneath it bright and welcoming. “There is a party at Sugarcube Corner today and you're invited! Come by for fun, games, cake, and more! -Pinkie Pie. P.S: Welcome to Ponyville!” Bluebell smiled. She'd never been invited to a party before. In a bright voice she picked up Nightshade, reading the time on the back to make sure she wasn't late. “C'mon! We've only barely got time to run there before the party starts!” “Don't go, dear.” Bluebell turned around to find a dark green stallion, face gaunt and tired and his mane brown, though it was greying before its time. Bluebell whined. “But daaaaaad! I never get invited to parties! Why can't I go?” “I just don't think it would be the best idea. Now be a good girl, go to your room and start on your homework.” He then turned around, plodding heavily out of the room and into his study. Bluebell wanted to complain, but wasn't going to. He wouldn't have listened anyway. However, her ear perks up and she looked at her old, worn doll, looking straight at his yellow bead eyes. After a few moments, she smiled evilly. “You're right. He won't even know we're gone. Let's go!” Quietly, Bluebell tip-hoofed her way to the door, her doll safely balanced on her back. She opened it carefully, not even letting the squeaky hinges make a sound, as she slipped out and closed it again, sneaking off the porch, then galloping as fast as her little legs could carry her down the path back to town. After the long walk past the other houses, past the school, and into the heart of Ponyville, Bluebell had the feeling she was being watched. It was passing, but it was constant. Six eyes, eight little hoof steps following her everywhere she went, but when she turned, all she was the normal Ponyville traffic, a faint giggling reaching her ears. Still, after the third time it happened, she took her doll off of her back, clutching it to her side. “Maybe dad was right, Nightshade... maybe this wasn't such a good idea...” When she looked up this time, she saw a figure blocking her path... Startled by its appearance and not wanting to run into it, she turned, taking a side street. Except, waiting for her at the end of that street was another figure, this one looking meaner than the last. She avoided it too, turning down another street before reaching it, only to be cut off by the first figure again. Frightened and moving a little quicker, she ran into an alley to escape the figures. Unfortunately, the alley was a dead end, and when she turned around, the two shadowy figures were cutting her off, that evil giggling loudly emanating from them. A grey hoof stepped forward, four eyes resolving into two behind blue glasses, condescending pink eyes glaring at her. “Looks like the little freak is all on her own, Tiara.” Next to her a pink hoof stepped forward, the glittering tiara above matching the smug smile below perfectly. “So it would appear Spoon. Where are your little friends now, blank flank?” Bluebell backed up against the wall, clutching Nightshade in front of her, hoping he'd protect her. “D-don't call me that! I just want to go to the party at Sugarcube Corner.” Diamond Tiara sighed, shining a hoof on her fur. “Oh, who wants to go to that lame place? This will be much more interesting. Silver Spoon?” The name started off as an offer, but became a question as Tiara realized Spoon had already been advancing, an angry look in her eyes. “Spoon?” “So, cowering behind mommy's doll again, huh? Think that is going to save you?” Spoon stalked forward purposefully, a cold fire behind her eyes. Bluebell hid the doll, the incoming filly causing her to shake in her horseshoes. “I-it's not my mom's doll! I d-don't even know my mom. Please, just leave me alone and let me go.” Silver Spoon's face slowly formed into and evil smirk, her eyes glinting dangerously behind her glasses. “Oh, is that so? Don't even know your mother, yet feel it's fine to pick on other pony's?” “What?” “Silver Spoon?” Both of the other fillies in the alley were confused now, one in fear, the other not sure where the third was going with her actions. Silver Spoon didn't listen to either of them, stalking towards the cowering Bluebell once more. “You have your little friend to hide behind, your doll, your little barbed wall of loving ponies, and you walk into class flaunting it. What do you think that's going to do to the rest of us, hmm?” Bluebell brought Nightshade back up, using him as a makeshift shield, which was knocked aside as Silver Spoon shoved Bluebell hard, scuffing her knee and getting dirt in her fur and mane. Spoon then picked up the doll, glaring at it. “Some ponies might get jealous. Some ponies might get angry...” She twisted the doll's head, pulling slowly on the old stitching. However, the doll was surprisingly resilient, no matter how hard she pulled, it refused to tear. Angry and dissatisfied, she tossed it over her shoulder, focusing on its owner. “You think you're so good, so amazing, don't you? So loved, so perfect? Huh?” Bluebell looked up at Silver, tears in her eyes. “I... I don't-” The hoof was fast, striking across her face like a whip and bringing more tears with it. Spoon's cold smile spread further. “That's right. Cry. You're worthless, forgotten by your mother, just a useless little-” “Silver Spoon! That's enough!” Spoon's hoof stopped in mid air, slowly lowering to the ground as she slowly regained her composure over the crying pony. She then turned to Diamond Tiara, adjusting her glasses. “Silver Spoon, what was that?” The grey filly cleared her throat. “I'm sorry, I just... her friends defending her yesterday really... rubbed me the wrong way.” Tiara rolled her eyes. “Leave your issues at home, Spoon, we don't want to kill her.” She sighed, closing her eyes, and thus unable to see the darkness that fell over the alleyway. “We're just going to have to pick on one of the others until you're under control again.” She opened her eyes, looking at Silver Spoon, whose eyes were locked in fear at something over her head. “This is supposed to be fun, Spoon, not work. Now who was the one that angered you? Dinky, right? We'll get her tomorrow, and I think I know the perfect... You aren't even listening to me, are you?” She waved her hoof in front of Spoon's face. “You awake? What are you looking at?” Silver Spoon, carefully lifted a hoof, turning Diamond Tiara's head to face what she was looking at. Where once the alley led to Ponyville, there was a void, dark, silent, swirling, maddening, icy cold, the only real things the alley and the three fillies in it. Then a million eyes appeared in the dark, like stars, glowing yellow, focused on the two bullies. They came together, warping from each and every spot in the infinite darkness to form two large eyes, each as large as the filly they locked onto. Beneath them the void ripped open, gnarled, razor sharp teeth poking from the crooked smile in space time. A cold putrid breath washed over the silent onlookers as dark tendrils, like licks of flame, slowly began to surround them, the twosome caught in the beast's grasp. And then, as they were surrounded, still too stunned to think, the beast spoke one deep, guttural word that shook the very stone beneath their hooves. SCREAM. In unison the two fillies shrieked, their wails overrun by a booming, cruel laugh as the tendrils closed in on them. And then the alley was silent. A few minutes later, Bluebell limped out of the alleyway, her knees scraped, tears running down her face, and her doll clutched against her as she walked towards Sugarcube Corner, leaving the empty alleyway behind.