//------------------------------//
// Part 3: Silph and the Slender 
// Story: The Slender: Bound to the Past 
// by Lance Skyes 
//------------------------------//

        In the center of the forest, Slenderman and Slendermane were talking about Applebloom and her friends. “What do you suggest we do?” asked Slendermane.
        “Just a few more of those pathetic ponies from that nearby town,” replied Slenderman. “I can take care of this group.”
        “Oh come on, Slenderman. You took care of that last stallion that came in. Why can’t I take care of these?”
        “Because I have the most experience out of the rest of The Slender in this forest. No one else here is prepared for more than one intruder.”
        “Excuse me,” said a voice from behind a tree, “but may I offer some out-of-the-box thinking?” Out from behind the tree came an alicorn with the same body as an ordinary Slender, (white face and black business suit) but the only difference was that he actually had a face.
        “What do you want, Silph?” asked Slendermane.
        “I was just thinking that maybe we should stop trying to kill these intruders and talk them away,” said Silph.
        “What do you mean ‘talk them away,’ Silph? Are you suggesting we stray from our traditions and show these... ponies that we’re weak?”
        Silph looked down in shame and disappointment. “No. I’m suggesting no such thing, Slendermane.”
        “I didn’t think so. Now, return to the base. We need you out of the way for this group.”
        “Yes, Slendermane.” Silph then turned and began to walk off. Once he was out of range of the two Slenders, he said “I’ll show you ‘stray from traditions,’” to himself and then flew off.

        Meanwhile, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were making their way through the same forest, all looking around with their flashlights. “Applebloom,” said Sweetie Belle, “can’t we just turn around and go home, now? Who knows how long we’ve been walking for already?”
        “I’m not going back until I’ve found the pages,” said Applebloom. “I promised Big Macintosh I would find them and I plan on keeping that promise.”
        “Hey!” shouted Scootaloo, “I think there’s a page over there!” She was pointing her flashlight at a tree that did, indeed, have a page attached to it.
        “Well what are we waiting for?” asked Applebloom. The three fillies then galloped over to the tree Scootaloo indicated. They were right in front of the tree when a voice stopped them.
        “Turn back,” said the voice. “Turn back while you still have the chance. Forget you ever came here, and nopony has to get killed.”
        “And who are you to tell us what to do?” Applebloom asked the voice.
        “It doesn’t matter. Just turn back, please. Ignore the pages and-” The voice was suddenly cut off.
        “What was that all about?” asked Scootaloo.
        “Not sure,” replied Applebloom. “But what’s important is that we have the first of the eight pages.” She then grabbed the page and put it in her saddlebag.
        “All right!” shouted Sweetie Belle. “Only seven more to go, then we can get out of here.” The three fillies then galloped off in search of the rest of the pages.
        Meanwhile, Silph, the voice that was telling the fillies to turn back, was tackled to the ground by a black bird with a white, faceless head called Slenderhawk. “Slenderhawk?” asked Silph, getting up. “What are you doing?”
        “I might ask you the same thing,” Slenderhawk replied. “You know Slenderman had those ponies covered.”
        “I know that, but I honestly don’t see the point in killing these ponies. Why can’t we just drive them off so they can go back and tell the rest of their community that we don’t want them coming into this forest?”
        “They won’t convey that message. They’re just going to tell the rest of their community that our forest is safe for them to invade and ‘colonize,’ thus, driving us out of our home.” Silph looked down while Slenderhawk continued talking. “Do you understand me, Silph?”
        “Yes,” Silph said, not looking up. “I understand you. I’m just saying-”
        “NO!” Slenderhawk shouted. “We are not going with your idea. We are not showing any weakness or hesitation. Slenderman is going to kill those ponies and keep them from stealing our sacred pages and we’re going to stand by our traditions. Now come with me back to base.” Slenderhawk then flew off, pausing when he noticed that Silph was not following him. “Are you coming or not?”
        Silph decided that there was no point in trying to push his idea forward any longer and slowly turned around. “I’m coming,” he said, trotting past Slenderhawk. The two then made their way back to the center of the forest.