//------------------------------//
// Part 2: Worlds Collide 
// Story: The Slender: Harmony and Darkness 
// by Lance Skyes 
//------------------------------//

	I stood in front of the mysterious forest, opposite of the Everfree Forest. I reached into my saddlebag, pulled out my flashlight, and clicked it on. I took one last glance back towards Sweet Apple Acres. I would only take an hour or so to look around the forest and come back before Granny Smith would even know I was gone. It was near midnight, but the forest looked darker than ever in the moonlight. I shook off what little fear I had and trotted into the forest.

[BIG MACINTOSH]
I stared in horror as the very Slender who killed Applebloom stood just outside of my house. His Static was as loud as ever, but that may have been just me. I was sure Applejack could hear it, but I didn’t hear her do anything about it. However, I did hear Winona barking her head off downstairs. “Good dog,” I found myself shouting. “Get that Slender! Drive him out of Equestria!”

[SILPH]
“Stranger!” I heard Winona barking over and over again from inside the house. “Stranger! Go away!”
“Shh, Winnona,” I tried to say quietly.
“What are you barking at, Winona?” I heard Applejack ask. She opened the door to look outside, but before she could even see me, Winnona charged right at me.
“Stranger! Stranger, go away!” Winona lunged right at me, biting the foreleg that I used to try to block her.
“OW!” I exclaimed in pain. “Get off of me, Winona!”
“Stranger?” Winona asked in a muffled voice. “Stranger knows my name?”
Just then, Applejack rushed over and pulled Winona off of my leg. “Are you alright?” she asked me.
I was about to respond then a voice stopped me. “Get away from my sister, you Slender!” the voice shouted. I looked over to find the familiar stallion standing in the doorway.

[BIG MACINTOSH]
“Get away from my sister, you Slender!” I shouted as Applejack pulled Winona off  of the Slender’s leg. “Applejack, run!”
“Big Macintosh,” Applejack said angrily. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m trying to save you from him!” I pointed an accusing hoof at the Slender, who had the same look of confusion Applejack had.
Wait... he had a look of confusion? But Slender don’t have faces. What was going on, here?
“Save her from me?” the Slender asked. “I’m not here to hurt anypony! The same can’t be said about your dog here, though.” Winona barked once. “Yes, I know you have a name. You don’t have to bark it every five seconds.”
“Are you... talking to Winona?” Applejack asked.
“Yeah,” the Slender replied. “I don’t see why it’s so weird.”
“Applejack,” I said, “get away from him, already! Can’t you hear the Static?”
“Static?” Applejack asked. She then turned to the Slender. “Do you know what he’s talkin’ about?”
“He’s talking about this noise that Slender make when they’re near,” the Slender explained. “Usually-”
“DON’T TALK TO MY SISTER!” I shouted. In a fit of rage, I lunged right for the Slender.

[SILPH]
I barely had time to defend myself as the stallion charged at me and tackled me to the ground. “Stranger in trouble!” I heard Winnona bark.
“Big Macintosh!” Applejack shouted as he and I struggled. “Get off of him!”
Big Macintosh tried punching me in the face several times, but I managed to block a couple of blows. I tried using my wings to get an advantage over him, but the most I could do was tickle his side and throw him off balance for a second so I could throw him off of me and recover.
“Well,” I said, dusting myself off, “I suppose there’s worse ways to say hello.”
Big Macintosh was about to lunge at me again, but Applejack held him back. “What is wrong with you, Big Mac?” she asked angrily.
“What’s wrong with me?” Big Mac replied. “Don’t you even know what this creature is?”
“If I could just say something,” I said. The bickering siblings paused for a moment and looked at me. “I have a name. It’s Silph.”
“Silph,” Big Mac repeated. “I didn’t know you Slender had names.”
“What’s a ‘Slender’?” Applejack asked.
“They’re monsters,” Big Mac replied before I could say anything. “Dangerous creatures who prey on innocent ponies. He’s the one who killed Applebloom!”
“Not entirely true,” I quickly said. “While the Slender are dangerous and they do prey on ponies who invade the Slender Forest, I’m not one of those Slender. In fact, I think I’m the only one who doesn’t want to kill ponies. Also, I tried to protect Applebloom and her friends. She was actually killed by the eldest Slender, Slenderman.”
“I don’t believe you,” Big Mac replied. “How do I know that all you’ve said just now is true?”
“You’re linked to the Slender, aren’t you? You have the Curse. You should know that, while Applebloom died in my hooves, it was Slenderman who actually killed her. You were just so blind with rage that you wouldn’t take a second to think.”

[BIG MAC]
I took a second to think about what the Slender (Silph? Was that what he said his name was?) had just said. “I-I guess I was being a little irrational,” I said, hanging my head in shame. “I was pretty angry about Applebloom being gone.”
“Hang on a second,” Applebloom said, causing Winnona to bark suddenly. (“Yes,” Silph said to Winnona, “I know she startled you. She startled me too.”) “Just what the hay are you two talkin’ about, anyway? Slender, curses, Applebloom bein’ dead. Is it too much to ask for a little explanation every now and again?”
Silph and I explained everything each of us knew. He knew a lot more than I did, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from telling my side of the story.

[SILPH]
After Big Macintosh and I had finished our explanation on the Slender, I went on to tell them both my purpose here in Equestria.
“All I really want if for the death and suffering to end,” I told them. “And the only way I can see that happening is to convince you Equestrians to stay out of our Forest. That way, the other Slender will have nopony to kill and peace will be within hoof’s reach.” I did my best to smile, but I don’t think it really helped.
“So,” Applejack said, “what you're sayin’ is that you don’t want any of us ‘Equestrians’ to go into your forest?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“Well then...” Big Macintosh said, “I guess I owe you an apology, then.”
“Don’t bother. I didn’t make the most polite of entrances, myself.” I extend my hoof towards Big Macintosh. “Besides, I’m the one who should apologize for not being able to save Applebloom.”
Big Mac took my hoof and shook it. “Apology accepted. As long as you can manage to get this ‘peace’ you’re offerin’.”
“It’s a deal. So, who’s your figure of power here in Equestria?”
“Well,” Applejack said, “Princess Celestia is the real ‘power’ here, but you could start by talkin’ to Twilight. I’ll bring you to her.”
“And I’ll come to,” Big Macintosh said. “Better you have another pony who’s actually survived you Slender.”
“Sounds fair enough,” I said with a little chuckle. “Lead the way, Applejack.”
“Follow!” Winona barked.
“Applejack, can Winona come too?”
“If she want’s to. After all, there’s nopony here to take care of her if she stays.”
“Twilight!” Winona barked. She then jumped onto Applejack’s back and we made our way into their town, Ponyville.

I wasn’t wandering for long. Just a few minutes at most. I was thinking about turning back when I found something on a tree. I trotted over to find a piece of paper with only one word on it. “Run.”