//------------------------------//
// Your Evil Guardian Slendermane 
// Story: Slendermane Takes Ponyville 
// by Silent Bob 
//------------------------------//

	
"Um - Hello, girls," Fluttershy squeaked, gulping slightly.

The three blinked, more confused than horrorstruck.

...

"F-Fluttershy... that is you, right?" Sweetie squeaked. "You're not like an evil plant-clone, are you?"

She quickly shook her head. "Um- no, it's nothing like that. I uh-... it's very hard to explain. Let's just say - I sort of have... an interesting affiliation with the Everfree Forest."

"She's a manifestation of one of its emotions," Slendermane explained.

"Say wah?!" Apple Bloom grunted, gazing at him suspiciously.

"Yeah, are you talking about?" Scootaloo said, raising her eyebrows. 

"Seriously. This day just got really weird," Sweetie added.

Fluttershy sighed, kneeling down to their level. "Don't be afraid. I am the Fluttershy you know. It's just - a few years back I discovered who I truly was. I couldn't understand it myself, but it makes more sense to me now." She then took a deep breath. "I'm the 140th reincarnation of the Everfree Forest's kindness."

Sweetie shook her head in disbelief. "Are you saying that the woods are - alive?"

Slendermane nodded. "Mhmmm. And she's not the only one. I'm its emotion of Fear."

They began to back away from him: nervously.

"He's not mean, though!" Fluttershy said. "He only scares ponies, he doesn't-"

"Fluttershy, no!" he huffed, shaking his head. If he were to play the nice guy now, he might no longer be able to serve his purpose. He had to make fear him. He let loose a deep sigh. "I know who I am. There are things I haven't told you. I uh - I do all sorts of horrible stuff you don't know about! I eat ponies and um... er... trample on tulips?"

Her eyes widened in horror. "You monster!"

"Yeah!" he said proudly. "I totally am!"

The three crusaders raised their eyebrows. 

"Waiiit a minute," Apple Bloom coughed. "How can you even eat ponies: you don't have a mouth!"

"Er- uh," Slendermane stuttered. "The same way I eat apples!"

Even Scootaloo furrowed her brow in suspicion. "Uh huh. So you eat ponies and... juggle for fun?"

"Yeah!" Slendermane said, nodding rapidly. 

"You sound like you're trying to act like a monster!" Sweetie pointed out.

Slendermane gave a growl. He would have to step up his act. "You fools - I only came into town to gather meat!" Suddenly, he pressed his upper body against the forcefield, his tendrils wiggling frantically. The fillies began backing up again.

"Fear, stop this!" Fluttershy shouted.

"B-Buck off, Kindness!" he snarled.

Her eyes widened in shock. Giving him a glare that could kill, she darted in front of the three fillies, a series of vines flicking off her back and writhing in the air as well.

"I will give you the stare if you keep this up!" she spat.

It as an empty threat: he knew it wouldn't work on him. He wanted with all his might to start piercing the three fillies' minds: to make them see their worst nightmares and fears... yet he couldn't bring him self to.

As Fluttershy gazed at him with saddened, disappointed eyes, he retracted his tendrils and slumped to the floor of his cell.

"I-I'm sorry," he whispered. "That- that is not who I am..."

"W-What?!" Sweetie said, baffled.

"Slendermane - did you just make all that up?" Fluttershy said, a slow smile creeping on her face. 

He nodded shamefully.

Apple Bloom furrowed her brow. "B-But why?"

He took a deep, saddened breath. "Cus - to put it simply, my role is to keep people from going to deep into the woods. The forest is afraid they'll be hurt by it. In particular, its other emotion - Wrath. But there's more than that... there's something deep in the forest that isn't to be found. Something not meant for the eyes of this world."

"Huh? How do you know this?" Fluttershy asked.

Slendermane shrugged. "I don't know - as soon as I figured out my true purpose, I just kind of... learned about it. Maybe one of my memories unlocked, who knows? But it doesn't matter. All those disappearances in the woods were my fault in a way."

"How can you say that?" Fluttershy gasped.

"Because I failed in my purpose. I'm supposed to keep ponies from dwelling too deep: and there were times when I let them pass: not realizing the true dangers I was putting them in." He sighed. "Honeycrisp was one of those ponies... and another a hundred years back. Daring Do, I believe. There were many others, as well, not all ponies, either."

"Woah! I wonder if Rainbow Dash knows about that," Scootaloo pondered.

Sweetie brought a hoof to her chin. "So... you're not really a bad guy - you're just supposed to act like one."

Slendermane nodded. "And none of you can tell anypony about this, do you understand? That goes for Kindness- er Fluttershy, too."

"Huh?" Sweetie said. "B-But why?!"

"Yeah, that's totally awesome what you guys really are!" Scootaloo beamed. "You could be like - a superhero duo or something!"

Fluttershy blinked in disbelief. "R-Really? You don't think it's weird?"

"Of course it's weird," Scootaloo chuckled. "But weird can be awesome, like Sweetie Belle-"

"Hey!" she growled.

"-And you look awesome!"

Fluttershy blushed slightly. "Well - thank you, though I prefer my other form..."

"I guess I look kind of cool, too..." Slendermane chuckled, before sighing slightly. "But the point is - you can't tell anyone because I have to keep up the facade that I'm a monster."

Sweetie quickly raised her eyebrows. "B-But Slendermane..."

Before she could continue, Fluttershy let loose an eep. "Somepony is coming! We have about a minute."

"Now they're working?!" Slendermane cried.

"What's working?" Sweetie asked curiously.

"No time," Fluttershy squeaked. "I suppose that fillies are too small to be detected: that's how you got passed! Girls - go ahead and get out of here and sneak home!"

"W-What about you?" Apple Bloom peeped.

"I'll be fine," she smiled, as her vines slowly began to detract into her fur. She was beginning to look more and more normal by the second. "Now, get going! I-If you don't mind..."

"Alright," Sweetie grumbled, before smiling the Slendermane's way. "But before we go - we're sorry for running from you..."

"Yeah!" Scootaloo said. "And there's no way we're going to let them lock you up!"

Slendermane merely cocked his head, awestruck. "You mean... you're not afraid of me at all?"

"Of course not!" Apple Bloom giggled. "You seem like a nice enough... Eldrack Demobination. You're not bad at all!"

"So... you don't even sense there's something wrong about me?"

The three shrugged. "You're just another species, that's all," Sweetie explained. "There's nothing wrong with that. You're no different than a pegasus or a griffin is to me!"

Fluttershy smiled brightly, winking at Slendermane. "See."

At that, Slendermane took a deep breath. "I guess Wrath was dead wrong. I am so going to kick his wooden flank! Cus though I may be a freak, I suppose I belong in this world as much as anyone..."

"Darn right!" Scootaloo called. 

With that, the sound of a distant conversation could be heard. 

"Come on, girls. I'll take you home," Fluttershy said, now back to her regular form. She smiled yet again at the Slendermane. "Everything will be fine, Fear. I'll try to find a way to free you if you can't do it yourself."

"I appreciate it - I have a job to do, after all," Slendermane beamed.

Sweetie shook her head. "But you might not need to -" 

"Your secret is safe with us," Scootaloo smiled, throwing a hoof in front of Sweetie's mouth. "Come on, you two - I don't want to be grounded for the rest of my life!"

"Yeah - let's go!" Apple Bloom nodded. "Bye, Slendermane."

"Bye!"

He blinked.

"Good... Bye?" Slendermane whispered in awe, as the group scrambled out the door.

He shook his head in disbelief. Good bye? A bye that wasn't a shriek? From regular old mortals...? 

"I guess coming here was a good idea, after all," he chuckled. "They're good people, these ponies... worth keeping my role to protect. Even if I need to be alone and stuff to do it..."

At that, a contingent of militia members, including Applejack and Granny Smith, a number of day guards, as well as Princess Twilight entered the night station.

"Alright, Slendermane," Twilight said, a neutral tone to her voice. "It's time."

Slendermane merely nodded. He remained silent all the way to the courthouse.





"Tell me again, Twilight, why did you want me to be the judge again?" the Doctor grumbled, taking his seat at the podium of a large, multi-rowed courthouse. The house was packed at the moment with all walks of curious onlookers... as well as the supposed 'victims' of Slendermane's wrath.

Twilight smiled slightly, rolling her eyes. "Because 1. You're one of the smartest ponies in Ponyville, 2. Judge Gavel is sick, and 3. You've dealt with all the strange, strange creatures of Equestria longer than anyone has. You're more qualified to judge Slendermane than anyone. Speaking of which: what do you know about him?"

"Not too much," the Doctor admitted. "All I know is that he seems to be unique to his species. Last of his kind, maybe? Interdimensional traveler? Remnant from a universe before our own? I'm not sure."

"All those theories sound insane," Twilight said, raising an eyebrow.

"I know? Isn't it brilliant!" the Doctor grinned. "You know, I take it back. It's not often that I get to deal with something I know nothing about! This should be fun!"

"Just make sure to concentrate on judging and not researching," Derpy grumbled.

"Yes, yes, smack the hammer make a sentence jibbidy-jabbadi-di," the Doctor sighed, before gazing at Twilight curiously. "But before we begin: is there even any evidence that Slendermane is guilty? Physical that is, not just speculation?"

"Not really..." Twilight grumbled.

The Doctor rolled his eyes, throwing her a blank look. "Then don't you think there might be a small case of guilt before association in this case? I mean, seriously, this whole thing just screams 'misunderstood but freaky looking monster.'"

Twilight huffed slightly. "It could also be that the freaky looking Eldrich Abomination said to kill ponies is actually a freaky looking Eldrich Abomination that kills ponies."

"Surprisingly cynical of you to say," the Doctor said, lifting an eyebrow. "Though that'll change a bit over the years..."

Twilight raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"Nothing," the Doctor chirped, grinning sheepishly, before Derpy planted a hoof in his side. "OUCH! Hey - what was that for?!"

She gave him a blank look. "Quit screwing with the timeline and it won't happen!"

Twilight raised her eyebrows. "I'm just trying to see both sides of the picture here. I trust you to do the same."

"Righto," he moaned. "Come on, let's get this witch hunt-" He coughed. "I mean trial - over with."

Twilight nearly banged her head against the podium. "You're impossible."

"Welcome to my world," Derply chuckled.

"You know you love it," the Doctor smirked, before turning towards a nearby guard. "Righto then. Bring in the-" He chuckled to himself slightly. "The uh- Slendermane." 

"Doctor!" Derpy hissed.

"What?! It's so awkward to say out loud!"

"Ugh..."

Only a second later, the doors to the courtroom flew open. The Slendermane appeared from the outside, earning a few gasps from the audience. He was circled by numerous guards, including two who were casting a strange spell that trapped the creature in a blue bubble.

He made his way inside and took a seat.

"Wow ," the Doctor coughed, shaking his head. "I've seen some strange things in my time, but-"

Princess Twilight quickly interrupted him, shouting:

"All rise for the honorable, and completely spastic, Judge..." She winced in thought. "Um... Judge... The Doctor."

The courtroom rose, gazing at both him and the Slendermane apprehensively. 

"Alright, now you can sit!" the Doctor quickly said, smirking slightly.

They did so.

His smirk grew. "Now stand again!" 

A few murmurs of annoyance came from them, though they followed his instructions.

The Doctor grinned widely. "Now... everyone say Allonz-y on three! One! Two! -"

"Just get on with it, dag namit!" Granny Smith snarled. "I swear- if he wasn't the Doctor..."

The Doctor coughed, gaining smirks from Twilight and Derpy. "Right - please be seated."

With sighs of relief, the audience finally did so.

The Slendermane giggled slightly to himself. "Why is this guy so awesome? And where did he get that suit? It looks pretty good on him."

The Doctor then glanced at him.

"Will he who is nicknamed the Slendermane, Slendermare, Slendy, Tall Mare... ext. ext. ext., come before the podium, please?" he moaned. "I have a few questions to ask."

The Slendermane cocked his head slightly, before moving before the podium. "Call me Fear, Doctor."

The Doctor gazed down at him, furrowing his brow and clearing his throat. "Very well, Fear. You have been charged with a number of crimes, including murder, kidnapping, property distruction, and um - book thievery?" He glanced at Twilight. "That's uh- that's not a law -"

She blushed slightly. "I um - I retract that. I wrote it before Slendermane gave it back to me."

The Doctor slowly shook nodded. "And she says I'm the spastic... Righto, then - you have also been charged with public disturbance and uh..." He gave Twilight another blank look. "Tax evasion?! Seriously?!"

"Hey- Don't look at me!" Twilight said defensively. "That was the ERS."

The Slendermane nodded. "Er yeah... that's kind of weird: I don't really have anything besides what I've found... Does Equestria have a head tax or something?"

Twilight glanced to the side, mumbling: "Stuff that you stole, you mean."

"Ugh - enough," the Doctor groaned. He then blinked in utter incredulity, before shaking his head and glancing back at the list. "Well, that pretty much bloody covers it. Anything else to tuck on the list? Indecent exposure, maybe?!"

...

He smirked. "Well I have one: failing to tell the Doctor where you got that lovely suit, Fear."

The Slendermane shrugged, chuckling. "Heh - thanks, but I was just kind of born with it."

The Doctor chuckled slightly. "Oh, I bloody love Eldrich Abominations... However, now it's time to get serious - Slendermane, you understand the crimes you are accused of?"

He nodded. "I do."

"Then how do you plead?"

...

The Slendermane stood silent for a second, expecting the majority of the ponies in the crowd to be on the edge of their seats. However, he had determined how the outcome of this trial before it began. They had to fear him... for their own sake. A large part of him regretted this. The Doctor was clearly on his side... yet it was the right thing to do.

With that in mind, he sighed deeply, before uttering a single sentence:

"Guilty of all crimes and more, you pathetic walking meals."

As the Doctor's eyes widened, and the courtroom gasped, the Slendermane suddenly flung a multitude of tendrils into the blue shield, cracking it in an instant. 

"I KNEW IT!" Granny Smith roared. "We should have taken him down when we had the chance!"

"Sucks to be you," he said coldly.

Twilight narrowed her eyes. "I can't believe this! I actually thought you were innocent, you son of a bitch!" She gritted her teeth. "Either way, retract those freaky shadows of yours or I'll-"

However, before her horn could even sparkle, she was struck by a duo of tendrils, slamming her into the judge's podium and knocking her out cold.

"The Princess!" one of the guards gasped. "Hurry! Take that thing down before he gets warmed up!"

The group of guards charged forth, some wielding spears, some wielding magic. The Slendermane merely closed his eyes, before mentally screaming:

"I WANT EVERYONE TO HEAR: ABOUT DA BIRD! BIRD BIRD BIRD - BIRD IS THE WORD-"

"Oh god... OH GOD!"

"THE HORROR! THE HORROR! MAKE IT STOP!"

"AGGGGGGHHHH!.!.!" 

One after another, they collapsed to the floor, gripping their heads in pain: paralyzed.

The Slendermane then twirled about towards the audience, chuckling darkly. Time to sell it... he thought.

"For too long you have wondered into the darkness of my forests, thinking: the Slendermane isn't real, isn't he? He's just a legend! Yet these foolish thoughts are what get so many of you killed. That is why I have come here: to do a favor for you. Now you know that I am very real - and that I'm also very intelligent." He took a menacing step forward, strange, ethereal whispers filling the minds of the attendees. "And before I take my leave, I have just one warning to you: stray too deep into the Everfree Forest and you will never, ever come out!"

Without a second of waiting, he then galloped towards the wall of the courtroom and ripped open a hole in it, before galloping outside and towards the Everfree Forest.