Deep down in the darkest reaches of a moon lit forest, where leaves danced in the cold winds of the harvesting season, a lone, gothic amphitheater rests. Its open air structure stayed constantly invaded by dying foliage and living creatures, keeping it from being called truly abandoned. The wind picked up and wailed through the rows of seats like the moans of death itself, bringing a warning to the empty hall. As the sound of the wind faded, the lights of the open air house suddenly flickered on, illuminating the stage. From the darkness behind the tattered curtains came a figure both plain and peculiar.
At first glance, one wouldn't have noticed much about the interloper, especially if he were standing in a crowd. The creature was roughly six feet tall, wearing dark grey jeans, a light grey hoodie, and had wild, light brown hair. Those features, in of themselves, were most unremarkable. However, upon further inspection, his two more unusual qualities shone through the bland of the grey clothing in the light. Sharp cloven hands, bound in bandages and barbed wire, flexed and cracked in anticipation. Lastly, a half skull mask adorned his face, with a lengthy, rusty nail poking out from the forehead. The thing on the stage cleared his throat before he addressed his phantom audience.
Good evening, my friends. and welcome back to this wonderful little amphitheater. For those of you who don't know, my name is Wrath B. Forgivnez, the host of the last story told. I'm afraid to say that last year I had to skip out on telling a tale, mostly due to deadlines I was unable to meet. It really killed me on the inside, and probably WOULD have if I COULD die. Never the less, I have returned properly, more capable than before.
Last time, I told you a tale of heartbreak and the uncanny ability to rekindle a dead flame, and how little girls shouldn't ever even THINK to play match maker with a proven failed method. A tale of a long lost love reuniting, and the terrifying consequences of when the lover spent most of his life in a box below the ground. It was more light hearted than it was deadly, and not a soul got hurt.
On this night, however, I intend to bring you something a bit darker. Something that starts out so truly innocent, and swiftly becomes something of a fairy tale abuse.
For tonight's tale, I bring you back to the days of childhood innocence and wonder. To a time where a class can take a field trip out to the woods for a few nights, and have a good time before a campfire. A time where they enjoy each other's company, for better or for worse, and share their stories in the dead of night. Good stories, bad stories, but most importantly, ghost stories. Stories obviously made up and passed down from generation to generation, right? But what if some of these stories we tell have hints of truth in them? Worse, what if they are true? Well, one little girl is going to find out the truth of the matter in tonight's little story called:
THE MISERY TREE
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The beautiful noon sky continued to shine on over the quaint little town of Ponyville in its early autumn haze. The serene atmosphere of the changing leaves and the gentle nip of the air gave a crisp reminder to the citizens to be ready for the incoming winter. School was still fresh in its semester and the foals of Cheerilee's class were eager as ever for their latest announcement. Surprisingly, it wasn't a homework assignment or refresher test, but simply the declaration for a new unit and a special idea to start it off. To be frank, at first, the children weren't too thrilled that they'd be spending the next month or so learning about ecosystems, and a pony's role in them. Especially when Cheerilee explained they'd start with the forest ecosystem and the effects an earth pony has when interacting and maintaining one. However, when their teacher revealed her idea to start off their new unit, the class became much more interested.
It was simple. A weekend long camping trip to Whitetail Woods with the entire class, where Cheerilee and another adult would act as chaperons. With the summer season still fresh in their young minds, the prospect of one last camp-out thrilled them. One last chance to go on a long adventure, to roast marshmallows in front of an open fire, and sleep under the stars before waiting until next summer. Even the less enthusiastic kids, silently bemoaning over spending further quality time with classmates they weren't too fond of, warmed up to the idea for other reasons.
Permission forms were sent and signed, the co-chaperon of the trip was selected, supplies were packed, and friends gathered together before the school, ready for the trip. Everyone was excited, and there, at the forefront of the school yard, three little fillies eagerly awaited the start of their journey. One unicorn, whom had a light grey coat and a greyish mulburry mane with a light grey rose streak off the side. One earth pony, whom had a pale light greyish olive coat and a brilliant ruby mane. Finally, one pegasus, whom had a light brilliant gamboge coat and a moderate purple mane. Three unique and colorful saddlepacks sat beside them with rolls of sleeping bags accompanying the supplies they brought.
"This has to be Ms. Cheerilee's best idea yet!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed.
"One more campin' trip b'fore next summer!" Apple Bloom agreed, hopping in place.
"Yeah, and another chance at finding our cutie-marks!" Scootaloo chimed in. The little pegasus' friends turned to her with nonplussed looks and exasperation. "What? This is the last time we'll have any serious time to go crusading before homework cuts into it, right?"
"Scoots, we've been workin' hard all summer findin' our cutie marks already. Do we really need to spend our most definitely last campin' trip on another list of stunts?"
"I'm still kinda sore from the last time we went out crusading, and Rarity is STILL mad at me for what happened to that ponnequin we 'borrowed'," added Sweetie, "Can't we just, you know, take a break this time? Just hang out like normal for once?"
Scootaloo's face scrunched from the abject disapproval of her idea, but sighed in defeat. "Fine, I guess we can take a break."
"Taking a break from being blankflanks? That'll be the day."
The three fillies spun around to confirm the snobby voice that had always tormented them.
"What do you want, Diamond Tiara?"
"Nothing much," the pale magenta filly stated flatly, flicking her well kept pale violet and white streaked mane, "Just dolling out a friendly reminder not to bother me or Silver Spoon on the trip. We may be all be stuck with each other for the entire weekend, but that doesn't give you any excuse to get all comfy and cozy. Stay in your little bubble of loser, and everything will be just peachy."
The Crusaiders rolled their eyes collectively as Diamond harrumphed and trotted away, nose sticking in the air. "Ya know," Apple Bloom stared, "I can't help but always wonder what's got her crown in a bend."
"Bullies are bullies," Scootaloo replied, "Does there really need to be a reason? Still, its nice to know they don't want to be anywhere near us."
The other two nodded before a loud whistle was sounded off to get the attention of her students. All of the fillies and colts involved with the trip turned back to their school to see their teacher, whom was a moderate cerise earth pony with a light greyish rose and pale streaked mane, and awaited for their instruction.
"I'm glad to see everyone is ready," she said in her trademark, cheerful tone, "Before we begin, I would like to introduce you to our co-chaperon for these next few days, Applejack." Motioning towards a cart full of camping supplies and set ups, it took the light orange mare a moment to stop checking the equipment so she could address the children. Soon after the short hello, replacing her stetson hat back atop her blond mane head, she returned to the cart, inspecting it for anything and everything. "She had graciously agreed to come along with us to keep everyone here safe and well supplied. Let's all give her a round of applause for taking time to do this for us."
The kids in the trip all stomped their hooves in approval, as Applejack tipped her hat over her eyes to hide her appreciative embarrassment. "Aw, shucks kids. Ah ain't that big a deal. The pleasure is all mahn, really." She turned to Cheerilee, before calling, "Alright, Ms. Cheerilee. Ah think we're good to go!"
"If that's the case, then come on class, let's move out!"
The foals cheered as they followed Applejack, Cheerilee, and the large cart of supplies through Ponyville and away from the school.
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The trek was relatively smooth. The class crossed Ponyville, journeyed down the road that passed Sweet Apple Acres, and brought them to the nearby bush bordering the orchard. They entered the forest, following a well plotted trail, and finally came to a clearing where they set up camp in the early evening, Some of the children did complain during the move, as kids would want to do, but were otherwise very cooperative and appreciative. After all, being out in a unique time of the year to have some last minute summer fun couldn't really be rejected.
Upon starting to set up camp, Applejack explained that while timberwolves have relocated further north from the forest here, it would still be very dangerous to go off alone. With that said, Cheerilee grouped up her class in threes, for both convenience with the tents and making sure there were just enough in each group to look after each other. The Crusaders were lucky enough to be kept together, but were warned by Applejack to tone down any actual Crusading this time around, much to Scootaloo's chagrin.
Tents were pitched and two different camp fires were made swiftly, as the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting thinning rays of light between the partially golden and crimson leaves. At one campfire, Cheerilee hosted half her class, while the other campfire was hosted by Applejack. At the farm-pony's fire were the Crusaders, but along with them were the rest of their school mates. Diamond Tiara and her bluish grey friend Silver Spoon sat opposite of the fillies of their malcontent, along with a light amberish gray and scarlet maned earth pony named Twist. Between the two groups of three, a male white and dark brown spotted earth pony named Pipsqueak sat next to a short and stubby grayish opal unicorn with a dull orange mane named Snips, and his best friend Snails. He was a unicorn male like Snips, but was considerably taller and had a brilliant amber coat and a moderate turquoise mane.
Applejack told the kids she was looking after that she'd be out getting more firewood, and told them to stay put while she was out. With that, the kids sat around the warm fire still going, sticks presented with marshmallows, gently roasting them to varying degrees of quality and success, with the worst of it being held by poor Pipsqueak. After several unfortunate displays of panic time after time, before the last one had been flung from the stick into the next campfire over, the kids decided they had enough marshmallows for the evening. Not because they were sick of it, but more so because they didn't want to suddenly be pegged in the forehead by incoming balls of fire and sugar.
"Well," Apple Bloom said with a sigh, "Does anyone have any ideas of what we should do?"
"How 'bout we tell ghost stories!" Pipsqueak exclaimed in his light Trottingham accent.
Diamond Tiara scoffed. "That's lame," she said, "Besides, none of you would be able to beat MY story anyway."
"Really?" Sweetie Belle asked, "Then, why don't you go first?"
Diamond Tiara sputtered a bit at the sudden question, before huffing at the notion. "Didn't I just say it was lame to do that?"
"Even though ya just said yers was the best? I'd like to see ya put yer bits where yer muzzle is," Apple Bloom said smugly, wanting to call out a potential bluff.
"You did present a challenge, Di," Silver Spoon said with a hint of concern. "Might as well let them have it."
Diamond Tiara looked to her friend for a moment, before sighing indignantly. "Fine," she said, "But I'm only going to tell it once. Very few ponies ever know about this story. My daddy said it is VERY rarely heard, because it's actually a true story and the public wasn't supposed to know about it."
To be honest, everyone was intrigued just what kind of story she had that was actually said to be true. Even the three little fillies that wouldn't normally enjoy the presence of their school time bully were curious to see how far it would go. Besides, even if it turned out to be a total bust, at least they could hold it over Diamond's head when she got particularly nasty towards them.
"I hope you're all listening," Diamond Tiara said in a lowered voice, leaning closer to the fire as the last bit of light from the evening sun disappeared from the sky. "This is the story of a stallion from the streets and a mare from a rich family looking for love. This is a story of how they ran from the ponies that disapproved of their 'love'. A story that went from romance to tragedy, and the birth of a curse."