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// No No No No No No No No No No No No No 
// Story: The legend of Slendermane, the tragic guardian of The Everfree 
// by MidnightFMare 
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	Bio's sudeen disappearance was never asked about, my mother said one thing "Good riddance to tha' varmint."

I didn't reply, and kept working, my mind blank and empty. I replayed the last time I saw Bio whenever I thought about him.





Bio sighs, his saddlebags slung over his back and a weak smile on his lips "So... I guess this is... farewell?"

I nodded, fighting back my tears "Ah... ah've known ya for five years now... but they were the best years of my life. Do ya really need to go?"

He nodded "Yeah... I'm so, so sorry (KKKKZZZZSSHSHSHSH!!!!!!), but I have to... I can't risk anyone finding me... because of what I am. I've been labeled dissident, traitor, madpony, even monster..." he swallows "I never wanted this to happen. I would like to think... that if given another chance... I'd do it different... but I know I wouldn't. But I have to leave... not because I'm afraid of what will come, but of what I might do. I lost my mind trying to protect this town and everyone in it and I have to face my past. I can't live this life... knowing that my past is going to hound me to my grave and hurt the ones I love... especially you."

"Wh-what?" I asked, confused.

Bio blushes, tears springing to his eyes "I... I love you (KKKKZZZZSSHSHSHSH!!!!!!)... I've been so afraid of what'd happen if I said it... do you know why I did all of those things; making you laugh and protecting you from the Slender? I wanted to die in the act of protecting my friend... and the one I loved with all my heart."

He swallows nervously "I'm a monster... I know how is feel isn't wrong, but... I didn't know how you felt so... so I just kept on smiling and bit my tongue... because I cared for you too much to push you away..."

I watched him crumble, shocked "B-Bio-"

He shakes his head, smiling through his tears "The Lunars have a saying... 'The loneliest ponies are the kindest. The saddest ponies smile the brightest. The most damaged ponies are the wisest. All because they don't want anypony else to suffer like they did.' I... I thought that was a sad notion but..." he shuts his eyes in pain "It's one of the greatest truths I've ever known. I'm so sorry... please... never forgive me for anything... it'll be... easier for you to hate me... but if fate wills it, this won't be 'Goodbye', but 'Until next time.'" his horn glow and before I can say anything, he's gone in a flash of light.

"Bio... I can't hate ya... ya idiot..." I mutter, breaking down into sobs.





I never told my family what happened, and I didn't think they would care. 

I walked to the collapsed mine and dug, trying to keep my mind empty

"I'm so, so sorry..."

"Stupid idiot... jerk... varmint..." I mutter, digging faster

Two weeks later the cave is empty, the dirt and rocks turned into pillars and I lit a new lantern and set down to write our story, a little bit at a time. I saw how he had tried so hard to hold himself back and I hated both him and myself for being such idiots.

I had finished the last page and I heard someone breathing behind me "Whoever's there... go away."

"Hey... I just wanted to see how you were doing."

Quick Write.

I turn and she gives me a sad smile "Hey (KKKKZZZZSSHSHSHSH!!!!!!), how have you been?"

I shake my head "He's a jerk..."

She sighs and sits next to me "He told you how he felt, didn't he?"

I nodded silently.

"He told me that the night before we went to take the Slender back. He said that he hated himself for feeling that way..."

"'That way'? Just say it! He loved me! He was head over hooves for me... and I was too stupid to see it!" I yelled, before quickly apologizing.

Quick sighed "I always knew that he had his heart locked tight, but I think that your friendship broke that lock. He found a kindred spirit, one who considered him family, regardless of what he was." she shakes her head "I told The Princess what Bio told me, and she believed me. She even gave me a commendation for it. I think she knew where the Slender came from, and nopony said a word about Bio."

I grin weakly "That's great. I don't think you've seen him?"

She shakes her head again, sitting next to me "No, if he doesn't want to be found, you can't ever find him. I'm sorry... no, I'm not."

I turn to her and she grits her teeth "He was a coward who was afraid of being feared, of being thought as a freak! I can empathize, but he never finishes what he starts, never even makes an effort to follow through! Always leaving us to finish it for him!" she groans "And I bet, even now, he's still leaving things incomplete."

I laugh "Yeah, he would always leave the end of his sentences hanging whenever he was just making stuff up on the spot. Or forgetting a topping and wondering why what he was eating tasted so weird."

Quick laughs and we swap stories, our laughter echoing out of the cave.





Night falls, and Quick waves goodbye, returning to speak with the officers passing through.

I sighed and a harsh whisper calls from behind me "Alone... again?"

I whip my head around and undulating next to me is the Slender, white head and red eyes in a pool of black.

"Yeh... ah guess so..." I sigh, sitting.

"Sad... so very alone... each of you." it shivers, as if disturbed "You... guard... bicorn... all sad and... alone."

"Quick? Why would she be sad or alone? She got an honor for this whole fracas an' that."

The red eyes turn to look me in mine "She... resents... Princess deep... in her heart. She sent... away first friend... twice... and your best... friend too. All afraid of... her now. Or treat... her like... heroine... so alone... at the top."

I snort "Bio said that a lot. So everypony thinks that she's somekinda battle-hard soldier?"

Slender nods "You... know better. But... only you. Sister... wants to leave... forest. See... world. Leave... heavy roots... behind."

I blink "Why're ya tellin' me?"

It shivers again "I... cannot hurt... sister... need help." the red eyes look at me again "Help us..."

Before I can even process a thought, I'm nodding and walking back to the farm.





I pull down the enchanted axe my father had bought from a trader, who said that it could through the thickest, hardest plant roots or vines.

Perfect.

As I turn to leave, several other implements in my saddlebags, I notice one of my younger sisters watching me with curiosity

"Where ya goin' brother?" she asks, her too-big bonnet tied around her neck like a bandana.

"Ta help a friend. Don' worry Smithy; I'll be back." I reply, scruffing the little grey bun of mane on her head in passing.

I would realize that this was a promise I would never keep. 

I would never be back.





The rope that Quick had used was still hanging from the top of the tree, even the dented and scorched helmet that she had thrown away before ascending sat like a grim memorial to what would happen.

After ascending the rope, Slender guided me through the dark lab, and carried me down the steep drop to where the mandrake sat, moss still glowing, but this time, her eyes were open "Hello... thank you... for helping me..."

I shrug and avert my eyes from the pink-white eyes she had "Ain't even started yet, so save yall's thanks for later."

I pulled out the enchanted axe and poured my earth pony magic into it, making the blade glow dimly "Okay... hup!"

The blade comes down and with a resounding clang...

The shaft and blade shatter.

"... Ah knew those travelin' twins Shim an' Sham weren't tellin' th' truth..." I mutter, pulling out a saw.

Several hours pass, and no matter what I do, the skin of the root remains untouched.

"Augh! How do ah even do this if nothin' works?!"

The Mandrake looks down at me in pity and sadness "I don't... know. How did... you cut the vines... on the door?"

"Enchanted quill-blade... which ah don't have..." I groan when a slim black tendril drops something in front of me.

Bio's sword.

"Took it... after you... left."

I grin and focus my magic into the blade and it glows red, and I bring it down...

The root is severed with a near-silent slice, and she winces "Ow."

I shrug and heft the blade again, cutting the next root, working in a rhythm.

Soon, the last root is severed and I wipe the black-green slime from the blade "Now ya can thank me."

"Yes... Thank you for severing my link with this wretched laboratory."

"Uh, you ain't pausin' anymore."

She smiles, several flowers and leaves wilting as she hums, leaving very few on her body and the moss' light dims "My mind is no longer spread thin by my roots and vines. I... can move now... and I have you to thank." she walks over to me and kisses my cheek "Thank you."

I nod and look at the blade sadly "Ah... ah guess ya want this back..."

Slender slides towards me "It's... yours. The bicorn... returned and... told us this."

I nod again, and place the blade tenderly into my saddlebags "Thanks... so how do ah get out of here?"

The Mandrake smiles and several vines extend from under its leaves, and push on the ground, lifting her up into the air like a spider "I can carry you up... but as for payment for this... I think we should show you something that not even our creator knew of."

Another vine wraps around me like a harness and we ascend, the other vine-legs crawling up the sheer walls of the hollow tree.





I'm set down in front of the ruins of what was left of the princess' first castle "What? Everypony in Ponyville knows about this place."

She shakes her head, the vines retreating under her leaves "The castle is part of it... but we must look below."

Slender slides past me and tendrils of shadow slice away at a wall of vines before moving ahead.

She nods to me and I follow, and what I saw took my breath away.

Glittering in the light of the moon, is a crystal tree with six holes on the branches, a mass of black and thorny vines at the base. 

"This is what's known as the Crystal tree of harmony. The two princesses used the six fruits, known to you as the elements of harmony, to seal the spirit of chaos and disharmony in stone. But soon after, a being known as Somnadastica, or the Nightmare, took root in the heart of the younger sister, whom had lost her daughter and memories of her child, and twisted her into a being known to you as Nightmare Moon. Celestia, who had no idea what had happened, used the elements to banish her own sister to the moon, and to this day and for many more, she will stay. But the element's power was depleted, and they turned to stone, for Celestia had been the root of her sister's misery and her pride had drove her only friend, her best friend, to turn against her. The elements slumber within the castle, waiting for the next generation of wielders to appear and undo the damage that the former had wrought. And they shall also return the elements to their home. To give the tree back its children."

I sit in silence, letting the story wash over me "So... this is th' source of all of th' harmony in Equestria?"

She nods "But even so, it is not native to this world. It fell from the stars before there were even ponies. The benevolent goddess, the Mother Mare, planted it in the newly formed world and watched it grow. But within the seed of harmony, was a root of disharmony. So while the harmony grew, so did its opposite. Together, they were the crystal seed of chaos, a balance of opposites in disharmonic harmony. But the ponies knew what immense power it held, and an audacious, wicked wizard brought the two princesses to the tree. The eldest, obeyed his command, but the younger questioned, and wanted to befriend the spirit of chaos. Both the wizard and her elder sister laughed, but that was fine with her, she had also sensed the disharmony and when the other two were looking at the fruits, she split the two plants, and the disharmonic root turned to seeds. She dropped a number into the hole, and wished for them to grow and spread, forcing them to release the spirit of chaos."

She sighs, her light eyes sad "This did not come to pass, and still the seeds slumber. I brought you here to show you that even in the most dire and dangerous of times, hope is still burning brighter than the shadows. But do not live without shadows, lest you become blinded."

I nodded and looked at the blade in my bags "... It belongs here." Pulling it out, the feather of the quill fused to the hilt and the point forged into the edge of the blade itself shone in the light "If she slumbers here, than so should her sword."

I drive the sword into the earth and it glows with ethereal light, and I see her.

Princess Luna.

I hastily bow but she smiles "Our thanks to thee, for thou hast returnt the lost remnant of our saber Tsukuyomi. And to us thou offerest a phoenix's feather, one pluck'd from our sister's own beloved companion. Thou must'd hath much courage or a barren wellspring of mind. Nor doth it change the merit of thy actions. We wish to know thy motion of action?"

I rub my head "Ah'm sorry Princess... ah can't understand what you just said..."

She sighs "Aye, t'would be a wrong time to speaketh to thee in mine forsaken tongue. Why hath thou brought mine saber?"

I smiled weakly "A friend of mine gave it to me... as a parting gift 'fore he left..."

She frowns "Ah, we see... t'was not duty nor honour, but kindness and generosity?"

I nod "Yeh, ah just thought that if this was where ya would be able to see it, ya'd know where it is... an' so that nopony could ever find it and use it for evil."

"Yet thou return't it to us, whom mightest be the epitome of ill intentions." she says sadly.

I shake my head "Ah brought it to ya, 'cause it's yours, not mine."

She smiles and nods to me "Thank thee... but now we must return't to our rest. Fare thee well, noble knight of earth!"

The light fades with her, until all that is left is the image burned into my eyes, and the missing sword.

I turn around and Mandrake and Slender stare at me in awe "Ah'm guessin' that wasn't in my head?"

"That was Princess Luna..." 

"That is... impossible..." Slender whispers, still as stone.

I look up and I swear that The Mare in the Moon smiled "Well... that happened. Ah feel better somehow..."

Mandrake grins "Slumber in peace mother."

Slender remains still "We have succeeded where our father hadn't. Now what is our purpose?"

I shrug and turn to head back to the farm "I don't know, but ah guess that now ah can move on... hopefully."

"Please wait. My brother and I are without purpose now, we could wander this world and see it... but that is foalish. Please, give us a purpose." Mandrake says, pleading with her violet eyes.

"Live. Live free of loss and sorrow an' if ya see Bio... tell him ah forgive him." I say, walking away.





What happened next is crystal clear, though I still feel it was a dream.





I had stepped out from the clearing when the ground suddenly shook as Timberwolves fled from something massive.

I look around and a black pegasus with a burnt knit-cap and a bulging jacket stumbles out from the clearing, his cutie mark a brown rectangle with a black oval in the center "(KKKKZZZZSSHSHSHSH!!!!!!)? Are you... (KKKKZZZZSSHSHSHSH!!!!!!)?"

I nod and step closer to try to help him but he shakes his head "No... I can only stay for a little longer before I'm thrown again..." he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a folded letter "You... get this to the Apple family and... I'm sorry..." he coughs, spitting out blood "Sorry... and one last thing... protect this forest. Protect it no matter what... it's invaluable..."

I take the letter and his eyes start crackling with white, rainbow speckled lightning "Remember! Protect this forest!!"

The air around him starts to shimmer and suddenly the air explodes and he's gone in a flash of light.

I'm flung into a tree then I hear something snap and then everything is pain.

I realize as I die, that my spine snapped in half and the stranger's words echo in my head.

"I'm sorry"





I awaken to the feeling of floating in icy water So this is what death feels like...

"You are not dead, you live yet are no longer wholly yourself..." somepony whispers into my ear and I recognize the voice.

The Slender.

What do you mean? Ah know my spine broke! I yell in my head, my mouth feeling as if it's been fused closed.

"You did die, but I returned the favor that you did to me, I saved your life."

I struggle to open my eyes and what I see sends me reeling. I'm standing over my own body, a dried pool of blood around me. My mane and scalp sit next to my fading cutie mark, my corpse seems... empty.

"My sister and I used an ancient, forbidden ritual to transfer your soul into my body, mind, magic, and all." Slender whispers and I step back and trip on my long legs, falling onto my butt "No... I..."

"I'm so sorry (KKKKZZZZSSHSHSHSH!!!!!!), I had said that you should have been buried like your kin would want. But my brother decided to give up his own body to save you." Mandrake says from behind me, her leaves wilted and eyes glossier than I remembered.

"I... I'm th' Sl-" I stutter out but she shakes her head "You are you, just with a new vessel. I suppose... this is repayment for saving my brother, returning the blade to Princess Luna, and your suffering... a second life, one free of pony limitations or..." she wipes her eyes "Joys..."

I stare at the long, pale hooves attached to my shoulders and Slender is silent Bio... ah wonder what you'd think of me now? Would ya hate me or still love me? Ah'm so... confused... what do ah do now? Can't go home... nopony'd recognize me... an' did that stranger know ah was goin' to die?

Mandrake stands and passes the letter, still held in my hoof... or my body's hoof "I don't know why or how you spoke to the Duel Knight, but he was rumored to be a warrior and friend to Princess Luna and was caught in the midst of the two sisters' battle and is cursed to be thrown through time forever, appearing to leave trinkets and words to those who need it... or to save them. This letter..."

I stand on unsteady hooves "Ah have to deliver it..."

She shakes her head "No, you can barely stand and my brother's mind is fading as yours awakens, allow me to see him off..."

I slump to the ground and she steps closer, her eyes brimming with sweet-smelling tears "Brother... I wish you rest and peace in the eternal night, may you be one with our mother's sky and burn bright and just..." she kisses my forehead and my mouth moves on its own... no, Slender moves it "See the... world dear... Sister. I was to perish when the sun arose, so I give my waning life to save another. Thank you... and stay vibrant..." Slender's whispering voice fades away and I start to cry, but no tears come.

Mandrake smiles weakly and kisses my lips, the taste of fresh flowers and honey flooding my taste buds "Thank you... and now... the sun rises again, and though we may not bask in it, let it cleanse us of our tears and pain, if but for a moment."

I turn and watch the golden rays of the sun pierce the gloom of the Everfree, the dew on Mandrake's leaves and roots glittering like stars, her once unsettlingly pink eyes are a strong violet, full of life and passion.

"Ah... what'll ya do know?" I ask, though my lips don't feel as though they had moved.

She turns away and the flower on her head opens slowly, the leaves spreading like wings to catch the light of the sun "I will do that which I have wanted to since I sprouted. I will see the world, and spread my seeds to bring life to the barren lands I may find."

I nod in understanding and turn to my corpse, and I notice I'm smiling in contentment "Would you... plant your most vibrant seeds here? So that I can watch over them?"

She looks at me over her shoulder and between the leaves "I already have, and I suggest we go to see them breath their first breath."





In a clearing are several small trees, tiny white-pink flowers speckling them "Apples?"

She grins "Yes, I thought it appropriate. A new kind of apple that exudes the wild magic of this forest. Watch..."

A ray of sunlight hits one and a rainbow arcs from one flower to another, the trees shiver and erupt upwards, the branches brimming with rainbow-colored apples.

"They are in memory of both the Knight and my brother's sacrifice."

I stare at the apples and then at the letter still held in my new hooves "Ah have a mission to start... thank you Mandrake."

She smiles and she spreads her leaves and flaps them, pollen sprinkling from them as she takes flight "You are welcome."





I set the letter in the mailbox and sigh to myself before turning to leave when I hear a faint gasp from behind me. I turn my head and staring at me is my sister, her mane free of the usual bun, eyes staring in absolute shock. And I smile at her and wave before walking into the Everfree, hoping that whatever was in the letter explained what happened to me. 

I catch her whisper something that sounds like my name, but I ignore it, knowing that who I was is dead, buried in the grove of the rainbow apples, two entwined Red Galas above it.

The Apples that Bio loved.





I had fashioned a home out of the cave that I had reinforced though I sealed the entrance and dug a tunnel from the grove to it. I had made it so that I could hear what happened in the grove to protect it.

So I awoke with a start when the sound of hoofsteps entering the grove "Ah hay... thought that nopony'd come inta th' forest!"

I melted into a shadow and darted through the tunnel and standing in the clearing was my little sister.

I slipped out from the small hole and stood behind the tree she was at and tapped her bonnet with a hoof.

She looked up in surprise and dropped the apple she had in her mouth "What th'... big brother?"

I was shocked Good thing ah ain't got a face... I shook my head and extended a tendril and scooped up the apple and another snaked around from behind me and removed the apples from her bag and sat, holding the apples above my head.

She sat too and looked into where I should've had eyes "Big Brother... ah know it's you. Th' letter... it told me everythin'. An' it told me ta come here tonight an' pick apples from this tree. Why did ya take th' apples?"

"Ah didn't know what th' letter said, that Dual Night wrote it." I shake my head and point to the way she came.

"Ah ain't goin' back! Everypony's hungry an' we ain't got much o' anythin' ta eat! These apples're magic an' we could sure as sugar use th' help!"

I suppress a pang of guilt and lower my hoof to the ground and write out a message "Take the apples... but do not plant the seeds."

"But th' letter said they grew like wildfire! Come on (KKKKZZZZSSHSHSHSH!!!!!!), this is for family! We need th' trees ta survive!" she says and I sigh to myself.

"Fine. But once the season is over, I will take them back." I write and walk back to the tunnel when she scrambles to her hooves "How're ya gon' do that?"

"Magic." I think to myself and melt into the shadows when the sound of Timberwolves growling causes me to turn back and sitting in shock is my sister, three wolves circling her "Ah hay..."

I leap into the air and land above her, my tendrils extended and pointed at the wolves.

They growl at me and one leaps, but to me, it looks as if it's moving through water. I swat at it, splitting it's wooden neck into splinters, my sister screams in response, but I'm focused on the other two, the one to my left leaping an instant after the one to my right. I duck and scoop her into my hooves, plucking a few apples from the trees as I gallop out of the grove and towards the edge of The Everfree.

"B-big brother? Yall're crushin' me." She coughs out and I loosen my grip "Sorry."

A manticore sleepily walks into the path but I easily jump over it "Yee-haw! Never stops bein' fun!!"

The edge comes into view and I leap out and start down the path towards my old home.





I set her down in front of the door, the apples safely in her bags "You never saw me. Tell nopony." I write and when she nods, I wipe it away and leave for the forest when she coughs "Th-thanks... ah'll visit."

She said it like a statement, but it sounded like a question. I nod and gallop back, the sun had begun to rise and so would my family.

"Ah wonder what they think happened ta me? Knowin' ma, she probably thinks ah ran away ta find Bio..."

I shake the thoughts from my head and I turn back to take a final look at the farm "Bye-"

"If fate wills it, this won't be 'Goodbye', but 'Until next time.'"

"Until next time."