//------------------------------// // Chapter 3:The Swamp Hunt // Story: Among The Nightmares // by Spirit Of Fantasy //------------------------------// Chapter 3: The Swamp Hunt Rings of red above their heads passing by as they slid. Down the metallic rabbit hole into a dark world they were going to escape evil. The boy holding his two little friends as they slid towards the red light at the end of the tunnel. He gulped and rubbed his bruised neck as it burned from the attempted hang of the last realm. The realm they had escaped and filled them with a sense of success and confidence. His feet struck the ground while the ponies flew from his arms and landed on their hooves. Aiden rolled onto his side and did his best to take in some air with a sore neck. A tear leaked from his left eye and made him want to start crying. Thankfully his deep breaths quenched his will's desire to break and accept defeat. He slowly turned his head and gazed towards the red and black sky with a sense of fear that the nightmare was not yet over. His eyes blurred with grief before he saw the still smile of his white pony of the sun. Her toy like smile was all too familiar, but a mystery when it came to how she really felt inside. He slowly rolled again and made it to his bottom to sit properly while she touched his neck. Caressing it with her soft and plushy hooves to access the bruising. She sighed and looked the boy in the eye like a worried mother. "Are you alright sweetie? I'm sorry about all this... I can't imagine the pain you feel right now."Celestia was heavy with her words and looked away for a moment. "I child should not have to go through all this,"Luna took his hand and lifted it before putting the other hoof over his hand to gently rub it,"We'll get you through this... First we need to do something about that little injury you have Aiden." Celestia couldn't agree more, and before they went further, she needed to call out to someone. She trotted over to the edge of the floating island and looked to the sky. Her just nearly puffing up as she felt anger boiling in her stomach and reaching her head. Thunder brightened the red sky as a hiss and a laughter was then heard. It chilled their bodies to hear it, but the little pony's anger warmed her through her yells. "Come on out you coward! We completed your little game here! And now we require some aid,"Celestia called out before the laughs turned to confusion and grumbles,"We won't play your little game any further until you do so!" "Oh really? You think you're running the show all of a sudden, Celestia? You are in MY world now, don't forget that,"The dark shadow snapped at her from the sky and growled as the sky thundered bright red,"As far as I'm concerned. I'M the one calling the shots here! NOT YOU!" "Then we will just stay here and protect Aiden, and you'll never finish your game with us before the sun rises...!"There was slyness in Luna's tone as she hugged Aiden and forced a quiet gasp from the shadow. He went silent for a moment and was rethinking his strategy now that the tables were turned. She knew what would happen if the sun outside his realm would rise, and he couldn't be around for that. He growled and shot red lightning at the edge of the rock. He wanted to throw a tantrum, but instead he decided to take a deep breath before chuckling. As clever as Luna was, this was now merely a stalemate. "Huh! Clever little mare... Very well. There are still two more worlds I can squeeze in to kill you,"He chuckled before his shadowy self slithered quickly from the sky and appeared before them,"But I suppose we could make this a fair game... What is it that you require?" "We need toddler friendly first aid for his neck! When we're done, then we can play...!"Celestia decided that now was a time to put a lid on her rage since he now agreed. "Very well... I would like to slaughter him at his full strength. To see him suffer and cry before the life flees his worthless small body..."He sneered before shooting a blast of shadows in front of them. It molded into a square and bubbled before it slowly took detailed shapes. It spelled the words first aid and had a baby rattle under it while a plus symbol was above it and turning red. When the object was fully molded, the shadows looked to be leaking away from it. Revealing a child friendly first aid box big, but light enough for the sisters to carry. Both mares did not hesitate to take the first aid and rush it over to Aiden while he sat there with his eyes to the ground. "Aiden? We got medicine for your neck sweetie... We're going to help you feel better,"Luna spoke gently as she crawled to his lap while Celestia opened the box up,"Just keep doing deep breaths and close your eyes..." Aiden let out a little moan and hugged her while she gladly accepted a little hug. That was her opening to casually receive a roll of pony patterned gauze bandages from her sister. She then reached to her sister before she was given a berry scented liquid bottle to apply to the neck. She gently dropped liquid to the bandages and began to roll it out while Aiden closed his eyes and snuggled her. Perfect time for her to begin wrapping the gauze around his neck lightly. He shuddered and felt the liquid starting to cool his neck greatly making his spine tingle. He opened his eyes wide to see her wrapping the cold bandages around his neck and shaking. Celestia rushed to his side and held his hand to keep him calm while Luna finally finished. He felt his whole neck wrapped in cold bandages that suddenly began to turn very warm. He rubbed his neck gently and felt a tiny bow Luna tied in the front of the throat. It got a little smile going before he cooed before picking the mares up into a hug. It made the dark one's stomach churn before the lights of yellow and silver flashed in his eyes. He hissed and shot back into the skies before red thunder stabbed the skies in outrage. He growled and broke up their warm embrace before the next red tube shot up from the ground and aimed towards them. He sighed and then chuckled before he spoke. "Now that all this mushy non sense is over. I have a special world for you to see,"he spoke while they all stood up to listen,"I have a two for one special with this one. It's a world that's near impossible, and it has it's own special creature...!" "We've already fought your playground from Tartarus, and the spider wretch. What makes this one so different?"Luna questioned the shadow as he giggled horridly at her confidence. "Simple... I call him... The Swamp Stalker...! Hunter of the swamp!"He revealed his demon and the world they would be entering surely enough. "Excuse us if we aren't exactly impressed with this highly praised creature of yours...!"Luna taunted in confidence while a ghostly and high pitched wail rung out through the tube. "He hunts all that enters his world...! Countless children and even adults have entered his world and have never been seen again,"He chuckled as the creature wailed in the tube to intimidate,"No matter where you hide... Where you run or how high you climb. He will find you, and he will gut you like he does with all his food...!" "I see. We may be at more shaken odds here, but we will prevail all the same fiend...!"Celestia promised while Aiden tightened his grip from trembling terror of the creature that wailed. "We'll see... About that...! Enter...! And lets see if you can survive the swamp and it's master!"He demanded entertainment as the tunnel rang and clang metal like. Aiden wanted to back away while the wails slowly began to calm down and grow silent. He grunted and moaned fearfully as he looked down to his two little friends before looking to the tube. He shook his head and felt Luna rubbing his chin to comfort and encourage. He let out another moan before finally taking his first step towards the tunnel. He stood before it for a moment and listen to the distant bang of metal. He slowly crawled up with a little wiggle and kick of his feet before he was sitting in the tunnel. With both ponies under his arms, he wiggled his bottom to get the sliding going. He let out a gentle squeak as he began to slide down the tube and towards yet another world of Nightmares. His mind still disturbed by the horrors of the spider that nearly killed him in the playground. Now it was time to return to the nightmares, and risk his life for freedom in the end. The slide was long and silent, he couldn't even care about the cold slide under him. The mares were even quiet, but he knew there was little to say of what had happen to them. The cage that held them and spewed monsters and terror to scare and murder them. It was about to start once again, as they neared the dim blue light at the end of the tunnel. It prepared to land, and closed his eyes before landing feet first onto wood. He took in a deep breath before taking in the surroundings next, the dark wooden surroundings. It was spacious, but very small, a bed could barely fit in this tiny area. It laid against a cracked frame window with no glass what so ever, and let in dim blue light. Fog crept into the window and filled his longs with moisture and a very foul smell. It smelled like mildew, wet animal fur and even potentially blood. "My...goodness...! This place... It's about as evil as evil can get..."Luna crawled from the boy's grip and walked around the wooden shack as it creaked. "The sun could barely pierce this vile place...! Yet it is inhabited by some sort of creature,"Celestia feared after Aiden let her jump to the ground with Luna,"We must be very careful... We don't know where this creature is, and if it's watching us..." "Agreed. Aiden stay very close to us, and remember. We're here for you,"Luna said as she moved towards the shack door and looked to the door knob,"Together our light can scare away anything that tries to hurt you." Aiden nodded in agreement and decided to start playing his part in their journey through darkness. He saw a small stool at a desk to the other side, and ran for it with hands open and reaching for it. He gripped the wooden legs and carried the stool over to the door and sat it down. He then stepped up on the stool while the ponies ran to his back and climbed him like a mountain. They perched themselves on his shoulders as he gripped and turned the knob a bit. He heard the click and pushed before the door gradually opened up with a loud creak and crack of wood. When it was wide enough, it made a metal grinding screech before stopping. Fog flooded into the shack and blasted cold air over his body while his eyes were treated to a creepy sight. There were two to four different creeks traveling through the muddy looking soil and dead black trees. He couldn't even see the sky, and the slimy rush of the water was loud in his ears. He coughed and squeezed his nose for a moment as the foul stench got stronger. The plushies groaned and held their snouts as well, stricken with the disgusting odor that seemed to take up the area. Aiden shook his head and stepped down from the stool before waddling out of the shack. Only for the door to suddenly slam behind him and make him jump with a little squeal. He crossed his legs and tried to breath, but his legs were crossed for a different reason all together, and the creeks weren't helping the issue. Slowly he was able to uncross himself and slowly walk on to find a way out. The ponies noticed his weird behavior, but were watching the trees and the creeks for any movement. They shuddered with their breaths and turned their heads around to the slightest bubble and splash. They were more scared then Aiden was at the moment, but his personal problem was starting to finally become more apparent. He whimpered and wanted to put his legs together again before a splash was heard. "What was that...?!"Luna panicked silently as they turned to the stream as a fish was suddenly beached. It wiggled and gasped for air as water sprinkled from it's shiny scales and took it's oxygen. A grumble rustled the trees and their ears before Aiden rushed to a rock and hid away. Groaning as he peeked from the rock and watched the fish flop in the mud and slowly begin to die. His eyes widen and trembled as the fish was slowly dragged away from the creak and towards some trees. Only to be suddenly grabbed and broken completely from the inside by four large black claws in fingerless gloves. His head quaked as he saw the arm slowly lift the fish up from the mud that then dripped from it's fins. A hiss and grumble shook the trees before they then bent from the sides to reveal red eyes. A spiky head stretched from the trees and hissed at the fish it had caught. It stepped forward in torn jean overalls and hard leather boots with three toe claws protruding through the fronts. It then stood tall in complete form about seven feet tall, possibly taller. It roared with a strange metallic echo from the base of it's voice as it stared down the fish. It lifted it's large jaws and bared a row of long sharp teeth like thick needles moving from out of it's gums. Luna and Celestia pulled Aiden's head away from the gruesome sight before he heard the creature bite. A sick crunch sounded out, bones, flesh and blood squeezed together as the boy trembled from the sound. He swore he could hear the fish cry out before it was then silenced by death, and a headless fish. Luna was the first to sneak a peek and saw the creature chewing on it's quarry's head. The headless body of the fish spasm and flopped before it finally went limp in the beasts dropped the fish's body and licked the blood that trickled on it's lips before a voice echoed out loudly. "STALKER! Be on the prowl! I have brought you some very special prey that don't taste foul!"That voice could only be known as the dark nightmare demon himself as the creature looked to the sky. It roared and shook it's head at the sky before it looked around to the surrounding area. It grumbled and sniffed around to pick up on fear body odor or sounds of movement. It looked to a large rock on the other side of the creak, and glared at it with a grumble. It slowly turned around and stomped back into the woods after shoving a tree down to the sticky mud. It disappeared into the darkness and suddenly the area seemed a bit lighter and more safe. "Ok... Now it knows we are here...! So we must be very careful...!"Celestia whispered as she also peeked around the rock and spotted nothing. "Ok. First we need a plan to get, and an idea of where to look for the portal out of here,"Luna brought up a critical piece of information that they never even bothered to think about,"The shack was the entrance. And there's nothing else here aside from trees, muck and creeks." "Yes but... There is one spot I know that all swamps in Equestria have...! An open pond area used for collecting water,"Celestia surprised Luna with the info she knew from years of personal studies,"It's the only other unique piece of a swamp like this. So it must be where the portal is...!" "You heard that right sweetie? There's already a way out of here. Near the swamp's only pond,"Luna tried to encourage an oddly straining and struggling Aiden who shook his head and whimpered,"It's ok honey. We just need to take a deep breath and be very quiet. Just sneak around and hide from this stalker and we will make it...!" Aiden slowly nodded his head, and tried to stand, but his legs were crossed and trembling. Possibly out of fear, after what he saw, it would not surprise them any more. He unwrapped and slowly began to walk towards a group of trees as Celestia whispered of the location. The center of the swamp was her answer to the portals location, but there was no answer for what came next. As he stopped at a tree and hugged it with a painful groan that began to worry them. "Aiden...? Are you ok sweetie. Is your neck hurting? Whats wrong chi-"Celestia was interrupted as a flying object sliced a chunk of her mane clean off and striking a tree. It dangled and made them freeze before it stopped vibrating from the force it traveled on. It was made out to be a knife with a double edge refined blade and a hard wood handle stained with old blood. A grumble came with the knife before the explosion and crack of wood sounded off. They quickly turned, and looked in horror at the creature itself emerging from a group of trees to their left. It's red eyes spotted them in the open by the trees and roared. It reached into it's front pocket and slowly grinned vile like before it pulled it's weapon of choice out. A three foot long jungle machete with a serrated back end, and a shiny front blade. As it bared the blade to it's side in a side stroke position, it gave one last gaze before the group took off. Aiden panted and waddled quickly as the creature screeched and stomped across the open area. It was fast, and it was hungry for the child's flesh, and was ready to slice into him. Aiden could hear it's foot steps approaching quickly as he entered the trees and fell to the ground. Doing just that saved him from losing his head as the creature swiped at him. Cutting two trees in half and taking a lock of Aiden's blond hair as well as trees fell to the mud and shook the ground. The quaking ground shook the child and made standing up a chore before he was able to run again. The creature roared as it stomped through the trees, slashing at the boy from behind. "We won't be able to outrun this creature! We need to find a place to hide...!"Luna cried as she ducked to miss the machete while it took another piece of the boy's hair. "Aiden! Go right! Run to the right!"Celestia called out to the boy before turning the boy right like a car. Aiden listened and ran to the right towards some more dead trees and many low hanging vines. Luna was confused at first, but saw the vines and looked to the crazed shadow. It either cut trees in two or left deep cuts in the tree trunks themselves as it swung it's blade from above and across. Aiden felt the blade cut into his pajamas, but just missed the skin. It forced Aiden to move quicker as they entered the trees and suddenly trip on a stone. Aiden fell to his stomach and it sent a growl and inflating pain in his lower belly. He groaned as he rolled to his back and saw the creature lifting his blade high to slice him in two. But upon the creature bringing it's swing down, it suddenly stopped instantly and almost swung to it's back from the sudden stop. It growled and looked up to see it's machete caught in many tree vines and wrapped up nice and tight. It grumbled in anger and began yanking at the vines to get free, giving the group time to move. "Now look to that tree Aiden. It's dead and very unstable. Knock it over right on top of the monster!"Celestia pointed to the large dead tree and a large branch in front of them. Aiden didn't need to be told twice before he scurried to the branch and scooped it up in his hands. Mud leaked through his fingers, and dripped on his pjs as he bolted to the tree. He quickly lifted and swung the branch, cracking it slightly as it creaked and crunched in response. He panted and screamed before smacking the tree again and cracking the base of the tree even more. It began to sway a bit and looked as if it could fall on him at any time. He went limp with the branch as he turned back to see the creature snapping the vines off. One by one they were parting from the sharp blade, and the creatures blood lust grew fiercer. It roared as Aiden turned back and let out a scream before smacking the tree again and causing a sick crack to echo in their ears. The tree swayed towards them at first, but Luna jumped down and quickly shoved Aiden aside before the tree tipped over. The creature was not so lucky as it finally freed itself from the vines. Only for the creature to look up and lift it's hands up in time to be flattened at the chest by the tree. It slammed the creature down, deep into the mud with it's machete hand, it's head and it's legs free. It growled and hissed as it struggled against the tree and the injury it had gained from the tree. Aiden panted and hugged Celestia and Luna before their lights when off, and began to burn the creatures face with their light. Giving the child more time to find a place to take cover out of the creatures grasp. "Hurry Aiden! It's getting free already!"Luna screamed as he looked to the hunter as it began smashing it's elbow against the tree. With each blow it swung with it's elbow, the wood of the tree broke away. It wriggled to test the duration the tree had left before elbowing and smashing the tree even more. It gave Aiden just the jump he needed to look and find a place to hide. He spotted what was appearing to be three rocks that shaped out what looked like a small den in the ground. He yelled in the attempt to say run that came out as coos before he raced for the small tunnel. The Swamp Stalker could see him running for the tunnel to the underground and hurried it's escape. Once the wood was broken enough, it had enough room to swing it's machete to the tree. One clean cut, sliced the tree apart and gave it room to lift itself through and break out of the trees hold. It shook off the crushing damage it took and raced at Aiden with a bit of a limp that slowed it down. Aiden looked back and screamed as he saw the creature limping towards him with it's weapon wielded above it's head. Aiden whimpered and waddled as fast as he possibly could before diving for the hiding spot. He screamed before he felt a shroud of blackness in his eyes and a grip on his leg. He opened his eyes and saw Celestia and Luna in front of him as he crawled towards them for a hug. Only to be yanked on and be dragged out of the tunnel's exit by the same claws he saw grabbing the poor fish. He looked back and screamed, seeing into the red eyes of the Stalker. He felt his hands get gripped by his friends soft hooves and being pulled into the tunnel. He heard a tear in his footie pajamas as they pulled on both sides, the creature roared at the resilience. It brought it's blade up and was ready to slice the boy's limbs off while the mares screamed. Celestia growled as they were starting to lose the tug of war, but she then spotted a way to save Aiden. She spotted the tears in one of the legs of his pjs, and the claws of the beast were stuck in the fabric. "Luna flash this creature in the eyes! ?Get Aiden to hug you, and flash him!"Celestia screamed while Luna was way ahead of her on the request and huddled into Aiden. "Aiden! HUG ME! You know I'll protect you! JUST HUG ME AND I WILL PROTECT YOU!"Luna shouted before Aiden's mind triggered and made him growl with fear. He wrapped his arms around her as he was almost completely outside the tunnel and in the demons grip. With that sweet hug, Luna lit up with silver lights and the creature was instantly blinded. It screeched while it's grip loosened on his leg before it peeled the whole leg piece of his pajamas from his legs. With it's claws caught in the fabric, it fell back and tore the whole left leg of the boy's pjs off. Leaving Aiden with a bare left foot as he swung right back into the tunnel over Celestia. He trembled in the cold mud that got all over him, and chilled his bare foot and leg. Making goosebumps sprout on his skin as he slowly lifted his head up in complete misery. Tears filled his eyes as he slowly rolled in the mud like a pig to sit up and look at Celestia and Luna. He coughed and sniffed as tears streamed from his eyes in complete terror and embarrassment from what came next. He could no longer hold it in, the pain was too great and the scare forced it out of him. "Aiden...? Are you ok...?"That question was quickly answered for Celestia thanks to a very different sort of hissing noise. Aiden coughed while Luna spotted the big and very wet problem happening to their child. Around his whole groin area and even his legs, the sound echoed while they began to quickly grow very wet. The hissing got louder while a yellowish liquid rushed a bit from his bare left leg before he finally exploded. The whole time they were worried about surviving, and they didn't bother to remember that he just turned two. Aiden was still in pull ups, and their neglect to that caused him to wet himself out of fear. He burst into tears and cried loudly and without control as he felt his under garment completely wet. It was cold and rushing down both legs while he covered his face and wept with no control. Luna had her hooves to her mouth and quickly ran over to Aiden and was careful not to step in the puddle he made. "Aiden! Oh my gosh! We are so sorry! We didn't know, we're sorry!"Luna hugged him from the top and almost cried herself from not knowing the signs that he needed to potty. "This is our fault...! Please Aiden! Please, please don't cry! We're trying sweetie! We want to get you home,"Celestia stressed and wanted to cry as well before he was finally done,"I my gosh...! You're completely soaked from the waist down...! We need to get you changed...!" "We can't! Not until we get out of this place! And that THING is out there!"Luna snapped as she tried to comfort the boy as he cried hard into her tiny belly while she hugged him. His lower body was already getting cold from the wet mess he was in and the ladies knew what comes in the next thirty minutes. They needed to get him out of here before the result urine on his lower body triggers a rash. Potentially leading to infection if not treated and changed, this frustrated Celestia a great deal. She almost screamed at her incompetence for forgetting a toddler's needs. She pounded at the mud walls in anger while Luna was slowly calming Aiden down. "If only we didn't wait to take him out of the human world! If only those parents had listen! If only, if only,"Celestia yelled at herself with anger and shamed as she pounded out a chunk of mud,"If only We had just came forward in our true forms and protected him...!" She bowed her head and let the whimpers of Aiden's misery punish her for their arrogance. She growled at herself and was ready to break down as well while another piece of mud fell from the ceiling. She stepped aside as she looked to Aiden while his face was buried in Luna. She sighed, and wanted to give him a hug of support whether she got wet from him or not. Fortunately a red shimmer of light glowed off the corner of her eye. She lifted her head and saw through an opening of the tunnel left by the mud she pounded on. She saw it with wide eyes she only knew she had as she found the means of salvation. The swamp pond out in the open, and right in front of it was the red and black swirling portal. She shuddered with a gasp before spotting the Stalker limping towards the pond with it's blade drawn. There was a way out, but getting it would be hard and risky. "Luna! Aiden! I found the portal...! I can see it...!"Celestia quietly called out and pointed to the two. Luna and Aiden parted for a moment to look at Celestia, and a gentle pat on Aiden's chest got him moving. He felt his groin area squish as he resorted to crawling in the cold mud. His foot was getting cold now that a chunk of his pajamas were gone from sight. He and Luna peeked and saw the portal, but the view of the Stalker, already near the exit sent them back. He hugged Luna and whimpered while Celestia got them to the hole again. "We can make that...! If Aiden just holds us tight. Our light will keep the creature back enough for us to reach the portal...!"Celestia tried to entice them with the idea of escaping another nightmare. "And what if it doesn't work!? Aiden won't last much longer...! Not after what just happened...!"Luna argued while Aiden sat and tried to wipe the mud from his foot. "Then you know what we will gladly do in order for him to survive...!"Celestia said coldly as Luna went silent before she also sighed and turned. "You understand that. Right Aiden?"Luna asked of the boy as he looked at her and slowly nodded before wanting to cry again. "Just think of this Aiden... Right there, just pass that thing, we are one step closer to home...!"Celestia begged of the boy as he lowered his head and crawled near the hole and grew quiet. "We are still with you Aiden...! Never forget that...!"Luna insisted as they climbed to his shoulders and got ready. They looked to the boy while he stared at the mud and let out a quiet light breath. He slowly looked to the red shimmer and kept his eyes focused on it, and his mind on the idea of home. He heard the rattling growls of the creature while it swung it's weapon around. Aiden stepped forward and breathed a bit quicker as he sharpened his vision. He felt something boiling from within his belly, and it wasn't an emergency coming again. Finally he growled and raced out of the hole with mud in his hair with a scream. The Stalker looked sharp and sneered with a smirk as it wielded the machete and waited for the perfect swing. It predicted that the child would try some sort of indirect trick on it, but did not expect frontal assault. It growled and got ready to swing as the boy approached, still screaming. The Stalker roared as it came down with a swing and was blinded by bright lights. Aiden hugged his plushies just in time to flash the creature and force it to stumble back. It blocked it's eyes with it's arms and felt the boy go under it's legs. It looked down and between them to see Aiden breaking for the portal while the screams finally ceased. It gasped and roared even louder as it's temper flared and raced to him with it's eyes shielded. The light burned it's pitch black skin, but it's reputation forced it to fight the light. It too let out a screech as they neared the portal, and were almost out of reach of the child. The boy reached out for the portal and cried as he was about to be sucked in. The ponies screamed as the creature lunged for a desperate grab and snatched the boy up by his body. The force through the plushies off his shoulders and spinning into the portal. They screamed and reached for Aiden before falling deep into the portal. Aiden reached and shouted out for the ponies as he squirmed in the strong grip of the monster. It forced Aiden to look into it's eyes, forcing him to grow silent as it roared at him. It's body quaked from the roar and blew back the boy's hair before lifting it's blade to his face. It's smiling face showed it's plan to filet Aiden's face complete off and chew off what laid inside. It moved the blade towards his face and went to make the cut. Aiden felt the sharp touch of the metal blade against his cheek. He panted and shuddered with shaken breaths as he looked with wide eyes to the face of death and froze. He felt frozen in time, and a boiling feeling in his chest before he growled and clenched his teeth. He fumed, and growled before his hands grabbed the monster's hand that held the machete. The Swamp Stalker tilted it's head in confusion while trying to carve in the boy's face. Only for it's muscle to suddenly fail and the blade was pushed away from Aiden's face. Stalker's hand trembled and looked to it's weapon and saw the boy's hand forcing him away. It's eyes trembled like it's lips as he realized the boy was over powering him with ease. A glint in the child's eyes went off as he growled in resistance and began shoving the blade away. It whimpered and struggled to fight back, but now the boy was the one carving in a face. The machete drew closer to the Stalker's face and made the beast shake it's head to resist. Only for the inevitable to happen, and the blade to slowly be driven into it's face, nose first. It screeched and struggled to move it's head away as black slime leaked from it's head. It roared and spasm out as it's own weapon finally was driven through it's head with a loud squish. The Stalker was now one to freeze as it's grip slowly loosened from the angry toddler. It's black slime leaked onto the boy's face before it let the boy go, and dropped him into the portal. As Aiden swirled away and escaped back to the safety of the red realm. The Stalker's arms fell and swung to it's sides and slowly began to sway. It swung both ways, and slowly fell backwards before slamming into the mud with a loud splash. It's head turned to the side, and it laid there dead in the very world it hunted in for ages, killed by a toddler. "WHAT?! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO! THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! THAT WAS MY FAVORITE MONSTER,"The shadow screamed at the top of his lungs and sent cracks into the swamps very sky,"THE BOY'S POWER IS STARTING TO SHOW...! That's it...! THAT IS IT! IT'S TIME I HANDLED THIS...! MYSELF!"