Forever scarred by his father and hated by others, the colt Slender walked into his new school and meet the love of his life. But as happy as he is, life has never been fair to him. He'll soon see just how cruel the world can be and how one can become the strongest, even in the darkness. Love, loss, insanity... Is there any difference?
I walked into class wearing the hoodie my mother bought me. Dark grey, to match my overwhelming sense of worry and hopefully draw attention away from my blazing white fur. Today was my first day here. I kept the hood up over my face and shied away from the other fillies and colts. My slick black tail swayed slowly behind me. I didn’t want to be seen. I didn’t want to be questioned about It. I wanted today to be over with the moment I woke up. I wanted to delay the in-evadable and be left alone...
But she had to walk up to me.
A young filly trotted up to me with a huge grin on her face. She was light grey, almost white. She had a stunning mane: Pure white with a splash of neon green on her forelock. Her forelock fell along the side of her face and her mane slipped along the back of her neck. Her tail was thin and sharp with a neon green stripe along the top of it. But her most striking feature was the spots she had splattered across her body. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
I receded further into my hoodie, trying to hide my blush, which was more than noticeable with my fur. Stupid fur. All I let her see of my face was my mouth, so she wouldn’t see it.
“Hello!” Her voice was crisp as an apple and twice as sweet. She smiled and waited paitently for a reply.
I don’t know how, but I managed to reply. “Hello” I some how forced a smile.
“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Night Glow,” What a lovely name for such a lovely filly “what’s your name?”
“My parents call me Slender... You can call me Slendy.” She looked a little confused so I explained “I was very thin as a baby.. They thought I wouldn’t make it..”
“Oh... I’m sorry... But here you are! Safe and alive, but you ARE pretty thin,” to emphasize that, she poked my shoulder and giggled “tall too.”
“Uh. thank you..” What an odd pony... So open and happy... And yet I liked her.
“Why do you have your hood up like that? You know it’s rude to have it up in a room.. I want to see your face..”
“I’d rather not take it off... If you don’t mind..”
“It’s okay, I was shy my first day too.” She beamed at me and that’s when the teacher walked in and all the young ponies went to their seats. I had no clue where to sit so I stood there, awkwardly, shuffling my hooves and looking at the ground. The teacher walked over and asked me to sit by Silverspoon.
I walked over and was shocked to see the little filly had her cutie mark already. a spoon.. What kind of talent is that?! Does she eat a lot or something? Next to her to her was another filly with her cutie mark. This one had a crown, a girly one at that, for a cutie mark. I frowned and turned back towards the teacher. She was staring pointedly at me. I was confused.
“We do not wear hoods in here sweetheart. It is disrespectful.”
“May I wear it? Just today? Please Miss, Miss-”
“Cheerilee, and fine, but only today. Tomorrow, no hoods.” She looked at me and the announced to the class “This is Slender. He is a new student and should be treated kindly.” I saw the two fillies from earlier smile at each other in an evil way and some snickers from a group of colts made my heart sink.
We spent the first half of the day taking notes and reading. I mostly doodled. I kept drawing circles, trying to make them perfect. When one wasn’t perfect i’d put an “x” through it and start again. I never did make a perfect circle, all were eventually x’d out.
I barely noticed when the first bell rang. I stood up and walked outside staying near the wall. It was recess and the ponies were out playing games. I saw a few colts picking on Night. I was furious. I ran over to help her.
The largest colt, a Pegasus, spoke for them all “Stay out of this Slendurr, This has nothing to do with you.” I stood infront of Night and lowered my head, without them seeing my face. “We were only talking, you don’t have to get so bent out of shape.” He flicked his tail at one of his cohorts who began to walk around Night and myself. “Can’t we all get along?”
The colt was light blue with a short blonde mane, I hated him the moment I saw him. He seemed to be the leader this band of jerks. His goon was now at my side. I kept an eye on him but I was more worried about blondy. He was well built and looked like he knew how to fight. I watched him carefully, sure of what he would do. And of course, e did it.
He began to flick his tail but I was ready. As he tail began to move I lept at him and bit into his ear, not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to shock him. He stumbled back and fell. I landed on him and he kicked out at my stomach. I fell off him and lost my balance. I fell flat on my rump. He stood up and bucked me in the chest and knocked the wind right out of me.
I looked to see how Night was. She had kicked the colts ass and was headed straight for the blue pony. By this time most of the ponies had surrounded us, watching the new colt get his butt kicked must be the awesomest thing they’ve ever seen.
Blue boy had pinned me down. “A tough one, eh? Let’s see just what’s under this hood of yours...” He kept me pinned and the other colt came and stood by my head. He waited.
“NO! Please don’t!” I knew it was useless, they’d pull the hood down and every one would know.
Just as the blue colt nodded to his friend, Night slammed into him. I heard a crack and saw the colt’s face contort in pain. He let out a quick gasp as he fell to the ground again. He began to moan and sob, holding his leg.
Cheerilee had run outside but stopped in her tracks she looked at Night Glow, and then to the blue colt, and then spotted the colt that Night had beaten. And then, then she looked at me, me and the now horrified colt standing right by my head.
I felt a cool breeze along my head as I realized it had happened. They know now. Everypony was staring at me. At my face...
They saw me as I am, faceless except for a razor sharp horn, and a mouth and nose. I had no eyes. I was blind. I never used to be.. What they saw was scar tissue. Not that it mattered. Who cares about your past when you’re ugly as sin? I didn’t even have a mane.. I was only a baby.. A mere infant when it happened! No eyes, but I made up for it with my magic. I could see the world fine, hell, maybe even better than others.
Night had not yet turned around, focused on keeping that blue... jerk... Under control. I focused on her, hoping she wouldn’t turn around
I’ve never been that lucky..
I flinched as she turned and looked at my face. She stopped moving and her eyes narrowed. “Slendy...?” She whispered my name and looked at me. I watched her as she started to walk up to me. All eyes were on her. My brows furrowed as she neared me. I looked down and laid my ears back. She lifted her hoof up to my face...
And punched me.
“I can defend my self, thank you! Look at this mess now! I wouldn’t have had to go to that much trouble just to get them to stop,” She sighed and extended her hoof towards me, I took it and she helped me up “You giant meat head”
Cheerilee finally snapped out of her confusion and walked up to us. “Night Glow and Slendy go to my room, now! Dinky, go get the nurse right away. Gem, go to my room also.” She was talking to the only conscious colt from the fight.
“Are you kidding?? I’m not gonna stay in the same room as that freak!”
“Go to the office then. I’ll come get you when I need to.” The colt walked away. Night and I walked slowly to the class room not saying a thing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The following week had been a living hell. Night Glow, Gem, the other Blue boy’s minion, and I all had detention. Together. Blue boy himself was still in the hospital, nursing a broken wing and rib. We had another week of detention looming in front of us. Night had yet to speak to me after the incident.
I had no clue what to do. She wouldn’t even look my way. I spent most of the detentions sketching my circles and then crossing them out. Never perfect. I’d steal a peek at Night and watch her read or stare out the window.
She even went out of her way to avoid me. Always walking as close to the wall as she could when she had to pass me. My heart broke when ever I saw her, shattered into a million pieces every time. I began to slip I sat in the back of the classroom, avoiding her and the stares I now received. That had began too. I’d walk into a happy, loud room full of kids and they’d stop. They’d stop and stare at me. Then the whispers. Always, the happiness turned into whispers, quiet whispers, whispers about me. I knew they were about me. Who else would they be about? The warmth of the room would fade and a chill always settled in. Always.
At least I didn’t need the hood up anymore, it got so stuffy in there. I had spent the day staring at a wall, waiting for the day to end. I still had to go to detention, but at least there were only a few of us ponies in it. The one jerk would be here tomorrow, what was his name? Sport Star, I think... Oh fun. I sighed as the bell rang.
I stayed were I sat as Cheerilee went to say good bye to the kids that were leaving. She’d be back in a few minutes to oversee us. I watched Night Glow walk in the room. Our eyes meet and my heart skipped a beat.
And then it stopped all together.
Night began to walk towards me. Good thing I have white fur, or Night would have seen the blood drain from my face. She sat in the desk next to mine and handed me a note. I took it and waited untill I knew Night wasn’t watching me. I unfolded the note
Meet me at Sugar Cube Corner
Sugar Cube? What did she want to talk about? I was worried that she’d tell me that she’d never want to see me again. I wouldn’t blame her, I’m hideous. A monster. I wrote back.
Why?
You’ll see.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I galloped home to drop my school stuff off and grab my hoodie. I waved a quick hello to my mother and took off for Sugar Cube Corner. She wasn’t there yet. Great! I smiled and walked in. A chose a corner booth and ordered a cupcake and apple juice. I put my hood down, why hide it any more?
Most of the ponies in town had seen me by now and knew what I looked like, though they didn’t know WHY I looked like this. I wanted to keep it that way.
Still not very lucky, huh?
I looked out the window in time to see Night Glow walk up to the store with an older mare. The older mare was white with a blue mane and odd tinted glasses. Night Glow hoof-bumped the mare and waved good by. She opened the door and shouted back out the door “Later mom!”
She came in as the weird hyper pink pony brought me my cupcake and juice. Night sat at the booth and smiled sadly. I offered her my cupcake which she happily took. She ordered another juice and we sat there in silence. After a bit she sighed and looked at me.
“I wanted to talk to you.. Without being in such a dumb place as school.” I thought this place was kind of dumb but whatever. “I had some questions.”
Oh goddess no. No no no.
She looked at me and whispered. “How?”
I couldn’t resist her, she was to cute to ignore. I had to answer the question. “My face?” She nodded and I sighed.
Cowering in a corner in a small apartment was an infant colt, hiding behind his unicorn mother, both covered with bruises and cuts. A large shadow loomed over the two as the mother tried to protect her offspring. This was a normal night in an apartment in the slums of Manehatten.
The shadow grew. The monster that the shadow belonged to came ever closer to the ponies.
“Daddy, why?”
Those were the colts first words, and if it weren't for his mother, they may have been his last.
The mother looked at her colt and to the monster, then back to her colt. She kissed him on the forehead and smiled. “I love you Slen-Slen”
She leaped at the monster knocking him down. A loud UMPH was heard as both hit the ground. “Slen, run!!”
The monster struck the mother in the face. She let out a gasp and fell. The monster towered above her, chuckling. He reeked of liqueur. He has always been known to drink heavily, and tonight was no exception.
The colt sat there and watched as his father beat his mother. He made no move to leave. He was crying as he watched the life slowly fade from his mother, even as an infant he understood that his mother was going to die.
He could do nothing about the monster his father had become. He was useless.
To this day that colt remembers everything that happened, everything that happened to him. He remembers most vividly what happened next.
His father turned from the colts mother to the colt. The stallion bashed the colt in the head and bit at the colts mane, ripping out what was little hair the colt had. The colt screamed, only to be bashed in the head again. The fathers sharp hooves cut and scraped the colts eyes, causing the colt to go blind. As if the child hadn’t been beat enough, the father slashed at the colts chest, leaving a long gash along the colts chest.
The colt was beyond screaming, only whimpering with every hit. He never noticed when his mother, having saved every ounce of energy left in her, jumped at the stallion, biting deep into his neck, ripping it to shreds. The stallion let out an awfull yell and bucked and kicked with the mare still attached to his neck. He locked his legs and stood still, having lost a lot of his own energy.
The mother took this chance to quickly let go, aim for his jugular, and then leap at him again, biting into his jugular. Blood exploded into her mouth, but she didn’t let go. The stallion bucked again and kicked at the mother, but she didn’t let go. The stallions legs buckled and he fell, the mare still attached. The mare could see the light fading from his eyes, and in one last moment of sobriety, he locked eyes with the mare.
“I’m sorry.”
A single tear fell from his eye and he took one final gasp of air. Then went still.
The mother waited for a few minutes to let go, and when she did finally let go she set his head down softly. She looked over at her still whimpering colt. He couldn’t see her, he could barely even hear her over the sound of the blood rushing in his ears.
She slowly limped over to him, collapsing next to him. “I love you Slender.” She hugged him close to her shaking body, crying. “I love you so much. Please, be happy Slen-Slen. I love you.. I.. Love.. Yo-”
With one last whimper she went still.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
At a hospital near-by, a mare had been wondering as to why her best friend hadn’t shown up to work. After her shift has over she had walked to her friends apartment building. She inquired at the front desk about whether or not her friend had left the building.
The attendant had replied no and sent the mare on her way. The mare was concerned, so she went back in, nodded at the attendant and rode the elevator to her friends floor. When the elevator doors opened, the mare could smell something rather foul in the air. Only a small hint of rot wafted from down the hall. The mare was hit in the gut with the sudden realization as to where the smell was coming from...
She bolted for her friends door and bucked it open. After the door had fallen she heard a small whimper come from the living room she had known for years. She slowly walked in to find what looked like a scene right out of a horror movie. Blood was splattered on all of the furniture and walls. Her best friend lay on the ground, with her back facing the mare. A few feet away laid a stallion. She screamed and was about to run away, when she heard it again. The whimper. Hope rushed to the mare as she thought it wasn’t to late for her friend.
It was.
She went to her friend and nudged her “Are you okay? Maybelle? May, wake up! May?!” By this point she was shaking her friend, not that the body was easy to shake. Riga mortis had set in and the body was stiff. But the mare was sure she had heard a whimper. And that’s when she noticed the little ball of white, tinted blood red, fur that was hiding under the deceased mare’s leg.
“Hello little guy” the mare said shakily, “Slender was it?” The colt backed even closer to his mother, not fully understanding she could no longer protect him.
The mare held out her hoof and showed a gentle smile* to the colt, not knowing he was now blind. She lightly set her hoof on his head, causing him to flinch. She gently rubbed the top of his head as he began to warm up to her. She gingerly lifted the colt and hugged him close. She didn’t bother to check the father, she knew he was dead and was glad for it. The less of his type in the world, the better. She took the child down stairs and asked the shocked attendant to call 911.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After the police had had cleaned up the apartment and questioned all ponies from the apartment floor, they began to worry about the colt. He had been sent to the hospital and was being treated for his wounds. An orange pony with a dark orange mane had been with the colt since the police arrived. They had questioned the mare and found out that she was not his mother, but that she was a close friend of the mothers. The colt was now an orphan, he had no home.
The police drove to the hospital and found the mare in the waiting room. She looked like she hadn’t slept in ages. She was crying as the police approached her. Her friend was dead and the colt wasn’t looking much better off.
The chief cleared his throat and asked “Do you know of any relatives that would adopt the boy?”
The mare shook her head and sobbed “No, Maybelle was an only filly and her parents passed away recently. Slender has no family.” The mare emphasized that the colt had a name and was not just “the boy”. She sobbed some more and looked at her hooves.
The chief sighed and turned to his subordinates “Looks like Slender is going to the orphanage.”
“NO!” The mare jumped up and looked at the chief, eyes pleading and lip quivering. “I’ll take him. I’ll raise him. He’ll be my son.”
The chief smiled and pulled pulled some paper work out of his saddle bag. “First we’ll need your name miss.”
“I’m Carrot Top.”
As the chief was handing Carrot the paper work, a doctor came out through ER doors “Ms. Top? Ah! there you are,” he trotted over to the small group “Slender looks like he’ll make it. It’s a miracle. But he’ll be scarred forever. The smaller scars will be covered by his fur but the larger ones will be extremely noticeable.” He fidgeted “He’s also suffered severe damage to the hair follicles of his mane. He’ll be lucky to grow a single hair on his head. His fur should cover most of the scar from it.”
Carrot was listening intently. “What else?” She could see something wasn’t being said.
The doctor sighed. “He’s blind. We tried our best to fix his sight, but it was no use. His eyes will most likely be sealed shut, but again, his fur should cover those scars. “ Carrot wiped her eyes and sniffed. “Well then... Guess we have some work ahead of us..”
Night Glow sat staring at the table. I watched her. “I’m sorry.. I shouldn’t have told you this Night, I’m so sorry...” I whispered... She was sad. Sad because of me. It’s my fault. I should never have even spoke to her that day. I’ve caused her so much trouble and sadness..
She looked up at me. I looked away. “Don’t be sorry.. What happened wasn’t your fault.. You were only an infant.” I saw Night smile at me from the corner of my eye. “I lost my father a year ago... He.. He was coming into town to walk me home from Note Book’s house, she’s my best friend. Uh back to my story. He came to get me the same night Snipps and Snails led an Ursa Major into town,” I looked at Night, sadly, knowing how her story would end, “It rampaged through town, swiping at everypony who got in it’s way. My father was turning the corner, I was watching out the window. I ran out the door and bolted for him.. He didn’t see it... He only saw me. I... I saw him smile, the way he always did... He loved mom and me. The Major barely even struck him... A claw caught his neck.. And.. And..” She couldn’t continue.. I only watched her.. In perfect clarity as her depression seeped from her every pore.
“You don’t have to continue.. I’m sorry..” What Could I do? She was crying in front of me and I wanted nothing more than to hold her, whisper to her that it would be alright, but I couldn’t. I knew she wouldn’t let me. “I.. Understand...” What she said next still leaves me baffled.
“Shit happens. It’s better to go with the flow and put the worst behind you. Why dwell on what makes you sad? Wouldn’t you rather be happy?” She wiped her eyes and smiled again. “I was devastated for a week after the incident. My father is the only pony that was.. Taken.. I made sure to beat the shit out of Snipps and Snails. They aren't in the same class as me anymore.. Mom told me to move on.. Nothing I did could bring him back and I knew it couldn’t. So.. I moved on..”
I smiled as I saw her smile again, a happy smile, not sad, but happy. I smiled back and glanced out the window to see Night Glow’s mom waiting patiently for her daughter. I didn’t know if the mare could see us, but I had the oddest feeling she could. Night Glow followed my gaze and laughed quietly.
“Looks like I have to go. I’ll see monday at school, ok?” She held up her hoof waiting for me to hoof-bump it. I got the hint, and returned the hoof-bump. She left and I watched her hug her mother and leave, both smiling. I took the few bits that I had and paid for the food and left.
I walked out as the sun was setting and headed for home. On my way I bumped into a light yellow pegasus. Her mane and tail were a well kept light pink. She was buying some apples and had a little bunny sitting on her back. As I bumped her she gave a little squeak and jumped, spilling all of her apples. The look that that bunny gave me... If only looks could kill. I filled the basket up for the pegasus and offered to bring it home for her, to repay her for my little mistake.
“Oh no, I couldn’t ask you to do that. I was in the way...” She was right next to the apple cart, ten feet from the main flow of traffic. I gave her a quizzical look and slipped under the strap of the satchel.
“I insist.” I smiled at her.
“Well if you insi-” She looked up at my face. “Oh my... What happened? Are you alright? How can you see?!” By this time she was up in my face examining my face, mostly my eyes, fussing over me.”
I lightly put my hoof on her shoulder and reassured her with a chuckle “I’m fine Miss, honest. It’s a long story, but I can see just fine.” She looked at me oddly. “It’s my magic. I can ‘see’ perfectly fine, if not better. I can even see the feelings of other ponies. My least favorite is worry,so please stop worrying.”
“Oh please, do tell me more.” She gestured for me to walk with her and I happily followed. Aunt Carrot Top wouldn’t be mad if I was home late for a good reason.
“Well?” What would you like to know?”
“How do you see like that?”
“It’s the magic that I have..” I shrugged “I have been able to see like this since I was just an infant. It’s... Hmm.. Kind of like echolocation. A bit of magic is always radiating from my horn, and the magic ... it.. How do I put this? It... Makes a magical copy of my surroundings and then returns to my horn, showing me what is around me.”
Her face was scrunched up in thought. “Okay, but what about seeing the feelings of other ponies? What do feelings look like? How does it work?”
I laughed. “Imagine different colored waves surrounding a pony, just radiating from that pony. I see that with the magic. Like right now, you’re emanating a vibrant bright blue, which is curiosity. One of my personal favorite feelings to see though is sadness, it is a very sad, but beautiful color. Misty dark purple. My favorite thing about it is that when the sad pony begins to cheer up, the mist dissipates, and the pony radiates a bright gold, like the sun.” I had stopped and was staring at the, now almost set, sun. “It’s amazing.”
“Oh.. It sounds wonderful.. “ For the first time since I met her, she smiled. It was a lovely smile, like that of a wise old woman, truly at peace with world. I liked her, she reminded me of my mother, always whispering softly to me, smiling, brightening the dark life I once had. I was one of the only ponies that could remember such an early time in their life. Carrot Top told me when I was young, she made sure I knew I was not her child, that I not forget my mother..
“May... May I ask what happened? Why you’re like... this?” She looked at me.
I began to walk again. “Of course you may...” So I began. I told her about my mother, my father, Aunt Carrot Top.. How I got these scars... I told her that why I always where the hood is so that I can hide the long scar on my chest. She cried, of course. What normal pony wouldn’t? I know Night Glow didn’t, but she had her reasons, she was desensitized to this stuff.
After she had stopped crying, she rubbed her eyes and looked over at me. “I’m sorry, I had no Idea..”
“it’s not your fault.” I shrugged. We had walked up to a tree house next to the Everfree Forest.
“This is my house. Please set those apples right on the porch and I’ll run in and get you something to repay you for your help.” I began to object but she dashed in the house. Her little rabbit friend, Angel, gave me another nasty look and went inside. A moment later the pony came back out.
“Here.” She handed me a bag full of bits. I tried to say no but she pressed it firmly in my hoof.
“Take it and give this to Carrot Top.” She handed me a small envelope. “It’s a powder she is to mix with the water for her garden. It’ll keep the slugs away. Oh! I nearly forgot to tell you my name!” She laughed quietly “I’m Fluttershy.”
“Slender. Nice to talk to you Fluttershy. Lets do it again some time.” I looked up at the sky, now dark and shuddered. “I’ve got to leave, Carrot Top will be upset if I’m terribly late getting home.” Fluttershy agreed and let me borrow a saddlebag to take the stuff.
I walked down the path from her house trying to decide the fastest way home. If I took the path it would be well lit but if I raced along the edge of the Everfree Forest I’d get home a lot faster..
“The forest isn’t that bad... At least the edge isn’t...”..
“Nightmare Night! Such a fright! Give me something sweat to bite!!” A ggroup o young colts danced around me chanting their silly song.
“If I gave you ponies some candy will you leave me alone?” Nightmare Night was not really my night. Didn’t get candy, was to hold for that. Couldn’t send out my own kid to get some, was still to young to have children.. Night Glow was my night. I laughed at my little pun and tossed the children the few pieces of candy I had. They ran off and I continued my journey.
“SLENDY!!!” There she was. Trotting up to me with the biggest smile painted on her face. Night Glow. “Hey dude! Guess what!! My mom is hosting a huge party in town hall. Wanna go? Please??” She smiled even more so.
I laughed. “Alright, alright! Was headed there anyways, you mom IS the best DJ in all of Equestria. Sooo... Whatcha supposed to be?”
“I’m Nightmare Night! See?” She turned to the side so I could see her dyed fur and painted on cutie mark. She had also died her mane and tail purple. She put in her fake fangs and growled at me “Pathetic foals!!”
I laughed as she spit out the fangs and stashed them in her treat bag. Wait! Treat bag? “You still get candy?”
“Of course! Free candy, why wouldn’t I?” She smiled down at her bag. It was full, and I could tell she was proud of herself. “Well I have enough, so how about we get to the party?” She swished her tail around
We walked towards town hall and waved at our guardians as we passed them. Vinyl was dressed as a vampire, complete with red contacts.. But she emanated a weird color of red and gold.. Huh... She was standing next to a fancy high-class looking grey pony. Out of place here in Ponyville. I thought maybe it was a costume but the refined silver surrounding her told me other wise. They were talking to Carrot Top about something or another.
The waved back at us and trotted over. The grey pony spoke first.
“Oh Night! You look so scary! The dye isn’t permanent right? I happen to know a certain princess who might be insulted if it doesn’t wash out.” She meant Princess Luna.
“Of course! Octavia, this is Slender, my best friend.”
“Why hello,” She stuck out her hoof for me to shake, and obliged “Night Glow talks about you NON-STOP. It’s nice to finally meet the pony she adores.” She winked at Night Glow who was nearly jumping at her throat to shut her up. I snickered.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you too ma’am.”
“And such manners! You sure know how to pick them, don’t you Nighty?” After dodging punch from Night, Octavia looked at me smiling. “So are you graduating next year with Night Glow?”
“Yes and I can’t wait to get out of that school. I’m more of a university pony, my self.” At that, Octavia beamed and turned to Vinyl. “Shouldn’t you be getting to your party?” Vinyls eyes lit up
“Oh yeah!! Better get there before the doors open. Good thing we set up this morning. Everything is ready to go.” She smiled.
“Except for you.” Octavia pointedly said. Vinyl huffed and left.
“You two better get going also, if you want to be first in line.” Carrot Top looked at us.
“It’s okay, Mom said we could go in the back door.” Night Glow started to leave, hinting that I should follow. I said a quick goodbye and followed Night.
We made it to town hall and slipped in the back door, where vinyl was waiting. She led us to the main room where everything was set up. Spooky decorations covered the walls and three large tables were covered in themed food and candy. Night and I grabbed a cup of “blood” and found a place to sit.
“Wanna go dance?” Night looked at me with pleading eyes.
“Well... I suck at dancing...” Her face fell, “Well, I guess it couldn’t hurt.” She made the cutest squeaking noise and led me to the dance floor.
She danced and twirled, maintaining perfect balance. Vinyl was up by the turntables, with Octavia. Vinyl waved for me to come over.
“I’ll be right back!” I shouted over the music. Night only nodded once.
I walked up to the turntables and Vinyl tossed me some small cylinders. She mouthed something at me and waved me away. I walked back to Night and asked what her mother gave me.
“She squeed and took the things from me. “Oh my gosh! glow sticks!!”
I saw her take the cylinder in her hooves and start to bend it. I began to protest but it was too late. A sickening crack was heard as she snapped the thing. She smiled at me and showed me what had happened. She held up a bright glowing cylinder, the same one I had seen only moments ago. She broke the other and quickly put them on strings. She tied them to her hooves and told me to stand back.
What happened next blew my mind. she began to swing her hooves, the glow sticks trailing in their path. She spun and bucked, looking ever graceful. I stood in awe of her beauty. She was so graceful and perfect. My heart sank as I realized I wasn’t good enough for her. She was perfect and I was broken. But I was smitten. I loved her, that was no secret..
She slowly came to a stop and looked at me. “well?”
I was at a loss for words. I knew nothing I could say would sound right.
“Well?? What do you think? Was it bad? Do I need work? Did I look stupid??? Tell me!!” She looked so worried, she didn’t understand how amazing she was. Maybe she didn’t understand that I was no good for her. Maybe just maybe...
Her ranting stopped abruptly. I had leaned in and kissed her on the cheek. I stayed still for a moment.
“You’re perfect.” I whispered.
I’ve never seen such a beautiful color. Brilliant gold with a blush of light pink. She radiated this magnificent color. It embraced me and we stood there.
Out of the corner of my sight I saw Vinyl say something to Octavia and start making her way towards us. I jumped away from Night Glow with a start. She was blushing as deeply as myself. I looked at her then down at the ground.
Vinyl reached us and then eyed me. She kept staring at me. She emanated a calm blueish green. She huffed and turned towards Night, who blushed even deeper.
Vinyl leaned down and said something to Night. Night’s eyes widened and her blush faded
“You mean it?? Is it there????” She began jumping around excitedly. She spun around and around and Vinyl sat there laughing.
“Night calm down! It’s there, but you’ll never see it if you keeping bucking about like that. Stop and LOOK at it!”
She stopped and that’s when I saw it.
“My cutie mark!!” It was amazing. It was glowing through the paint on her rump. It was GLOWING. “Wow! It glows!! Has this ever happened to any other pony?” Just wow!! Oh! Slendy look! Isn’t it awesome?! I don’t think I’d have ever got it if it weren't for you...”
I smiled at her. She was beautiful. She shined even more than her glow sticks.
I trotted along the forest, pausing to listen every now and then. I swore I heard something following me.
“Must just be the echo of my hoof steps against the trees.” I laughed nervously “Yeah just an echo..” I dared a peek behind me...
I squinted my eyes. Where those.. Eyes behind me? I squinted harder. They were. Peircing green eyes, with a hazy purple mist flowing from them.. I must be going insane: this creature had no body at all. Not a single color emanated from it. the only thing I saw were the eyes. Those eyes. They were hypnotizing. I found my self drawn to them. I was horrified, yes, but also entranced. The eyes had a magnetic effect to them, All I wanted was to look into them forever. I wanted to do as they saw fit, to do the bidding of the creature the eyes belonged to. Began to walk towards the beast and it’s magnificent eyes. I had to serve, I’d die if I didn’t. It was that simple.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
I counted my steps trying not to look nervous under the steady, menacing gaze. I knew in the back of my head that I should be running. I shouldn’t be here. I needed to leave. I stayed. I kept walking towards them the beast towered above me, seeming to rise up above me as I walked towards it. The eyes focused on me. I was so close to the creature. I could reach my hoof out and touch it. I didn’t. I felt that the worst would happen if I did.
I never broke eye contact. I held the gaze of these magnificent eyes. I stopped and just sat there, mystified by the beast. The more I stared the softer the eyes became, warmer and more inviting. The voice in the back of my head was slowly being silenced as I began to smile up at the creature. The eyes softened even more so, they were so calm, collected, and inviting. So welcoming and kind. I felt a kinship with the owner of the eyes. I’d do anything to stay with them forever.
I became more relaxed, calmer, I felt like just lying down, letting the darkness of the night enfold around me. I sat and stared. The voice in my head had long since been silenced. I have no idea how long I sat there like that. Must have been hours.
The eyes narrowed and focused hard on me. I felt like they were staring right through me, straight into my soul. A shiver ran through me, starting in my snout and ending in my tail. I slowly began to lose focus on the world around me, nothing mattered beyond this beast. Not a thing. The eyes grew more intense, the mist growing denser and darker.
In my peripheral I saw glint of silver gleam beneath the eyes. I didn’t know what it was, but it grew. I needed to look at what it was. I had to, the eyes bade me.
I was taken slightly aback. It was a silvery smile, kind and warm hearted. It was the last thing I expected to be there. The smile belonged to the creature. That was apparent. It had sharp fangs. I was in no way scared. It was kind smile, like that of a dog.
Still I couldn’t make out the creatures body.
“My young friend, whatever are you doing out by the forest in the middle of the night?” His voice was like honey, deep and steady, but with a slight lisp, much like a snakes. I quivered at his voice. He sounded so powerful, so calm, so amazing. I would do anything, he only need ask it of me.
I quickly regained my own steadiness. I bowed. “Sorry to have bothered you sir. I was walking back home. This was the shortest route. I am sorry to have disturbed you.”
“Oh, I am not disturbed, merely intrigued. I was watching you. You have so much.. Potential,” The way he said it, like I was the most magnificent thing he had ever seen, made the hairs on my back stand up. “Yes, potential.. Bright, cunning. You’d never stumble, stammer, stutter, or spurt out meaningless words. You are great,” he stated with a low hiss, “and your magic, it’s beyond powerful.”
“Thank you.” I nodded.
“Do not give thanks where it is not needed, my friend, I was merely stating your greatness, not paying you a compliment. Though I must admit, I like the way you think: You take facts and make the about you, boy. I like that.”
I nodded cursing myself for thinking he would compliment me. Me, a pathetic thoughtless, weak, unicorn. What did he mean powerful magic? That damned purple unicorn in Ponyville could do a couple thousand more magic tasks than I! Great and powerful? More like weak and useless.
I saw his smile broaden. “Powerful and great. Exactly who I need. I have a proposition for you my boy.”
“Anything for you.”
“Look deep into my eyes, see all that is great about, all that is powerful. Let the dark embrace you, welcome it into your broken heart. The darkness is your friend, there to do your bidding, if you so wish it. The darkness would never hurt not like those other pathetic ponies. That Sportstar and his little friends will never be able to touch you again, not when you’ve embraced the darkness. Never will fillies turn up their noses when you walk past them, they shall bow down to your glory, the glory that is Slendermane!” His speech intensified, growing into a dull roar. “Their almighty ruler. You shall have your pick of the mares, your pick of stallions to feed to the manticores, your pick of the finest foods, your own lovely castle so as to watch over all your soon to be new subjects. Those sad fools will have no clue what hit them as you and your new dark pet unleash your fury on them. They’ve brought it upon themselves!” He began to spin around me as I sat there caught up in his wonderful voice, his knowledge, his righteousness. “Join me! For I am the darkness! Embrace us and we shall rule them all!!”
I had only just began to say yes as it hit me. The creature whirling around me did have a form. I could see it now. His beautiful form. It was the darkness. That was the color he radiated. Darkness, beautiful darkness. And it had surrounded me. I’d never felt so welcome’d, so wanted, like some one actually cared. And it felt glorious.
He slowed and hissed into my ear “together, we are unstoppable.”
“Together, we shall make them pay.”I laughed as I said it. The darkness unfolding like a giant pair of wings from the beast. It swooped down and embraced me, swathing me in a warm cloak.
I kicked out, screaming, the scar on my chest burning. My horn turned black and a powerful black lightning streak bolted from my horn. My hips burned, my chest burned, my head was pounding. I was losing ever ounce of sanity. He watched me, my new mentor, my teacher, as I writhed in pain under his gaze. He sat back, straight faced the smile gone from his face. He watched as I lost myself. I held no grudge, this was the first step, i was convinced, to becoming powerful. Pain. So I laughed. I laughed it all away, giggled at the pain and nearly died laughing. He smiled knowing I had embraced the darkness. That I had embraced him also. But one thing he had said, amongst the rest, had really stuck, emblazoned upon my brain, one thing that had me thunderstruck. A name. My name.
“Yes, a true prodigy. The perfect apprentice. The darkness shall do your bidding, and I shall teach you of it’s ways.” His voice was a soft purr in my head. I smiled as he continued. “We’ll remain hidden from those around you but we shall still be there.” With that, he was gone, as was the black color to my horn.
I was exhausted. The past night had been longer than expect. I decided to head back home. He was still with me. I find it hard to explain how. It was like he was there, in my head, like a silent ghost.
My house came into view and with renewed strength, I galloped home.
Carrot Top had fallen asleep in front of the door. I smiled and nudged her gently. She must have been extremely worried about me.
Her eyes fluttered and then shot open “Where the hell have you been?!! I’ve been worried sick. Explain yourself mister!!”
I reached back into my saddle bag and pulled out the envelope. “I was with Ms. Fluttershy. She needed help bringing some things home. We got to chatting and I lost track of time. Before I left though, she gave me the envelope. You are to mix this powder with the water for your garden. It’ll keep the slugs away.”
She took the powder and set it down. “I’m sorry” she hugged me “I’ve just been worried about you since the fight at school.”
I hugged her back “I’m fine, just a little tired.” I yawned so as to add emphasis. She let me go.
“Okay. Try not to sleep in to late.” She watched me as I walked past. “Sleep tight. Good ni- Well morning I guess.”
I snickered “Yes, good morning to you too.”
I walked up the stairs and into my room. After quickly getting out of my hoodie, I plopped down on my bed. “What a long night...” I couldn’t even finish my thought before passing out.
She was in front of me. We were in the woods. We were both full grown. How did we get here? Wasn’t I just in my bed? I shook my head.
“Night? What are we-”
She took a step back. “D-don’t touch me! I’ll scream!” She was horrified.
Wait.
I could see around me. It wasn’t my magic. I only saw what was ahead of me... And what was ahead of me I didn’t want to see.
Night’s eyes were brimmed with tears. What was wrong? Why is she scared? Wa-Was it me? What was wrong with me?
A little head poke out from behind Night and looked at me. It was a little foal, she had white fur with a green tipped black mane. “Mama?”
“Mama?” I looked at Night. “Ma- Night..” It crashed down on me. I fell to my knees. Night took this as her chance to run. She spun around and gave the foal and hard push. The foal took the hint and ran as fast as her legs would carry her. “Night! Wait!!” Tears streamed down my face. Those I loved were running from me in fear. I fell onto my side as despair sank in.
I had managed to fling myself right off the bed. Hitting the floor jolted me awake. “Oh Celestia.. It was only a dream.. Ow.” My head was pounding. Light streamed in through my windows, only making my headache worse. I ventured a look outside, it had to be nearly noon.
I closed my curtains and reached under my bed. I pulled out a journal. Opening it up I stopped a few pages in. I kept a picture of my mother there. I smiled and closed the journal. “It was only a nightmare.. Only a nightmare..”
The nightmares continued for the following weeks. Hearth’s Warming Eve was fast approaching and I still had no gifts for anypony I loved. I had been losing a lot of sleep and was getting paranoid.
“Hey!! Why ya lookin’ so down there kiddo?” A bright pink pony was bouncing up and down in front of me. I guess I could tell her. Her brain goes to fast to remember my woes anyways.
“Just don’t know what to get everypony for Hearth’s warming.. There’s Carrot Top, Night Glow, my “grand parents”...”
“Oh pfft. Carrot top? Thats easy. Give her this!” The pony pulled out a packet of seeds and handed them to me. “These are rare!! They only bloom ONCE a year! On Hearth’s Warming no less!” She turned and walked away. I was confused. But ran to Carrot Tops store, Golden Harvest.
“Hey Slendy!” Carrot top was behind the counter She waved and went back to what she was doing. I looked around for the perfect pot. “I’ll be getting off soon and Time Turner will be here to take over. Would you like to go to lunch with me?”
“Sorry no. I have some things I need to get done.”
“Well put a scarf on!! It’s starting to snow.”
“My coat isn’t enough?”
“No.”
After a farce of a fight with Carrot top, she clocked out and took off. “Don’t stay to long, I swear, that Time Turner is insane!”
“Yes ma’am! It’ll take approximately 3 months for that bush to grow.” He was on the phone with a customer. I turned and went back to the pots. I found an ornate one and walked up to Time Turner. He was still one the phone. I waited patently, admiring his simple coat color. Brown. Natural. With a darker brown mane. I was getting bored.I tapped my hoof on the counter. While still on the phone with the customer, Time Turner rung me up and quietly gave me my change. I waved a silently goodbye and left.
“Just a moment ma’am.” He put the phone down. “Hold on Slends. Got something for ya.” He slipped into the storage room and came out with a multi-colored scarf “Heard Carrot Top chewing your bum out. Here ya go mate.” He tossed the scarf at me and wished me a happy Hearth’s Warming.
I wrapped the scarf around my neck and left. “Now how do I get this to grow before Hearths Warming?” I was lost in thought and bumped into something. I lost the pot and it flew through the air. “NO!” The pot smashed into the ground, shattering into billions of peices. “Gah!! NOOO!!!” I ran over and started picking up the big chunks. “What did I even run into?” I looked over my shoulder. “Oh..”
A wall-eyed pegasus looked at me. “I just don’t know what went wrong!” She had dropped a package when we bumped. I rolled my eyes and picked it up for her. The box read fragile. I gave it a small shake and cringed. WAS fragile...
“Here. You dropped this” I handed her the package. She accepted it and looked at the address. She looked around and locked on something. She giggled and galloped to one of the kiosks on the road.
I picked up my stuff and with a sense of forboding, went back into Golden Harvest. “Time-Turner?” He looked down at me/
“Slends! What happe-”
“DERPY!!”
We both cringed as we turned to see a storekeeper chasing the pegasus. I pointed at the scene and gave Time Turner a look.
“I see. I think we have one more of those pots in the back. He came back with the pot.
“Thank you Times. Hw much s it?”
He shook his head. “No charge.”
I left and, watching my back, went home to put the stuff safely in my room. I planted the seeds and watered them. I left again after setting the pot in the window.
“Now for Night Glow.” I wanted to get some thing extravagant for her. I’d been saving up all of my bits to buy something awesome. But all the things I’m sure she would like, her mom most likely has or has better....
“Still sad?” It was that pink pony again, this time with a cyan pegasus.
“Hey kid, whats the matter?” The Cyan pony flipped her rainbow mane out of her eyes, looking at me.
“I need the perfect gift for Night Glow...”
“Vinyls girl?” The pony smiled. “I was just with her! She was eying this outfit.. But it was up in Canterlot..”
“Why were you guys up in Canterlot??”
“Twi had to visit Luna, and everyone tagged along. Vinyl wanted to go see Octavia. Night Glow also wanted to go and do some Hearth’s Warming shopping. Think she had somepony in mind.” She scratched her chin. “Oh! Hey! I’m Rainbow Dash by the way, and that is Pinke Pie.”
“Slenderm- Slendy” Slendermane? I shook my head. “How am I going to get to Canterlot?!” I let out a frusterated moan.
Dash snickered “I’ll get ya there and back. I got some time and bits to waste. Wanna come Pinkie?” After a zealous yes from th pink pony we left.
~~~~~~~~
I got back late at night. I wrapped Night’s present and went to sleep. No nightmares for once, just a peaceful void filled with nothing but a quiet murmur. The murmur sounded something like a song, song by the most talented pony in all of Equestria.
When I woke up the sun was just passing over the horizon and snow was floating to the ground. I yawned and stretched. Tonight I was going to Night’s for a Hearths Warming party. Night assured me it would be calm, that Octavia had planned the whole thing.
I got up and set out my outfit for the night. A nice black tux with a red silk tie. Simple, but nice.
I spent the day worrying about how I would handle tonight. I eventually got ready and left.
I entered Nights house and was greeted by Vinyl. She shook my hoof. “You look great Slendy!” I smiled back at her, glancing around for Night. Vinyl rolled her eyes, “she’s in the kitchen.”
I nodded and left. I’d been her a few times to work on homework with Night. I entered the kitchen. She was getting a glass of punch. She turned and my jaw dropped. She was wearing the most beautiful dress I had ever seen. Black with lime green trim and red sequins along the bottom of it.
“You like it?” Night looked confused? “I think it’s hideous. Octavia made me wear it. Said I need to look good for the guests.” She made a gagging noise and pointed at her mouth, rolling her eyes. She laughed and hugged me.
“Well it looks good anyways.” I hugged her back. We joined everyone in the dining room. A huge, long table was set up in the middle, covered with food. It all smelt so good! Baked, glazed carrots, hay casserole? Wow! The spread looked amazing. Everypony was starting to take their seats. Night lead us to the end of the table. Vinyl Sat on the end of the table. Octavia was to her left. Night sat to her left and told me to sit next to her.
Dinner was amazing, but I ate a bit to much apple crisp. My stomach was extended and I was more than full. We all sat there talking about this and that, giving ourselves time to digest.
After my stomach had settled I excused myself from the table, Night following me. We walked around the house trying to find a place to be alone. The house was to crowded so we went outside.
“Happy Hearth’s warming.” Night handed me a hastily wrapped present.
“You didn’t have to...” I opened it and was greeted by a box. I opened the box and pulled out a hoody. It was grey and black with gold accents. It had gold wings printed on the back. It was awesome! The coolest gift I’d ever seen. I wanted to put it on, but instead I wrapped it around Night’s shoulders. She was shivering. She smiled.
“I’ll be right back. Your present is inside.” I trotted inside and grabbed her present. I had it wrapped back in Canterlot. It was a rather large box so I hid it here yesterday with Vinyl.
I brought it outside. I looked at Night. Snow flakes had fallen on her eyelashes and her eyes sparkled as she saw the gift. I gave it to her and watched her open it.
“It’s a full raver mares outfit! Oh Slendy you shouldn’t have! But how..? This was in Canterlot.”
“Rainbow Dash took me. told me what you were looking at.”
“I love it! Here I’m gonna go try it on!” She went inside.” I sat in the cold waiting patiently. A few minuets later she came out.
She came out with a black hoodie on. It had glow in the dark green trim and a green fake mohawk mane. She was wearing green leg fluffies and a short black and green skirt. To complete the look I also bought her a pack of 100 glowsticks and 2 LED pink glowsticks. She was in heaven.
