Night of the Blanks

It was a beautiful night in Ponyville. The moon is shining, the stars are all sparkling, the crickets were all chirping their songs, and all of the little ponies are all at home, and fast asleep. But not everpony are sleeping soundly, which goes to a certain little filly.

Apple Bloom is squirming and jerking in her bed as she was having a nightmare. In her dream, Apple Bloom is lost somewhere in the Everfree Forest.

“Hello?” Apple Bloom called out in the dark. “Is anypony there?”

At first, there was no response. Just silent. Then, came a voice.

“Join us.” It said in a low creepy voice. “We’ll protect you. We’ll keep you safe.”

“Who’s there?” Apple Bloom asked.

She backs away as she looks around. Then, she bumps into something behind her. She jumps and turns around to see the ruins of a house that is now covered in moss and overgrowths. Then, Apple Bloom gasps as she sees a sign close by that says, “Welcome To Sunny Town.”

“Oh no.” Apple Bloom said as she quickly realizes it. “Not again.”

Apple Bloom had once gone to a village called Sunny Town. And it was not a friendly place to be. Sunny Town was simply a village of Earth Ponies only. But the strangest thing about these ponies is that none of them have a cutie mark on their flank, which is strange because naturally, all ponies always have a cutie mark on their flank before they reach adulthood, yet all of the ponies in Sunny Town are all full grown adults, except they have not cutie marks, not a single one of them. Except for one. A little filly named Ruby, discovered her cutie mark, which is a magnify glass, meaning her special talent is that she’s good at finding things. But unfortunately for her, all the villagers believed her mark is a sign of a curse. So, in an attempt to save themselves from this curse, they destroyed her, which however, creates the real curse. As punishment, the villagers were all turned into zombies, unable to live or die.

And speaking of which, as Apple Bloom remembers all of this, she then hears the sound of dirts and grass ripping apart as a bony hoof came clawing its way out of the ground. Apple Bloom’s horrors were confirmed as a skull came out next, along with the rest of the bones of a pony as they all reattach together with all that was left of the pony’s flesh. And finally, it stood up on all four legs with blazing red eyes and it cracks a wicked smile across its face, showing it’s horrible red fangs, that are like that of a horrible timberwolf.

“Join us!” it said in a low voice. “We won’t let the same happen to you!”

Apple Bloom could only scream as she ran for her dear life, trying to escape, but wherever she goes, her paths are always blocked by overgrowths and by other zombie ponies as they all jump out from their hiding spots attempting to catch and turning her into one of them.

“HELP!” Apple Bloom cried as she desperately searches for Ruby’s ghost. “Ruby, where are you? Help!”

“Why do you need help from that accursed pony?” one of the zombies asked. “We’re the ones who are helping you!”

Apple Bloom quickly spotted the exit and makes a dash for it. But all of a sudden, the roots sprang out from the ground and tripped Apple Bloom, before they all wrap around the little filly before she even has time to get back up.

Apple Bloom watches helplessly as the exit disappears from her sight, and the zombies all close in on her, before one of them says, “Don’t worry. You will never become like her. We will protect you forever.”

“NO!!” Apple Bloom screams.

Without hesitation, the zombie opens up its mouth to reveal its red fangs as it bites down on Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom instantly wakes up with a scream. She looked around and sighed in relief to see she's back in the safety of her room. Then, the door slowly creaked open.

"Apple Bloom?" It was Applejack. "Are yah alright?"

"I'm fine, Applejack," Apple Bloom replied. "I was having a bad dream."

Applejack walked up to the little filly and nuzzled her gently, "There, there sugarcube. It's alright. It's just dream. Everything will be alright."

But Apple Bloom highly doubted it, since she knew secretly that the ponies in that dream of hers are real.

IN THE EVERFREE FOREST

Deep in the Everfree forest. Evil is at work.

A gray stallion with jet black mane and tail, and glowing red eyes walked up slowly towards a run down mansion. Upon entering, he made his way towards a cave that was easily concealed within the shadows. He stopped at the entrance to the cave, as he got down on his forehooves and bowed his head, while asking, "You summoned me, master?"

"Yes," a raspy, hissing voice sound, as the sound of hoof clopping grew louder by the second. Then, with a puff of mist, two glowing red eyes pierced through the darkness.

"I did Grey Hoof!" the creature growled. "I haven't had a decent meal in years! I am growing impatient for my next meal, and with you, Grey Hoof!"

With a snort, the creature's eyes grew intensely red as if they were on fire, staring Grey Hoof down.

Intimidated by the creature's piercing gaze, Grey Hoof shook in fear as he pleaded, "Please master, I can explain! Nopony has yet entered in our parts of the forest for quite some times. Not since that little filly came and..."

"That little filly is no concern of mine!" the voice roared, sending a gust of wind that nearly blew Grey Hoof away. "I need more than just a light snack. I need fully grown equines to satisfy my hunger and regain my full power."

"Of course, master," Grey Hoof replied, bowing his head. "I understand. I'll have my Bone Fiends ready, and rest assure that sooner or later, more ponies, hopefully the ones you craved, will wonder in our parts of the forest and we will....."

The creature growled impatiently. Then, the sound of hoof stomping echoed through the air, interrupting Grey Hoof.

"I cannot wait any longer!" the creature roared again. "The Night of Nightmares approaches! It is essential that I have more ponies to regain my full strength by then, if you wish for this world to be forever plagued by those cursed marks!" With a snort and a gust of mist bursting through the air in Grey Hoof's face, the creature moved as it made its way towards a window, all the while, still remaining in the cloaks of the shadows.

Grey Hoof looked at the creature, worriedly, knowing where the conversation is getting at.

"Master? How can you expect us to deliver more ponies to you?" Grey Hoof inquired as he walked up to the creature. "We can't leave our village, besides our Bone Fiends. But even they cannot leave the forest."

"That once was true, Grey Hoof." the creature explained, looking up to the moon. "But now, I sense a wrinkle in the enchantment that was placed upon you and your fellow villagers, along with your Bone Fiends. The seal has begun to weaken, which should allow you, your friends, and your bone fiends to wander freely from this accursed forest, but only during the night hours. I believe now would be an appropriate time for you to plan an attack and bring back some fresh meat. And this time, do not fail me again!"

"As you command, master," Grey Hoof bowed his head as he turned around to take his leave.