Pumpkinhead

  The cold breeze brushed through Raven Shadow's mane, blowing leaves across the almost hidden path. The forest grew quieter as he ventured further into the Everfree. His eyes always scanned for potential predators that might take a snap at him. A fog began to roll along the forest floor, Raven steeled himself to keep going. He was on a mission and nothing would stop him now.

  Until the howls of timberwolves cried out in the forest. Raven kicked it into high gear, his legs carried him as fast as they could. The branch sticking out of the ground almost like it was meant to be there tripped poor Raven. He tumbled forward hitting his head on the dirt and the rock. His body still rolled down the hill, he couldn't stop to get a hold of anything as his body hit tree roots and many other rocks. Down he rolled. The largest rock at the bottom of the hill stopped the body out of Raven's control, with a sickening thud. Raven's eyes opened very slowly and his mind was flooded by the pain. There before him was a old cabin, on the porch was a pony. The pain became too much for him, his mind shut off for awhile.

.....

  Raven's head rang with agony, deciding against better judgement he sat up. Immediately regretting the idea. The first thing Raven noticed was he wasn't out in the forest, instead he was in the very cabin he blacked out in front of. The cogs in his head began to turn. The old mare must have pulled him inside. His eyes shifted around the nearly black room to try to spot anything out of the ordinary. Nothing to his left. Turning his head right, Raven was surprised to see the old mare watching him with surprisingly cold and lifeless eyes. She slowly made her way towards him, a glint of madness deep within her eyes. Raven couldn't help but begin to back away from the disfigured creature that might have once been a mare. His breathing quickened as her face drew closer.

  "Who are you?" Her voice sounded like a wasp nest that was kicked. Raven Shadow was taken back by the harsh voice directed at him. "Boy, I said who are you?"

  "Raven Shadow ma'am, I was told you can help me." Raven's voice shook as he spoke nearly at a whisper.

  "Ain't no help for a broken Nopony. Ain't no help for a stallion who won't do anything 'bout it either." She mocked.

  "I made here didn't I?!" Raven retorted with rage. Earning a quick glance from the half dead pony before him. "My marefriend tried to commit suicide because somepony murdered her sister! I will not stand idly by and allow that to happen!" Raven shouted again.

  "Easy killer, I know why you're here."

  "You know?"

  "Course I do... ponies don't seek out me without good reason." She turned away from Raven with a knowing smirk. "I can only offer you one thing... but its got a terrible price."

"I don't care I'm doing this for Roseluck." Raven spoke with confidence heavy in his voice. "I can't live another day worrying if she's going to try and kill herself."

  "And you believe that with what I can do for you will help?"

  "At least somewhat, can't you like use your power to point out the killer or something like that? I mean an old unicorn like you must know some really great magic."

  "No I can't "point them out", but I do know a spell that can help you."

  "Ok anything I need to do to help?"

  "Yes. Go to the very center of these woods and you'll find an old graveyard. In the very back of it you'll find a grave, dig out what's in there and bring it back to me and I'll have it all ready." Plague Fear smiled a extremely wicked grin. Raven Shadow had to do a double take, for a split second he could swear he saw jagged pointed teeth. Slowly Raven backed away from the dumbfounding image he just saw. "Take a shovel, you'll need it."

.......

  Once outside, Raven grabbed the shovel in his mouth. Very very carefully his moved the item onto his back, the daylight faded. Luna's moon shone brightly where the tree canopy didn't over lap. The path was surprisingly clear in the dark, as though he had walked it many times over. Going deeper into the forest was almost a suicide run, but to Raven's surprise the deeper he traveled the less predatory sounds could be heard. Dread filled Raven Shadow's body, but his determination willed him onward.

  Closer to the center of the forest, Raven noticed the change in the plant life. Where the tree line was thick and so full of life, here was the exact opposite. The trees were shrunken husks, there were no bushes, and every step was a unhealthy crunch of dead leaves and twigs. How eerie this part was. But as Raven walked forward into the graveyard with a steeled resolve.

  Each grave held their lettering and some wore with time.

  One read "Here lies Twisted Star."

  "Fear the unknown." Another had written on it. The graves held ponies that lived interesting lives, but they all ended in the dirt. This grim reminder sent chills down Raven's spine. There it was, the grave Plague Fear spoke of. It had old dead pumpkins growing out of the ground, vines covered the tombstone. Seeing the grave, he dug with that shovel. With each downward strike Raven drew closer to what the witch had spoke of. His shovel banged against a hard surface.

  "Please be what I need for this Celestia damned "ritual"." Raven Shadow groaned with distaste. Jumping down into his newly  formed hole Raven opened the box his shovel hit. "Luna's sweet flank! This is fucking ugly, that crazy ass witch wants this. Well who am I to judge? I sought her out so oh well."