The Animus: Mane six vs. Slendermane

"I can't go through with this," Fluttershy trembled as the three others tried to find her.

"Fine by me," Rainbow Dash shrugged, "that's five more bits for me."

"Rainbow," Applejack scolded.

"What she meant," Twilight interjected, "was if you really feel like you can't go through with this, then you can go, we wouldn't blame you."

"... No, I can keep going," Fluttershy peeped, then let out a shriek as the sound of banging came from down her hall, "Oh Faust! He's coming!"

"Stay calm, Fluttershy," Twilight tried to sooth, "Try to make out where you are."

"A dark... there is.... everywhere," Fluttershy voice suddenly started to phase in and out.

"What the hay was that," Rainbow asked as the three shared uneasy looks.

"Fluttershy," Twilight tried again, "Are you ok?"

"... I think... wait... it looks like... Ahh-," Fluttershy appeared to let out a scream that was suddenly cut off.

The three's hearts started to race as they feared for Fluttershy, but continued to make their way through the castle.

"He must have got her," Applejack nervously declared.

"That can't be right," Twilight said aloud as she tried to think, "Our visions would have gone static... There must be some kind of range where we can't hear each other."

"That still doesn't explain why she screamed," Rainbow replied.

"You're right," Twilight sighed, "Well, looks like there is only one option... we'll have to split up."

"S-Split up," Applejack stuttered, "Do you really think that is a good idea?"

"To be honest," Twilight replied, "We probably should have done that from the start. If we stay in a group, he'll be able to get all of us at once. Plus, splitting up will allow us to cover more ground."

"Guess that makes sense," Rainbow Dash said, "But if we split up, he'll be able to pick us off easier."

"How about this," Twilight suggested, "You two head back the way we came, and I'll try to head a little deeper. You might be able to hear Fluttershy again."

"But we won't hear you," Applejack pointed out, "What if something happens to you?"

"Then I'll try not to stray too far," Twilight answered.

"Are you sure about this," Applejack asked.

"Sure as ever," Twilight nodded, "But we better hurry up. If we don't act now, we might lose Fluttershy."

"Fine," Applejack frowned, still not a hundred percent sure if she should let Twilight go on her own, "Stay safe."

"You too," Twilight nodded before they both made separate ways.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack walked back the way they came; however, the dark hallway seemed different. Aside from their visibility shortening, changes like more suits of armor, blood staining the wall, and curtains becoming torn and tattered.

"Was this the way we came," Rainbow asked Applejack who also took notice of the changes.

"Hey Twilight," Applejack called out... but no answer, "Twilight?"

"Do you think she's already out of range?"

"That can't be possible," Applejack said, "It's only been a few... what was that!"

Rainbow and Applejack immediately spun around due to a loud sound followed by the sounds of hoofsteps moving very quickly. The two stood in silence as the hoofsteps died down and disappear, then, Twilight was heard.

"Hey... can... me," Twilight's voice said.

"Twilight," Applejack exclaimed, "What was that."

"I.. Can... hear me?"

"I think she said 'Can you hear me?'," Rainbow Dash told Applejack then said aloud, "Sort of, you are fading in and out, try to step back."

"Ok... How... now?"

"Still a little phasy," Rainbow replied, "Try a little closer."

"... Give... second."

"Wait," Applejack realized, "She seems to understand us perfectly. Then how come we can't understand her?"

"Hey, you're right," Rainbow agreed, "that is weird."

"Thank goodness I found you," Fluttershy suddenly exclaimed, making the two yelp as she appeared behind them, "Oh, sorry."

The two slowed their breathing and calmed down as they realized it was Fluttershy. Then Applejack asked, "What happened."

"Well, after I found the third note, I started to try to find my way back to you all, but then I started to hear small, but quick hoofsteps behind me. It got louder and louder so I screamed and ran for it. I got lost but I was so glad I was still able to hear you three. Speaking of which, why did you just ignore me like that?"

"Ignore you," Rainbow repeated with a puzzled tone, "We didn't even know you were talking."

"Really?"

"Yeah," Applejack added, "Twilight thought there must be a set range to where we can hear each other."

"That's strange, because I heard you talking clearly," Fluttershy replied.

"Well, since we're together, we should try and find..."

"Stay Back!"

"Twilight," the three exclaimed as she suddenly appeared from the shadows, but didn't take notice of them.

"I said stay back," Twilight repeated as she shot a beam into the darkness at a pair of yellow eyes. The eyes dodged the beam, then looked past her to see the three, then let out a grunt before turning tail and run.

"Twilight," Applejack exclaimed, putting her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. She jumped and quickly turned around, aiming a charge horn at Applejack, "Whoa! Calm down, Twilight."

Twilight appeared to have realized it was her and uncharged her horn while letting out a sigh of relief.

"Heh, I'm glad we found you," Rainbow chuckled, but Twilight just looked at her with a blank expression, "Uhh, you alright Twilight?"

"What," Twilight replied.

"I said, are you alright?"

"Say that again," Twilight put her hoof to her ear.

"I said, ARE YOU ALRIGHT?!"

Twilight didn't respond, only just stared back at Rainbow with the same blank expression.

"What is wrong with you," Applejack asked, "Did you go deaf or something?"

"If she's gone deaf, then she wouldn't be able to hear you, AJ," Rainbow pointed out.

Twilight expression then turned into a frustrated one as she said, "Alright, stop messing around, we need to find the other notes."

"Stop what," Rainbow questioned.

"I said stop it," Twilight snapped.

The three uncomfortably look at each other then Applejack asked, "Are you alright sugercube."

"Would you please... You know what, never mind! If you want to act like foals, then fine," Twilight snarled as she turned around, "I'm going to go find... It's back!"

The three looked at where Twilight was looking and saw the eyes have returned. Twilight used her horn to give off some light to reveal the eyes to be a terrifying filly. Her filthy mane was overgrown as it hung a good foot or two below her chin from the two of her head. Her light gray coat covered in dirt and blood, her tail being no different. Her yellow eyes we're matched by her yellow, pointed teeth the was giving an evil, heart-wrenching grin.

"What the hay is that thing," Rainbow exclaimed, but Twilight didn't reply, only tried to shoot her magic at it.

It jumped from side to side as it dodge ever attack, letting out a deep, demonic grunt everytime it did.

"If you three are done acting like a bunch of idiots," Twilight yelled, "I would suggest you run!"

Without hesitation, the three ran in the opposite direction, hearing the fight fade away. They stopped when all the ruckus did.

"What was Twilight's problem," Rainbow asked.

"I don't know, she was acting strange," Applejack replied.

"I was acting strange," Twilight deadpanned as she came from the darkness, "What about you three? You we're moving you're mouth like you were talking, but no sound came out!"

"We we're talking," Rainbow defended.

"You... were?"

"Yeah," Applejack asked, "How did you not hear us?"

"I-I don't know... Wait! That thing must have been messing with us," Twilight concluded.

"What was that thing," Applejack asked.

"No idea," Twilight shrugged, "But there is a plus side. I found a note!"

"Really? Nice," Rainbow grin.

"Yep, so that makes four; and, I think I know where the next one..."

Twilight was suddenly cut off by a growl behind her. She turned around to all of a sudden be tackled by the filly-like creature. Twilight used a magic pulse to blast it into the air, but then it stuck to the ceiling to the shock of the four. It then completely turned it's head around that sent a sick feeling through the stomach of the horrified ponies. It let out an ear piercing screech before suddenly pushing off the ceiling, with mouth open, right at Twilight.

"Twilight," the others exclaimed. Then their automatically went to static right before the creature sunk its teeth into Twilight's neck.

Then, it was back to normal as the creature and Twilight disappeared...

Twilight inhaled deeply as she woke up in the real world. She took control of her breathing as Celestia, Pinkie, Rarity, and Luna watched.

"Twilight died," Luna gaped, "She would be the last one I would have expected."

"That'd be one hundred bits," Celestia sneered.

"Horseapples," Luna scowled, "It's just not my night tonight."

"Well, Twilight," Celestia declared as Twilight worked up the nerve to get out of her seat and walk over to the four, "What did you think.

"Pretty good," Twilight smiled, "But was that thing?"

"That was Prony," Celestia replied.

"Ah, I should have known; and, was that the thing blocking our hearing?"

"Blocking your hearing? No, that shouldn't have happen."

"Really, cause it did."

"Huh, must have been a glitch. Can't expect it to be flawless, now can you?"

"I guess not," Twilight shrugged, "well, that was fun while it lasted."

"Fun's not over yet," Celestia smirked, "We're betting on whose going down next, wanna join?"

"Sure, how does it work?"

"Oh, I want to explain," Pinkie exclaimed as she took a deep breath

(59.287 seconds later)

"Alright," Twilight declared, "I got twenty bits on Rainbow Dash."

"I see," the others said in unison.

"Alright, back to the game," Celestia said as they went back to the computer screen.

(To be continued...)

[Vote now readers!!! Whose going down next? Will it be the soft spoken, kind-hearted Fluttershy? The tomcolt, big ego Rainbow Dash? The strong-spirit, farmfilly Applejack? Or the annoying, completely crazy, small minded...]

"You better not mean me," Pinkie glared at the ceiling.

"And if I do mean you," a voice replied.

"Then somebody's number will be moving up," Pinkie deadpanned.

They're was an unsettling silence as the voice gulped, "Point taken..."