The Story Behind the Blanks
The Story Behind The Blanks
Long ago in the land of Equestria, there is a village in the middle of the forest filled with the Earth Ponies, and not a single pegasus or unicorn has set foot in the village because there are stories about the forest being infested with zombies every full moon. However, the residents of Sunny Town don't seem bothered by the invasions, for they are protected by a guardian spirit that would soon abandon them.
Despite being talented at something, the residents have not gotten cutie marks for some reason. Every time a resident gets a cutie mark, he/she would get shunned or worse. Their fear of cutie marks is caused by a cutie pox that has befallen half the population. The leader of the town, Grey Hoof, has decided to take action about the cutie marks. He stated one day that any citizen who achieves one will get their cutie marks removed in the most painful way possible.
Gladstone has achieved a cutie mark one day, and the residents immediately take action by forcing him to remove the cutie mark. Mitta and Ruby has watched the whole scene, and Ruby wants to investigate why. As soon as the cutie mark is removed, the residents throw a party. Ruby feels a tingling on her flank, and then she gasps. She notices a cutie mark on her flank, and frowns slightly.
Roneo has noticed, and then he rushes off to notify Grey Hoof of what has happened. Grey Hoof has heard of the matter, and decides to do something about it. Ruby couldn't admit what has happened. She has no clue how she has gotten the cutie mark- she was just a curious pony, after all. "Do you know this cursed pony?" Grey Hoof asked Mitta.
"No... No, I don't!" Mitta exclaimed as Roneo leads her into the house.
Roneo imprisons Mitta, and Ruby is led to the abandoned house in the forest. Grey Hoof forces Ruby into the fireplace, where she will burn to death. A few hours later, she has died, and Grey Hoof returns to town. An angry spirit has entered the town, and he is recognizable as the guardian spirit. "You... You all must be punished for that horrendous crime!" The spirit hollered.
The magical blast has entered all the houses to curse the residents of Sunny Town. The guardian spirit abandons the town, only to be trapped by other entities. Meanwhile, Ruby's ghost has spawned inside the abandoned house. Ruby floats through the wall to enter the town. She may be dead, but she hopes that the residents will feel remorse about what has happened to her. Mitta has betrayed her- even though she is supposed to protect her.
Ever since the cursed residents incident, ponies who live outside of the forest are warned not to enter Sunny Town because they may become one of the blanks- or should they say, Bloody Hooves. But, one day, a young filly may enter the forest to see the town that is actually cursed... The forest has long since become more eerie, and even the castle in the middle of the forest is abandoned because of Nightmare Moon's banishment.
The remains of the past lay hidden in await to be discovered by a very curious soul...
Apple Bloom is walking through the forest when she notices the lavender unicorn, Twilight Sparkle. "Twilight, you wouldn't imagine what has happened today! We were like Cutie Mark Crusaders Park Rangers and........" She said.
"That's okay, but I'll have to deliver the books to Zecora. This forest is no place for a little filly! Go home where you'll be safe and sound," Twilight replied.
"What do you mean? Even though we were having fun, we still get no cutie marks! Can I come with you?"
"You have no idea what lurks in the Everfree Forest. It is full of danger."
"Pleeee........."
"No."
"Aaaaaaaaasssssseeeeeee?"
"Fine, but stay by my side, Apple Bloom."
Meanwhile, Ruby's spirit descends throughout the forest, trying to make her presence known. She floats through endless mazes, the events of what has happened still on her mind. She sighs, "Why won't they tolerate me back then? That way, I'll not have to suffer a terrible fate." A few minutes later, she has entered a clearing illuminated with light from the sun. She notices two ponies near the fallen trees.
"Ugh! I have to deal with this?! I'm moving them out with my magic," The lavender unicorn exclaimed as she activates her magic.
"I think it's ghosts playing tricks on us," The yellow earth pony said.
"Silly Apple Bloom, there's no such things as ghosts."
Ruby's giggles seem to echo throughout the clearing. The young earth pony looks around, and notices Ruby. As she sees the ghost mare, Ruby disappears deep into the forest.
Apple Bloom looks back and forth, deciding whether she would stay with Twilight or follow the spirit. She finally decides to go deeper into the forest because of curiosity. She trots deeper into the forest, and the exit becomes blocked by growing thorns and bushes. "Hello?" She called. Somehow, she feels disturbed by the eeriness of the scenery.
She walks further, and then she hears the same giggle echoing through the darkened forest. "Who are you? Where did you go?" She asked. There is still no response, and she walks deeper and deeper into the forest until she sees a light illuminating the exit. Apple Bloom hopes to get out of the forest, but instead of Ponyville, she has happened upon a too cheery town filled with yellow houses.
"Party Planner Extraordinaire, at your service, young filly! My name's Grey Hoof. Treat yourselves to the desserts and drinks!" A male voice said.
Apple Bloom notices the grey stallion, and she notices that the stallion doesn't have a cutie mark. Isn't he supposed to have a cutie mark like Pinkie Pie's? Apple Bloom shakes her head at the thought, having the feeling that this town is a bit too......... Superficial, as if the residents are hiding the true emotions.
She walks to the table, and takes a bite of the cookie. The cookie tastes awful, like it's been completely outdated. A drink is nearby, and Apple Bloom takes a drink, desperate to get rid of the awful taste. She spits it out- the drink is equally awful and sickening. She hears a mare sobbing, and she wonders if she has disturbed her. Apple Bloom approaches her, and then she asks her about what is wrong. "He hasn't spoke to me last night," The mare said, "Call me Starlet."
"Who hasn't spoken to you?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Roneo hasn't spoken to me."
"Okay then."
Apple Bloom walks over to Roneo, and asks him about what is the matter. "I'm not sure what to say to Starlet, and then I have lost this....... It was really beautiful," He said.
Apple Bloom walks deeper into the town, and notices another stallion. "How come nopony in the town has no cutie marks?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Cutie whats? Well, I'm sure that those things are but a legend," The stallion replied.
"C'mon..... A cutie mark is what you get for being real good at something. That's all you want to know."
"You mean..... The mark that our former neighbor has once gotten?"
"I don't know. I'm finding a gem for Roneo."
Apple Bloom notices a glint in the distance. She walks over. "Oh! It's a gem," She said as she picks up the gem. She rushes over to Roneo's house, and lends the gem to him.
"Oh, thanks. Starlet will like this," Roneo said.
Apple Bloom enters the house, and she hears the sobbing. She walks to another room, and she notices a mare. "What's wrong?" She asked.
"It's not right......... The same thing over and over and over again!" The mare said.
"What happened?"
"Why do you want to know?! You don't want to hear this."
"Just tell me!"
"Fine. Long ago, I wasn't able to defend Ruby when she got the mark. Those marks are considered a curse. I couldn't defend her because I'm afraid they may punish me. I made a foolish choice, and then Roneo imprisoned me. The ponies that you talked to outside....... Do they seem empty in a way?"
"Empty? Like, of emotion?"
"Yes. They seem overly cheerful, despite the fact that our guardian spirit has left a curse on us. They are........ Cursed. That is why you must not remain here any longer."
Apple Bloom ponders over the mare's words. She sounds honest in a way- and she could be right. "This mare has led me here- and she has blond hair. She has glowing eyes, to be exact," She said.
"You mean.... Ruby? The mare that is executed because of the mark?" The mare asked, "By the way, call me Mitta."
"I was probably referring to her."
Apple Bloom notices a crank, and then she places it into her saddlebag. She walks out of the house, and then she walks deeper into the town. Of course, if the guardian spirit once protected the residents, then why must the spirit curse them? Maybe it's because of something that the residents have done to poor Ruby. She happens upon an abandoned house that is in the forest. She notices the same spirit again, and decides to run after her.
She uses the crank to bring up the bucket, and she finds a key. She unlocks the door, and then enters the house. She approaches the fireplace, and finds a corpse. "There's nothing here. Nothing except......" She whispered.
She hears a growl. "No. No, no, no!" She exclaimed.
She rushes back to the town, and the town is now in ruins. The buildings are destroyed, and there is so much darkness. "Oh, sweet Celestia....... This is not good," Apple Bloom said.
She prepares to go through the town to get out of the forest. As she approaches the road's turn, a zombie comes out of the ground. "She has the mark! She has to go! The curse has befallen her this very night," The zombie said.
Apple Bloom rushes towards the blocked exit, and then pushes through. "Please, stay with us!" A zombie called.
Apple Bloom's heart fills up with terror, and then she rushes past the fast zombie. "We'll protect you..... Forever!" The fast zombie called.
"I don't need your protection!" Apple Bloom shouted as she prepares to escape the cursed town.
Two zombies walk after her, and Apple Bloom stops for a moment as they speak. "Stay with us...... We only want friendship...... The others won't like it," Roneo said.
"I'm not staying," Apple Bloom replied as she tries to seem brave.
Apple Bloom rushes towards the exit, when a zombie comes out of the ground. "Fools, even in death, they don't understand. I should have protected her, but I made a choice," Mitta said. She doesn't resemble the other zombies- but her coat and mane are covered with black dirt.
"Run, Apple Bloom. Run for your life," Mitta concluded.
Apple Bloom rushes out of the town, and the forest becomes alive with skeletons. She rushes throughout the forest, and then she happens upon a silent clearing with no noises. She notices the light hoofsteps, and then she follows them. She comes to a stop as she finds Ruby. "I'm sorry if I lead you into this. I must find a way out," Ruby said.
"Your cutie mark....... It's a magnifying glass," Apple Bloom replied.
They hear the growls from the skeletons. A light circle appears, and then Apple Bloom is teleported out of the forest and into the small clearing. Twilight is standing there, and she smiles as she approaches her. "Apple Bloom! Thank Celestia you're okay," Twilight said, "Let's go. Who knows what lurks in there."
The two exit the forest, and a voice calls out to the young filly. "Good bye....... Friend," Ruby said.
