Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, and Sweetie Belle had each been at the speech, and they were shaken. Scootaloo had been mumbling incoherent words for the entire time, and the other two fillies were getting worried. They were meeting at Sweet Apple Acres, because Rarity trusted Applejack, and Big Mac could stay up for nights on end if needed. They were in Apple Bloom's room, sitting on the floor. The wind blew through the house, making odd noises, setting them on edge. They sat there, wondering what was going to happen.

"Is it true, do you think? Slendermane, I can't believe it..."

"Well you'd better believe it, because he's real."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belles looked at their friend, shocked. Scootaloo, their normally cheerful friend, had just become a cryptic shell, eyes shadowed by stress. "What do ya mean, Scoots?" asked Applebloom. Scootaloo gazed at her friend for a while, a draft picking at her mane. She sighed.

"Because I've seen him."

Her two friends were shocked, and looked at her slack jawed. "I met him two nights ago, in some forest. I don't know how I got there, and I don't know who put me there, but I know I saw him." She lay down on the bed and began to recite her story. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle just sat there, stunned. Then, a knock came at the door.

"Can Ah come in?"

They recognized Applejack's voice, and opened the door for her. Applejack tipped her hat to them, and sat down. "Girls, Ah know that this is a bit hard to comprehend, but try an' listen. I won't let ANYTHING happen to y'all, ya hear?" The trio nodded, and AJ smiled. "Now, if y'all don't feel comfortable, ya can come sleep with me." The three of them nodded, and followed Applejack to her room. They settled down, finally, and turned the lights out. The door bolted and the windows locked.

On the other side of the farm, a strange, pale pony stood tall. He simply gazed at the quiet farm, watching intently. He started for the house.

:::

When making sure the fillies were asleep, Applejack crept downstairs and out the door. She left a note stating her destination. She went out the door, and was met by fierce, cold wind, biting at her, shoving her. The trees bent and swayed, being conducted by the wind, and cast long shadows on the ground. Her mind wandered, and she saw oblong structures in the distance. As she made her way to Twilight's house, she felt a cold shiver travel up her spine. She pressed on against the harsh wind, and finally found herself at Twilight's door. She pushed it open, and found the other Elements looking at her. She smiled awkwardly, and went to join them.

"Hey AJ, where the hay have you been? We're about to head out."

"Sorry, Ah had to wait 'til the girls were asleep, so as not to worry them." Applejack looked at Twilight. "So, any specific plan on how we're gonna do this?"

Twilight nodded, pulling a rolled piece of manila paper from a shelf. "Yes, and written down on this paper is not only those plans, but what I've figured out about this creature. It has the ability to control minds, which it uses to draw it's victims towards it, but also make Proxies. He uses them to capture his victims, if he can't do it himself. He can teleport, to add insult to injury, so this'll be tough. And... ah, yes, he also has tentacles protruding from his back, which he uses to ensnare his prey. This could be our biggest challenge yet, even above Tirek." The girls looked at each other, worried. Rainbow Dash then spoke up.

"So, when can I buck that thing in the face?"

"Not so fast, Dash. If you stare at it's face, or rather lack thereof, you'll start to see visions, terrible depictions. I don't want any of us to have to endure that. I'm surprised the book even had that knowledge." Twilight looked at the cover of the book, and upon finding no recorded author, snorted in frustration. She threw it aside, and turned back to the others. "Supposedly, there's a headset, with some kind of anti-vision mechanism built in. If you switch that on, it will make you immune to the visions. Star Swirl the Bearded made it himself, allegedly after having contact with the creature. It may be our only chance to defeat this thing, and with my duplication spell, hopefully we can make enough for all of us."

They all nodded, and decided to head out. The night air whipped their manes about, sometimes having them gag on it. They finally reached their destinations. "Alright, Everypony, spread out, and stay no further than fifteen feet away from each other. If something goes wrong, at least we'll be able to help the others. Are we all good?" The others nodded, and spread out to their positions.

Hours passed, the night wind brought cold and discomfort for the six ponies, but they knew it would pass. They were doing their part for Ponyville, that's what mattered. They would die for this town, their home. The clock struck two o'clock, and they waited, only a few hours left. Some twigs broke off of a tree, which startled the six ponies. Realizing how foolish it seemed, they awkwardly laughed it off.

:::

Back at Sweet Apple Acres, a living nightmare was creeping towards the main house. And he whispered, through the air, his mouthless words.

Don't try to run.

Author's Note

BEHOLD MY RUBBISH

So yeah, I'm enjoying writing this, hope you're enjoying.