I Made A Promise (Bonus Chapter)

The wind nipped at Cheerilee from all sides, and threatened to throw her off balance. It was just a few more hours until daylight, so she had to hurry. She had a promise to keep.

All she could hear was the sound of the wind, and her own heart pumping blood to her brain. She shivered from the cold, and wrapped her coat around more tightly. She had a little ways to go until she reached her destination. I must get there in time, I will not fail mother. She continued to tread on, the leaves and twigs crunching underhoof. She had to use all of her strength to keep standing, as exhaustion was taking it's toll. She must not fail, she repeated in her mind, and a tear trickled down her cheek. Memories of that horrible day came rushing back.
:::

She sat on a swing set, bobbing up and down in the autumn breeze. The wind caressed her mane, and tickled her face ever so slightly. She gazed up at the setting sun, casting warm colors of all shades and vibrancies across the sky. She heard a door open, and heard her mother call to her. "Cheerilee, come inside, it's starting to get dark!"

"Coming, mother!" Cheerilee replied. She jumped off the swings, landing softly on her hooves. She ran to her mother, and together they went inside, settling down for the night. They went to Cheerilee's room, and her mother started to tell her a story.

"Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful mare. She lived in the town with her mother and father, and all seemed normal. But the girl held a curse, an ancient, deep curse. It had been set upon her by a monster, skin pale as death and suit even more black than night. Her curse was, she had to do the creature's bidding. She was to abduct innocent ponies, and drop them off in the woods. When the victims wake up, they find themselves in a clearing, on a circle, crossed with an X through it. This is the monsters symbol, remember this. The victims will find scraps of paper, written by previous victims, people the creature stalked. It fills their heads with grotesque and vulgar images, slowly driving them insane. The notes are the only way to stand a chance, but he will find you, no matter how fast you run, no matter where you hide. It is always watching, and waiting. You must remember this, for there may come a time when it decides either you, or me, are the ponies it wants. When I'm gone, do not bury me. Put me on a slab, and cover me with moss. It can ward against darkness." Cheerilee nodded, tears building in her eyes. She started to cry, and hugged her mother tight. She smiled, and embraced her daughter. "Hush, hush, it's okay, I'm still here. It's going to be alright." Just then, a noise sounded from inside the woods. A loud crunch, another, another. The wind had died, and nothing made a sound. Cheerilee's mother felt her heart beat race, and her eyes grew in fear. She quickly got up, shut the blinds and curtains, and locked the windows and doors. She glanced at her daughter, who sat there, terrified. She smiled, half heartedly, and said, "Do not worry, just stay in the house, no matter what. We should be safe. Sweet dreams." And with that she turned out the light.

Cheerilee awoke several hours later, to the sound of a door closing. She got up from her bed, and went to the window, looking down on the backyard. Her eyes grew wide. She saw her mother, a look of dread and longing etched on her face. She was slowly shuffling forwards, night gown billowing in the breeze. She looked like a spirit, as she disappeared behind the treeline.

:::

Cheerilee shed a tear. She remembered that night too well, forever blazed into her mind. She remembered a knock on the door in the morning, with the police ponies. They said she needed to come with them, and to get her things. Confused and afraid, she did as she was told. When they arrived at the office, they told her that her mother had been found, hanging from a tree branch, a noose made of her own internal organs wrapped around her neck. The little filly started to weep, and they put her in a foster home. She was adopted by a nice couple, Butterball and Silver Lining, and they got along well. The day of her mother's funeral, Cheerilee had promised, at her mother's grave site, she would find whoever, or whatever, had driven her to do this. As she promised, she brandished a glinting steel knife, and cut her foreleg. After she finished saying her promise, she wiped the blood in a heart on the grave, and walked away, hate burning in her eyes.

Today, she would live up to that promise. She finally came upon her destination, Twilight Sparkle and her friends. They were on the ground, piled one on top of another. She stared at them, clearing her throat, and asked, "Where is that monster?!"

The six mares jumped at her ferocity. Twilight spoke up. "We banished it back to it's home, on the Zebrican continent. That's the only way to get rid of it." Cheerilee's eyes burned with rage and sadness, and she picked Twilight up by the neck.

"You WILL take me to it, NOW!" Cheerilee's voice burned with absolute hatred, and the wind whipped her mane about her face, giving her an expression of madness and desperation. Twilight looked at her in shock, and gulped. She started sweating, despite the cold winds.

"We can't Cheerilee it's too dangerou..."

Before Twilight could finish, Cheerilee flung the unicorn aside, and looked at Princess Luna. The Princess looked at the desperate teacher, and sighed. Her horn lit up, and a bright flash of light engulfed Cheerilee. She materialized a few feet away, in a magical bubble field. Cheerilee, frustrated beyond anything else, bucked the force field. It shattered, leaving small particles to float in the air. She grabbed Twilight, her eyes betraying her broken mental state, and rubbed Twilight's horn. It lit up, surrounding Cheerilee with blinding light.

Then she disappeared.

:::

Cheerilee found herself in a dark, thickly wooded forest. She stretched her limbs, and immediately set out to pursue her prey. She checked everywhere she could, then finally stopped to rest. She heard a noise to her left, and quickly turned. Standing at the edge of the trees, standing tall and menacing, was Slendermane.

"I'm gonna BUCKING KILL YOU!"

She lashed out at him, pouncing. Before she hit though, she collapsed, writhing in agony. When the pain subsided, she looked at him with pure anger in her burning gaze. She glanced around, looking for something she could use as a weapon. Suddenly, she felt a slimy, wriggling tentacle wrap around her back. She struggled in it's grasp, but to no avail. She met it's gaze, and her eyes opened wide. It was terrifying. She tried to scream, but no sound came. The wind had died, and she felt hot. Her last thoughts were of her mother, and she cried one, final tear.

Author's Note

So, the bonus chapter was supposed to be the longest, because it had this backstory stuff. This is the end of this story, and if you want to see more, I'll see what I can do about a sequel.