The Ballad of the Hidden Ones
The Ballad of the Hidden Ones
Ever since her first one, Twilight Sparkle has been eager to host slumber parties, even if she is is not part of it. The first night if summer vacation from school for the three best of friends Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, and the content librarian agreed with their guardians that she could set up a slumber party for them in celebration of a long school year. Twilight cleared her spacious storage room and filled it with furniture, games, snacks, and dental utensils for the three fine fillies to enjoy during the night. She even set up a tent to give the "outdoors and independent" feel for the three best friends.
It was early evening when the fillies finally arrived, probably around 5:30. The three were heavily eager to start their all-night party. Because of how much noise the storage room could hold, Twilight allowed for the fillies to play games and have fun for the full night as long as they didn't sneak outside. As the door opened, the three rushed inside eager to find their quarters of operation. Twilight showed them around, explained the rules, left them cake, and went upstairs to sleep. As the outside lights turned off, an eery sensation flooded the room, setting the stage for Scootaloo's magnificent story.
Scootaloo asked her friends, "Do you want to hear a story? It's a pretty awesome one, and not because Rainbow Dash said it."
Her friends responded, "Sure. Is it scary?"
"Rainbow Dash didn't think it was, but I thought it would make a good story for night. She called it, 'The Tale of the Black Bandits.' It all starts like this:"
"Every night one crossed the hill,
On leave of recent day's,
Marketing and acquisition,
All with little pay.
The nights brought forth a curtain,
For which it sought to hide,
A clan of lustful outlaws,
They'd come, others would cry,
'My profits they stole!'
'My lambs, I found, had died!'
'A son I have is missing,
So lock your doors and hide!'
'Barricade your windows!'
'Do not approach the door!'
'Heed my every order,
If you choose to live some more
'What can we do, who could they be?'
'Have we even a clue?'
'They came without a warning,
And they left without one too!'
'They're bad, they're scum!'
'No they're not, they're worse!'
They murdered, pillaged, raped and burned,
and left behind a curse!'
Manes hidden by hoods.
Faces hidden by masks.
They dodge around all weary eyes
Are these even all facts?
They're skilled and armed professionals,
Dedicated to kill,
All wandering life,
Marching on this hill.
Youth, old, mare, colt,
Big, small, short, tall
None were ever specified.
Still wise to sound the call!
Bells rang,
Alarms sang,
Sirens wailed loud!
Supposedly,
They found them,
Wandering in town!
'They're armed and their dangerous!'
'Targeting all of us!'
'To take something precious!'
'And do something malicious!'
'There's panic within us!'
'There's horror stupendous!'
'Terror had crushed us!'
But what happened next?
Fillies were slaughtered,
And virgins, all gone.
Those of them left behind,
Did not carry on.
Blood curtained the walls!
Heads mounted on posts!
All these misfortunes,
But not hit them the worst!
Survivors, they gathered,
All through the ramparts,
To discuss of their vengeance
Against evil deeds wrought!"
"But Scootaloo, please tell me,
Where did they all go?
Your tale didn't specify,
But I just have to know!"
"Patients, my friend!
This was told by the best!
I will clarify soon,
But let me get through the rest!
Survivors went hunting,
For tracks never found.
What seemed like great progress,
Was just round and round and round.
Mysterious marauders,
The great devil's spawn!
Still not discovered,
What could have gone wrong?
Were there no tracks to trace?
Did they move on road?
'How did we miss them?'
'What was their mode?'
The sun set, the moon rose,
Was Celestia even here?
Sadly they'd find out,
Another raid was in gear!
Bells rang,
Alarms sang,
Sirens wailed loud!
Here again,
They came into town,
But now they were prepared!
'Stay out you demons!'
'Blood thirsty villains!'
'Sinful aliens!'
'Abusive cretans!'
'The way you had treat them!'
'You won't do it once again!'
'Prepare for a battle grand!'
But what happened next?
Vengeful colts with guns!
Distraught mares with knives!
Foals were protected,
By ranks made with five!
They opened fire,
As well as take a charge!
No pony backed down,
The band would face a purge!
A raise in arms by the band,
Ending all fighting and mess.
They were named the Hidden Ones,
With more to confess.
With information handed over,
The defenders went on,
To find their lost loved ones,
Who were still, sadly, gone.
Guided to the vicious ones,
To a mountain, behind,
As cave there was they entered,
And soon they would all find,
No captive had lived.
A machine for pigs,
Had defiled these pore ponies.
What a horrendous rig...
As we take a close,
From this sad and well-thought song,
The remaining depressed citizens,
Sounded a gong.
Celebrate the lives of these great ponies!
But you, Hidden Ones, what went wrong?
What made them deserve such a fate
You filthy, disgusting dogs!
Did they ever harm you?
Did they ever kill?
But now that it's all over,
You must all now pay the bill!
'Give us your heads!'
'You all deserve to die!'
Still no justice, let us close.
So, here we say 'Good-Bye.'"
The fillies looked strangely at Scootaloo. How does such a 'cool' pony come up with such a story? Applebloom and Sweetie Belle debated over why Rainbow Dash would take the time to make a poem, and why Scootaloo would think reciting a poem would even be fun. But while the fillies were confused, another audience was proud. Twilight had snuck in to hear the whole story, and gave her a standing ovation, along with a guest.
"Wow Scootaloo!" praised Twilight. "I didn't know you were a talented poet!"
"But I am not!" argued Scootaloo in embarrassment. "Rainbow Dash taught it to me!"
"Uh huh, sure," replied the guest, who was indeed Rainbow Dash.
Twilight said, "You know her, eavesdropping on me, so I invited her to listen to the story with me!"
Everypony looked at Scootaloo.
She responded, "What? I was bored," and the others giggled amongst each other.