The Everfree Blank Flanks
My Destiny
Babs ran. She ran harder than ever. Tears were streaming down her face, barely noticeable through the pouring rain. Her hooves made a taping sound against the empty roads of Manehattan. Her torn up and dirty - and now soaked - cape was flying behind her.
Where the hell am I even going? thought Babs, finally coming to a halt and realizing she was on the border of the big city.
She wiped the tears from her eyes even though that didn't make a big difference. Babs took a deep breath to calm herself and looked back at her cape.
The sight of the destroyed item almost got her crying again. The most precious thing she had for now had been ruined again by her bullies. She tried to take it off and pack it in her saddle bag - that was still attached to her back - but a particularly strong gust of wind blew it off her neck and it immediately disappeared in the distance.
Babs tried to run after it but eventually gave up, for the rain was too thick.
That's my life. Being bullied every day until I run out of school. They must be happy. Those idiots.
Bab Seed's bullies had been even more mean than the last few days. She had only been showing a few cutie markless younger fillies her CMC cape incase they wanted to join when the three colts had shown up and had started to annoy her. When she had tried to defend herself, they had started punching her, tearing her cape up, insulting her and her club. Babs had finally ran off as it had started to rain.
Her teachers were probably shocked not to see her in class and the three probably found a way to make her case worse.
Babs looked around her as she continued walking. She spotted the train station.
I ran this far? she asked herself, surprised.
She continued towards it and took shelter under the little roof that was sticking out from the wall.
Self pity over took her as she realized how pathetic she must look. Dripping wet, torn up and dirty saddle bag, blood pouring out from her nose...
Suddenly she heard a 'choo choo' and saw two headlights appearing in the distance.
Babs watched as the train entered the station.
Some pony came to her and asked if she was going aboard.
Babs shook her head and he left to make the final call.
"All aboard for ponyville!" he yelled.
Ponyville?
"Wait!" said Babs, stepping forward. "I'm coming. How much for a ticket?"
She had no idea why she was doing this. Surely to seek comfort in Applejack and Applebloom.
Babs payed him with the money she had supposed to use up to pay for lunch which she hadn't in fear that her bullies would take it.
She climbed on and sat next to a green pony with a lyre as a cutie mark and who was sitting in the strangest of ways.
"Hi!" she said, looking exited at the fact that some pony was sitting next to her. "I'm Lyra!"
"Uh... Hi. I'm Babs Seeds"
"That's a strange name! I mean for you. If you have a pink mane, you should be called... Pinkie!"
Then her face darkened.
"Poor thing..."
"What do you mean 'poor thing'? Is something wrong with Pinkie Pie?" asked Babs, concerned as she felt the train start moving.
"Oh Pinkie Pie has had a few problems I've heard" answered Lyra. "I've heard it from my friend BonBon! She's the nicest pony I've ever met... I'm going to join her! She's coming to pick me up at the station."
"What problems did Pinkie have?"
But it was useless for Lyra was now fantasizing on BonBon.
Babs just sighted and looked out the window.
Her sister wouldn't worry about her not being home because she was at a concert. She never would have really listened anyways...
It was sunny when Babs arrived at Ponyville. She was glad it was.
That probably meant she would have a nice afternoon.
She trotted through the streets of the joyful village when she suddenly noticed that no foal or filly was out. She couldn't see one!
Babs spotted Pinkie Pie next to Sugar Cube Corner, her back turned to her.
"Uh hey Pinkie Pie!" she exclaimed, running towards her. "Ya know where Applebloom is?"
Pinkie turned to her and Babs took a step back. What had happened to the joyful party pony?!
Black circles were around her eyes. Her mane was strait and her gaze uncertain. She had... were those dried blood marks? on her hooves.
"Hhhhhhhhi b...b...b...Babs! You look well! Haha! Hahahaha! Hahahaha!"
"Pinkie! Are you okay?" asked Babs stupidly. Of course she wasn't okay. She was insane!
Pinkie's laugh suddenly stopped as her gaze fell on her flank.
"B... Blank Flank!!! You're a blank flank!"
Babs shrunk under the insult. Was she going to get picked on everywhere she went?
"You need to die!"
"What?!"
"I said, you need to die! Before they come here!" repeated Pinkie in a sick twisted way.
A knife appeared out of nowhere in her hoof.
"Pinkie! That ain't funny!" uttered Babs, now trotting backwards.
"Die!" she screeched and Mrs. Cake came running out of the bakery.
"Pinkie!" she screamed. "Your friends are dead! Dead!"
Pinkie stopped screaming.
"DEAD!" yelled Mrs. Cake.
Pinkie fell to the floor sobbing and Mrs. Cake put her hooves around her, saying she was sorry.
Babs awkwardly stood there, wondering what was happening. Then the baker turned to her and smiled nicely.
"I'm so sorry about that sweetie! Let me take her inside and then I'll explain."
Babs simply nodded and followed them inside.
Mrs.Cake led Pinkie Pie to her bedroom and asked for her husband to look after her. She then faced Babs, a concerned look on her face.
"So uh what's all the commotion about?" asked Babs.
"Well deerie um... There has been a problem with the apple family and your friends..."
Babs throat tightened.
"What kind of problem?"
"You should see for yourself, I'll explain on the way there."
They left sugar cube corner and headed towards the farm.
"It all started a couple of months ago when the CMC as they call themselves, decided to go out to the everfree forest. They ignored they're big sisters warnings and plunged right into danger."
Mrs. Cake shuddered and Babs wondered if she was scared for her foals.
"Night fell and... Well, they did not come back. So Twilight, Pinkie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash went out looking for them. No pony knows what happened to them but only Pinkie and Fluttershy came out. They were in a terrible state. Pinkie was mad and Fluttershy did not say a word.
Princess Celestia had wanted to send search parties to look for them but after she got a few words from Fluttershy, she gave up and said they where... Well... They didn't make it. We all know that something far worse happened. And about what I said to Pinkie Pie, it's horribly rude and careless but it's the only thing that stops her..."
She paused and looked up. Babs did the same and, at her surprise, realized they were at the edge of Sweet Apple Acres. But everything was gray.
Rotten apples laid on the floor and there was a revolting stench in the air.
Shocked, Babs looked up questionably at Mrs. Cake.
"Grany Smith didn't survive without Applejack and Applebloom... Big Macintosh went in her room one morning and well... She wasn't moving."
Mrs. Cake's voice broke.
"What about your foals?" asked Babs. "Isn't Pinkie Pie dangerous?"
"It's fine, we gave them to some pony in our family for now. We are leaving ponyville in a few weeks."
"Why?"
"Pinkie Pie has been so disturbed by the trip in the Everfree forest that she tends to want to kill every pony that has a blank flank. She managed to injure a poor filly just a week ago..."
"I'm so sorry to hear that" muttered Babs, already in deep thought.
Where did her friends go? How can Princess Celestia abandon one of her prized students? She needed answers...
Mrs. Cake's next question brought her back to reality :
"Do you have somewhere to stay hon?"
"Uh yes!" lied Babs.
She didn't want anypony's attention and wanted to think about the ponyville events alone.
No pony would mind if she stayed in the farm for a few days.
"Well then be careful. Blank flanks are not very appreciated here as you can see. And please do not go in the Everfree forest. Goodbye!"
Babs waved as she trotted off towards the barn, squishing a few rotten apples on her way there.
How the hay is Big Macintosh living out here?!
Babs arrived in front of the barn as a few clouds gathered in the sky.
They seemed full of rain...
A chill ran up her spine when a cold wind blew over the entire area.
The brown filly entered the huge red habitation.
It had changed a lot since her last visit.
Old debris of wood were all over the floor and dust was in every corner of the room.
The lights seemed to have been broken because when Babs tried the switch, they stayed off.
Glass shards poked at her hooves and she noticed that some pony had tried to barricade the doors for nails and wooden planks were crudely hammered on every window of the living room.
Babs breath became a little unsteady as she felt fear creep up her body.
She went up the creaky stairs, jumping at each noise the wind would make and almost turning back when she shouted for Big Macintosh and only a deep, sickening silence answered her.
Babs arrived in Applejack's room and checked it.
No pony was there.
Okay Babs, you can do this! Just check at least Applebloom's room before turning back she thought, beaten by fear.
She went trough the dark corridor, barely seeing her own hooves and hearing rain outside.
Babs entered the missing filly's room and once again, no pony was there. Just when she was about to leave, she heard hoofstep noises near her.
Finally!
The suddenly energized filly rushed out the bedroom, trying to locate the sound of that beautiful - oh so beautiful - noise that the living made.
She didn't exactly know where she was going for she bumped in a closed door after running for just a few seconds.
Babs opened it and the smell hit her.
Never in her life had she smelt something so awful. It was a mix of... of whatever would smell that bad!
"Phew! Some pony's had too much to drink yesterday or what?" joked Babs out loud.
She didn't get an answer and saw the form of a pony in the bed.
"Big Mac? You asleep or something?" asked Babs, her confidence going down ever so slightly.
As she walked towards the form, she noticed old fashioned flowers were serving as a wallpaper.
She frowned.
Big Macintosh wouldn't have flowers as a wallpaper in his bedroom...? This would more likely be the bedroom of...
Babs eyes opened wide in horror.
The smell. The old lady like bedroom. The dead body in the bed.
Babs tried to stop herself from getting any closer but it was too late.
She had the time to see the green and decomposed skin.
The flies and worms crawling and flying in her mouth.
Her decaying face and white eyeballs.
Babs turned back, her heart racing and ears down.
She ran out of Granny Smith's bedroom like a bullet and searched her way to the stairs.
In her panic, she had forgotten where everything was and just ran in every direction.
She bolted into another room and slammed shut the door behind her.
"Oh Celestia why? Why did I have to see that? Some pony please help me..." sobbed Babs, her terror and adrenaline still pumping through her veins.
How would she ever get the courage to go out of this house now?
A movement at the back of the room made her jump.
A form appeared and started to come forward.
"Please..." pleaded Babs, burying her head in her hooves. "Please..."
"Babs Seed?" came a familiar voice.
"Big Macintosh!" exclaimed the filly.
"Oh I'm so glad to see ya!"
"What are you doing here?" he asked, turning on a flash light.
"I was looking for you..." murmured Babs, looking at him.
Red fur, orange main and brown collar around the neck, it was her cousin alright.
But... something seemed off. A twitch of his eye or ear. His messy mane. His cracked voice.
"Are you okay Big Mac'?"
"It's... them blank flanks have been trying to get to me every night. Comin' towards me like demons and tryin' to get me to join them..."
"What do ya mean?"
"They're going to come. Every blank flank in ponyville joined them and died. Blank flanks are bad. Very..."
Big Macintosh's gaze fell on her flank.
Oh buck.
"You're a blank flank!" he hissed, his attitude changing. "You've come to get me like the others eh? Tryin' to break me up!"
"No! Please Big Mac stop!"
"Well I got news for you!" he shouted and got a pitchfork. "Ya ain't gonna make it outta here alive on my watch!"
"Big Mac!" screamed Babs, dodging a first attack. "Stop!"
He didn't listen and slammed the pitchfork into the ground, missing her hoof by an inch.
Babs fell to the floor and rolled to the side to escape his third try.
"Ya messed with the wrong family ya vermin!" said the stallion, his pupils as small as raisins now and turning round crazily in his sockets.
Big Mac smashed one of the bed posts and a few shards of wood pierced Babs skin.
I'm going to have to fight him or he'll kill me without any remorse...
Babs got up and ran towards him, slamming into his side while he swung the pitchfork blindly.
She pushed but he barely moved.
Another hit of the pitchfork sent a burning sensation in her back.
Babs fought the pain as she blew some dust in his face.
Blinded, he yelled and started walking backwards.
"Big Mac!" tried to reason Babs, "I won't kill ya! I pro..."
She froze as she saw him getting closer and closer to the open window at every step he took.
"Wait! Stop! You're gonna..."
Too late. Big Macintosh slammed through the window and disappeared through the edge.
"Noooooooooope!" was the last word he said before she heard a crack noise and something splatter on the ground.
Babs fell to the floor, eyes wide in shock. Her breath became unsteady and fast again. She started to sob and covered her face with her hooves.
Why was this happening to her? She could have been at home by now, away from all this death.
What had she done to Celestia to earn this?
Her pondering lasted for a while. Ten, maybe five minutes was all she needed to get up and gather a little of the courage she had left.
Now you're gonna run. Run until ya can't see this place and until you get home. thought Babs. Three... Two... One!
"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" yelled the brown filly, dashing out the room.
She ran passed the Granny Smith disaster and pass the missing sister's rooms. Down the stairs... Through the kitchen...
Almost there...
Chills ran up her spine as her hurry to get out was growing.
With one final push of adrenaline, she leaped outside into the pouring rain.
Panting for breath, she started to trot towards the gate near the farm house, passing dead pigs and cows on her way.
Babs suddenly stopped as she felt her horror come back.
A trail of blood went from the spot where Big Mac had fell to the gates.
She continued a little, seeing a from at the end of the path.
It was her cousin.
He apparently wasn't dead and was dragging himself to the gates.
"Big Macintosh!" yelled Babs, running forward.
He suddenly turned to her and the sight of his face made her turn the other way and never look back.
His mane was now a bloody color. A bone had stuck out through his left leg and one of his eyeballs was squished in a sick way. The red stallion's mouth was unusable for it's teeth had fallen out.
"I'm sorry..." mumbled Babs, not even knowing or caring where she was running to. "I'm so so sorry" she sobbed.
The rain was pouring down her flanks, drenching her in cold water.
It reminded her of this morning - that seemed oh so far away - when she had escaped her bullies. They probably would have been better than all this.
She ran for a long way, looking down and stumbling on the roots of trees and bushes that became more and more frequent for some reason.
Finally, she tripped hard on a fallen branch and fell rudely to the ground.
This time, she didn't get up. Sobbing about her life, about what she had done to Big Macintosh and what had happened to all her friends.
C'mon Babs. This is the last time ya ever have to go to Ponyville. Once you're out, it's finished. You'll be on that train talking to the weird green pony.
She got up, determined and pushing all the images out of her head... and her courage immediately faded away again when she realized where she was.
HOW THE BUCK DID I GET IN THE EVERFREE FOREST?!
"No... Oh no... This is bad!"
Babs turned around to come back where she had entered it, only to find trees and bushes blocking her path.
She ran back.
"This ain't the way I came!"
Babs went left.
"No..."
Babs went right.
"No...!"
She went forward.
"No!" she yelled in frustration. "I'm getting even more lost!"
She leaned against a tree and took a deep breath to clear her mind.
That didn't help. It did worse.
Babs remembered Mrs. Cake's story. Blank flanks disappearing. Pinkie Pie killing. No pony coming out of the Everfree forest. The disappearance of all her friends leading to others killing themselves.
Her heart pounded in her chest and she found herself frozen to the spot.
The darkness was surrounding her, suffocating her as night fell.
The trees grew bigger and a few animal cries were heard. The rain had stopped now.
Suddenly, hoof steps.
Babs ears perked up as she heard the familiar clip - clop of hooves.
"Hey!" she shouted, getting up. "Any pony here? Please help me!"
The hoof steps stopped, then continued, getting further away.
"Wait! Come back!" yelled Babs, running after the noise. "I'm friendly, I promise!"
She ran through the bushes and leaves, never seeming to get closer to the pony.
Finally, after about five minutes of chasing, she came to a clearing in the trees.
Babs could hardly see anything but guessed the form in front of her was a pony with black fur and mane.
"Thank Celestia I've caught up with ya!" she panted. "Please can ya help me out of here?"
"Who's the pony speakin'?" came the voice of a filly in front of the pony.
Babs mouth trembled as she recognized it.
"A... Applebloom?"
"Oh heya Babs" she said, still not coming forward. "Nice of you t'join us."
"What do ya mean? Did you know that half of Ponyville is looking for ya? And your family..." started to say Babs but then she interrupted herself, remembering Big Macintosh.
"Oh yeah mah dumb ol' family. That's right!" smirked Applebloom, coming out of the shadows. "Did ya get mah brother yet?" she then asked at the black pony.
"Nah sorry lil' sis, he seems to be resistant. But ah recon we'll get him by tonight."
Babs didn't say anything. She was frozen in horror at the sight of Applebloom.
Her fur was red with blood stains and her bow torn and dirty. She had tired eyes but was victoriously glaring at Babs.
"You've been trying to kill your family?" she muttered in shock.
"Our eyes have been opened by somethin' in this forest" said the filly. "It's great out here! We can kill anything we want!"
"What?!You kill ponies?"
"Well ain't it obvious Babs?" asked the black pony, turning around.
"Applejack!"
What Babs had thought to be a black coat and mane, were in fact blood stains. Everywhere on her body, there were blood stains.
"We've been on the hunt for blank flanks! See, ponies make fun of us. They mess with our emotions and tear us apart.
That's why we're creatin' a forest just for them! If you're a blank flank, we simply torture some sense in ya. But if you're some pony with a cutie mark..." Applebloom smiled "we tear your limbs apart and then sow them back together. Just like for mah sister here."
Babs looked over to Applejack who nodded, smiling.
"I... I don't understand. That must hurt! How are you still alive?"
"Dark magic. It found us in this forest two months ago. It infiltrated our brains, giving some sense to us. Now we know exactly what to do. This world full of ponies is stupid. Blank flanks must reign!" A glow of red caught Babs attention in Applebloom's eyes.
She's been corrupted by that dark magic thing!
"Applebloom! How could you let a form of magic enter your mind and make you do all these things to ponies? You've been corrupted by it! This isn't you!" she yelled.
"I haven't been corrupted!" she hissed. "This thing is right! Haven't you had enough of being bullied?"
Babs hesitated. Then when she took a closer look at Applejack, all doubt left her mind.
She had stitching marks all over her body.
They really did tear her apart! If they did something like that to her, I wonder what kind of horrible technics they're gonna use to force that magic in my brain...
Babs stepped forward and saw Applebloom smirk and make a sign with her hoof.
Sweetie Bell and Scootaloo emerged from the shadows and bushes, both smiling.
"Gals, ah think we've got ourselves a new recruit!"
You ain't gonna win that fast!
"So Babs?" asked Sweetie Bell with the same smirk. "What will it be?"
"I think I'll choose... nothing!" she yelled and bolted towards the trees.
A pony stepped, out in front of her, blocking her path.
"Twilight!" uttered Babs, stopping.
Babs was about to cry with joy when she noticed the princess's fur was more purple than usual. A darker purple.
Blood!
Twilight fired her horn and pink magic engulfed the earth pony, making her float back in front of the trio, who hadn't moved.
"You buncking fillies were expecting that I'd run off" moaned Babs with all the dignity she had, considering she was floating three feet in the air.
"Bad words Babs!" murmured Scootaloo. "Don't say bad words".
"You've been doing worse!"
"You'll be doing the same soon!"
Twilight released her emprise on Babs and she fell to the ground.
"I ain't gonna pass another second in this forest! And I ain't gonna kill other ponies!"
"Oh you'll change...!" smiled Sweetie Bell. "Applebloom?"
"Yep! Let's get her on our side!" exclaimed the yellow filly, grabbing a sort of clay container that Scootaloo was handing her.
She opened it and immediately a red magic stream shot out of it, floating in the air and moving around.
Applebloom pointed to Babs and it darted strait for her.
She ducked at the last second and let it run into Twilight.
The alicorn princess started to quiver, her eyes rolling uncontrollably in their sockets and more blood spurting from her stitches.
In a final gasp, she was taken apart. All her intestines and internal organs spilled out.
"Seriously?! We've already lost Rarity because that happened!" whined Sweetie Bell. "Now we don't have any unicorns!"
"Chill!" smirked Scootaloo as she turned back to Babs. Well... As she turned back to the spot Babs had been a few seconds ago.
"What?!" screeched Applebloom. "Scootaloo, send Rainbow Dash after her! Give her a knife and tell her to chop off Babs legs if she has to, just like she did for that other filly."
The orange filly nodded and ran back into the shadows to get her sister.
Babs was running again.
This time she was running for her life thought. Wasn't quite the same thing...
"Alright! Gotta find a way out of here! Don't give up..." she panted to herself while going at full speed strait in front of her.
That's when she heard the noise of flapping wings.
They were flapping fast!
Princess Celestia? thought Babs stupidly, stopping for a second.
She squinted her eyes and saw a dark blue coat and a mostly red mane.
Babs started running again.
Nope! That ain't Celestia! That ain't Celestia at all! Run!
Unfortunately the form of Rainbow Dash caught up with her in no time.
She slammed into the running filly, making a sickening 'crack!' noise.
Babs cried out in pain as the cyan pegasus broke her front leg.
"Rainbow! Rainbow its me! Oh Celestia please remember me!" pleaded Babs, trying to buy some time while attempting to get up.
Her opponent didn't answer and grabbed her tail, dragging her back towards the madness.
No... I can't let them catch me again!
Babs looked behind her and noticed a knife in Rainbow's mouth.
This might work...
Babs bucked Rainbow in the hind legs with all her strength.
The pegasus fell backwards and Babs ducked.
She got up and jumped on Rainbow, quickly taking the knife out of her mouth and placing it under her neck.
"Don't... Don't you dare move!" she uttered, shaking. "Or you know what... what'll happen!"
The mare just blinked and suddenly tried to get up, making the knife slice right through her own flesh, separating her head from the rest of her body.
"Oh hell... Oh hell what am I doing..." muttered Babs to herself, traumatized by the death of the second pony that she had killed.
Move! Move! Run! Run you stupid filly! said a voice inside her head and Babs obeyed it.
She just bolted forward, knife in her mouth and blood all over her coat.
Well... 'bolted' isn't quite the word.
She was more walking very slowly on three legs with a knife in her mouth and blood all over her coat.
"Keep... walking... You... can... do it! Just... a... little further... And then... it's done... Keep... walking..." murmured Babs to herself for the hundredth time.
How long she had been in this forest was a mystery. At least 4 hours or so...
Her front leg was aching so badly that she could barely hold back her tears.
The blood on her coat had dried out and she had hung on to the knife incase something else arrived.
The sun should be up soon... Not that I'll notice it in this forest...
She remembered when she had tripped on something earlier. That was the most painful experience she had ever lived for she couldn't get up unless she put her injured hoof on the ground. And she had no choice.
The pain had been unbearable and she had screamed, barely hearing the other 'crack' in her leg which meant that she had broken it in two different places.
Almost... there... Surely I'm near... WAIT! Is that...? Is that and opening in the forest? OMC! I think I'm almost out! thought Babs, not noticing she was accelerating a bit.
The large gap of light was only a few hoofsteps now and she hopped the last few before collapsing from exhaustion on the floor.
She lifted her head a bit and noticed a little cottage. The last thing she saw before passing out was a yellow pony running towards her.
It smells nice... I like this smell... What is it tea? thought Babs while she slowly awoke from her slumber.
She opened her eyes to see she was inside of a rather small cottage.
Animals and plants were scattered everywhere and the place seemed rather clean.
"Oh hello Babs. Are you feeling okay?" came a voice from her right.
She turned her head in the direction of the sound and saw Fluttershy standing next to her with a reassuring smile on her face.
"Uh... Yeah thanks. What am I doing here again?"
"Oh dear you can't remember? You were kinda... um... attacked?" she said hesitantly.
Memories came back to Babs and she sat up quickly wondering is she was safe from the CMC or not.
As soon as she did so, a horrible pain in her front leg stopped her from doing anything else.
"Calm down! Please Babs, calm down! You're just hurting yourself more..." pleaded Fluttershy, rushing over to help her.
Babs simply grunted and tried to get out of bed again.
"We have to find someplace safe!" she moaned.
"No need! We are safe here! Now lay down..."
Babs decided to obey her and put her head back on the pillow.
"How did you find me?" she asked after a while.
"I saw you while I was coming out of my house" she explained.
"But... I thought after the... uh ya know the incident, you didn't talk to any pony!" remembered Babs.
Fluttershy's gaze froze on her and she lowered her head.
"You're a survivor Babs. I've seen many ponies go inside that forest and never come out. But you did. I don't know how... Maybe just luck like Pinkie and I. But since you are like us and you saw them, I can trust you."
Babs shifted her position uncomfortably.
"Yeah it was luck. And thanks for saving me too. How did your luck work out?"
"I was saved by Twilight.
She levitated us all and threw us in a tree when they approached. She knew that we would try and help her so she paralyzed us.
We had to watch her being teared apart by a sort of red smoke that went through her body and sliced it.
Her spell went down the second she did.
Rarity fell off the tree and she got sliced to death too.
Rainbow tried to rescue her but got stuck on the floor and when we tried to help her, Applejack blocked our way, telling us to run or she'd break our legs. So we ran... And we never saw her or them again..." finished Fluttershy, now sobbing.
"I'm so sorry" muttered Babs, feeling guilty for asking and guilty to know what had happened to them. "Uh... So how did you heal me?"
The brown filly changed subject, putting back a smile on her face. "I can feel the pain but my bones aren't broken... I can feel they aren't!"
"Oh... Um... Zecora lent me a potion like that long ago. It can mend bones! Plus... I had no use for it anyway..."
"Zecora...?" mumbled Babs, having heard that name before."Oh yeah! Applebloom talked about that zebra in one of her letters... Does she really live in the Everfree forest?"
"Yes she does. Or she did. I don't know if she's still out there after... you know."
"Yeah..."
An uncomfortable silence reigned between the two.
"Well! I'm sure you're hungry so I'll make us some dinner!"
"Okay thanks... Wait dinner?? How long have I been out?"
"Just today."
"Right. Thanks again Fluttershy."
Babs laid awake on the sofa.
Impossible to get some sleep after what had happened!
Every sound, every creak that the house made, she heard and always quivered.
Finally, she gave up on trying and walked to the kitchen, her leg seeming to be completely healed now.
"Right... I hope Fluttershy won't mind if I have a cup of tea..." thought Babs out loud. "Let's see... Aha! There it..."
Ugh stupid... I've gotta stop talking to myself! she interrupted herself. Now, to get to more important things, how am I gonna stop my frien... those fillies? I have to go back, that's for sure cause I'm one of the rare survivors here! Me and Fluttershy have an advantage. Might as well use it...
Maybe I could go wake her up and ask her what she knows about that... thing. She did talk to the princess after all.
Babs trotted upstairs and went into her room.
Fluttershy was awake and her light was on.
"Oh hello Babs!" she murmured, noticing the brown filly in her doorway. "Did you have a nightmare too?"
"Actually no" muttered Babs. "I just wanted to speak to you about something."
"Sure! I'll be right down!" she smiled.
Babs sat back on the couch downstairs and waited for the yellow pegasus.
"So," said Fluttershy once she had arrived, "what is it?"
"We've gotta go fight against that smoke. It's the only way to save the citizens of Ponyville!"
"What?!" shrieked Fluttershy, backing away. "You can't possibly do that!"
"Then I'll go alone!" shouted Babs, annoyed at the coward pegasus. "I just need you to help me!
What do you know about that creature?"
Fluttershy took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Celestia told me all about it.
It has no name and no pony knows where it came from.
It corrupts anypony that it sees and that pony becomes avid of blood and murder.
If it passes once through the body of a pony with a cutie mark, it rips it apart and then, 24 hours later, the pony comes back to life and obeys the first pony that has been corrupted. The smoke mustn't pass twice through the body of a pony or it um... explodes.
If the smoke passes through the body of a cutie mark less pony, then it will cut off the top of its head and put a bit of itself into it, corrupting the body as well in great pain".
Babs flinched.
That was a lot of information.
How did that frail pony remember all that from the princess??
"Yeah uh... Thanks Fluttershy!"
The yellow mare looked at her with concern. "You shouldn't go back in there. Your luck won't last Babs. Please stay here safe."
"I'm sorry but... I'm willing to try and save others" replied the determined filly.
"Good luck then. When will you be leaving?" Fluttershy started to ascend the stairs.
"Tomorrow I guess. And thank you for your help too. I know my words ain't much but still..."
"It's okay" smiled Fluttershy. "I just hope you survive."
Babs nodded and turned the light off, getting ready to try and find some sleep.
She thought about what Fluttershy had said.
In normal times, her sentence would have been weird, offensive. But now...
How much Babs missed her sister... Never would she ever run away again. Her bullies won't even bother her anymore.
Once this is over, I can be proud of what I have accomplished...
But it'll only happen if I defeat my... enemies.
I should try and find Zecora and ask for advice tomorrow. Then, I'll jump on them and capture their smoke and force it through them to... kill.
Babs sighted.
When had her thoughts become so messed up and full of murder?
Probably since I experienced all that gore and murder.
"Get some sleep" muttered Babs, modifying her position in the sofa, barely noticing that she had started talking to herself.
Finally, her eyes closed and she felt herself drift away in sleep.
"What? Where am I?" Babs voice echoed strangely through the dark forest. "Why am I back in the Everfree?"
"That's because your place is here Babs" smirked Applebloom, coming out of the shadows with her same red-glowing eyes. "With us!"
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo appeared behind her and nodded with a creepy smile.
"I ain't scared of you! I'm coming to get you tomorrow and there's nothing you can do about it!" shouted Babs, her courage starting to make her brag.
"Oh we'll see" murmured Scootaloo. "You killed my sister. I didn't appreciate that."
Babs flinched at the memory of Rainbow Dash cutting herself in half. "She did it herself!"
"And what about Big Macintosh? You killed him don't deny it! How are you going to hide something like that at Fluttershy? She was fond of him you know" said Sweetie, almost purring.
"I..."
"And why didn't you tell her what really happened to her friends?"
"It ain't..."
"Liar!"
"Killer!"
"Murderer!"
"Stop..."
"I can't believe she has the courage to come back!"
"No..."
"Yeah! That filthy coward!"
"It's not like that!" screamed Babs.
A movement caught her attention in the bushes near her.
And then a bloody, torn apart and gutty red stallion jumped out, yelling at her with what was left of his mouth.
"Big Mac! Wait!"
At the last moment where he jumped on her, a shimmering light lit up the whole forest, making it look almost peaceful.
Princess Luna appeared behind it and came down, shooting a magic blast at the ponies gathered in the clearing and making them disappear.
She landed in front of Babs and started at her with a serious expression.
"Princess..." Babs bowed.
"You are foolish Babs" suddenly said Luna, scolding at her. "How could you possibly want to go back in that forest after all that has happened to you?"
"It's the only way to defeat that thing!"
"And you truly believe that going in alone will help? Celestia herself knows what that thing is capable of doing and she's scared of it! How could you win?"
"I've survived! I can make it!"
"Your ego is getting the best of you Babs Seed. It is making you do things you will regret..." Luna shook her head, suddenly seeming sad.
"I've already done stuff that I've regretted" muttered Babs.
"Please! Do not do something foolish!" implored Luna, starting to float away.
Babs simply turned her head.
This is something I've gotta do...
The brown filly awoke suddenly, sweating.
Was that a dream?
Babs shook herself.
Of course it was a dream!
She looked outside, pass the bird nests and friendly chaos of the animals waking up, to see through the window that the sun was just rising.
Babs jumped to her hooves, blowing her mane out of her face and trotting over to the kitchen.
She had to hurry. Perhaps Luna had sent ponies to stop her...
Couldn't they see she was just trying to help them?
I'll show them...
"Good morning!" sang Fluttershy when Babs walked in.
"Morning. I didn't think you'd be up so early."
"Me neither!" simply replied the yellow mare. Then her face took a serious expression and she asked : "Did you give up on your project?"
"No..." Babs quickly changed subject before she too tried to change her mind. "Thank you for your hospitality!"
"You keep saying that!" giggled Fluttershy.
Babs smiled as she started eating the plate of eggs that Fluttershy had put in front of her.
They tasted weird but the brown filly didn't mind.
She'd need energy for what she was about to do...
"Goodbye!" waved Babs, stopping at the edge of the forest to wave.
"Take care..." Fluttershy waved back.
Babs decided to not turn back.
It could be painful...
She had wanted to leave at dawn for she was scared that Princess Luna would try and stop her.
She looked up at the scary trees that were just waiting for her to enter the forest full of evil.
I can do this... I have to do this!
Babs took a step into the shadows and then another and another and another.
Soon, she was trotting through the spooky biome, going deeper through it at every step she took.
After an hour or so, she reckoned she must be close enough to the other blank flanks.
"Okay... Now to find where my friends are.
I just have to stab them. It's... not that bad.
It's gonna be okay. You won't get blamed by anyone! It's an honor to do that.
I'll be avenging dozens of fillies. They'll be thankful!" said Babs to herself out loud. "Plus, I already know that Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Twilight are dead. With Pinkie and Fluttershy safely in Ponyville, I should only have the CMC and Applejack to... kill..."
"Kill?"
The voice made her jump and she spun around, holding her knife in her mouth.
"Who's there?!" she shouted, scanning the darkness.
"Please... Don't kill me. Well... I'm already dead anyways but still... I wanna die like this, not by a knife."
"I asked you who you were. Get outta your hiding place before I come before you!"
The voice broke a bit.
"I... can't... My legs..."
Pity started to come to Babs.
"Do ya need help?"
"I'm already done anyways. It's too late. But I heard you were going to kill the CMC?"
"Yeah. So?"
"Please don't do it... They'll kill you! I tried to escape but... they cut my legs off.
I really want you to avenge me but..."
The filly was cut off by a cough.
Blood landed in front of Babs hooves and she jerked back.
"Are ya in that bush?" she asked warily.
"Sorry but... You wouldn't want to see me like this..."
"I'm coming" defied Babs, approaching it and pushing it aside.
The sight made her gasp.
A cream colored filly with red hair was lying miserably on the ground. She had a pair of torn pink glasses next to her and seemed blind.
Her eyes would move around without really focusing on something.
But the worst thing was her legs.
They weren't there anymore! Just bloody pieces of meat stuck to her body.
She was cut and bruised.
The filly gave an apologetic smile.
"My friend was with me. The reason I didn't die yet was because she wrapped some cloth around my wounds so I didn't bleed to death.
She died of course.
And I couldn't even move.
But now I'm bleeding again and..."
Another cough.
Some more blood splattered on the ground.
"Oh Celestia... What can I do?"
"Nothing... I'm already dead"
A silence came between the two of them and Babs gulped.
"I'm gonna have to go... Just... What's your name?"
A cough again.
"Twist."
"It was nice meeting you... I'll... I'll try and get some help okay?"
"You know as well as me that it's over for me. I'm dead already. I'm just going to bleed to death. Let it go okay?"
Babs nodded and... ran.
She just couldn't take the oppression of the poor filly.
Her name is Twist... I'll remember you. I promise...
Babs ran for about half an hour before collapsing to the floor, exhausted.
This is a lost cause...
Desperation hit her hard and she started to sob.
"How could I have been so naïve?! It's impossible for me to find them in this place. I can't-"
A voice. Again.
It was pretty far away. But it was still a voice.
Babs got up, suppressing as smile.
Back on track!
She trotted towards it, making as less noise as possible and often stopping to listen.
Finally, she arrived next to the clearing she had been in a day ago -that seemed so far away.
She crawled forward and peeked over a bush.
"We can't find her."
"I don't care, just look some more."
"We looked almost everywhere..."
"Y'all are really annoying me..."
"Why sis?"
"Cuz ya just gonna have to look at the 'almost everywhere' part of the forest!" responded Applebloom with annoyance.
"Sorry..."
"Really I thought mah sis would be more intelligent than the others. They're all dead too! Are ya mournin'?" Applebloom raised an eyebrow at her sister.
"Eeenope"
Applejack's blank expression frightened Babs.
"Just go find mah cous'! That's the third stupid filly that we let escape..."
Applejack nodded and retreated into the woods.
I wonder who she's gonna go get? Maybe there are others... Ugh! I should have looked for Zecora! She probably could have helped me... But no time for that! I have to be brave.
Now... Where's that smoke that they seem to have befriended?
Babs looked up and then saw Scootaloo coming out of the darkness.
Her expression looked saddened.
"She's dead. She killed her."
"What?!" Applebloom trotted to her. "How?"
"I found her body just an hour ago. I can't find her head on it though..."
"Fear leads to doing things stupid... and brave..." groaned the young farmer.
"She killed my sister! I'll... I'll have her tortured! I'll have her dead!" Scootaloo's scream terrified Babs as she shrunk back deeper into the bush.
"I propose that we organize a search party. She may still be alive if she's still stuck in the forest."
"Alright. I agree. Y'all wanna bring him?" sighted Applebloom.
"Yes! We'll convert her immediately!"
Applebloom took out the clay pot and handed it to her friend.
This is my chance!
Babs jumped out of the bush and lunged at it in front of the stupefied fillies.
At that moment, Sweetie Belle came running out.
"Girls! We found Twist's bod-"
She bumped into Babs, throwing her off and the Manehattan filly fell to the floor.
There was a shocked silence and then Applebloom burst out laughing.
"Thanks Sweetie! Looks like we've got ourselves a brave one!"
Sweetie didn't answer, too busy figuring out what she had done.
Scootaloo on the other hoof was looking at their victim with anger. Her teeth were gritted and her posture, defensive.
Babs painfully got up and looked at them.
This didn't turn out at all like I expected it! I've gotta... I've gotta grab that thing!
She jumped once more onto Applebloom, taking her by surprise and trying to grab the thing.
Scootaloo fell on top of her and started punching.
Babs realized that she had a new enemy and turned around only to be punched in the face.
Sweetie Belle tried levitating her but failed and finally gave up to jump on the mass and try to rescue Applebloom.
"You idiot! You killed Rainbow Dash! You killed my sister!" punched Scootaloo, screaming hysterically. "I'm gonna kill YOU now!"
Babs who was hopelessly trying to push her away, suddenly bucked her stomach, making her fall to the side in pain.
Now to get out of here!
Babs started to run towards where she had came from but it was no use, for dozens of fillies and colts were coming out of the shadows with blank expressions.
I hope they aren't blank flanks or they'll be more intelligent!
Babs thought, struggling to build some more courage up.
Suddenly, a pink filly with a torn up tiara on her head jumped at her with a gray filly at her side.
Babs ducked and ran to the side, going strait through the open gap they had left.
She ran through the darkness, often stumbling upon roots and fallen branches.
She could hear the hoof-steps off her attackers.
"C'mon y'all! Faster! She ain't getting away this time!"
"If only I had my scooter..."
"We'll have a fourth ruler!!"
No you won't... I don't want to become part of your sick little group. I want to end it.
And when you'll all be dead, you can thank me for freeing you.
"She's over there! She's going to the vine place!" Sweetie Belle shouted.
"Ha! We've got you now Babs!" yelled Applebloom.
What do they mean?
"I... I don't think so!" panted courageously Babs.
"I do think so!"
Babs saw a few vines sticking out from the trees and laughed inside.
Those are your vines? Pitiful!
But she realized she was very wrong when they started to thicken and to multiply the farther in them she adventured.
The CMC and their 'minions' we're getting closer though...
Babs had lost her knife when Sweetie Belle had bumped into her but they had took it.
Scootaloo was leading the whole group, slashing away the vines with all her strength.
When Babs looked back, she could see her orange fur getting closer by the second.
"No..." she murmured, looking back again.
She shouldn't have.
Her body slammed into loads of tangling vines and she did worse by trying to continue running.
Her legs got caught in it and she could barley move her head.
She uselessly wiggled, trying to escape.
"Why hello there little killer!" Scootaloo suddenly appeared next to her.
Babs panicked.
This couldn't be the end!
"Stop panicking! Ah reckon you've got so tangled in there, that even an apple tree couldn't grow through those..."
"That didn't mean anything..." muttered Sweetie Belle, joining them out of breath.
"I'm workin' on it..." answered the filly.
Then she turned to Babs.
"So... Ya ready for what's gonna happen?"
"N... Never!" fear made her tone a begging one.
"Awww! Look at that! She's so scared that-"
A bright flash of white interrupted her.
They all looked down in shock at Babs flank.
"She... She got her cutie mark!"
An exited chill ran up Babs spine.
"Ha! Ya see?! I'm gonna get out of here!"
"I don't think so..." smiled Scootaloo. "Sweetie Belle? Would you kindly do as so our dear friend Babs Seed can look at her cutie mark?"
Sweetie nodded with an evil grin. She enveloped the vines in her green aura and shifted two or three so that Babs could look at her destiny.
The brown filly was scared now.
What could her cutie mark possibly be?!
She slowly turned her head... and felt like all hope had disappeared.
"Wh... Why?" she sobbed.
Her cutie mark was a miniature Everfree forest.
On it, was a big lock that almost covered it all.
Next to the lock, was a key. It's end was made in the form of a skull.
"Now Babs, just incase you're having trouble figuring out what you're destiny is, let me clear it up for you!" smirked Applebloom.
"Your destiny is to be locked up in the Everfree forest forever, and only death can free ya!"
"N... No..." Babs closed her eyes.
It couldn't be! It just couldn't!
"Now Sweetie Belle, ya got the pot?"
"Yep! He's in there all right! I bet he can feel her horrible faith..."
Scootaloo gently brushed one of Babs bruised cheeks from the fight with her hoof... before punching it hard.
The brown filly cried out in pain and tears came out her eyes.
"So weak!" muttered Scootaloo. "So lame! So... I give up! You're too pathetic for me to even pay attention."
"Bye Bye Babs! See ya on the other side!" smiled Applebloom.
"Have fun getting tortured!" nodded Sweetie Belle.
"We hate you!" added Scootaloo with a grin.
Babs opened her eyes again, trying to give them a glare and die with dignity, but when she saw the red smoke coming for her, she lost her confidence.
It got closer and closer and closer and-
That was the last thing she saw.
Author's Note
I'm sorry if some of you didn't like the bad ending or the fact that there were no chapters.
I've been working on this for months and hope to create an audio version of it.
If anypony that can draw or wants to voice one of the characters, wants to be in it, just send me a message and I can help.
I'll add a link to the video when the auditions come out soon.
Love you all and thank you for your support.
