As the Cutie Mark Crusaders stand in front of Zecora's hut with Spike, the overarching trees sway in an invisible breeze. The Everfree, it's mysterious depths undiscovered; taunts them with promises of potential dangers if they were to just go a little further in.
The is sun clearly visible on it's path to the horizon this late autumn day. With leaves blowing their multi colored banners about, celebrating this brisk weather before the freezing cold takes hold. It is the day before Nightmare Night, Nightmare's Eve, and the reason for the CMC and Spike's visit to Zecora's hut. For only the wise shaman, and good friend, can aid them in their time of need.
They shiver while another wind whips around them, loosing Sweetie Belle's styled mane and tail to fly free; when the sound of hinges moving grabs their attention.
The door creaks open revealing a familiar Zebra, her gaze unusually tense as it falls upon the young fillies and dragon.
Eyes scanning left and right, searching the forest for something unseen, she motions to them with her hoof to come in.
In a tense and slightly clipped voice Zecora rhymes.
"Swiftly to my home you must come, Many things this evening run. This is no time for you to stay, out where the Everfree holds sway."
As if on cue the surrounding forest lets loose sounds from it's depths, shrieks and whistles, screams and giggles. The Cutie Mark Crusaders and Spike need no further urging, and rush up the steps and into the shaman's home. As the young purple dragon passes by, Zecora does one last pass of the forest with her eyes. Something is out there this night, she can tell by the feeling in the air. This is no night for ponies to be out there in the woods.
Closing the door slowly, ensuring to keep the forest visible at all times; Zecora finally seals the gateway to her home with a *thud*. Locking the door tight before placing various charms on it; she backs away. Eears alert for a few minutes, before turning to her guests. The fillies and dragon are seated around the central fire, staring at her with huge worried eyes. As the seconds tick by, the noises outside grow louder, as the wind picks up causing an unearthly howl to echo outside.
Finally after a minute or two, the noises settle back down to the normal levels; and the Zebra walks over to her guests. Sitting across from them, hooves crossed and a look of strain on her face, she asks them.
"Why on this night that most ponies fear, did you brave the Everfree my dears. Any night prior would of been fine, but now you must stay in this hut of mine."
Applebloom, red bow in her mane, is the first to speak as the fire amplifies the yellow in her coat.
"Zecora did Ah hear you right when ya said we cannot leave?"
Scootaloo chimes in, her voice a mix of bravado and fear.
"Yeah, I mean, all we came down here for was to ask for advice on costumes. Twilight even sent Spike with to chaperone."
Spike the dragon, his purple and green scales shimmering in the firelight, nods.
"Scootaloo is right. Twilight trusted me to get my friends through the Everfree, to your hut, to ask for costume advice. And now you are saying we can't leave? What is wrong Zecora?"
Sweetie Belle spoke up, still shivering a bit from the cold.
"Yes, y you see, this is kind of last minute. Besides the sun is still up, so I don't see why you can't let us leave. Isn't the Everfree only dangerous at night?"
Zecora rubs her hoof to her temple, sighing over the innocence of these little ones. They had traveled through the forest yet knew so little of it's dangers. In the town of Ponyville, was one of the most well read Unicorns she knew; and they had no idea why they shouldn't be here. On this night of all nights. Her friends before her could not of chosen a worse time to come and ask her for advice. As if agreeing the noise outside picks up again, with chitters and chatters announcing the waking of the denizens of the woods. Ears flicking back to try to sift through the sounds, she hears not that which has caused her such worry. There is no trace of the sound of water where there should be none.
To the three fillies and a dragon before her, she closes her eyes before letting out a sigh. Opening them she asks them but one question.
"Do you know what night this be, little friends who seek advice from me?"
The three fillies nod enthusiastically, as Spike answers for them.
"That's easy, it's Nightmare's Eve, the night before Nightmare Night."
Motioning them closer, Zecora leans over and says in a calm and disappointed voice.
"No, that is only half true, it seems the full truth is hidden from you."
Applebloom shakes her head, denying Zecora's words.
"Spike is right! This here is Nightmare's Eve. Nothing more and nothin less."
Scootaloo agrees with a sense of pride in her voice.
"Yeah, besides there isn't anything to fear except foals and fillies in costumes. And that's tomorrow night. It's not like this day is any more special than tomorrow, when we get free candy and sweets," at the mention of candy she drools a little. The saliva from her mouth trickling down her muzzle.
Sweetie Belle, having been watching Zecora carefully, adds quietly.
"They are right..aren't they Zecora? There aren't any real monsters out are there?"
The Zebra shaman takes a deep breathe before blowing it out, causing the smoke from the fire to move and twist. Looking straight into the eyes of her guest she replies.
"Tonight be the one of true terror, when things are shifting ever clearer. The veil between this world and others, shimmers to open pathways of colors. The things that walk this night alone, would be far worse than mere bone. A tale I wish to tell thee, will you listen closely to me?"
The three fillies and one dragon nod, huddling closer to each other. Outside the noise grows louder, as if something is coming soon from the depths of the woodlands. Something that should not be, but is walking towards the edge of the Ever free.
Zecora clears her throat before beginning her tale.
"For this night you call Nightmare's Eve, in my homeland we call something else indeed. We call it the "Night of Thinning Veils", when all manners of things break free from tales. They cross the boundaries step by step, and roam our world for one night no less. In this forest similar things do roam, and should you meet them you will never go home."
At the mention of never going home, all four huddle closer; Applebloom pulling her friends into a tight hug. In the firelight, it almost looks the four are merging together into one.
The shaman continues her story of old.
"Of the beasts that you could meet, none are worse than these. Slipping through the forest floor, blending into foliage and more. These things like fey may be, but kindness from them you will not see. With a shape that is not set, there are little ways to know one you've met. For they are predator not prey, this is why you all must stay. These things have many names, but this one will work all the same. The words I think best describes, Trickles is what comes to mind. Like a tiny little stream, flowing over long dead leaves. When you see them you will know, by the sound of a currents flow. Trickles make no other sound, unless it is food they scarf down. They hunt on nights like these, underneath these ancient trees. When the veil things as tonight, they become more than a mere fright."
The poor fillies and dragon are huddled so close now, they look like one thing. Shaking in terror and shedding tears of fear, as Zecora continues.
"But do not fear if them you see, there are still ways you can flee. Be silent now as they go by, do not look them in the eye. Do not wander on this day, for paths they use to lead astray. Do not stop and do not stare, pretend they aren't even there. For if this you cannot heed, you will attend their abysmal feed. The Trickles love something good to eat, little ponies make tasty treats. This is why you cannot leave, my dear friends please stay with me."
The Zebra's eyes take on a look of pleading towards the closely huddled four. Her black and white striped coat and contrasting gold neck rings, shimmering in the light of the fire. Outside the sun has begun to set, casting orange and purple shadows across the forest floor, and over her hut. The sound of a creek bed echoes through it, like a stream that coasts over undergrowth.
As Zecora stares at them with begging eyes, the CMC plus Spike stop shivering. Then freezing in place they look up at her as one.
Eyes seeming to fade into their heads, as the sunset outside gets closer to night. What was once four bodies is now one, no three, or two. The eyes of the shaman can't focus on what stands before her. Her eyes grow wide in terror, as the sound of a stream begins to echo through the hut.
Getting up and backing towards the door, their empty eyes follow her as their body shimmers like water. The Shaman reaches back to undo the lock on the door, as the thing before her begins to flow towards her. It's body staying erect, it moves over the wood of her home like water over a stream bed. It's form growing less distinct each passing moment. A shimmering, shivering, thing that defies all existence. It leaves a path of slick liquid behind it, as it flows forward towards her. It's face rippling and changing form before her eyes, the CMC and Spike's face long gone. Frantically, the Zebra tries to unlock the door faster as it closes in.
The charms on the door are grabbed by her left hoof, a last desperate maneuver to ward the fiend away. Then, at the last moment, Zecora successfully unlocks the door; and scrambles out and away from her hut. Hooves beating a track down the well worn path, she hears what sounds like a rushing stream behind her. Daring not to look back, she races on. Crashing though brambles and thickets, tree branches clawing at her face, the Shaman flees.
The dirt beneath her hooves is covered by leaf litter, muffling the sound of her stampeding escape. The same ground cover amplifies her pursuers distinctive sound, as a raging river becomes a waterfall. Barely missing tripping over a large stone, Zecora leaps over a fallen tree, landing heavily on the other side before taking off again. Her breathing comes in panicked breaths as her eyes focus on the light ahead, the only chance she has to escape. She pushes her body even harder, accelerating recklessly as she hears the Trickles catching up to her.
In a time that feels like forever she runs.
As scratches accumulate on her body, she hears it drawing nearer. Changing from a rushing stream to a raging river, giggles and chuckles joining in the chorus, as the beast from her own tale hunts her down. The sun has yet to fully set as she sees the exit from the Everfree, rounding the last bend her heart almost stops. Right before her stands a pony, a brown Unicorn with yellow blonde hair. To her frantic mind, Zecora sees the mare as merely an obstacle. With a prayer to her gods, and a plea for forgiveness, she does what only one being chased by a thing such as Trickles are would do.
With one swift kick, she trips the Unicorn as she passes by; fleeing like the wind. As she races on, and just past the exit of the forest, she hears an inequine scream followed by a crunch.
"Do not stop and do not stare." The old wisdom echoes in her mind, and though she does not stop, she risks a peek.
Behind her she sees the Unicorn mare down, or what was a Unicorn. Green flames slowly flow up it's body, as it struggles in vain against the living viscous liquid monstrosity. Where once stood the image of the CMC and Spike, now is an unspeakable fiend. It's body morphed into a gaping maw, as it swallows the changeling whole. The poor things carapace burning like acid has touched it, as the abomination flows up it's victims body. What her eyes behold devouring the changeling is a nightmare the mortal mind should never witness, not even in peeks while fleeing.
Turning her head, tears in her eyes, Zecora races down the path into Ponyville. The changeling's screams echoing behind her like a raucous chorus of blame and pain. The Zebra keeps going, past the meadows and farmland, and into the town of Ponyville. Headed towards the one place she can expect comfort, and safety.
As the sun sets she reaches the Library, and the home of a close friend.
That night she would stay with her, until the mornings light came. Twilight Sparkle would try her best to get what happened out of her, but to no avail. For though she escaped, Zecora knew the rest of the tale she hadn't finished...
Trickles down the path they go, horrors from beyond the known. If they chase you and thee escapes, think not of them and pray. For once they know who are, such danger is never far. You see the only way to keep them away, is forget about Trickles and let memories fade.
The sooner that you forget, memories of them must be nicked. For Trickles can only feed, on those whom they know they've seen. As such is the power of the mind, that forgetting them repels their kind. Horrors from the great unknown, a Trickle may your mind never know.
Author's Note
I give you Trickles, abominations from beyond.
There may be sequels...
Glen Gorewood
