The Best Poker Face

by Chemtest

Rating: teen
Tags: Comedy, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Adventure, Violence, Princess Celestia, Crossover, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Death, Alternate Universe, Human, Main 6, Other, Original Character
Length: 18211

Slenderman, only he isn’t actually Slenderman.

There exist tales of the Spirit of Fear. A tall, bipedal creature with no face, tendrils of darkness, and a suit so black that he blends in among the trees.

These tales still exist, although they are relegated to simply be fables to get children to behave. Even with the life-like statue of him in Canterlot, he is still seen as fiction.

The tales say he kidnaps ponies who walk through his woods, and eats them whole! The Princess herself says these tales are true! Yet, no matter what, you should never fear the name...

Slendermane.

Published 2018-03-20 03:50:07 UTC
Last updated 2019-08-30 03:00:26 UTC

Fear

Fear... innocence... food... awaken!

He slowly gains consciousness from his thousand year nap, quickly absorbing the environment around him.

He quickly picks up on the fact that he is trapped in stone, and seems to be in the middle of a garden.

We must feed.

A class of foals, taking a field trip to the Canterlot Garden from Ponyville, walk up to his statue. The teacher, Cheerilee, smiles, “Here, we have a statue made in the likeness of the fictional character known as Slendermane. It is said that he reigned terror across Equestria for a decade, and that he is the Spirit of Fear itself. This statue was apparently carved from three different types of stone by Adolf Hoofler. It is apparently the most accurate representation of him in all the lands!”

One foal raises their hoof, “Why did he do the stuff with the terror, Miss Cheerilee?”

She nods, “Very good question, and one that was never answered in any tale about him. However, some ponies theorize that he may be a Changeling Crossbreed that needs to feed off fear to survive.”

The same foal asks another question, “Why does he just eat regular food?”

She looks at the foal, and smiles, “Well, certain creatures need to use magic in order to hold their form together. We are lucky enough to make magic, and not use enough of it, so we can exist on only physical food. However, creatures such as changelings need to feed off magical energy, namely emotions, so that they won’t turn to dust.”

Another foal raises their hoof, “Why is he wearing that strange dark suit?”

Cheerilee looks back at him, “It is not known exactly why, but just like before there are many theories. Some say that the dark suit is a representation of his soul and magic, and that it serves as a type of barrier so he won’t be harmed. Others say that he uses it to blend into the darkness of the Everfree Forest. Even more say that he was once a pony who was turned into this form when at a fancy party. We can’t say for sure, all we know is that every tale describes his suit, so he always had it.”

A yellow filly raises her hoof, “W-What happened to his face?”

Cheerilee motions her hoof, “It is said that he might come from someplace very dark, so he naturally lost his eyes. Others say that his face is a giant eye, or a giant nose, or a giant egg. This, as well, was not covered in any tales. But, if you look close, you may see the hint of something underneath. Some say that the blank face is only a mask, and his true face is underneath.”

The foals all look at his face, and the voice inside of him screams.

Feed!

He summons the little remaining energy to his face, and distorts it’s look.

The foals all back up as they see a large smile break out on his face, yet none can look away as it begins to drip blood.

Slight bits of fear are fed to him, giving him more and more power.

Stone starts to break off, and his dark tendrils spread out around him.

The fear increases even more, giving him a surplus.

He gathers all of it up into a single burst, and breaks out of the stone prison.

The voice shouts once more.

Feed more!

He looks towards the children, but he takes control at the last second.

He dusts off his suit, and nods, “Hello, I suppose I should thank you.” He stretches his limbs, “Oh, and your teacher got it wrong, my name is Slenderman.” He turns from them, “Sorry for the scare, but I needed it.”

He searches his body, and finds very few of his powers still intact. He can only feel enough energy to Slender Walk, and sense those around him.

He uses this power to retreat from the situation he finds himself in, not wanting to see the terrified faces of the children.

He arrives in the middle of his territory, only to look around with confusion written all over his face.

What used to be the middle of the Everfree Forest is now a peaceful cottage with animals running all around it.

They cut down your domain... slaughter them! Take their fear!

He staggers, holding a hand to his head as he is assaulted with the angry voice.

He shouts, “Shut up! We will not do anything to them!”

You are weaker than I, you know you will fall.

He shakes his head, “I will never allow you to have control! Not if you are going to kill everything!”

We need more powers! We need more fear!

He staggers, only to find something supporting him from behind.

He looks down, and sees a fluffy husky sitting at his feet, looking at him with concern. He reaches down, and rubs the dogs’ head.

He takes a few deep breaths, and sits on the ground.

He allows his tendrils to spread around him, and he continues the repetitive motion of scratching the dog’s head. He takes deep breaths, and loses himself in the nature around him.

———

Spike burps suddenly, a letter flying out of the green flame.

Twilight takes the letter, and reads Celestia’s call to arms.

She nods, and sets off the get the other Elements.

———

Six sets of hooves walk up the path to the Everfree Forest, ready for their enemy to jump out of every shadow around them.

Slenderman stirs in his meditation, hearing the six get closer.

He looks at the animals that have decided to land on him as he meditated, “You might want torte out of here, things might get violent.”

They all listen, going to the woods or the cottage.

Slenderman stays still as the six approach.

Twilight looks at him, “Odd, usually there’d be a monologue of some sort before we fight.”

Slender looks towards her, using the fear from the yellow one to unlock a new power. His mind is automatically filled with information about her. Fears, joys, name, major actions. After he is done, he nods, “Saying such implies that I want to fight, Miss Sparkle.”

Rainbow snorts, “Whatever, let’s just take him down.”

Slenderman looks right at her, “Please don’t. I have no wish to harm you.”

Rainbow flies at him, her hoof leading the way.

But she is stopped when her hoof is caught by a tendril, “You are very brave to charge at me like that, but I do not wish to fight.” He looks past her, to Twilight, “You have the ear of Princess Celestia, don’t you? I ask of you a simple favor, to pass along a message. That I still wish for peace, and am willing to forgive. All I want is to talk, not fight.” He nods, “Please, think over sending it to her. Or perhaps you wish to speak to me more before you do? It does not matter to me. I retire to my forest.”

Twilight is left with his words in her head as he dissapears into the Forest.

Forest

Slenderman is knocked out of his meditation, with a loud sound, comparable to a single drum beat, echoing around the entire Forest. The intention is made clear as he hears the beat around five seconds later, and the entire forest seems to groan and creak.

Let the game begin...

He reaches out with his sense, the forest welcoming back his familiar powers with open arms. He reaches further and further, until he finally detects a pony. Right at the edge of the forest, now trapped within by a ring of trees. He focuses on the pony, and analyzes the pony.

His name is Mug’s Bottom, he is drunk and produces beer for a living, sister to Berry Punch. His fears include the Everfree Forest.

Perfect. The hunt starts!

He holds a hand up to his head, “If you don’t stop your incessant monologues then our pursuit shall conclude before done.”

The pony finds a flashlight, and a strange message appears in his head, demanding he find pages.

The drunk stallion decides it might be a good time to listen to the voices in his head a bit more. He begins to wander around the Forest, not seeing a way out.

Slenderman waits patiently, knowing that the fear output increases when one page has been collected and the pony lulled into a false sense of security.

Mug shines his flashlight around, barely able to see without it. It catches a tiny bit of white, and he shines the flashlight right over to there.

A piece of paper is on a tree, telling in very plain words that ponies should run.

Mug stumbles on over to it, and takes it off the tree. He smiles, and slightly laughs, “Ah, man, this is a wonderful early Nightmare Night attraction.” He looks around, “I hope whoever set this up wanted me to come in, because I may have to apologize real quick otherwise.”

But when he puts the page into his bags, a sound radiates through the forest.

A single drum beat.

Then another.

The rhythm is the exact same, creating the feeling of something walking confidently.

Mug laughs again, losing a bit of his previous confidence, “Real... impressive sound system, eh? I... I should probably finish before Berry gets worried.”

Mug moves on, yet he is more cautious. He shines his light around more frequently, and takes quicker steps.

He then sees the second page, with big letters telling him to get out. He takes the page, and begins increasing his pace to almost a jog.

The drum beat rings out the exact same, yet it seems almost like it is getting closer.

His flashlight catches another hint of white, and he rushes to get another page, not even bothering to read it.

Yet as he puts it in his bag, he hears a twig snap right beside him.

He jumps back, shining his flashlight every way possible. He sees the snapped twig, yet sees no indication that there was any creature that stepped on it, else there would be a trail.

He nervously laughs, and moves to the next clearing quickly.

Another page sits on the tree, which he rushes to collect.

Yet as he grabs it, he feels something wrapping around his leg.

He jumps and yells, wheeling around and pointing his flashlight like a death beam.

All he can see are trees, with their branches poking up into the air.

He is about to look away, but he sees the barest hint of motion.

A branch, or a vine, slowly creeping back to a tree from him.

He shines his flashlight at the tree’s trunk, only then noticing how smooth and dark it seems compared to the ones around it.

He moves his flashlight and eyes up, until he sees a glimpse of white.

The creature stares down with a blank, white face. It tilts slightly as Mug looks at it.

Mug backs up, slightly laughing, “Hey, uh, nice costume! Look, this has been fun and all, but can I go home?”

The creature disappears, and he backs up into the tree.

Only, he had moved five inches. It was at least a foot behind him.

A tendril slowly begins to wrap around his neck. He looks up, and sees the blank white face looking down at him.

He screams like a filly, and rushes through the forest.

Yet he is suddenly stopped as he runs head-first into something. He is knocked down, and looks up to see what he ran into.

The creature slowly extends it’s hand towards him. This causes him to run away in even more terror.

He rushes through the trees once more, charging towards the exit.

The wall of trees is in sight, and he increases speed.

Until the creature suddenly appears. Between him and the wall.

He tries to turn around, yet finds it hard to do so on the slippery dirt.

Two tendrils wrap around his hind legs, and pull him to the ground. Then, they slowly pull him towards Slenderman.

Slenderman holds Mug up in the air, face to face. He lets out a dark laugh, “Hello, dinner.”

But then Slenderman bangs his own head, and shakes it.

He then looks Mug in the eyes, “Do you wish to live, equine?”

Mug nods rapidly, “Yes, yes, Berry wouldn’t forgive me if I died!”

Slenderman nods, “Then I give you a very simple quest. If you triumph, then your life shall be back in your appendages. If you should find defeat, however, then your life shall no longer exist in the mortal coil.” He leans in real close, “Tell ponies about me. Spread fear, make them shake in terror. Do you still agree?”

Mug nods, “Yes!”

Slender lowers the wall of trees, “Then get out of my Forest.”

Mug is dropped on the ground, and quickly rushes off into town.

Vision

Yet his eyes seem to open. Everything around him is different. It looks real... no, it’s too real.

A vision, such is what this is. Though if it bodes good or bad is yet to be figured out.

He looks all around himself, seeing himself in the middle of the village, Ponyville.

All seems peaceful, yet the town seems to be abandoned. The air is filled with not a single noise, and nothing moves.

But then a horrible scratching noise comes from all around, the sound making Slender want to cover his ears.

Yet, before he can even move his hands, the sound stops. The only sound now are door hinges creaking.

He looks around, and sees all the doors are now open and swinging with the wind. Yet, in every door, there seems to be one of two peculiar symbols.

One is oddly familiar. A hastily scribbled ‘O’ with an ‘X’ through it. The other one rings a bell, yet what it means doesn’t come. It is three ‘Z’s getting steadily smaller, almost like a comic character going to sleep.

It is then that all the doors slam closed, yet an odd gurgling sound can be heard behind all of them.

Enough time passes for Slender’s curiosity to grow. He takes a step towards one house. This apparently triggers something as every door bursts open, and every window breaks.

Blood comes rushing through both window and door, bowling over Slender and forcing him under.

He flails in the thick liquid, trying to find purchase or at least right himself.

He manages to find which way is up, and tries to swim up that way.

Yet as he makes his first stroke upward, the blood disappears. Instead of moving up, he instead falls onto the ground, straight on his back.

The breath is knocked out of him. He takes a second to just lie there, until he decides to look up.

A hand is extended towards him. One that wears rough leather gloves. He traces the arm up to the man.

He stands there, a battered and blood coated duster on his shoulders, a hat with a shiny badge on his head, and a slight smile on his face. He nods, “Come on, she’s expecting us.”

Slender takes the hand, and is pulled to his feet. He looks around, and sees four other members of their apparent group. A colt in a cloak who stares forward without eyes. An alicorn who is currently taking a sip from a whiskey bottle. A man with a bird like mask on his face, making his appearance one of cold professionalism. And a young boy in dark glasses, a crown secured around his head, and a look of rage directed towards a distant building.

A giant palace comes out of seemingly nowhere, and it seems to be the magnet of everyone’s attention. It’s marble and gold towers raise high, yet the sun rests just above it, casting light for all of the land.

But Slender is then distracted as the others around him all dissapear. He glances all around, until his look goes right back to the castle.

But as he looks towards it, a red shockwave of energy comes and knocks him off his feet.

He tumbles for a bit, but eventually gains a hold.

He looks back up, yet everything is darker.

Something is blocking the sun. A giant ship it seems, for it floats in the air.

A loud, blaring horn comes from it, and bullets begin to fall from the sky like rain.

Slender is hit almost instantly, driving a pain through him unlike any other. Yet as he is about to fall to his knee, he sees a tiny little orange filly using him as cover. She looks up at him, with hope and quiet desperation. She holds something up.

A doll... one of Slender. It is slightly torn, showing it’s age and wear. The black and white are more like different shades of grey from constant use. It’s a symbol of hope for her. Someone that’s supposed to protect.

Almost like a father.

He looks back up, and gathers his strength to stand against the storm.

The bullets hail down, cutting through suit and skin, burning anything they touch.

But they suddenly stop as a dark aura surrounds them. Slender looks up, and sees an odd mask floating there, the same aura covering it.

It slowly floats down to Slender, looking much like his own.

He reaches out to grab it...

———

He comes out of meditation. Zecora is standing at her cauldron and stirring ingredients.

Slender looks at her, “You didn’t report me to Celestia? You didn’t do anything to harm me?”

Zecora looks over at him, “Oh, you worry to much, friend. The trust you had in me is not something I would wish to end.”

He nods, “Usually equines would. Run, try and fight, or end up betraying me.”

Zecora stops stirring for a second, and sighs, “Such actions are from ponies of another time. To do so now would be treated almost like a crime.” She smiles, “Go out there, meet a friend or two. Ponies are willing to change, the question is, are you?”

Crusader

Three foals look around, making sure nopony can see them as they go into the Forest. Yet, right before they enter, Apple Bloom looks back, “I don’t know about this. What if Applejack found out?”

Scootaloo smiles, “Come on, that hasn’t stopped us before. Cutie Mark Crusader Monster Hunters?”

Apple Bloom sighs, “Cutie Mark Crusader Monster Hunters.”

The three then trudge into the Forest, even if a bit hesitant.

Slender sits in the middle of a clearing, focusing his mind entirely upon deciphering the vison’s meaning. Yet his thinking his interrupted as he hears an alert for ponies entering the Forest. He quickly scans their minds, and instantly recognizes them as three foals in the group that freed him.

He sighs, and thinks back to what Zecora said.

Sweetie Belle looks around her, and sees the trees shift about. She gulps loudly, and sees every possible path filled, except for one. She looks to the others, and nervously laughs, “Well, I guess we’re going this way.”

Scootaloo looks down the path, takes a few quick breaths, and sets down the path, “Come on, Rainbow Dash wouldn’t stop because of scary trees!”

Apple Bloom looks after her friends as they leave her behind. She looks behind her, still seeing am exit open.

She keeps her eyes on Ponyville a moment longer, summoning up the courage to move forward. She takes a deep breath, and forces her hooves forward.

Sweetie Belle glances all around as trees shake and bend around them. Leaves russle around, littering the ground with their red forms. Every step releases a loud crunch, usually a welcome sound, but very bad when trying to sneak up on a monster.

The crunching seems to get quieter and quieter though. Sweetie Belle looks high up, only to see the trees above them to be perfectly healthy, like it was the middle of summer. And instead of the dead silence of night, the air is filled with the sound of birds and other various animals.

The hooves of the foals hit dirt instead of leaves, and they all look forward to see a huge clearing. A place where flowers way outside of season are growing, and creatures of all kinds rush around.

They all seem to orbit around the middle of the clearing. Many of them go to a dark object in the center. They use it as a perch, or a playset, or simply something to curl up against to protect from the cold autum wind.

The three fillies seem to feel a force of tranquility overtake them as they enter the clearing. An odd peace, making them feel completly at ease.

The three fillies all take breaths of relief, glad to be gone from the path.

Then they look at the object in the center of the clearing. Then they see the tendrils coming from it, and the back of a blank, white head.

Apple Bloom is overcome with terror, the fear fighting the tranquility inside.

Scootaloo is filled with enthusiasm and adrenaline, getting ready to charge right at Slender.

Sweetie is the only one able to act rationally. She stops Scootaloo before she attacks Slender, and decides to take lead as Apple Bloom seems to be frozen.

Sweetie observes how he sits so still, even with all the animals on him. Despite the fact that he was apparently a monster, it seems he can act good. Besides, Rairty once told her to never judge a book by it’s cover.

Sweetie Belle takes a step forward, summoning her courage once more, “Uh, hello.”

Slender doesn’t move an inch, continuing to maintain his stage of tranquility. “You are brave, filly. You approach me amicably and with an open mind despite the negatives you have heard and seen of me. Why have you come into my Forest?”

Sweetie looks all around, “This is your forest?”

Slender nods the best he can, “I came here a millenia ago, and found a forest without life. I made a sanctuary, protecting those who came to me, animal or pony. If you were an enemy of Celestia, or anything slightly odd, this was where you fled. When you reached the Forest, you were protected. For something stood in the dark, something stopped the armies knocking on the trees, a Slender Man. You’d find help here, protection. A place where one could be Everfree.” He speaks immediately after, “You didn’t answer my question.”

Sweetie shrugs, “Well, uh, we came to defeat the evil monster?”

Slender mulls over the tone of her voice, “Hmm... I feel there is something more to it than that. That may be what you told each other, but it’s not the real reason you are here.”

Sweetie Belle looks back at Apple Bloom, who is still frozen on the spot. She slowly turns back to face Slender, “Because you traumatized Apple Bloom. All that stuff with the blood... how you looked at us when you broke out. It felt like you were going to... kill us. Right there on the spot.”

Slender absorbs the information. He slightly moves his limbs, causing the animals to leave. He stands up, “I might have a way to fix that.”

Apple Bloom tries to take a step back, and only stops as she sees Sweetie Belle standing strong. Sweetie Belle looks up at Slender, right where his eyes should be, “Explain it to me. Every detail about it, or I won’t let you get close to her. You may be nice, but I can’t be sure it isn’t an act.”

Slender nods, “Don’t worry, I understand. What I’m going to do is connect our minds for a short period of time so I can remove her memory of that. Or, at least, remove the emotion of fear from that memory.”

Sweetie raises an eyebrow, “You can do that?”

We’re the Spirit of Fear, of course we can do it!

Slender nods, “Yes, I can. I am technically the Spirit of Fear, so I can control everything related to fear.” He sighs, “However, it comes at a risk.”

Sweetie steps towards him, “What risk?”

Slender looks down, “By peering into her mind, she shall also be able to see my own. I... nobody in this world knows about my past. It’s just that... I don’t know. My past is long and full of roadblocks, stuff I don’t want to be reminded of. Vice versa, I will also accidentally see her memories.”

The stoning you fool! That’s the risk! We could become trapped again because of your stupid heart!

Sweetie nods, “Okay, if it will help her.”

Slender steps over to Apple Bloom, even making sure to tie his tendrils around his back.

Apple Bloom’s eyes widen, but Sweetie Belle comes up and puts a hoof on her shoulder.

Apple Bloom calms down immediately, closing her eyes and focusing on taking deep breaths.

Slender reaches out both hands, kneeling down to her level. He puts one hand on either side of her head, and places his forehead against hers.

———

He finds himself in a void, bright and with random lights flickering all around. Surrounding him are doors, each one differently stylized.

The brightest door is a red barn door. This indicates that his goal is through this path of memories.

He opens the door, and walks on through. He stumbles onto Apple Bloom sitting down to dinner with her family, including one of the Elements he met two days ago. They seem to be chatting about the day, enjoying some apple pies and fried apples. Obviously a different memory than he wants.

He looks all around, where different objects around the room glow at varying intensities.

He looks to see a cape laying on a table. Red, battered, and a shield with a foal inside of it as a symbol. It glows brightly, causing him to touch it.

He now finds himself standing outside of a school house, and a loud rumbling seems to be growing louder from behind him.

He looks, and sees the three foals in a wagon pulled by a scooter. They crash into a fence, and all go flying onto the school house’s path.

A pink filly walks up to them, with a grey one next to her. She sneers, “Oh, look at this, the blank flanks are rolling around in mud! Guess they learned where they belonged.”

Apple Bloom grumbles as she stands, “Shut up, Diamond.”

The pink filly turns her nose up, and trots past Apple Bloom with implied superiority. Yet, as she passes, she decides to raise her back hoof up a bit more, and kicks the bags off Apple Bloom’s side.

Stuff from the bags go flying everywhere, and the pink filly just laughs as she walks into school.

Slender glares at the pink filly as she walks away. But, when she disappears, he turns his attention to the items that fell out.

None of the items glow except for an apple that rolled all the way to his feet. He touches it, and goes into another memory.

Yet, he just finds himself back at the farmhouse. The same meal, the same conversation. A dead-end.

He looks for an item with a stronger glow, and just barely catches something out the corner of his eye.

He moves to it, entering into the kitchen. A picture frame sits next to the oven, glowing much brighter than anything else.

He picks it up, seeing a stallion and a mare standing together in formal wear. They both look happy.

He is transported, finding himself back at the door of the farmhouse. But the scene is different. The paint is nearly fresh.

The old mare looks younger. She sits on a couch, and looks at a letter with tears welling in her eyes. The other three are there as well, Applejack no older than an late teenager, and Apple Bloom a toddler.

The mare holds up the photo, and forces through her tears, “There... there was an accident in Appleloosa. Buffalo started stampeding... they... they didn’t get out of the way in time.”

Apple Bloom looks around with confusion as both Applejack and the teenage stallion both start to tear up as well. She looks up at the older mare, “So, mom and dad got injured? When will they be coming back?”

The older mare looks down to her, “Apple Bloom, dearie, they aren’t coming back.”

Slender feels damp spots appear all over his face. He turns around, and exits from the barn. This isn’t his place... he shouldn’t have seen that.

On the porch of the farmhouse is a pair of saddle bags that glow brightly.

He touches them.

He finds himself in the middle of Canterlot Garden, where a group of foals face a statue.

Slender nods upon finding his target, and prepares to remove all fear from it.

Don't do this you fool! We have no idea what the consequences might be! What if we end up frozen again!?

Slender sighs, “She has already gone through so much, Slenderman. She grew up without parents.” He scoffs, “You’d never understand. You’re a heartless monster who has felt neither love nor loss! You don’t have any empathy, you don’t have any sympathy, you cannot understand her plight! You are a faceless stalker of the night, a murderer, a kidnapper! And one who does it all without a second thought!”

...

The usual response doesn’t come. Slenderman doesn’t have anything to say. He is quiet for once.

Slender focuses on the energy present in the memory, and sets to extracting all the fear from it.

———

Apple Bloom opens her eyes, and Slender leans away from her. She looks at him, “You... you were-“

He nods, “Yes. And you were as well.”

She shakes her head, “Not like you I ain’t! I have a-“

Slender shakes his head, “Please, I don’t wish to talk about it. My past is my past and yours is yours.” He looks at Sweetie, “Her mind is clear of the fear that once plagued it. You may leave the Forest.”

A path in the trees open up. Sweetie looks at Slender, and smiles, “Thank you Mister Slendermane!”

Sweetie then walks through the path, and Scootaloo follows after her, “Come on, let’s get back home.”

Apple Bloom looks to see her friends walking down the path. But then she looks back into the clearing, and sees Slender sit down to resume meditation.

A cold breeze comes through the air, and Apple Bloom can see a little shiver pass over Slender’s form.

Slender clears his mind, and tries to go back to thought on the vision. The Forest is silent.

But then he hears hooves walk up beside him. He looks over to see Apple Bloom now standing beside him, “Yes?”

She looks right at him, “You’re going to come with me back home.”

Slender looks back forward, “A kind offer, but I’m afraid I will decline. I am fine out here.”

She puts a hoof on his shoulder, “Please, Smith. It’s cold and I’ve got a warm bed and hospitable family.”

Slender snaps to look at her upon mention of the name, “How much did you figure out?”

Apple Bloom smiles, “I saw what you did, all of what you did.”

He scoffs, “You say that like it’s a good thing. I stole, I lied, I cheated!”

Apple Bloom nods, “To help them, that’s what you forget. You never stole for yourself, you never lied for yourself, you never cheated for yourself. What I saw there was a friend who was truely Selfless. And I want to extend the same that you gave to others. I’m sure Applejack will be fine with it. In the morning, of course.”

Slender looks in her eyes, seeing nothing but honesty within them, “You actually believe that? All that evil I did, you believe it was all selfless?”

She smiles, “I don’t believe it, I know it. And you know it as well, you just don’t know that you know it.”

He laughs a bit, “You are so confident in your answer. That is what I expected from ponies. No fear, no longer being the shadowy thief in the alley, but a world where people are kind and give the benefit of the doubt.”

Apple Bloom nods, “So that’s why you agreed to that weird test? You knew where you were going?”

He nods, “I knew that wherever it was, it would be better than there. I actually didn’t know if that was true. Until now.”

Apple Bloom motions to the tree path, “Warm bed, good food, hospitable family.”

Slender slowly stands up, and wipes the dust off his suit, “Yeah, sure, I’ll go with you.”

Hospitality

Slender’s vision returns, the feeling of sheets and a soft mattress beneath him. A blanket over him makes him feel cozy, and he gets the urge to return to sleep.

What happened the previous night returns to his mind, and he suddenly freezes.

He’s in the middle of the Apple house. They snuck in, and the only way they know of him is as a nightmare.

He searches his fear reserves, panicking and searching desperately. Luckily, he finds what he needs. Selective visibility, able to be used. He quickly toggles it so that nobody but Apple Bloom would be able to see him.

The door opens behind him, and he becomes as still as he possibly can be. The fact that the sun is shining right on him doesn’t fill him with confidence.

But then he hears it close, and Apple Bloom’s voice speak, “Mister Slender?”

He sighs, and raises out of the bed. He climbs to his feet, and stretches as much as he can, “Sleep is pleasant, I forgot about that. Last time I slept was over a thousand years ago. Don’t need to sleep, still like it.”

Apple Bloom smiles, “Well, come on downstairs. My sis ain’t here, and Big Mac is a lot more understand then she is. Granny Smith made some extra apple pancakes, so come on!”

Slender nods, and follows her as she jumps downstairs. Yet as she lands on the middle step, she slips, and goes flying down.

Slender immediately teleports down, and catches her with his tendrils. He places her down, “Control your energy, exert it when necessary.”

Apple Bloom nods, “Alright, if you say so. Thanks for catching me.”

He looks to the side as he hears a hearty laugh. Granny Smith sits in her chair, and is the source of that laughter. She looks at Slender, and chuckles, “Well I’ll be, I’ve been trying to teach her that her whole life! Then you swoop on in and she listens to you like the Guard to Celestia!” She motions to the table, “Come on, food might get cold. It’s clear I have something to learn from you, youngin.”

Slender moves to the table, and takes a seat. Apple Bloom calmly walks to her seat, and makes sure to sit down carefully. Slender looks over to Smith, “Not really that young, though. Technically over a thousand years old.”

Smith nods, “That’s right. A youngin. You seem to forget I met you before.”

Slender tilts his head, “You’ve met me? The last time I was ‘meet-able’ was at least one thousand years ago.”

Smith smiles, “Come on, you can’t say you truely forgot all about me? You came to the farmhouse, frightened beyond belief, and pleaded for us to give ‘sanctuary’ from Celestia. Now I was just a little filly back then, but I can still remember my parents turning you over to her guards.” She motions to the table, “This is a way of properly meeting you, youngin. To make sure the Apple Family’s good name ain’t ruined.”

Slender looks down at the table, “I suppose I have met you then.” He looks right back up, “But there’s no need to worry, I still hold a high respect for your family. You were frightened that you might come to harm if you didn’t turn me over, and you have Apple Bloom. She’s the only pony brave enough to befriend me in these long years.”

Apple Bloom smiles, “Well that’s awfully kind of you to say, Mister Slender.”

A big red pony then comes from the kitchen, and takes a seat across from Slender. Big Mac nods towards him, “Howdy.”

Slender nods back, “Greetings.”

Granny Smith looks at the two, “Well, let’s get to eating!”

The three members of the family instantly begin to dig into their pancakes. Each one has a pile of apples all over it, and a healthy serving of syrup. Of course, a piece of butter is on each one, and a fork rests for them to eat with.

Slender hesitantly picks up the fork, stabs into an apple. He raises it to his mouth, but stops before it reaches.

Apple Bloom notices his hesitation, “What’s wrong, Mister Slender?”

He looks at the apple, and then over to Apple Bloom, “Well, uh, I don’t exactly know how to eat.”

Apple Bloom tilts her head, “What do you mean? Haven’t you ate before?”

He shakes his head, “Uh, no, I haven’t. I don’t exactly... eat physical food anymore. I just kinda run on nothing. Like, I’m either going, or I’m frozen in stone. I’ve never felt hungry, never had to eat anything. It’s been two years in fact.”

Apple Bloom raises an eyebrow, “Well, uh, just put it in your mouth and chew?”

Slender just stares at her. After a few awkward seconds, he finally responds, “I don’t have a mouth.”

Apple Bloom’s eyes widen in realization, but then they scrunch up in confusion, “Maybe just, put it where your mouth should be?”

Slender shrugs, and puts it right where his mouth should be. He pokes his face with the fork.

Except the fork just goes right through. He tastes the apple, but then all he can taste is fork.

He takes the fork out, and sees that he has accidentally absorbed the prongs. He looks around as the gathered family stare in shock. He places the fork down slowly, “I am so sorry, I did not know that would happen.”

Granny Smith just shakes her head, “I don’t think any of us did. Uh, how about you just eat off the plate without the utensils?”

Slender picks up the plate, and tosses the food from it to his face.

His vision is filled with pancake for a second, but then it all disappears and he tastes absolute heaven.

He takes a few seconds to absorb it, but then he looks towards Smith, “Granny Smith, you are the best chef I have ever met. I have not had food that good in my entire life.”

She laughs, “Aw, I can’t be the best you’ve had.”

Apple Bloom speaks first, “Believe me, it is.”

Slender nods, “Apple Bloom’s right. I’m not one to tell a lie, Granny Smith, and I’m not lying when I say you are the best I’ve met.” He shakes from a new intake of energy in his body, “Oh, and it feels so good to eat again. Got anything you need done, because I need to do something.”

Granny Smith looks towards the clock, “Well, you don’t seem the farming type. So how about you walk Apple Bloom to school and let Big Mac get an extra thirty minutes in.”

Slender nods, and sees Apple Bloom already standing by the door with saddle bags on. He stands, and goes to the door, “Thank you for the hospitality, Granny Smith.”

She smiles, “Come back anytime, we’d be happy to keep our door open for you.”

Apple Bloom walks outside, and Slender follows her.

They begin to walk down a path, and Slender looks over to her, “Where is Applejack anyway?”

Apple Bloom stops, and points into the distance, “Over in Canterlot. She was invited to a Princesses wedding!”

Slender looks over as well, “Ah, interesting.”

Apple Bloom narrows her eyes, “Wait, ain’t there supposed to be a bubble over the city?”

Slender focuses, and he can barely pick out a bunch of little black dots in the sky. He takes a step back, “Changelings!”

Apple Bloom points, “Why ain’t that bunch with the group?”

Slender looks to the side, and sees at least a hundred of them flying in Ponyville’s direction. He shakes his head, “It’s an invasion force, and they probably plan to hold you hostage in order to bribe your sister.”

Apple Bloom looks to Slender, “They’re going to try and hurt Applejack?!”

Slender looks down at her, “If they can’t do it physically, then they’ll use you and do it mentally.” He shakes his head, “I won’t let you lose anyone else. But I can’t let them capture you either. There’s two places, and only one of me.”

Apple Bloom smiles, “Let me help! I can fight them off!”

Slender looks between her and the changelings. He thinks for a second, and sighs, “There... there is something I can do.” He kneels down, and looks Apple Bloom in the eyes, “I can grant you power, but I need you to trust me. Fully, with no doubt in your head.”

She nods, “If it can protect my friends and Applejack, I’ll do it.”

He places his hands on either side of her head, and starts building up Sigma Radiation, “You may feel a slight pain and buzzing in your head. What I’m doing is making you a Proxie. You will be more powerful, smarter, clever, and have magical powers. Can you handle that?”

She smiles, “You saw into my past. And I know you would never give me it if I couldn’t.”

He nods, and puts the Sigma into her mind. When the process is complete, he stands up, and looks towards Canterlot.

Apple Bloom looks up, feeling her muscles grow more powerful, and her mind grow sharper. She nods, “What now?”

He looks down to her, “Get everyone into the town hall. Protect them, keep the changelings occupied until I come back. I’ll save Canterlot.”

She smiles, “Alright, protect ponies, got it.”

Slender nods, “Good luck.”

He then travels all the way to Canterlot in the matter of seconds. He finds himself in the middle of the street, where changelings swarm and chase down ponies.

He cracks his neck, and sees changelings begin to surround him. He nods, “Hey, Slenderman, you want control? You want to kill? Well, here’s your chance!”

He lets go of control in his mind. The steering wheel sits there, open for Slenderman to take.

Yet, after a few seconds, he doesn’t. Even with urging, even though he would take every possible opportunity, Slenderman doesn’t reach for control.

Slender retakes control, and shakes his head, “Come on. This is when I need you to kill, and you don’t!”

He waits a few more seconds, yet no response comes.

He sighs, and spreads his tendrils, “Guess I have to take care of everything myself.”

Invasion

The changelings let out a screech, and charge towards Slender. They seem to be building a green goop up in their mouths, with the intent to trap Slender in it.

Slender sighs, “A word of warning. You get any closer and you will not die! However, I will be forced to defend myself.”

The changelings continue to charge undeterred by his warning.

He moves to the side of one, wrapping his hand around it’s head, and throwing it into the distance. His tendrils spread around him, and each wraps around another changeling. Without much thought, he throws them every direction possible. Into buildings, across the city, into the ground, or just into the sky.

He walks through the streets, clearing a path to the Palace. The changelings are dedicated to their mouth-goop tactic, and they can never get close.

He feels content with the apple pancake energy leaving his body, and speaks as he walks down the street, “Slenderman, we’re going to have a talk after this.”

———

Apple Bloom stands at the doors to town hall. Ponies rush inside, yet not quick enough.

Changelings land at the end of the street, and quickly try to chase down the stragglers.

Apple Bloom rushes into action, charging and knocking over one of the closer changelings. The pony it was trying to catch looks at her thankfully, and rushes to town hall.

Apple Bloom looks as five changelings start to move on her. She backs up slightly, “Alright, magic, magic, how do I use magic?” She glares her eyes, “Eye lasers! Abra Kadabra! Pazam!” She waves her hoof around, “Swish and flick!” She takes a final step back, and just shouts in desperation, “Just do something!”

The magic listens to her. A tiny little flower grows out of her hoof, providing a pleasant smell.

She growls, “Something to stop them, please!”

The magic does as she asks. It digs through the ground, sprouting roots from Apple Bloom. They snake under, until they spring up from under the changelings. The roots and vines tangle them up, and bind them.

She looks at her hoof as the flower retracts into her, “I can do that?”

Sweetie Belle exclaims from behind her, “You can do that?!”

She turns around to see Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo standing there. She points to the town hall, “Go on and get inside, lock the doors! Y’all can get to the changelings if they get through me. Well, they ain’t getting through, but still.”

Scootaloo jumps up, “But we can help you out here!”

A changeling lands right behind her. Apple Bloom extends her hoof, “Behind you!”

A mess of vines comes out of her hoof, extending so fast that it effectively punches the changeling. It goes flying up against the wall, where vines instantly attach and grow roots.

She points to town hall again, “Please?”

They just both gape at the changeling. Sweetie Belle turns to face Apple Bloom, “Wow! You’re a superhero!”

Scootaloo jumps into her face, “Oh, what’s your superhero name gonna be?”

She just points again, “I’ll come up with one, now go!”

They both pout, but quickly run back after more changelings land.

Apple Bloom doesn’t like the fact that the changelings are surrounding her. She looks down, “Hey magic, got any way to get us out of here?”

The magic instantly begins to create vines, thick enough to create a track over the changelings and hold Apple Bloom’s weight. The vines slide her over the changelings, before sliding down to trap the changelings themselves.

Apple Bloom runs back to town hall now, free of any changeling interference. She arrives, and sees the door locked shut.

She smiles, and turns to see the changelings almost on top of her.

The magic doesn’t even need a command this time. Vines sprout out of everywhere, surrounding Apple Bloom in a green mass. The mouth-goop from the changelings hits the plant, but has no effect.

The vines lash out like whips, hitting changelings right on the horn, rendering all of them unconscious.

She looks around, searching for any more changelings. Yet, it seems not only the street, but the sky is clear of them.

As she looks to her right, she is shocked from a body landing right in front of her.

She looks, and can tell in a second that it is dead. She leans down, and checks to see why. It becomes obvious, as she finds a knife sticking out of it’s head. She reaches down to try and pull out the knife.

She jumps back as a thud comes from down the street.

Another changeling crashes to the ground, the sun glinting off the knife.

But then thuds from everywhere. Changelings rain from the sky like flies. Each one cumples on the ground lifelessly, each with a knife sticking out of their head.

One changeling lands on a roof, still alive. It hisses at everything around it, until it spots Apple Bloom and spreads it’s wings.

A knife comes out of nowhere, embedding itself in it’s skull, and causing it to tumble off the roof without any life in it’s body.

Apple Bloom glances all around as the final changeling falls, and the street is littered with their bodies. Even the ones she kept tied up now had knives in their head.

She is caught completly off guard when a vine catches a knife right in front of her face.

She looks down the blade, her mind racing about how close that was. But then she feels the vines move again, and finds a new knife being held an inch from her body.

Three knives come flying from behind a building, all caught right before impact.

Apple Bloom drops all the knives, and stamps down her hoof, “Whoever you are, look me in the eye! If- If you’re gonna kill creatures, then I’m gonna stop you! C-come on!”

The knives stop their flight. A few seconds pass.

A boot shows itself, walking out of an alley. A pair of dark jeans travel up two slender legs. Then white, in the form of a hoodie covered in dried blood.

Then the face emerges, and Apple Bloom almost feels like throwing up.

Slender’s problem was not enough mouth and eyes. This creature... obviously overcorrected.

His eyes are permanently wide open, and a smile stays permanently on his face. Dark, unkempt, and greasy hair offsets the pure white face, and is probably the best thing to look at on his face.

The man takes step after exaggerated step out. He takes a similarly exaggerated bow, “Here I was, thinking this world would not have any challenge to present. But what do I get? Captain Plant-It!” He snickers a bit, “That’s a nice trick you’ve got there, makes me want to practice purely so I can beat you in ranged and claim I’ve improved. Almost like killing a boss who has physical resistance with a sword.” He tilts his head, “Ah, you don’t get that, do you? None of that.” He rolls his head, “Fine, guess it’s time I introduce myself. Jeff, the Killer.”

Apple Bloom tries her best to uphold her confidence, not letting her trembling show, “Y-yeah, I got the Killer part.”

He shakes his head, “No, no, I mean that’s literally my name. Jeff the Killer. First middle and last.” He then looks at Apple Bloom again, “You know, I see a child like you carrying such a strange power, and with such strong confidence, it reminds me of someone.” He slips a knife out of his sleeve, and puts out his tounge. He draws the knife across it, cutting it open, and then breathing in through the taste of blood. His eyes somehow widen even more, “Oh, yes, I get it. You’re one of his Proxies. Guess this is where he disappeared to.”

Apple Bloom steps forward, “Wait, you know him?”

Jeff sighs, and slips out at least five knives for each hand. He fans them out, “Guess I actually have to improve then.” He bows to Apple Bloom, “See you later.” He then throws the knives in every direction around him, and disappears back into the alley.

The knives all land perfectly, one in the center of each door. So that it a pony were to open it, they would see the knife in their face, and see the mark it made.

Peace

Queen Chrysalis stomps down a hoof, “Who are you?”

Slender closes the door to the throne room behind him, “Slenderman. You’ve attacked the innocent town of Canterlot, Queen Chrysalis, including the Elements of Harmony, and chief among them being Applejack. For that, I shall defeat you, and banish you from this land.”

She looks at him a second more, before breaking out into laughter, “You think you can defeat me? I am Queen Chrysalis of the Green Hive, and you believe you can defeat me? You shall pay for your insolence.” She glares at him, “I shall steal the love from inside of you and reduce you to Mana with a single blast!” She opens her mouth, and begins to suck energy from Slender.

Slender stands there, allowing the energy to leave him, “You need my magic in order to fight for yourself? Very well, take it.”

Chrysalis takes the last of the love energy from Slender’s body. She laughs, and readies a blast. It charges itself, casting the room in a green light. The beam is clearly more powerful than anything an alicorn would regularly be able to summon up.

She launches the beam at him, giving it almost all of her magic.

Slender reacts quickly. He surrounds his hands and tendrils with Sigma Radiation, and puts them forward to block the attack.

It rams into him at full speed, the force strong enough to push his feet through the marble floor. He keeps strong though, not letting the beam hit him even as he is slowly shoved backwards.

He takes a few steps forward, forcing the beam back. With a final exertion of power, he overloads his hands with Sigma, and breaks the magic.

It sizzles out, leaving a dark cloud of smoke over Slender.

Chrysalis squints her eyes, seeing if anything still exists in the cloud of smoke.

A leg comes out of it, and Slender steps clear of it. He observes Chrysalis, “You fear me.”

Chrysalis’s eyes widen, “You survived that?! How!?”

Slender walks closer to her, “That love you stole from me, I think I will take it back now.”

She also walks closer to him, “Answer me, creature!”

He shrugs, “Wouldn’t have time to explain. Seems you fell for the distraction.”

Chrysalis absorbs his words, and turns back to where the ponies were supposed to be. She sees Cadence and Shining Armor standing together. She charges them, “No!”

Slender wraps his tendrils around her, “Goodbye.”

He throws her out the window, and the two’s horns connect.

A shockwave picks up her and every other changeling in the city, sending them flying into the distance.

Slender nods, and turns to face the Princesses. He is about to speak, but sees Celestia pointing her horn at him.

Celestia narrows her eyes, “Why did you do that? Why did you help us?!”

He puts his hands up, “Celestia, I’ve always wanted to help.”

Twilight jumps between the two, “Princess, please, there’s no need to resort to violence! I’m sure we can have a chat like civilized ponies and, uh... whatever he is.”

Celestia looks at Twilight, and relents, “There had better be tea.”

Peace?

Slender sits at a table, his knees almost up to his chin from how short the chair is. He looks around, seeing nopony looking at his direction. He silently picks up the chair, and throws it out a nearby broken window, deciding to sit cross-legged.

A butler walks up the table, and places down a tea set in the center of the table. Slender nods to him, and the butler nods back. He moves away, making sure to place down more tea on the table.

The guards around the room all stand at attention as the door opens. Slender simply leans his head on his hand as Celestia walks in. She smiles towards the guards, and they all loosen up a bit. They still keep their hooves near their spears, but make it not obvious.

Celestia calmly trots up to the table. She pulls the chair back a little bit, with a barely noticeable movement of her hoof. She sits on the chair, and floats a tea cup over to her. She floats it up and takes a little sip out of it.

Slender looks to his side, out the window, down to where Ponyville rests at the bottom of the mountain. He smiles internally upon seeing that no smoke rises from the city, and upon the feeling of Apple Bloom being uninjured.

Celestia calmly clears her throat. Slender looks over to her, and she floats the tea over to him, “Have a drink, it’s our finest.”

He shakes head, “No thank you, I don’t drink tea.”

Celestia shrugs, “Very well then.” She takes another sip, and places the cup down on the plate, “Well, you said something back in the throne room, about always wanting to help? I ask that you please elaborate.”

Slender nods, “Well, ever since I first landed in your throne room, I’ve wanted to help. I never had the opportunity, as you did attack me.”

Celestia picks up her tea, and takes another sip of it, “To be fair, you look like a monster, and you sounded a lot like one when you appeared out of nowhere. You did say, after all, that you were going to kill everything.”

Slender nods, “You make a very fair point, and one I can agree with. The thing is, however, that it was not me who said that. I suppose I never had time to explain it before, as you assumed that I was a monster. What is happening to me is similar to what happened to your sister. An evil entity exists within my mind, and when we first arrived here, we were fighting for control.”

Celestia looks at him for a few seconds, “You also have a Nightmare inside of you?”

Slender nods, “If you wish to call it that, then yes. He is called Slenderman, and is the original owner of this body. Well, most of this body. It is safe to say that our situation is complicated. He had most of the body, some of the body was mind, we merged into one, now we have to fight for domination.”

Celestia nods, “Let me guess, this Slenderman was responsible for the slaughter?”

Slender looks down, “I thought I could facilitate change. What if he was just angry because I had forcibly taken his body? So I handed control over to him for a second, thinking he would be able to learn with our positions swapped. But then he didn’t. He said he needed fear, and, well... I regained control too late.”

Celestia sets her tea down, “Very well then. I shall alert the Elements of Harmony, and we shall destroy the dark spirit inside you.”

Slender jumps up, “No!” The guards all around point their spears at him from his sudden outburst. He sits back down, regaining his composure, “Please don't, Celestia. He can change, I know he can.”

Celestia raises an eyebrow, “You just talked about how he didn’t change. Why do you still think he can?”

Slender looks her in the eyes, “Because I have faith in him, Celestia.” He moves his hand up onto the table, “I know that he can. He just doesn’t see an alternative to our fear needs. I can show him that, make him see as I see. And maybe, I could gain a glimpse into how he sees.”

Celestia takes a deep swig of tea, her magic rattling the cup slightly, “You think you can just change his mind by showing an alternative?”

Slender nods, “Yes, Celestia. If I didn’t think so, then I would not be the man I am today.” He spreads his arms out, “It is my belief that there is no creature beyond saving. Sometimes that saving must come through death, yes, but most can come through life. If I didn’t have faith in the ability of man to change, then I would lose all hope. If death and destruction was the only way to solve problems, then I would’ve killed you. But look at what we are doing. I am talking to you, and I am changeing your opinion on me.”

Celestia nods, “So, you are a pacifist?”

He leans back, “I believe that peace is usually the best option, but sometimes the only way for peace is death. If some killer were to roam around the streets and kill without reason or purpose, not listening when I try and talk to them, than they must be dealt with. Those who commit evil and cannot be made good must be dealt with so good may reign. Yet they should not be dealt with lest they show an unwillingness to change or listen. Slenderman, I’m willing to give him another chance.”

Celestia looks down Slender, mulling over his words, “Your philosophy is a good one, I must admit. It is clear we got off on the wrong hoof.” She smiles, “I am Princess Celestia of Equestria.”

He nods, “And I am Slender of Everfree.” He holds out a hand, “Can we agree to move on so that we may face the future together?”

Celestia takes his hand with her hoof, and they shake, “You have become a valuable ally to Equestria in one day. We might need you in the future, Slender.”

One of the guards step up, “Forgive me, Princess, but does this mean you two are friends?”

The two look at each other, and both nod. Celestia turns to the guard, “Yes, I do believe we are.”

The guard smiles, and takes out a little bell. He rings it loud and clear.

A butler comes hustling through the door, laying a plate and fork in front of the two of them.

Then a second one comes in, carrying a ten foot cake on his back. He plops it down on the center of the table, using the combined magic force of three unicorn guards.

The butler smiles, and bows, “Enjoy, Princess.”

She looks up at the cake, and starts slightly panting. A bit of saliva escapes her mouth, and she smiles in excitement.

She recovers immediately, snapping her head to look at Slender.

Slender just picks up a fork, and nods.

Celestia smiles once more, and her eyes turn slightly animalistic as she cuts a fourth out of the cake. She floats that fourth over to Slender, and floats the rest of the cake over to herself.

She throws the pathetic, little plate off the table, and raises her fork, “To Equestria!”

Reception

Slender quietly exits from the castle, seeing instantly the party being thrown for the wedding. He looks at it, thinking it over, but decides to walk towards the edge of Canterlot instead. Nopony stops him, not even able to stop him as he walks away.

He climbs up onto the walls, deciding to look to the south, where Ponyville lays. He turns his head around, looking all over the nighttime landscape.

A cool breeze comes, slightly catching itself in his clothes. He takes a deep breath, enjoying the first moments of peace he’s had in a while. No Slenderman whispering in his ear, no Celestia hunting him down, no need for more fear. Energy fills his body from cake and tea, and the muted sounds of the party barely reach his hearing.

He can barely hear the sound of hooves walking along the wall towards him. They stop five feet away from him, “Well, hello there, Mister Slender. I suppose you also enjoy this gorgeous view?” He looks over to see the white one of the Elements standing there, “The Princess told us all about you earlier today. I have to admit it, I looked forward to us talking ever since I first laid eyes on you. I mean, not many creatures walk around in such a dapper choice of attire.”

Slender nods, “You are Rarity, correct?” He looks back out, “Your sister and yourself must be quite similar.”

She shakes her head, “Sweetie Belle? Well, she is such a dear at times, but I feel like we aren’t all that similar in the end.”

Slender looks back to her, “You aren’t like her? Well, that’s too bad.” He stands up from leaning against the wall, “Your sister has to be one of the most exceptional ponies I have ever met. Brave, kind, smart, passive and reserved.”

Rarity picks up one her her eyebrows, “Sweetie Belle? Passive and reserved? Are you sure we are talking about the same filly? Because in all my days being her sister, she has always been very active and outgoing.”

Slender shrugs, “I don’t really know much about her. We only had a short conversation last night. She came to me in order to help her friend, and she talked without a hint of fear in her voice.”

Rarity smiles, “Well, I was unaware you two had conversed in the past. If that is how you see her, then I would have to say yes to the question. Oh, and if I may make one of my own.” She motions to me, “Where on Equestria did you get such a fine suit?”

Slender looks down at his clothes, and considers them, “Well, not on Equestria. I don’t really know, I didn’t study up on Slenderman’s history before I was forcibly fused into his body. I know it is very old. And not very fine, anyway. You just can’t see the red stains near the sleeves.”

Rarity walks closer, “Red stains? What from?”

Slender looks down at her, “Slenderman was a monster. One who would sometimes use his hands.”

Rarity balks, “Oh, oh no. Perhaps I could try and get it out?” She motions to herself, “I have pricked myself with a needle before, so I know how hard it is to get blood out of white. The experience was-“

She suddenly stops speaking, and begins choking instead.

Her hoof travels up to her neck, where it ends up hitting the end of a knife going all the way through.

Her fur starts to slowly turn red, and Slender rushes towards her to catch her as she is falling.

He makes sure the knife doesn’t get moved around at all, using his little knowledge of first aid. He looks up and shouts, “Medic!”

A guard comes rushing from down the wall, and his eyes widen upon sight of Rarity, “I’ll get the Princess!”

He turns to rush off, only to have a knife be caught right beside his face.

Slender throws the knife to where it came from, “Run and get off the wall!”

The guard jumps down to the ground, Slender having to catch another knife in his way down. He barely manages to catch a third knife, now able to see the alley they are coming from.

He uses his personal experience, knowing that the positioning of the alley would make it so the thrower could continue to throw at the guard for too long. If nothing is done, then the guard will eventually get hit, and help will not arrive.

He then looks to Rarity in his hands, and a low growl escapes his throat. He sets her down, and moves to the alley instantly.

He catches a knife from his new position, one intended for the guard. He throws the knife aside, and charges into the alley.

The thrower inside runs as he sees Slender appear. Enough of a headstart to stay just ahead.

Slender watches as the bipedal creature turns a corner, and he chases right after him.

The man throws a knife behind him, aiming perfectly even as he runs.

Slender rounds the corner, one arm moving up with the momentum. A knife comes and stabs into his suit, pinning that arm to the wall.

He reacts as quick as he can once he realizes what’s happened. He tugs at the knife, barely managing to get it to come out. The strength needed to throw a knife that far into a cobblestone wall is impressive.

He turns back to try and chase the thrower, only to see that he has disappeared.

Slender quickly moves back to Rarity. He arrives at the same time as Celestia.

Celestia lights up her horn, and Rarity disappears in a golden glow. Celestia looks at Slender, “Find who did this, and stop them!” She yells down as the guard runs back to the wall, “Sergeant, you are now an Officer! Close the city gates, do not let anything in or out!”

The brave guard salutes, “At once, your majesty!”

Celestia then also teleports away, leaving Slender alone.

He jumps down to the ground, picking up one of the knives. He examines it, looking over every detail.

We need to talk.

Understanding

Slender moves to the alley, checking closely for any sign, “Didn’t think you’d speak again. What happened to you?”

I’ve been thinking.

Slender examines a knocked over trash can, “Thinking? Don’t be offended, but I thought the only thing you thought about was killing and taking control. Considering you are not already shouting at me about either of those two, plus the fact that you didn’t take control when offered, I am curious. What is it, exactly, that you were thinking about?”

What you said to me, in her memories. You’ve always just ignored me or just tried to be neutral before. But that time, you actually lashed back, and you shocked me. The one so usually peaceful and tranquil lashing out with rage and insults worse than any other could give.

Slender follows the trail into another alley, “Are you going to say I’m wrong?”

No... no, you just don’t have the full picture. We’ve been sharing this mind for two conscious years, yet we’ve closed our pasts like the gates of Hell. I only know the last moments of your old life, and I’m sure you don’t know anything about mine. You sat down with Celestia, talked with her, and made our greatest enemy into an ally. Perhaps the same could happen here. Tell me, how did you get to that laboratory?

Slender sighs, “You want to know my past? Heh, I could use some knowledge myself.” He leans against a wall, basking in the darkness, “My oldest memories are from when I was one year old. The oldest memories, and they are at the orphanage. Who my parents were, I have no idea. They apparently thought I was useless, and abandoned me before I could even walk. That’s my family, how about yours?”

You... you were also an orphan?

Slender stands up in shock, “Wait, ‘also’?! You mean to tell me you were an orphan?!”

Well, yes, I never had any parents. I’ve never had a biological family. No, I was born out of nothing. You were born from parents who abandoned you, and I never even had anyone to birth me. My oldest memory was as soon I was born, in the same form as now. The first human felt fear for the first time. That fear became me. I found myself in the middle of a forest, the Black Forest in Germany. No idea of where I was, who I was, or what anything was. I roamed the Black Forest until I finally found a settlement. I was so happy to see creatures similar to me, with two legs, arms, and a single head on their shoulders. I walked into the village, mind open, and heart aching for companionship. As soon as they saw me, they feared me. I felt power grow within me as they saw my face, and suddenly had tendrils sprout from my back. They ran, they fled, and screamed for their lives. I tried to explain myself to them, but they didn’t listen. They got their spears, and I was chased out of there. Humanity had rejected me, and all I had learned is that their fear was good for me.

Slender moves along the trail some more, “Humanity also rejected me, even if I was one of them. They saw me scurrying around in the alleyways, and were disgusted. They spit at me, they beat me, they never looked me in the eyes. It was a small town, one where everyone knew everyone, and they all knew I was a dirty orphan. The only ones who accepted me were the ones who were on my level. My best and only friends were the five other orphans. We were the perfect group of troublemakers. The charismatic one, the clever one, the fighter, the planner, the smart one, and me, the stealthy one. We needed food, shelter, clothes. I was the one who took the blame if it went wrong. I was the one who stole, I was the one who lied, I was the one that cheated. They could live their life, go to school, get jobs. And I was constantly doing odd jobs, all so that they could live the life I couldn’t. I didn’t have a family, but they were my brothers.”

I had brothers as well. Others who were odd, or looked like me, or were rejected by humanity. It was shortly after I left that I met the first. I was moping around outside the village, planning on what to do. I sat up against a tree, choosing between trying to greet them again, or getting their fear instead. He walked up to me, a cane in his hand, a flamboyant suit on, and a hat slightly tilted on his head. His face was yellow, like the sun on a nice day, and he smiled down as he offered a hand. He is the Spirit of Joy, just as I am Fear. Splendorman, my brother. He wasn’t the only one either. Human emotions grew so strong that more spirits appeared, and some looked like us. Offenderman, the Spirit of Lust. Tenderman, the Spirit of Sympathy. Trenderman, Spirit of Belonging. We all were brothers, and we stuck together as such.

Slender finds another alley, where more stuff is knocked over, “It sounds like you are a long way off from the laboratory. How did you become the monster?”

A creature of extraordinary power was born, a monster. A Drude, who’s power was so great that your body could be harmed from what happens within a dream. When this Drude would kill you in a dream, it would kill you in real life. That is how it began. It wanted to steal the title, to become the Spirit of Fear. So it killed people, and absorbed their fear to bolster it’s own power. It eventually decided that it could defeat not only me, but all of my brothers. They almost all died, every last one of them. If they weren’t so powerful themselves, then they would have died. I barely managed to kill the Drude, and became badly injured myself. It became clear to me, as I saw the bleeding, almost dead bodies of my brothers, and saw my own life flash before my eyes, that I needed more power. If I were to die, and another creature were to take the title, then the world would be doomed. Humans are naturally prone to fear, and with the proper actions, one could gain enough power to kill every creature on Earth at once. I needed to make sure that never happened, and nothing makes people more afraid than death. So, that’s what I had to resort to. Death, destruction, all so that worse could be stopped.

Slender stops, and leans against a wall, “So you wanted to protect the world?” He shakes his head, “You did not put any planning into that, you know. There are so many ways you could gather fear without death. At least in the modern level, you upload something even slightly scary to the internet, and you have a basically unlimited supply.”

Back then, it was the only option I had. I tried. Believe me... I tried. They just didn’t fear enough, unless I chose death. Yes, in the modern day I could have, but my path was already set.

Slender sighs, “But now we’re in a new world. Why did you kill them, Slenderman, why?”

I didn’t know that this world was as powerful as it is. I thought that this world also needed protection.

Slender looks forward, “I took a job at the laboratory, under the guise that they would send me to a new world. Said they needed a powerful entity to work, so I tricked you into being trapped with me. You know why I chose this world? It’s because I wanted a new life, one where I wasn’t seen as evil.”

You never were.

Slender begins to walk again, “Yes I was. I stole, I lied, I cheated. Now I have achieved my goal for coming here, I suppose. Now, I have a new one. Slenderman, why exactly did you speak up right now?”

I recognize that knife. The most powerful challenger for my title so far, one I have never managed to kill. He always manages to escape or weasel his way out somehow. If he is here, and openly still challenges me, then we are screwed. You do not have enough fear to face him, and you don’t have the same knowledge of this body like I do. I know that I need to help you, or this world will soon be gone.

Slender emerges onto a street where only a few ponies walk, “On one condition, Slenderman, only one. You shall not kill anyone, just as I shall not kill anyone.”

I... deal.

Slender nods, and barely notices as Slenderman takes control of a tendril.

He looks over, and sees a knife being held by that tendril, a meter away from a pony walking down the street.

The pony also looks over, seeing the knife. She begins to scream, and run down the street.

Ponies all around begin to join her, scrambling to get home.

He rushes out of an alley, grabbing a pony, and holding a knife to it’s neck.

Slender takes a step back upon seeing him, “You! I recognize you!”

Jeff’s smile seems to grow even more, “Oh, Slendy, I knew you would!”

Slender glares the best he can without eyes, “You were that killer in the paper!”

Jeff takes his own step back, “I-in the paper? What are you talking about, Slendy, it’s me! Jeff, your greatest enemy?”

Slender takes a step forward, “Okay, look, release the pony and you can walk free of Canterlot. That’s what you want, right?”

He doesn’t know that you aren’t me, good. He will figure out eventually though. I need you to act weak. If he thinks you are weak, then he will underestimate us. Our goal is to confuse him as much as possible, and make it seem like we are weak.

Guards come running up behind Slender, but stop as soon as they see Jeff’s hostage. Slender looks around him, “Let the stallion go, or these guards here will teach you a lesson.”

Jeff sputters, “Guards? Let someone go? Letting me go? Come on, where’s your violence, Slendy!? I am on your hunting grounds, playing with your food, why aren’t you killing me?! You really value this creatures life over mine?”

Slender crosses his arms, “Do it, and we will open the gates.”

Jeff tries to comprehend what’s happening, his wide eyes easily communicate his inner breakdown.

He eventually just throws the pony at Slender, and runs out the gates of Canterlot.

Ponyville

Slender stalks around Ponyville, keeping an eye out for wherever Jeff might be. The sun shines down over the town, and ponies go about their normal lives.

Merchants sell their goods, neighbors patch the cuts in their doors, and two fillies walk in the direction of the Apple farm.

Slender follows a slight trail, with shoe prints showing themselves in the dirt. He comes to the end of the alley, and finds those tracks suddenly disappearing.

He might not seem it on the outside, but Jeff is quite clever. He might have doubled back on his own footsteps and made another trail, though he could have also climbed up onto the rooftops. With how sneaky he is, he could have also walked lightly enough as to not make any tracks, or maybe put bags over his shoes so their tracks wouldn’t show.

Slender looks all around, before doubling back, “So, brief me on this guy. I only barely recognized him because of the newspapers reporting a new killer. Apparently you’ve faced him before, so what should I expect?”

He is very powerful, the strongest of any contender for the title. He can endure many blows, blunt damage is basically useless against him. His skin can be pierced, yet can grow back quickly. If you have to take him down, you have to take out a major organ, with a wound that he cannot heal. Oh, his face is also numb to pain as well, so don’t try to punch there.

Slender shakes his head, and leans down to examine the tracks, “No, no, not that. I don’t plan to kill him, but I need to survive long enough to get through to him. How does he fight?”

Fast, everything about him is fast. He can dodge a lot of blows, and he stabs so quick that it is hard for us to dodge it. He is an expert in using knives in every way. You’ve already seen his knife throwing, quick and always accurate. His stabs are the exact same, always going for a sure hit if not a killing one. He can throw up to ten knives at a time without losing accuracy. However, for some odd reason, he can only ever stab with one knife and never uses two. His skills without a knife are still quite impressive, as he seems to have made an odd martial art. Not as good as us, but still pretty good. He’s a natural fighter.

Slender stops as he hears a new voice speak, “Mister Slender?”

He looks to the side, seeing Apple Bloom standing there. He nods, “Yes?”

Apple Bloom smiles, “Well, after what you’ve done for me, there’s something I want to give you.”

Slender holds up a hand, “I haven’t given you anything that requires something being given back.”

Apple Bloom pouts, “Come on, please?”

Slender looks at her scrunched up eyes, and sighs, “Yeah, sure, what is it?”

Apple Bloom switches right back to smiling, “Follow me, it’s back near the Orchard!”

Slender looks down at the trail, and turns away from it. He follows Apple Bloom, “No, seriously, what is it?”

They begin to move down the path, and Apple Bloom turns to face him, “Well, Scootaloo, Sweetie, and I made this little group, you see. The Cutie Mark Crusaders.”

Slender nods slightly, “Okay?”

Apple Bloom turns off the path suddenly, “Both of them are in the Clubhouse waiting, so you’ll see.”

Slender looks up, and sees a treehouse up in one of the apple trees. A little ramp led it’s way up there. Slender laughs, “What, you going to indoctrinate me?”

Apple Bloom shakes her head as she walks up, “Come on, you are only a few steps away from figuring out.”

Slender walks up the rest of the way, and puts his hand on the door.

He pushes it open, and Apple Bloom shouts from behind him, “Introducing your new Cutie Mark Crusader, Slender!”

She walks forward, only to bump into the back of Slender’s leg. It’s then that she notices that neither Scootaloo nor Sweetie Belle have given a response.

She tries to push forward, but Slender doesn’t budge, “Come on, what’s the issue? You guys playing a prank on me or something?”

Slender shakes his head, “Oh no.” He finally recovers, and rushes in.

First, Apple Bloom hears the sound of his feet splashing in a liquid. Then, she sees what is inside.

Blood coats the clubhouse. It lays in pools all around, and is scattered against the wall in a random pattern.

Slender quickly starts scanning the room, but his eyes see nothing but random blood.

Wait, the wall!

Slender snaps his head back to the wall, still seeing nothing but the random splatters.

Apple Bloom steps in after him, “What happened?!”

I recognize this, just barely. Nezperdian, very, very old. I haven’t seen this sense the Exitium back in Rome. The fact that Jeff knows this is odd, and honestly kinda scary. Give me a second. It says... Town Square, Now.

Slender quickly nods, and scoops Apple Bloom into his hands, and rushes out of the door, “We need to get to Town Square, now!”

Shades of Madness

Slender rushes down the street, so panicked that he forgets to teleport. Ponies rush all around, screaming and in a panic, unaware of where they should be running.

Slender throws Apple Bloom to the ground, “Lead them to the Everfree!”

Apple Bloom nods, but Slender doesn’t even look down to see it. No, he’s already further down the street.

He finally makes it to the town square, instantly absorbing the situation.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are tied up, and Jeff stands by them, knife drawn. He looks up from the tool as Slender arrives, “You are late, did you know that? You know, I hoped I was just going mad. Well, more so than usual. I mean, what else could explain Slendy being this way? But here you are, panicking so much that you forgot to teleport. Slendy would never panic, he would never care, he would never speak. So, tell me, who are you?”

Slender looks right at Jeff, “Who I am doesn’t matter anymore. Who are you, and what do you want?”

Jeff laughs, “Who am I? Jeff, Slendy, Jeff the Killer. What I want should be made obvious by the name.” He smiles wider, “Death. I don’t know if Slendy is still in there, but I’m going to act like he is.” He holds out his knife, and walks closer to Slendy, away from the hostages, “Your death has been my wish ever since I took over this weak, pathetic creature. The Spirit of Fear is a title that should belong to me! Men no longer fear the faceless creature in the forest, but rather his fellow man! You are outdated, and I am your successor! Ever since the Cold War, people have not trusted each other.” He stops halfway between the hostages and Slender, “Little Jeffrey Woods could become Jeff the Killer, and that terrifies people.”

Slender looks behind him, where Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle look at him with pleading eyes. He looks back to Jeff, “You want my life? Very well then.” He drops from his fighting stance, and sighs, “Release the ponies, and return to Earth. I shall give you my life.”

Jeff stands there for a second, absorbing what he said. He slips two knives out, and throws them behind him. They cut the ropes holding the fillies, setting them free. Jeff laughs some more, “Alright, alright, gotta admit you almost had me convinced. Yeah, sure, I will let the hostages out.” He holds the knife out, getting close to the ground, “Come on, let’s go!”

Slender holds his hands up, “I won’t fight you, Jeff. You have done one part of the deal, all I need is for you to promise you will complete the other part.”

Jeff takes a step back, rising out of his fighting stance, “Yeah, ha-ha, good joke. Come on, quit joking with me.”

Slender takes a firm stance, “I will not fight you!”

Jeff stares, his mind rushing to keep up, “You- you are serious? You are actually surrendering? You will not fight me?”

Slender walks closer, “You can change, Jeff, I know you can. If that requires my death, then I am willing to take that risk.”

Jeff doesn’t even move, just staring blankly ahead, “You’re kidding me, right? This can’t be real, no, it’s impossible.”

Slender gets right in front of him. He kneels down, face to face with Jeff.

He spreads his arms, and wraps them around Jeff. Slender... is hugging Jeff.

Jeff stands there as Slender wraps him in embrace. His mind bounces around like a screensaver. His mind is unable to comprehend the current turn of events.

Slender continues on, ignoring the voice shouting in his head. He knows that Jeffrey doesn’t want to be a Killer.

Jeff begins to seethe in rage, and moves his arm up with a shout.

Slender feels it immediately. A pain unlike any he has ever felt in his life.

Slender lets go of Jeff, standing up. He looks down, only to see a knife stuck right where his heart is. His suit begins to be soaked as blood rushes out.

He coughs, feeling blood get all over his face, staining the pure white.

He falls over onto his back, and continues to cough up blood.

Jeff rips the knife out of Slender’s heart, and screams again, “Why won’t you fight!?”

He stabs down, not even caring where the blow lands.

He unleashes a flurry of stabs, “Fight me! Kill me!” He stabs down one final time, back into Slender’s heart, “Make me fear!”

Jeff begins to break down into sobs, salty tears running down his face.

Jeffrey looks at what he did to Slender, and crawls away. Jeffrey throws up, and continues to sob, “Why? Why Jeff? He was giving you a chance!”

Jeff laughs, “Oh man, Slendy’s going to enjoy hearing about this imposter!”

Jeffery growls, and stands back up, “I am ashamed of you! You are a monster! We’ll die, Jeff, and I will be happy!”

Jeff returns to laughing, “Oh, we’ll die? At least we’ll do it in a bath of other’s blood!”

Jeffrey grapples for control, his rage so great that he can almost combat Jeff.

Jeff suddenly takes control, however, when they are punched in the side by a fist of vines.

Apple Bloom looks at Slender, and the tears in her eyes evaporate with the sheer rage that she feels. She looks towards Jeff, and summons all of that rage, “You’re going to die for that!”

Jeff lands on his feet, drawing a knife. He laughs, “A new victim!”

Apple Bloom launches vines towards him. He weaves through them like it was a dance.

He ducks under a blow, moves his head just barely out of the way of another, and jumps high into the air as vines come from below his feet.

Apple Bloom continues to unleash her endless barrage of attacks.

Jeff lands right in front of her, completly unscathed. He lunges forward with his knife, catching Apple Bloom off guard.

But the blow never lands.

A white hand has wrapped itself around Jeff’s arm. It glows a very dark and black glow, exuding power.

Jeff looks up and up, seeing a suit covered in dry blood. The red is almost completly hidden behind the darkness of the glow.

He finally looks the man in the face.

Slenderman looks down at Jeff, “No.”

Recruiting

Slender stands on a stage, and Celestia floats a medal over to him. The way to mark a national hero.

Celestia smiles, “Slender, for your services in saving Equestria and defeating the one known as Jeff the Killer, we name you Captain of the newly formed Supernatural branch of the Equestrian Guard.”

The ponies erupt in applause, all wanting to show their thanks for their hero. Slender looks at them, and his mind calms a bit.

They could have all been killed. He stopped it. It was needed.

He nods to the crowd, and to Celestia, “Thank you, Celestia. I shall take my duties seriously, and make sure that Equestria stays safe of Supernatural threats. Never shall there be another Jeff, not if I have anything to say about it.” He sighs, and then looks to the crowd, “I would like to give my thanks to the true hero, however. Slenderman, the previous monster, is the one who truly fought Jeff, I only landed the last blow. He put his own safety at risk in order to protect you, and has redeemed himself of his previous crimes.”

Celestia nods, “Very well then. Under Royal Decree of Princess Celestia, the nation of Equestria hereby forgives Slenderman for his previous actions!”

The crowd erupts into applause again, and Slender simply waves as friendly as he can.

———

Slender stands in the middle of the clubhouse, scrubbed clean of blood. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stand on either side of a podium, and Apple Bloom stands on it. She looks towards Slender, “We, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, are gathered here today in order to introduce a new member into our order. Slender, do you accept to always help foals in need to find their Cutie Marks?”

He nods, “I will always help a needy foal find their Cutie Mark.”

She smiles, “Do you, Slender, agree to continue your crusade until you find your own Cutie Mark?”

He nods again, “My crusade shall not cease until I have found it.”

She nods, and bangs a gavel, “Welcome, Slender, to the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

The other two rush out with a red cape, and jump up in order to tie it around him.

Slender looks back, and admires the bright red. A shield with a foal in it stands out, the icon of the Crusaders.

Apple Bloom bangs the gavel again, and speaks, “And do you, Slenderman, accept to always help ponies in need, and to never harm wrongly?”

Yes.

“He says yes.”

Apple Bloom smiles, “Then we welcome you, Slenderman, into the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

The two take out step ladders, and climb up to Slender’s head. They take out a little cape, and wrap it around his head. Sweetie Belle smiles, and explains, “Well, if Slenderman is in your head, he needs a cape around the head.”

If I had a body, and if I had a mouth, I would be blushing and smiling uncontrollably at how absolutely heartwarming and happy that little cape makes me.

Slender looks down at them, “Well, allow me to give you something back.” He kneels down in front of the two, “This world is going to need more guards. So, here, close your eyes.”

He puts his hands on both of their heads, and summons a large amount of Sigma. He puts it all into their bodies at once, making two new proxies.

He stands back up, and pulls out a badge, “Apple Bloom, with my position as Captain, I introduce and promote you to Vice Captain of the Supernatural branch of the Equestrian Royal Guard. Scootaloo, I hereby declare you the Sky Master of the Supernatural branch of the Equestrian Royal Guard. Sweetie Belle, I hereby promote you to Archmage of the Supernatural branch of the Equestrian Royal Guard.”

Scootaloo jumps up in the air, “Yes!” But the newfound strength in her causes her to accidentally jump into the roof. She lands on the ground, and rubs her head, “Ow.”

Sweetie Belle takes a step back, and looks off into nothing, “Slender, what’s this voice?”

Hello everyone.

All three of the foals jump into the air from the unexpected voice. Slender holds up a hand, and calms them down, “That is Slenderman. He’ll be residing in your mind to help you and keep all three of us in touch. He can talk to each of us individually, collectively, or choose who he wants to hear.”

The three of them look at each other, and shrug. Apple Bloom looks up at Slender, “What do we learn first?”

Slender goes to the ground, and sits cross legged, “Peace and tranquility through meditation.”

———

Slender stands in the hospital room, his hand resting on Rarity’s bedside.

He looks down at her, her wound healed, yet a scar still on her throat. She breathes quietly, dreaming.

Slender turns around, and goes to exit the room. He is stopped by a raspy voice, “Don’t, please.”

He looks to see Rarity suddenly awake. He shakes his head, “It’s my fault you are this way, Rarity. I didn’t watch out enough.”

Rarity smiles. Her voice speaks once more, now sounding akin to sandpaper, scratchy and rough, “Oh, shut up. You saved my life... and I’m thankful that you were there. Sweetie Belle already lost her parents... she can’t lose me as well.”

Slender turns back around, “I should leave you to your peace.”

She stops him, “Please, stay. Nopony has visited, and you are very pleasant company, Slender.”

Slender slowly walks to her bedside, and pulls up a chair. He sits down, and sighs, “I don’t know much about you, Rarity. I don’t know anything, so why are you treating me so friendly?”

Rarity smiles, “Well, perhaps I could tell you about myself.” She looks up, and laughs, the sound not too different than a cough, “It all started with a rock...”

Black and White

Slenderman wanders through the Everfree, intent upon finding out what has changed.

As he walks through a clearing, a howl sounds out from behind him.

He turns around, and sees a Timberwolf run through the trees. He steps back, “No... it is improbable.”

The Timberwolf rushes up to him, and starts to rub it’s head against his leg.

Slenderman laughs, and kneels down to hug the Timberwolf, “Woody! You’re still alive!” He moves his head back, and examines Woody, “What happened to you? Celestia didn’t place a curse against you, right?”

The Timberwolf touches it’s forehead to Slenderman’s, and they communicate.

“A Necromancer named Vogrim. Performed experiments on the others to find eternal life. I tried to stop him, but just had that same experimentation done against me. I now exist within all Timberwolves, for there are thousands of us. My soul kept trapped within the Everfree’s magic, unable to escape.”

Slenderman sighs, “What about the others? Rocky? Manny? Eric?”

“Rocky is still alive. He was encased in rock, and now has his own soul bound to that rock. He has become a cragidile. Manny was forced into merging with a dragon and scorpion. His children live on as manticores. Eric became a monstrosity of what he used to be. His body grew massive, his scales grew harder, and heads grew out of him. He died long ago, yet his child still wanders around. Ponies call him a hydra.”

Slender nods, “Vogrim, where is he?”

“Gone. I killed him. Ripped out his throat, and mauled everything I could. His limbs still live, and he will come back if anyone can ever reassemble him. But his limbs are hidden around Equestria. Some in realms that are impossible to reach. The Dream Realm, the Digital Realm, and his head is stashed in the greatest city of Tartarus.” Woody looks up to Slenderman, and their telepathic link lasts for a few more seconds, “I am the keeper of him. I must return to it lest one of them go missing. Goodbye, master, we may never meet again.”

Slenderman stands up, and reaches into his suit. He takes out a rubber ball, and slowly hands it to Woody, “I kept this, for all one thousand years. Just so if I was conscious, I would know you were still with me.” He drops it in front of him, and slowly turns around, “You’ve found your destiny, such is obvious. I still search for mine. But this a new world, a millennium hopefully better than the last. I must detach myself from the past... and look forward.” A single damp spot appears on his face, and he starts to walk away, “Goodbye, Woody.”

Now you see... love hurts so much, doesn’t it? It feels like a part of you is gone. You don’t feel that with fear... you’ll never feel loss when you loathe.

Slender doesn’t even try to fight back. He just continues walking through the forest, not daring to take a single look back.

It feels like your heart has been ripped out, doesn’t it? As if nothing matters anymore because your friend, the one you loved and held so dearly, is gone. You’ll never get that with an enemy. Everything feels so much better when you hate and kill.

His pace increases to a jog, not offering a single defense.

Imagine how good it would feel to kill Vogrim. Now think if that could be everyday. Filled with the satisfaction and happiness you deserve. All from only a single pony, dead on the ground. And then another. Until you have no more enemies because nobody dares to mess with you.

His jog increases to a run, speeding by trees like a bullet.

You know you can kill her. Even now, in this weakened state, she is no match for you. So why not let your tendrils free? Why not do what you know you can? She deserves it after all. She’s the one who locked you away from saving them. She made it so you couldn’t help. She did this.

More and more damp spots appear on his face, for he knows the true Slenderman is right.

It could never happen again. The ponies all worship her, they could worship you. You’d never be too late, never be trapped away from them. You know that hate fills your heart. Rage, loathing, a need for revenge! A need for fear! You could become the most powerful being on Equestria! You could kill every enemy permanently! Revenge, power, satisfaction! Your heart shall hurt no more!

He is suddenly stopped from a mysterious voice.

“You seem troubled by the thoughts in your head. Maybe a friend that is gone, maybe a voice chanting for others to be dead. All I can tell is that you’re a creature of sense. At least, your colors are quite common sense.”

He looks over, and sees a zebra meditating in the middle of a clearing.

She smiles at him, “Another who is black and white. There are not that many, so it is quite a sight.” She nods, “I am Zecora, monk of the Everfree. And it is quite clear that you need me.”

Slender stares at her a bit more, yet doesn’t hear the voice inside anymore. He slowly nods, “How?”

Zecora scoots to the side, “Come and meditate, and maybe in a vision you’ll find your fate.”

He slowly moves to sit cross legged beside her, and begins to take deep breaths.

Darkness of Mortality

Slenderman flips Jeff over, slamming him down on his back.

Jeff coughs roughly, “Ah, what happened to peace? And to me stabbing you?”

Slenderman glares down, positioning himself between Jeff and Apple Bloom, “You wanted me, you wanted death. I grant both wishes.”

Jeff rolls up to his feet, and laughs as he draws another knife, “Oh, Slendy, you came back for me!”

Jeff charges Slenderman, who dodges a bunch of sloppy stabs, “Come on, Jeff, where’s that precision?”

Jeff continues a barrage of stabs, all of which Slenderman easily dodges, “Jeffrey’s getting in the way!”

Slenderman backsteps, calmly avoiding a slash, only to find himself bumping into Apple Bloom. He quickly teleports behind Jeff, and cuffs him on the back of his head. Slenderman looks up to Apple Bloom, “Filly, flee!”

Apple Bloom launches vines at Jeff, each of which he easily cuts, “No, I will kill him!”

Slenderman jumps back as Jeff lunges at him, “No can do, I made a promise to Slender! Now get out of here!”

Apple Bloom yells as she launches a fist of vines, “No!”

Slenderman sighs, “Then I will do it myself!”

Jeff lunges once again, leaving his arm wide open. Slenderman wraps a tendril around that arm, tossing Jeff into the ground. Jeff bounces back up from the force, allowing Slenderman to grab him. Slenderman twirls around, and tosses Jeff towards the Everfree.

Slenderman instantly arrives in a clearing, and holds his arm out.

Jeff comes hurtling through leaves and branches, until he finds his throat held by Slenderman.

Slenderman crushes with all his force, and shoves Jeff into the ground.

Jeff manages to cut with a knife, cutting Slenderman’s hand, and forcing him to withdraw it.

Jeff gets back up, kicking out Slenderman’s legs as he does.

Slenderman falls backwards as Jeff stands over him. Only, instead of hitting the ground, his tendrils now hold him up.

Slenderman kicks upward, catching Jeff on the chin, and cracking a few of his teeth. Jeff leans back for a second, which allows Slenderman to plant his boot in Jeff’s ribs.

Jeff is sent aside, coughing up a broken rib. With the intrusive bone out, he then turns back to Slenderman.

Slenderman stands straight again, and looks at Jeff. The two stare at each other, collecting their breath.

Both hear a twig snap, and a rustling in the bushes. At least three ponies stand there, watching the two. The Mayor of Ponyville among them.

Jeff laughs as he begins to make a lunge for them.

His laugh is silenced as his entire face is grasped by Slenderman. Slenderman summons his strength, and throws Jeff through the Forest.

Trees make a path as Jeff goes flying. He flips in mid-air, planning to land on a tree and exit off it.

Yet when he reaches the tree, he finds his foot pierced by a particularly sharp branch. He yowls in pain as he falls to the ground.

Once again, he never hits the ground. Instead, he finds himself back in Slenderman’s grasp.

Slenderman growls, and throws Jeff into another tree. Before Jeff hits it, the tree sprouts sharp spikes of branches.

Jeff is impaled on the branches, and even more blood begins to soak his hoodie.

Jeff pries himself off the branches, laughing slightly, “Man, I’m not having a good time. Heh, you aren’t even anywhere near the power you normally would be.” He looks up, slightly grasping a large wound in his chest, “So how is it that you are able to easily pound me into the dirt? I mean, you are weaker than ever, and I am stronger, so what gives?”

Slenderman rights himself again, “Because I am not weaker. No, I am near the same in power. It’s because I have more than just the power of Fear, Jeff.” Slenderman rubs his face, feeling the finer details underneath, “I have friendship, you do not. But most important, I have found harmony within myself. Your two minds still argue, and can’t work together. But I have found Slender, I have worked with him, I have become friends with him. And that gives me so much more power than you could ever hope to have, Jeff, if you don’t accept Jeffery.”

Jeff looks down, “More power than Fear? Harmony within your mind?” He then looks up, and lets out an uproar of laughter, “When did you become a Buddhist, Slendy?”

Slenderman stomps down, “Listen to what we are saying, Jeff!”

The black glow around Slenderman fades, and Slender takes control, “Jeffery Woods, the Killer is a part of you. Talk to him, accept him, become one! Or take control at the very least!”

Jeff pauses, “Let him take control? You know, that does sound fun.” He laughs, “Hey, Woods, come and tell the big genie your three wishes!”

His laughter ends, and he collapses to his knees. Jeffery Woods looks up at Slender, and begs, “Kill us, please. Free me from this torture, and stop the Killer! Please, I know you don’t want to kill, but please!”

Slender takes a step back from the pure desperation in the young voice. But then that voice fades back into a loud laughter.

Jeff picks up a knife from the ground, and charges towards Slender.

Kill him, Slender. He wants it.

Slender looks the charging Jeff in the eyes, “No, he can change! I won’t kill him!”

Get over yourself, Slender! You are letting your pacifism turn into selfishness! Think for a single second beyond what you want! Jeffrey Woods has been tortured for years in the mind of a killer, one who he wants dead. He asked you, begged you, to kill him! Are you going to deny him that final comfort all because there’s a chance the Killer might change?! Death is a necessary evil, Slender.

Slender gulps as Jeff gets closer, “B-but-“

No matter what you chose, I shall still be here for you. Spare him, kill him, I will be your friend nonetheless.

Slender lets out a single shout, and forces his arm forward.

Jeff suddenly stops, his eyes widening even more. He drops the knife from his shaking grasp, and looks down.

Slender’s arm goes straight through him, with a crushed heart in his hand.

Jeff stumbles back, slowly revealing Slender’s blood soaked arm. He falls down onto the tree, leaning against it for support.

Jeff slowly laughs, “So... that’s what it feels like. It’s been a pleasure... Slendy.”

Jeffery looks up at Slender, and a tear drops from his eye, “Thank... you.”

Jeffrey closes his eyes once and for all, blood soaking through his hoodie.

Slender falls to his knees, and begins sobbing over the body of Jeffery.

Ponies walk in on the scene, and are drawn not to his sobs,

They look at his face, and see a dark purple aura surrounding it.

Their Selfless hero.