Slendermane: Requiem

‘Warning. Everfree Forest is not safe! There is a dangerous creature in the deep recesses of the forest called the Slendermane. Do not enter the forest for risk of him catching you. Some ponies have died already, don’t be the next one. Do not enter the forest!’ Fluttershy read on the note Twilight had given her before her reluctant, teary departure from the Everfree forest. It seemed like the emotional terror of the scene was getting the better of everypony. The 15 fillies and colts walking in front of her as they exited the Everfree forest; or 9 that were walking while supporting their injured peers, were approaching the brink of insanity. Everything that could scar the mind and skin of a little pony forever had just been inflicted upon them in the few days that they had been trapped and deprived of all they held dear.

Fluttershy herself was limping on her now further infected scarred leg, while struggling to carry a very sick, messy, sleeping Scootaloo. Nearly tripping over at one point on one of the last roots at the tree line, leading to the road to her home, she found support from Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, both desperate to escape.

Finally out of the forest, Fluttershy noticed that it was still dark in Ponyville, but the time was fast approaching morning, and the sun wasn’t far from its peak over the horizon. Fluttershy ushered each of the fillies to move away from the trees, before putting Twilight’s note down. Although the note was wet with tears and saliva on the top where she had been holding it, she intended to put it exactly where Twilight told her to, regardless of its condition.

“Come on everypony... we, we need to get to, to the hospital. We’ll make a stop, at my cottage.” She told them picking the note back up. Fluttershy turned around, and looked at the ground outside of the forest, marking a small X in the ground with her hoof, where she would later place the note on a wooden sign.

Fluttershy led the fillies up the road, feeling some content among her fear that she had finally reach home, but it gave her no peace of mind. With worries for Twilight, the fillies and colts that were slowly dying while making their struggle to even reach her home, and the Slendermane still being out in the forest with no way of knowing what it will do next, troubled her to the core, creating a fear inside her that she’d never experienced among any of her phobias and concerns.

Upon reaching her door, Fluttershy opened it and let the fillies and colts in first. She looked back at the forest and felt the scar on her leg sting slightly, giving a wince and twitch to shake off the pain. She knelt down and passed Scootaloo to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle who carried their friend inside. Fluttershy limped lightly over to her chicken coop to the wooden sign sitting on the left of the door with chicken coop etched into it, dropped the note in her mouth, grabbed the loose plank in her mouth, and with a light strain, pulled it off.

It was a small sign but it was large enough to hold the warning note on demonstration. Fluttershy flipped the sign over so the side with the nails pointing out was revealed, and stabbed the top of the note into the nail, and the bottom into the lower nail, as carefully as she could. She turned around to move back to her house, leaving the note until she was ready to put it up, but about halfway to reaching her door she heard somepony calling her name.

“Fluttershy!” She heard from behind her. Fluttershy flicked her head back, but nopony was behind her, even out further.

“That’s strange, I could have sworn that I’d heard Rainbow,” Fluttershy started before she heard her name again.

“Fluttershy! Where’ve you been?” Rainbow’s voice called again. Fluttershy looked up to see her cyan friend flying in the sky towards her.

“Oh that makes sense,” Fluttershy said watching her friend descend towards her. Rainbow came to a stop next to her.

“Where’ve you been Fluttershy? I came over yesterday, and you weren’t here, but I kept checking every now and again to see if you’d gotten back, and you never did. Then it started to get dark, and I couldn’t find you anywhere. You had me and the others worried senseless! I’ve been up all night trying to find you and Twilight!” Rainbow exclaimed.

“Its, well, a long story...” Fluttershy started. “Why’d you worry so much?”

“That should be obvious! Because we all know you’re the last pony who’d be out as late as you were, and with all the disappearances lately, we didn’t know what to think. Then we noticed Twilight was also gone tonight. We just got worried is all.” Rainbow said. Rainbow gave her friend a quick hug, but only momentarily to ensure her friend wouldn’t assume she was a big softy.

Rainbow Dash wasn’t convinced everything was ok considering the damp patches of tears and still dribbling water in her eyes, but her suspicions didn’t get extreme until she noticed the ugly infected scar on the back of Fluttershy’s right leg.

“Sweet Celestia! What the hay happened to your leg Fluttershy?!” Rainbow asked fearfully. The scar had gone from a long blood glazed cut, to a dry blood covered wound with pus and dead skin covering the crusty surface. It turned Rainbows stomach to just look at it.

“Fluttershy, you have to get that looked at.” She said trying to make sure she wouldn’t vomit on sight of the horrendous injury. “How did that even happen?” Rainbow asked shielding her eyes.

Fluttershy knew she didn’t have time to fuss about her own injuries, nor did she want to; it only made it feel worse.

“Well Rainbow, it’s... a long story. It’s good you’re here though, I need your help. Me and Twilight, were in the forest, and... there’s a creature in there. It’s what’s been taking everypony away from their homes. Twilight’s still out there, but I have some of the fillies and colts in my house. They’re sick and some are dying. If you can get some help, we can get them all to the hospital.” Fluttershy explained realising Rainbow’s presence could be a fate decider of some of the little ponies.

“Wait, hold on Flutters! What’s going on? You found them?”

“Yes, but they need help.”

“How many are we talking about here?” Rainbow asked concerned.

“Fifteen.” Fluttershy answered.

“And who’s in there?” Rainbow Dash asked getting more concerned.

“Rainbow! I’ll explain later, they need help now. Please.” Fluttershy begged.

Rainbow felt she was lacking some necessary knowledge of the situation and its back-story, but she’d never turn down a friend’s request.

“I’ll be back with the others.” Rainbow said. With that she took to the skies as fast as she could, leaving a bright rainbow trail leading all the way into Ponyville.

Fluttershy made her way into her home, finding a lot of the fillies and colts were starting to suffer more with the passing time. Scootaloo being the worst of the lot, with her small breathes being reduced to shallow gasps. All she could do was wait for Rainbow to return and hope that it would be soon. She knew that only 4 of her friends wouldn’t be enough to get all the fillies and colts to the hospital before a lot of them would succumb to their injuries and deprivations, and only hope Rainbow would have recruited enough help.

The sight of so much suffering was bringing more and more tears to her eyes each minute. She hadn’t stopped crying since she’d left the forest, and her eyes were growing weary of the constant outpouring fluid. She wanted to give them something to resolve at least a couple of their programs.

’I could at least try to feed them.’ Fluttershy thought seeing a lot of them were clutching their stomachs.

Walking through her home, even with a few quick glances in rooms, Fluttershy couldn’t find her animals. Almost as if they had scattered the day before and not come back, probably scared that the Slendermane might return. They weren’t all gone though; Fluttershy’s arrogant but loyal pet Angel Bunny was sleeping in a round bed in the kitchen, but had no food scraps or anything sitting around him.

“Oh poor Angel, you must be starving too.” She said moving over to the little bunny. She wasn’t wrong; he had a very thin stomach, which made Fluttershy wonder if putting her cupboards out of animal reach really was a good decision. She flapped her wings enough to hover over to the cupboards, and after a quick search through the cupboard she left her food in, trying to sort through her animal food and find something that would suffice for at least a snack for everypony, found a small bunch of Apples.

She grabbed a few carrots as well and turned around, finding that Angel’s ears had perked up. He must have heard the ruffling in the cupboards. She seemed surprised that he hadn’t heard bring everypony into her cottage. Fluttershy flew over to Angel who had sat up, and begun to stretch and yawn, but hadn’t yet realised Fluttershy was there. It wasn’t till she was right next to the small bed that he had opened his eyes and become aware of her presence. But even before Fluttershy could utter a word, Angel flung himself at her, to hug her around the neck. Fluttershy felt at least one tear of happiness escape through those of sadness, lifting her left fore-leg around him.

“Hello Angel Bunny.” she greeted him.

“I’ve got to help some ponies for a while Angel. Then I have to help Twilight. Think you can wait one more day for me to get back?”Fluttershy asked with as little emotion as she could manage, estimating a guess time frame she’d need to get some help to save Twilight. Angel plopped down a little disheartened that she wasn’t staying, but he was willing to wait for as long as need be. He gave her a quick nod.

“Here, these should be enough to keep you fed for the time being.” Fluttershy said dropping the three carrots she’d grabbed in front of him. “I know it’s plain, but,” Fluttershy was about to ask that Angel not be picky, but she didn’t get to finish her question before he gobbled up a whole carrot very quickly. Fluttershy was a little surprised, but she knew Angel could fair well on his own, and wouldn’t eat them all that fast.

“Don’t give yourself a tummy ache. I’ll be back soon.” Fluttershy told him, lightly kissing him on the forehead before turning to walk out the door. Angel was glad she was ok, a little confused that she had been a little teary eyed, and happy that his belly was full again, but ultimately nearly threw up the carrot he just downed upon seeing Fluttershy’s infected scar as she departed. Holding it back, instead he fainted as she limped out the door holding the apples in a small basket.

Fluttershy moved over to those who were groaning and clutching their stomachs first, she had at least 13 apples, so she had to make sure a few of the ponies were ok with sharing one. She limped over to the CMC first, knowing that Scootaloo above anypony else would be needing food. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle watched on as their friend lay breathing very slowly, with nothing but devastation and negative thoughts inside of them regarding Scootaloo’s chances of survival. Fluttershy pulled an apple out of the basket and placed it in front of Scootaloo, nudging her lightly on the side, to try and get her to wake up and eat something; at least a nibble to get food into her body.

“Scootaloo? Scootaloo, I know you’re tired, but you have to wake up for just a few minutes and try and eat something.” Fluttershy mumbled next to the ill-fated filly’s ears. But she got no response, and the shallow breathing only continued.

“Scootaloo? Come on Scoot please wake up.” Fluttershy begged nudging her some more, but still getting no different reactions. This wasn’t good; Scootaloo was almost gone.

“Oh hurry Rainbow hurry.” She said to herself, as if trying to communicate with Rainbow Dash.

Fluttershy moved around to the injured ponies individually, dropping them the best of a snack she could offer, some of them willing to share with another, as long as it meant they would get something in their stomachs. Shortly before the last few apples had run out, there was a knock at the door. Fluttershy dropped the last few apples at the hooves of anypony who didn’t have one, and limped over to the door, opening it to find Rainbow had returned, but alone.

“Rainbow, where’s everypony else?” Fluttershy asked, nervous that she might not have been able to find any help.

“I got others on the way. I can take one of them while you’re waiting for the others.’ Rainbow said looking inside the cottage at all the sick ponies nibbling lightly on the apples Fluttershy had offered.

“Sweet Celestia, this isn’t good. Fluttershy how did they get this bad? Where’ve they been for the last few days?” Rainbow asked, craving more knowledge.

“I’ll tell you once I know they’re going to be ok.” Fluttershy said wanting nothing more than for Rainbow to start flying them over to the hospital.

Rainbow looked at the large group, and couldn’t tell who was in the worst condition; they all looked to be in a pretty bad shape.

“Well, who should I take first?” Rainbow asked wondering if one of them was worse than the others, but making up her own mind in seconds of seeing a little orange pegasus filly lying motionless next to her two best friends, with only the rise and fall of her chest being the only sign of life on her.

“Scootaloo!” Rainbow cried zipping over to her favourite filly. She didn’t know what looked worse about her; her sickly appearance, or the strange waste dried through her fur and cut legs. Rainbow felt painfully depressing emotion rising up inside herself on sight of Scootaloo. Her wheezing puffs of breath were enough of a sign to Rainbow that she was on the brink of death.

“Fluttershy, what’s wrong with her?” Rainbow asked determined to receive an answer.

“I... I don’t know Rainbow. Me and Twilight found her in bad shape, and she’s only gotten worse.” Fluttershy explained, regretting that she couldn’t provide any information on her condition whether or not she wanted to. Even in the short few seconds of seeing her, Rainbow was struggling to feel anything but regret; regret that she couldn’t be there to protect the one filly that looked up to her more than anypony, and was almost as close to her as a sister.

“Scoot... I’m sorry, I wasn’t there for you.” Rainbow sobbed. She wished Scootaloo could respond, but wanted nothing more to know she could at least hear her. She could do nothing but blame herself, letting her emotion out in tears.

“Rainbow, she still has a chance. She’s been so strong. Get her to the hospital, and stay with her.” Fluttershy instructed making sure Rainbow would have the opportunity to see Scootaloo to safety and be there for her.

Rainbow made no sign of appreciative gestures; being in no mood to do so, and gently slung Scootaloo onto her back, with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle’s help, though the pair didn’t say anything, nor had they since exiting the forest since struggling to bear witness to their friends suffering and not being able to help her.

“Rainbow, I know what that look means,” Fluttershy said, commenting on Rainbow’s grim, tear struck expression. “Don’t blame yourself for this. You weren’t there. You couldn’t have done anything if you wanted to.” Fluttershy started trying to ease her friend out of the zone she was forcing herself into.

“I’m the element of loyalty Fluttershy. I’m meant to be loyal to my friends and the ones who look up to me, and protect them. If I can’t do that for two of my best friends, and the one filly that looks up to me like a sister, how can I not blame myself?” Rainbow asked, but Fluttershy couldn’t let her doubt her faith in her element.

“Would Scootaloo blame you? I don’t blame you, and I know Twilight’s alive, and she wouldn’t blame you.” Fluttershy began trying to reason with her.

“What do you mean you know she’s alive? What happened in the forest?! Who did this to you three?” Rainbow asked, dreading why Fluttershy would be talking about the situation so grimly, getting another look at the dreadful scar on her leg.

“I’m taking Scootaloo to the hospital, and when you get there, I want you to tell me who the hay did this to Scoot, and that to you, and whatever they might have done to Twilight, so I can tear them apart.” Rainbow finished, before flying out the door, holding Scootaloo on her back as securely as she could.

Fluttershy felt terrible for Rainbow Dash, knowing that even though she wasn’t there she still held all the responsibility for everypony’s injuries on her own shoulders. She couldn’t figure out how she would explain the situation though, knowing that without any proof, convincing her of the Slendermane’s existence would be a very hard task. And knowing Rainbow, she would throw herself in dangers way to protect her friends whether she could handle the situation or not, and the last thing she wanted was for her to get involved with the Slendermane. She didn’t have much time to ponder the problem though before Rarity and Applejack arrived at her doorstep, with Pinkie Pie standing behind them, along with few other residents from Ponyville.

Fluttershy started to weakly limp towards the door, before the others had a chance to even say anything to her

“Oh thank goodness you’re all here, we have to get all the!” Fluttershy stopped and screamed, feeling an impossibly enormous ripple of pain course through her infected leg, before collapsing on it. She felt like the wound was hissing and screaming at her, while she screamed right back, sucking in air through gritted teeth, trying to block it out, but having no results. The sudden shock relieved her of all feeling in her leg but a burning sting, as if somepony was jabbing a hot needle into her leg and slashing at it. In seconds she felt the dark, numbing pain spread to her head before, forcing her tear soaked eyes shut, leaving the last vision in her head for the time being, a blur of her friends running to her aid.