Derpy Let out a loud "Gulp". Just steps away trees of darkness and foreboding loomed far above Derpy. The grass rustled in the wind in somehow creating a noise neither calming nor frightening. It was as if the world was both still and moving, monotone and colorful, wide and small. She had never experienced such fright as she did standing still on the edge of the forest.

With a single step forwards she knew she couldn't go back, it was far too late for that. Step after step, crunching the leaves below her, she made progress towards the end goal; leaving this horrid place. "Crack!" From where the crack came is the question; Derpy looked left and right, up and down, but nothing was to be seen except darkness and trees.

Derpy - fearful of her life, her muffins, and her delivery - croaked out a horace, "Who's there," before the darkness once again grasped at Derpy rendering her voiceless with fright. "Step and Step and Step..." Repeating this simple phrase in her head kept her going, albeit barely.

Looking behind her, Derpy could she that she had made considerable progress into the forest. At this point she reasoned that she must be a quarter to a third of the way in by now. If she ever had a chance to run and high tail her way back to the train, or even ponyville, that chance was long since gone.

The leaves rustled, but not in the same way as they did before, no this was different. Something was making them rustle other than the wind. Within a millisecond it was as if there was no sound anywhere: the rustling of the grass and leafs, the hum of bugs, and the indistinct croaking of an animal far off, they were all gone.

About 30 Meters away Derpy felt like she could make something out, a figure of some kind, but with the darkness that enveloped the forest due to the impossibly thick canopy, there was no way to be sure what it was yet. Whether it be lucky or not for Derpy, whatever it was laid only steps away. The closer she got, the more it resembled a pony.

Uncertain, Derpy looked around the darkness before continuing forwards. It was all clear except for the figure. As she got nearer and nearer, she could make out wings and a pointed smile. The only ponies Derpy could imagine would fit that description were the ponies she feared most: Vampire Ponies! She fell down to the ground in fear, forelegs covering her head.

Shivering in fear Derpy peered up to look for an exit, some way out - any way out, but she couldn't see a thing. All she could see was darkness and figures appearing all around her. She was clearly surrounded and the gravity of this situation was grave. Fear overcame her and consciousness slipped away to the aether.

Hour, days, or even months could have passed for Derpy was unaware as to which it was, for her any of the options were bad. She opened her eyes, and although the light was dim she could see. Grasping her surroundings it was clear that this was not where she lost consciousness.

"Am I in a hut?" Derpy hadn't been this confused in her life.

Author's Note

This was definitely slower than the last chapters but I think this leads to what will be one of the best sections of this story.