The Stare, Malevolence of Evil

by Peusterokos

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Sad, Romance, Original Character, Fluttershy
Length: 32479

The story of a young unicorn that discovers the strange and evil powers of The Stare.

It is over a hundred years after the events of Season 2. Equestria is in a desperate call for help due to a massive dragon invasion threatening to send the peaceful land into oblivion. Shadow Rush, a prodigy unicorn who is Celestia's personal student, makes an important discovery of a spell that is capable of taking control the minds of dangerous animals, known as: The Stare. The lack of information leads him and his zebra friend Zequus to travel to Ponyville, the town of origin of the spell, to learn more about its forgotten past. But the majority of the town's residents offers them little to no support with their quest, as they know The Stare holds a dark secret about its only user known to history and her attempts in mastering it's mysterious powers: the Elements of Kindness. The two scholars also hear the tale of The Weeping Filly, a local ghost story deeply feared by the inhabitants of the town, and they will soon discover that the stories behind those aren't so farfetched after all.

What is The Stare? What happened to it? What kind of powers does it hold? What is the Weeping Filly?

Some things should never be found an answer for, because there are affairs that no mortal mind can withstand.

Author's words: I wrote this fanfiction during the holidays after I had too much to drink, smoke and fell too much in thoughts, which was followed by me staring at the depicted image while listening to the End Of Days Score. After these combinations, it gave birth to this: The Stare, Malevolence of Evil. I hope you enjoy it and please share it if you enjoy, also give your critic on the story, I'm looking forward to see your reactions on my very first (official) fanfic.
Gesundheit!

Published 2013-01-10 02:30:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-01-10 02:30:01 UTC

'Some Things Are Not Meant To Be...'

The Stare: Malevolence Of Evil

Chapter 1:
'Some Things Are Not Meant To Be...'

A melancholic atmosphere filled the air of Canterlot Psychiatric Hospital, with the heavy weather outside adding more to the depressing ambiance of the place as a mourning Celestia oversees Patient Room N.013. A faint, but audible weeping cry was the only thing that the Princess could hear while visualizing the dimly light room. This was a tragic thing to hear these word-less ramblings from one of her subjects. The Princess closed her eyes shut, as a tear ran down on her left cheek.

"Diagnosis?" she quietly asked a pony on her side.

"It's complicated, my Princess. He has null brain activity and near total brain damage beyond any possible repair, yet he's there alive and breathing. My colleagues and I earlier have witnessed his physical recovery by his sudden burst of outrage, making him the most remarkable and most disturbing recuperation yet by anypony that has ever come to this hospital in my years of career. In addition, he was diagnosed with a severe case of dementia. It's a surprise that he can even do a single thing such as living with the amount of damage that he sustained." the doctor replied.

With these words, Celestia's heart fell into a deep crevice of sadness. Helplessness consumed her emotions entirely. Her prized student had succumbed into such a state after she had allowed him to leave Canterlot to perform studies, studies that in the first place she should not of allowed. It was her fault that he had become what he is now from whom he was a week ago. After a few moments of deep silence, her eyelids opened.

"Euthanize him. He's gone through a lot, and his soul should be put in peace." Celestia calmly said before trotting away in a slow pace.

The doctor, dumbfounded by what the Princess, his majesty, had just ordered him to do. He stared emptily at the alicorn who had given orders to end the life of a fellow pony, and worse, his patient. When the princess had disappeared from view, he looked down on his note pad held by his magic. A pen came into view and came down to check out a squared space found on the bottom-right corner of the page. This space was reserved for the absolute worse cases, and it was something that was rarely used in this hospital, even less when it's Princess Celestia who gives the order.

[x]-[Euthanize]

Inside Patient Room N.013, the weeping cries had somewhat stopped. Shadow Rush had stopped his deranged spree of uncontrollable whimpering.

"What is your name, sir?" a feminine voice he was now familiar with asked.

(My name. What is my name again? Something. Som...so, Sha....shara-no that can't be right. Shadow Rush, there we go. Shadow Rush was my name. Who...who am I again? I remember feelings, feelings I can't remember the name nor how to describe them. I'm so scared. I don't know why I'm so scared right now, but I just am. I- That's right, I was the student of...of...why can't I remember her name? Ce...Celestial, I think that's-....no, Princess Celestia. I was her student, her prodigy, her protégée. I worked at Canterlot's Magical Archives in the Starswirl the Bearded wing. What was the name of that feeling again? Happy? Joyous? Sad. I'm so sad right now. What was I working on? The dragons, the dragons and their progressive activity onto Equestria. I had to help find a solution. Solution, death is solution now. I can't remember my name. There was something I was looking for, somewhere, what was it? Where was it? The...the....what was it again? The-)

"You've seen it, haven't you?" the feminine voice echoed through his mind.

Thoughts of the events came back flooding Shadow Rush's mind in an instant.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

-A week ago-

Shadow Rush was in Canterlot's Starswirl The Bearded archives, sleeping deeply and drooling on a open tome. Beside him was a large pileup of spell books, scrolls, medicinal reviews and many more works of literature that stood in a pyramid, along with dozens of emptied ink bottles, a few dozen garbage cans filled with crumpled papers and many, many broken quills. His last remaining candle, which was nearly finished itself, shun a weak light over him and the pile of rubbish, while it's flame crackled quietly.

He, and along other scholars, scientists, adept magic users and many more had been given the task to find a solution to a very worrying situation that affected all of Equestria: dragons had seen an explosion in population in the last few years and had formed an army, attempting to take over the land of Equestria as they were now creating havoc and destruction to the neighboring countryside. The last time the land of Equestria had such a concerning problems was when the Elements Of Harmony were still around. The dragon swarm, on the other hoof, was spreading like wild fire throughout the continent, and there were no signs of them retreating from their destructive streak. It would of been so much less of a problem if the Elements Of Harmony along with their vectors hadn't completely vanished nearly a century ago.

A shadow crept into the archive, slowly opening the two-way doors leading into them. It noticed Shadow Rush sleeping on the table, and gave an appealed grunt. The individual closed quietly the doors behind him and tipped topped on his hooves to his target, without making much noise. It dragged behind him a metallic wheel cart, piled up with nothing more but more tomes, books and scrolls. He stopped a few hoof away from the sleeping scholar, unclenched his teeth of the cart's handle, and gave a quiet cough.

"GOOD MORNING, SHADOW RUSH WHO IS SLEEPING!" a shout ringed into Shadow Rush's ears, making him jump out of his seat, violently waking him up.

He looked around, dazed to find the source, and found a dimly lit figure of a zebra standing on his side.

"ZEQUUS, WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" he angrily shouted.

The zebra had a good laugh, mocking his friend's sudden awakening. Zequus ran a hoof across his face to wipe a tear, and continued chuckling.

"There there, my friend. I hope I didn't bring your dirty dreams to an end." he continued on in laughter as Shadow Rush gave him a bloodshot glare that could kill.

"Have you found any solution of our situation at hoof, or has our research ended up in another goof?"

Shadow Rush rubbed his eyes slowly.

"No, these books just don't have anything. Nothing that could defeat what is essentially an entire army of dragons, even less to scare them off. It's kind of a surprise to me that I haven't found anything useful in this wing yet." Shadow Rush replied to the zebra scholar as he rubbed his hooves off his eyes and brought in another candle with his unicorn magic, replacing the current one.

"My my, I can't let you have all the credits for finding the possible solution. It just isn't in my notion. Here, I have brought more manuscripts, now we can work together again and prevent further dozing away to unwanted slips." Zequus continued talking as he threw the content of the cart on the table, while Shadow Rush displaced the previous pile of tomes onto the small vehicle.

The unicorn briefly looked outside after he moved the pile away, only to notice that Zequus was not wrong about the current time. The sun was indeed creeping slowly across the sky and sprayed the visible lands of Equestria with it's heart warming glow. He quickly turned his attention back to the upcoming studies and grabbed a few books using his magic, closely observing the spell books.

"Zequus, I've gone through at least half of those books while studying the other nights. Didn't you say last night you'd bring more books the next time you'd see me?" the unicorn curiously asked the zebra, with a slight tune of sarcasm in his voice.

"I had to go through great trouble to get more of these tomes. Perhaps I should return them because my friend here apparently can read dozens of dictionaries in a night and manage to remember everything in his dome. Which is kind of the truth, of what I heard from the rumors that go through the roof." he amusingly nagged his bookworm friend.

"Hey there, it's none of your business of what I do at night when I'm bored. I should maybe mention that you should stop frequently bother the mares working at the library. I should also inform you that some of them are relatives with the Royal Guards." Shadow Rush playfully barked at his zebra co-worker.

The zebra stopped moving for a few moments. Completely frozen to what his friend had said, as he glanced him with a slightly terrified stare.

"Well, it's not my fault. They are such pretty fillies, and I've always been a good colt. Shall we?" Zequus said as he came to his senses before sitting down on the chair across Shadow Rush's side.

"We shall."

The two scholars quickly fell into silence, each grabbing a few books from the pile and set their eyes in the transcripts. As Zequus patiently read word by word the spell book he had in hoof, Shadow Rush had been speeding through the majority of the books, most of which he had previously read. Nothing could catch his attention, not a simple clue of something that could help the dire situation of the dragons swarms invading equestrian countryside.

Nearly an hour and a half had passed since they had both sat down and opened their books and eyes. Shadow Rush still hadn't found anything. Nearly finishing yet another pile of books, he tossed the tome he held with his magic into the examined book pile on his right and gave an exhausting sigh. His attention had quickly faded away with the hours long lecturing, he started to wonder if they'd find anything in any of this magic archives section. He set his mind into something instead. His attention had drawn to birds flying in the exterior, wondering about a few things. Mentally asking question after question, only to mostly answer them with a logical sense. He gave a loud, bored sigh as he continued fixing the exterior.

(Would I ever have the guts to talk to that mare, what was her name again? Who am I kidding, I can't even remember her name, and I never even had the courage to tell her 'Hi how are you doing?' Would she even think the same way about me as I do about her? Why is it so hard for guys like me to find a girl that would be compa-)

Shadow Rush's thoughts quickly faded away as he felt something impact on the side of his head. Yelping at the hit, he turned around to see a less-than-amused Zequus fixing him with serious eyes.

"Shadow, you've got to stop dozing off! Or else I will be reporting your lack of attention to the toff!" Zequus barked to Shadow Rush in a unamused tone. "This is serious!"

"Yea yea, I get it. Your the reason to blame why I'm dozing off so much. Give me a break at least, I had very few hours of sleep and...Hey, what's this?"

Shadow Rush lifted an old and leathery tome that Zequus had thrown on his cranium with his hooves. He brought it to close view with his face. He rubbed a hoof on the dusty cover of the book, revealing it's true colors and the cover.

"The Tome of Forgotten Spells. Written by..." he said as he read the title, his voice fading away when reading the non-existent name of the author.

"Huh, strange. Zequus, where did you find this particular book? I've never seen or heard of it..." he glanced up to look at his zebra friend, who in return also glanced at the strange book, in disarray of what he was seeing.

"I...I do not know. I don't recall picking it up during my scavenging, Shadow." the zebra stuttered, nearly breaking his rhythm

The two scholars stared at each other, examining each other just in case one of them was pulling a prank. After a few moments, their eyes slowly transitioned to look at the mysterious book that the unicorn was holding. It was clear that this was a special discovery: Zequus had somewhat provided the book, and Shadow had, in a way or another, discovered it's possibly important content.

"Here, let me come to you, I will sit down and we'll take a good view." the zebra said, clearly very excited of this discovery as he moved his chair near his friend.

"Ok, here it goes."
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Hours have passed. Back in the Starswirl the Bearded wing archives, the two equines had been sitting down and examining this new tome for hours now. They had made so many discoveries, and they were so excited! Discoveries on oh-so many types of spells, from powerful enchantments to mediocre ones, the most amazing shape-shift spells to the silliest ones. So many interesting things that they had discovered, but none of which could of greatly help deal with the threat.

"This...book...is...AMAZING! How many times have I said it? Hundreds of times? Thousands of times? Zeequs, We've discovered something quite possibly...what's the word...right... AWESOME!!!" Shadow Rush expressed himself in a quite loud manner, but also very gleeful.

"Yes we did, Shadow. But it isn't the time to turn this tome into a hallow. Not yet." the zebra answered back to the unicorn that held a nearly-stupid grin on his face.

"Oh you're always so darn negative, Zequus. Seriously, I sometimes wonder how they ever even accepted you into Celestia's School of Gifted Unicorns. Think of all the possible outcomes of our discoveries that we made today! All these incredible spells! Well, except for the 'Male Proboscis Elongation Spell'. Like, even the name sounds silly. But aside from that: This book is a FREAKIN' GOLD MINE OF MAGIC ADVANCEMENTS! Oh we will soon become famous, Zequus! Think of it, Shadow Rush and Zequus, greatest arcane scientists and saviors of the land of Equestria! We will become more famous than Starswirl and the Elements of Harmony ever combined! Oh, I'm sorry, now I'm just going off tracks again. Better get back to studying." the gleeful unicorn continued his rambling.

"I for one like this Male Enlarger spell, Shadow! Think of all the possibilities!" he said to Shadow, hinting with his eyebrows what he had in mind.

"Oh come on, Zequus, that's just darn wrong! You sometimes are worse than me when your mind goes astray. And why would any mare want to have a stallion with a....what is this?"

After turning a page while talking to his zebra friend, the current page's content had caught Shadow Rush's attention. This seemed to home a spell that seemed quite different from the other spells they had gone through previously. This wasn't a spell, not an enchantment, nor a recite. It was very different indeed, the illustrations of the page seemed to be old, very old, centuries old in the least. Most of the texts seemed to be missing, or have been erased either in time or somepony had intentionally done it.

"The Stare..." the two equines said, as they both spelled the name simultaneously.

"The Stare. A semi-psychokinetic, semi-magical ability that originated from Ponyville. Essentially an animal control spell, it was developed to deter wild and dangerous creatures of the EverFree Forest away during the early years of Ponyville's foundations. It had never been used, and was nearly lost in time, but re-emerged after one of the Elements Of Harmony, the Element of Kindness, had somehow learned to use it. Well known to handle and take care of creatures, some of which were known to be very aggressive, the Element Of Kindness used it on several occasions, and it's been known that this shy pony had been able to scare off timber wolves, dragons, manticores, and the list goes on. The Element had eventually harnessed enough powers to face off and even scare off a cockatrice's deadly stare..."

"...And the information stops there." Shadow Rush finished with.

The two ponies, completely mind boggled from what they just read, didn't put up any expressions. This spell that they have discovered was literally a godsend. It was nearly an coincidence that they had found something so wonder and useful, yet it heavily lacked information from all angles. Why hasn't anypony even bothered to write more details about this wonderful spell? Why wouldn't they? Zequus and Shadow Rush turned to look at each other. They had found it: they had found the solution! The two had smiles slowly creeping on their faces, before they exploded in joyful shouting. They nearly overthrew the table over as they gleefully stood up on their hind legs, shouting, celebrating and hugging each other to the phenomenal discovery of theirs. Although their cheerful celebration soon afterwards receded as they had more important things to talk about.

"Hey, you know what? We still haven't finished the book, maybe there's more information on The Stare in later pages."

Zequus gave a nod, agreeing with the unicorns proposal as they quickly dashed back to their seats and flipped the pages. But it was immediately clear that this booked lacked far more information that it's size promised at first glance. Nearly all of the following pages, at least a few hundred more, had no words nor images inscribed into them. It was a massive and important book, but that was now clearly and improperly unfinished in the shame of this tome's author. Shadow Rush quickly shuffled through the empty pages, desperately looking for any more scribbling, whenever it was about The Stare or not, even if it was just a simple image. After a few minutes of rushing through the hundreds of pages in the book, they had found nothing but something partially written on the back cover's interior. It is what could of been the original author's initials, and is followed by a heavily distorted and nearly erased sentence under it.

T.[ ]

.̮̣̙̭̒ͥ̔̋.̩͖͓̈̕.̷̳̬̊ͫͣͫͫ͂s̨̡̛̤̙͍̦͕͖̔ͪ̆̔̽͗̿ͩͤǔ̡̟͖̩̯̯͊̀ ̶͉̪̦̫͑́ͬ͝d̚͏͓̟̯̰͎̤̹́ͅͅeͫ̓̃ͤ̈͆ͪ҉̖͚͙͉̯͙ͅy̙͈͈ͮͦo̪͂̄̏ͤ̕̕r̸̷͍͎̯͆̃͂ͯ̓̂ͭ̚t̻̺̥̦̝͔͔͙̮ͪs̆ͬ̊̅҉͞҉̻̮̫̫͚̯͎̘ͅȩ̶̣̠̼̜̬͌̌̋̓͊͡dͪ͏͔̬̻ ̸̨̜̫̙͈͎̟̺̜́ͭͣ͗̒̈͢l̶̦̳͑̎̒̾͡i̮̗͚̰͓͓̗ͨͯ̓͞v̸̢̦̖̯̞̭̘̉̕e̝͈̱͈̯̲ͨ͑ͥͥ̿̒̍͟͡ ̛̛̱̻͇̯̌̀̈́͆̐f̶̡̝̳̜͔̭͗ͨ̓̚o̵̹̤͇̿̋́̀ ͚͐́ͥ͋͜ͅę̻͚͎̲̠̩̜̉̍̈ͦͧ͘c̡̼̦̯͐̅̀̃̉̚͜͠ͅn̜͖̮͇̼̱͕͎̼̄̇̕͡e͚̙̺̼̩̯̱̺ͩ̆̅̐ͦ͘l̦̘̫͈͉̓͒̋o̷̗̣̖̩̯̙̩̗̾͗̐̏̈́͘v̵̗̱̮̰̟̒̿̆͜e͍̭̺̘͗ͫ͊͂̽ͣ̍͌l̷̗̣̺̠͉͚̐̊̉̾͂ͣͫ̉̈́̀ȁ̧̜̤͛͐̌̀̚̚m̩͍͇̺̭̱̰̼̲ͨ̓̉́ ̷̧̘̪̹͖̳̝̅̽̎͛͛͝ͅe̴͈͓͚̺̩̱͎ͪ̋͋͊͒̅h̷͖̱̣̥͖̰̮̜ͯ͆ͤt̮̞̹̄̈́́͋ͅ.͚͍͎̰̳͔̥͛ͪ̃̓̚ ̛̻͚͈͕͚ͥ͌l̴͙͎̙̪̟̺̉͂ͪ̄͢a̱̝̓̇̒̔ͮ́͞t̯̬̬̮̥̯̥͑ͮr̠̣̞̪ͩ͂͊͡͡͞o̧̱͙̫̣͙͈̤͛̃͊͆ͤ̏͂̀m̴̰̩̼͕ͭ̏̓̅́̓͠ ̡͈̱͍̏̓ȩ̛͔̱̼͚̦ͧl̬̰̣͍̼̤̗̣̱ͣ̑̍̏ͦ͌ͪͪ̀͝p̢̩̟̙̪͔̻̹̆ͪ̂͜ͅṃ̴̤ͪ͊i̯͇̙͕̗̦̻̍͐͆͞š̴̶̼͕͖̰̼͗̿ͧ͋̇͜ ̼͕͑͆̋͂ͧ̆ͮͧ̕ë̡̝́̌͑r̩͓̂̌ͫ́ͯ́̽̏a͙͔̔͋͗̈́͠ ̙͔͎̱ͣͣ̈́̚e̦̟̰̗̣͚ͫ̉̚͡wͧͨ̆̌҉̶̜̝̩̹̥̙̟.̢̙̼͌ͩͦ̿̆̏͞ ͇ͬͥ̂s̖̖̼̭̝ͪ͒͐ͭ̆͟u̸̬̲͇ͨ͛͛͗̆ ̷̨̘̟͓͈̝̦͙͇͋͗̄ͫ͌̽̽̅o͉̙͖͍͎͙ͥ̉ͩ͜ͅt̓̏ͣ͆҉̛͉̟̭̣͈̬̲ͅ ̨̖͓͕͗̐̆̀̓͠ͅn̴̉̒̅͒͋́͐҉͙e͉̝̞̦͕ͧ͌̊ę̜̭̭͕̝̊ͅs̵̨̎ͪͣ̾̓̂ͯ̾͏͓̱̤̟̪̦ ̸̵̥͎ͮ̊͜ë̶̦̺̾̍b̨͍̟̗̬͇̣̂̅͗̋ ̻̗̳͈̞̝̗̣̂̉͆̋̿̄ͨ͟͜o̩͚̻̣̩̳̟̣̒ͮͧ̚t̮̙̪͙̤̗̘̅͗̓͒̓ ̬̟̼͚̉̏͆̿̆t̴̻͇̞̲̹̜͂ͨͤͥ̃ͩ͛̔̚n̴̯̹͔̟͇̹͔̊ͩͦ̇̆͞å̶̧̚͏̠̘̳̹̫͎ȇ̡̡͚͇̤͙̫̞̋̏ͣ̓̎̆͢m̙͍͇ͨ̑̓̓ ̬̱̼͙̲̑ͧ̇͐t̨̫̲̹̪ͧ̒ͯ͆͒ͅͅỏ̸̩̜̱̞̮̃͊ͨ̆ͩ͑ͤ͠n̋̾͊ͩͮͣ̾ͨ̍҉̝̖͎̗̗̼͈͇ ̰̮̩͍̄̇̀͜e̵͐ͪ͒̓̈́́ͦ̿͏҉̥r̜ͮa̎͗̍ͭ̎ͮ҉̹̤͇̜́͢ ̬͖͉͓̹̈̏ͫ̀͌̓s͚͈̱̳ͬ̍͞gͥ͊́̐ͯͯ͢҉̙̗̗̙͈̬n͍̩͎̞͚͈͉͉̏͗ͮ́̉͋̂́ǐ̜͇̒͗̈̂ͪ̚̚h̡̧̛̝̳̯̻̫͍ͨ̔̊͂̉͐ͅt̛̩̤͗͑̽͌͒͠ ͎̮̰̭͕ͥ̓̎̆ͪ̄͌ę̽̔͌͒ͧ̓̌͛͆́҉̠͇m̙̼̻͍̫͉͓͗ͥ͂͌ỏ͕̩̗͂͆̀s̷͚ͥͬ̂̏͜.̛̲̂̇̈̔͒͜.̘͉̖̹͕̗͈̟̒ͯͮ̇͝.̹̺̀̾̆̿͜

By reading this partially complete text, an unexpected shiver crawled down to Shadow Rush's spine. Something was just not right about this. But they had it: the solution to this war against the dragons was written down on the last, partially complete page of this tome. Shadow Rush then fell in deep meditation, letting his mind gobble down the amazing information he and Zequus had discovered. His mind worked on how he could possibly find more details.

"Shadow? Shadow?? Shadow!" he heard a familiar voice calling to him in his ears.

His eyes opened wide right afterwards.

"I've got it Zequus! Here, you stay here while you look up a few things about Ponyville and the Elements of Harmony while I'm going to talk with Princess Celestia. I'll be right back soon, she needs to hear this!"

"You now going to WHAT!? Shadow, you can't just go and spread the word out! We aren't even one-hundred percent sure if were on the right about. The page on the spell lacked too many details: no casting requirements, not even a clue of it's magic retails!" Zequus called out to his friend, worried about his friend's actions while they lacked evidence and information that this spell could not be what it was.

As Shadow Rush slowed his galloping pace to a halt, he turned around to look at his zebra friend and smiled to him.

"No worries, Zequus. I'll have this whole thing figured out after I come back after a few weeks from my trip. Besides, I'm Celestia's most prized student. There is just no way that she'll deny me a simple favor."

The unicorn continued his gallop, going through the exiting doorway that lead to Canterlot Castle's majestic corridors. Beforehoof though, Zequus opened his mouth in objection to what his friend had said, but it was too late as for he was already gone. The zebra stared blankly at the swinging doors, completely dazed by his friend's strange behavior. He wasn't such a hasty pony usually. And yet, he had managed to break his cautiousness. Maybe it was the lack of sleep that made him so jumpy. Zequus gave a heavy sigh, as now he was alone to do more boring studying while at this time he could be talking to some good looking mares. He got off his seat and started exploring the archive wing to find anything about this town known as Ponyville and the story of the Elements of Harmony.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

"No. You will not." Celestia said to a grey coated unicorn standing behind her.

"What? Princess Celestia, this is really important for my research! I've got to go to Ponyville to confirm this spell!" Shadow Rush replied, in complete disarray of what hi mentor had ordered him.

Princess Celestia turned and trotted to the interiors of her apartment, without even glancing at her prized and stubborn student. He trotted off the same direction, catching up with the princess as he came to her side.

"But Princess Celestia! This is what could save us from the dragons ravaging our lands!"

"I am not to trifle with such strange magic ever again, nor take any responsibility in letting you, my most prized student, to go to such a lost place in Equestria while dragons are destroying everything that belongs righteously to Equestria! Do I make myself clear?" she angrily said as she turned around to Shadow Rush, before continuing her pacing.

Shadow Rush didn't move a muscle. He had never seen his mentor so angry before, even less angry at him. She hadn't even bothered to wish him good luck nor tell him see you soon as she usually did. His mind flooded with thoughts and questions.

(Oh what could I do? What could I do?! I didn't expect this at all.)

His mind, the intellectual pony he was, clicked with an idea. A desperate, but worthy idea to save his research plans.

"Princess Celestia!" he shouted down the alley as he galloped to her.

The princess stopped yet again her pacing and turned around to see her student running to her.

"Look, I know what I'm asking is very demanding. A few weeks in a town that isn't Canterlot, without bringing anypony with me while dragons are out there, raping and burning everything that is our country is actually something I haven't thought out through. But this spell, we cannot just let it go and pretend it didn't exist. It has to be one of the greatest forgotten spells that possibly exists, and its powers are exactly what you asked us to find: something that could deter away dragons! I've even read that users have been able to deter creatures much bigger and dangerous than dragons! As you said, it is possibly an unknown form of magic, but aren't we willing to use anything to save our people?" Shadow Rush elaborated to Princess Celestia.

The princess lifted her eyebrow, intrigued by what he had said.

"Just...just give me a few days. Give me a week, and I promise I will bring back enough information that we'll able to go to magic testing afterwards. Just please, please PLEASE LET ME GO TO PONYVILLE!" he begged, falling on his knees to meet her hooves as he looked at her with his best impression of puppy eyes he could make.

The princess looked down onto her begging student, staring at him and working out in her mind his pleas. After a few instant, she sighed heavily.

"Shadow Rush, please get up."

"As you wish." he said as he took her command like a soldier.

"You are allowed to go." she finished.

"Princess Celestia, it's only a f- wait, what?"

"You've somehow managed to convince me. We are in a dire situation, and anything useful is always welcomed to be brought forth. The Stare, as you said, is something that does fills up the demands that I've asked you and your fellow co-workers to figure something that could make dragons flee, instead of killing them. We've been fighting this war for well over a year and a half, and the casualties, on both sides keep going up. Except that ours are greatly higher than theirs, and they still come more numerous with each battle. I cannot keep the secret away from my subjects any longer. Soon ponies are going to ask questions about the disappearances of many Royal Guards, and this will be a corner for me and my sister. So this is why I allow you, Shadow Rush, to go to Ponyville. And on a side note, I've always had such a weakness for ponies giving me the puppy eyes." she added, as she gave a wink to her student.

Shadow Rush's face, as it was filled with confusion, grew a smile filled with happiness and excitement. He finally had the chance to explore another town other than Canterlot in this confined life of his.

"But I want to add my share to the game. First, you will not befriend anypony in Ponyville, as it will only slow down your studies. Second, Luna and I will be tracking your every movement during your trip, and your zebra friend Zeequs will have to come along with you on this trip. Third, if we ever notice anything out of place or you compromise the mission's confidentiality, we will personally come to the town along with a handful of Royal Guards and pull you out of there immediately. In addition, a week is all I can give you. You will be permitted to go back to Ponyville if everything goes according to plan. Maybe you'll meet a mare other there that you'd like to revisit her and make a few foals for us." she added, with a comical tone in her voice.

Her student became completely frozen and turned red from blushing so much after hearing his mentor's last comment. His stare had fallen from looking at Celestia's eyes to elsewhere, in hopes to hide his embarrassment.

"Oh Shadow Rush, you've got to stop being so shy when it comes with girls. It is natural for a colt to do something like that eventually, and I did hear from a few sources that a few mares here in Canterlot Castle hinted that they'd really like you to be their pair." Celestia continued with the playful bashing on her student, snickering, while she noticed her comments had made him weep down to his knees in embarrassment.

"Well, have fun in your trip Shadow. Be good and be careful. Your cart is going to be reading in an hour." the princess added some more while she left. Giggles could be heard in the corridor when Celestia came out of view of Shadow. He was heavily embarrassed, and he hoped that no one else had heard this conversation. But he had it, he had his mentor's approval to travel to Ponyville to perform his studies on this lost spell, The Stare. Those thoughts now came back and happiness overwhelmed him as he got up on his legs. This day could not go any better. He ran back towards the Starswirl the Bearded archives, hasty to tell the good news to Zequus.

Author's Note

As a heads up for the following chapters, there will be some words or parts of phrases that are going to be in a different color. This will be indicating that if clicked on will link to a song found on youtube in order to bring more atmosphere in the story reading. It is strongly suggested that you do so to have a maximum experience in reading this piece of fiction. In addition, the songs should be stopped when a section of the story is cut-off, when another link appears or when they become unfitting, or unless they finish by themselves. Thank you for taking the time reading this, and I hope you enjoy the experience of my first (official) fanfiction on this website.

Peusterokos1

'...Seen To Us...'

The Stare: Malevolence Of Evil

Chapter 2:
'...Seen To Us…’

"Why do I have to get stuck with this misadventure of yours? I never asked to being dragged outdoors!"

"Will you quit your whining already!? It hasn't been half an hour and you're already insupportable!"

In the back seats of a transport wagon, Shadow Rush and Zequus had been arguing ever since their departure from Canterlot, mostly because the latter had been complaining why he couldn't stay back in the majestic city to enjoy some 'well deserved vacations'. The unicorn prodigy was now reconsidering his choices in bringing his zebra friend due to that obnoxious rant of his.

(Why did I ever think that it would have been a good idea to bring this guy with me?)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

-Nearly an hour before-

"ZEQUUS! ZEQUUS!" a unicorn shouted as she ran through the doors leading to the Starswirl the Bearded archives.

Shadow Rush came to a halt when he found the place where his zebra friend was earlier left empty. While scanning the library for him, he also noticed how many ponies there were since there was no one around when he was originally here, and just how most of them were now staring at him with awkward glares skewing him. He apologized to everypony for the disturbance, as then after his mind felt confused to where Zequus could be right now. After a few instants of thoughts, a light bulb appeared over his head as he now had an idea where his friend would be at such an hour. He guided himself through the many book shelves and on occasion passing by a fellow pony, going to a precise direction: the library’s wheel chariots, also known as where the bookworm mares could be found in this place. After a few twists and turns, his eyes set on something that did not surprise him one bit: Zequus was there, hitting on a group of mares studying. He approached them and arrived behind his zebra friend, of whom he did not hear the unicorn sneak behind him, and gave away a small cough before...

"Zequus, what... have you been doing all this time?" Shadow Rush asked his friend with a seemingly calm but obviously maddened tone.

"Why, hello there! Come on sit down and let's chat along with these mares." his friend cheerfully replied, surprised by his friend's presence.

"This, is clearly not THE time to be chatting with girls right now. Have you even tried looking for the things I asked you before? My guess is no, because I am sure that you've spent the whole time chatting with them while I was gone and...and...an..." Shadow added before his tongue became twisted at the sight of somepony standing behind the library wheel table: it was the mare that he liked so much.

The other girls started giggling at the baffled colt. Shadow Rush couldn't take off his eyes off the teal colored mare that was so beautiful to him. As his brain completely turned into a fart, his words became incomprehensive blabbering as he miserably tried talking normally with his friend. Even Zequus burst out laughing at the sight of his friend. With that, Shadow Rush snapped out of this aneurysm, completely aware of his dumb moment and the glowing red blush on his face.

"Ok you there are coming with me!" the unicorn exclaimed, as he dragged behind him a zebra dying of laughter by his tail, using his magic.

A few minutes later, after Shadow Rush dragged Zequus away, managed to quiet him down and convince the head librarian not to kick them out...

"Shadow Rush, when it comes to talking with girls you have to be the funniest thing alive, as it always seems that your gifted intelligence takes a sharp dive!" Zequus continued snickering about his friend's not-so-slick attitude in towards mares.

Shadow Rush, on the other hoof, did not find this any close being amusing whatsoever. His only answer was a smoldering stare and a deadpanned silence. Zequus knew, by experience, what that blank and emotionless stare of his that it served as the final warning before he would use his 'gifted intelligence' to use a spell on him. One that he would probably regret if he didn't stop.

"Fine..." Zequus put his hoof on his friend's shoulder.
"I do apologize my friend, and you already know that all my antics are for joking around in the end. You are my best friend Shadow. Wherever you go, I will follow and stand by you, even if it means going down the darkest hollow. Now, do tell what you had minded, as my attention is now undivided." he smiled upon his friend, granting him the power to speak at his will.

"Thank you Zequus, that means a lot to me when you do listen to me..." Shadow Rush replied to his friend, a smile growing on his face.
"Now. I went to talk to Princess Celestia. At first it seemed hopeless, Princess Celestia seemed reluctant in giving us the permission to continue further research on The Stare. But in the end my persistence was worth it, as it seemed that I somehow convinced her in giving us the permission to go to Ponyville. Isn't that exciting?" he finished with a big sheepish grin on his face.

"Now, that there Shadow is quite admirable! But there is one question that I may ask, as it is quite answerable... What do you mean by 'us'?"

"Well that means that both you and I are going to Ponyville for six days to perform quite more than just a few studies on the Stare."

While Shadow Rush said that with a smile on his face, Zequus' face somewhat lost all of its glee as it sunk to a dismayed expression. The zebra baffled a few incoherent spasms of a question before managing in creating an actual word with his mouth.

"Well, it seems that I have already planned into getting a few 'well deserved vacations', after that you have left for the princess' locations, but it can all work in the end. When is this supposed departure of ours, friend?"

"Oh you won't have to worry about these 'vacations' of yours, because we are leaving just about...now." As Shadow Rush finished saying these words, two Royal Guards came through the main doors of the archives, walking automatically towards Zequus. Easily and rapidly overwhelming the zebra, the two guards dragged him by his forelegs, following back to the exit as Shadow Rush trotted behind the trio, carrying all their required materials.

"NO, SHADOW RUSH YOU TRAITOR! I DON'T WANT TO GO NOW, I WANT TO GO LATER! NOT BEFORE THE PARTIES, AFTER THE PARTAY WITH THE LADIES! TRAITOROUS I SAY, TRAITOROUS!" Zequus shouted his last over dramatized words in the library before disappearing out of sight and hearing to anyone in the room.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

-Present-

(Oh Zequus, what a drama queen…)

With that sudden flash in the past, Shadow Rush smiled, as he remembered why he brought Zequus the zebra with him on this expedition. Despite all the laziness, spontaneous personality and lack of discipline this character had, and to add that he overdramatized everything that was not in his favor, he was a loyal and all truly dedicated friend of his. He knew that he would definitely not abandon him whatever the situation would call for, even if what the current moment was saying otherwise. He was the type of pony that he could count on at times where a unicorn's magic and physical capabilities would be otherwise unhelpful. Zebras were adepts at arcane chants, and with time their kind had adapted to survive in a terribly hot and desolate land that is Zebrica. Perfect for any encounters with rogue of unknown types of magic they were hunting for and the now mostly ravaged lands of Equestria. In the end, this was a win-win situation for him and the research that he was all so excited abou-

*THWACK*

Zequus threw a hoof behind Shadow Rush’s head, effectively waking him up from his day dreaming and his face connecting with the seat in front of him. After a few dazed moments, Shadow Rush rubbed with his hooves the places where his face had well smacked the seat, before turning back to Zequus with eyes full of revenge.

"SON OF A…" Shadow Rush shouted as he jumped on the zebra, as the two rapidly engaged into a quarrel inside the wagon. While it was being shaken up by the two fighting colts, two stallions pulling the vehicle gave each other a stare that could only be described as:

(This is going to be a long ride…)

___________________________________________________________________________________________

-Later that day, at night fall-

It has been hours now that both Shadow Rush the prodigy unicorn and Zequus the zebra left Canterlot Castle to Ponyville in a ground-based transport wagon. Because of the dragon menace, airborne transport chariots were temporarily banned for the safety of the equestrian populace, which made this travel unnecessarily longer than it should have. Unfortunately, time was clearly the enemy to everyone participating on the travel, thanks to Zequus’ abilities to annoy anypony to death with amazing grace. If he had been a blank flank, his cutie mark would probably have been a troll’s face stuck upon his flank by now. This had made everypony but Zequus in a twitchy mood for the longest time, as the prodigy unicorn, along with the two other stallions, had to take drastic measures at one point in the trio to shut the zebra up. Even so, he still managed to continue his murderous spree of annoyance while being both gagged and tied upside down. He loudly moaned entire songs, he kicked entire beats on the wagon’s ceiling, and he even flailed his tail to the rhythm of his mischief! Those were nine punishing hours, until a wooden panel appeared in sight.

“FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODDESSES, WILL YOU STOP IT ALREADY?! WE’VE ARRIVED TO PONYVILLE’S OUTSKIRTS, NOW STOP IT ALRIGHT?!” Shadow Rush snapped at his upside down zebra friend.

“Hmph mmh dhmph mmph mh mhmph mhhhd!” Zequus moaned a gagged reply.

Shadow Rush deadpanned. His friend had actually stopped singing, but had instead replied to his annoyed question. Probably with a smart-ass reply to add more to the insulting punishment that he made everypony suffer in the last nine hours. Shadow ripped the thing gagging Zequus’, of which the latter let out a painful and loud yelp.

“I said ‘Ah Ah Ah. You didn’t say the magic word’.” Zequus finally managed to say his friend with a sheepish smile, of which was met with the sound of gritting teeth from both the stallions carrying the wagon and Shadow Rush’s, whose face was now twisting into pure hate.

“Now help me come down back on the world, as I do require assistance to get out of these cords.”

Shadow Rush fired a ray of magic at the lonely string holding the zebra from the ceiling, of which he took a painful dive down onto the vehicle's floor, now completely dazed. Shadow Rush was satisfied, and hoped that he would stay quiet for this time until they got out of the wagon. After observing his zebra friend taking a fall, the unicorn set his eyes out of the open windows to observe the surroundings. Ever since Princess Celestia had taken the young unicorn under her wing, Shadow Rush had become quite the observant pony. With his wish of finally coming out of Canterlot to visit the surrounding lands, he finally had the quiet and chance put those eyes to the test, even as the nightfall dominated the exterior.

The first thing noticeable was the air. Either because they were near the Everfree forest or because of smog pollution, the air seemed to be quite foggy and dense, unlike the air at Canterlot which seemed much more pure and thinner. A few minutes passed and he saw the town’s welcome sign, of which had a depressing story to tell. It seemed that it had been in the past quite a populated village, but now it essentially was a mockery to what it was in time, with its population count covered up by numerous numbers each one getting significantly smaller from the previous one. Of what seemed to be at one point in the tens of thousands, the current numbers showed a population of 682. From what Shadow Rush hypothesized, the population dwindled probably because it was met with many disasters, including famines and epidemics over the years. Soon after, a large piece of land covered in apple trees came in sight. It seemed all casual until Shadow Rush noticed that the trees had a clear border difference with the Everfree Forest and had completely overgrown on what seemed to be a farm, at least from what it seemed as he saw in between the trees.

(This place must have been an apple orchard a long time ago…How could this village deteriorated this bad in time? Isn’t anypony doing anything about it?)

His previous hypothesis came back to his mind, reminding him from what he learned in his history books that Equestria had not encountered, until recently that is, any major disasters ever since the last time the Elements of Harmony breathed. Minutes passed by as the ex-apple orchard was still in view before he heard a familiar voice exclaim right behind him.

“Goodness, this whole is a shit-hole.” Zequus exclaimed right behind Shadow Rush nodded to that, as he turned back to look out in the open and continued assisting the desolated areas of the town’s outer region.

Then, something completely different caught the attention of the two equines after the apple orchard was gone. This instead of being depressing was a very eerie sight: a shed completely overwhelmed by time and nature. Whenever the place was like that before, as it wasn’t uncommon for ponies to live inside living trees or the likes, this place was completely absorbed by vegetation growing wildly everywhere and damaged by the powers of negligence. The crimson color of rust and decay was present on all that was once house parts such as the windows and what was left of the door. Zequus was now saying things as he attempted to engage in a conversation with his friend, but that proved to be fruitless as all the words passed by one ear and came out of the other without even registering inside the unicorn’s head. His mind was too sucked in the amazing sight that stood before him. As he continued his focused state on the structure, he had a glimpse for a fraction of a second of something inside that abandoned shed. It had glowed…no… they had glowed for the smallest instant: a pair of glowing orbs of emerald color appearing to him from one of the remains of a window. He could of sworn that he heard a faint, pleading voice and a cackle in his head simultaneously, but he quickly dismissed both of those as the result of Zequus’ psychological warfare on him and the others in the many hours of the trip. Still, that had greatly disturbed him for what felt like an eternity, as he felt like he was being watched.

“…Rush? Shadowy Rushy, are you listening to me?” Shadow Rush heard an annoying and pampering voice behind his ear.

“Yes. Well actually no, I wasn’t listening. And don’t ever call me that again.”

“I swear, not only you can dream during the day light, you can also dream awake during the fright of night.”

From that point, the two friends jumped into an actual friendly conversation.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

-Not long after-

At last, the wagon came to a halt after a long waited travel. They had arrived in Ponyville’s city square. The unicorn and zebra disembarqued from the vehicle they had been sitting inside for nearly ten hours. They gave the two stallions their well-deserved pay after such a long and painful treatment and trotted off. Before disappearing out of sight, Zequus turned back and made sure that he told them that they would have to come back for them soon, and that he looked forward in meeting them again, before trotting off toward Shadow Rush’s direction. With that final comment, the biggest of the stallions broke into torrents of tears and his head fell on his partner’s shoulder, as he could already feel the punishment coming to him so soon. Zequus’ trolling was complete.

It now has been a quarter of an hour that the two have been walking through the near-ghost town, looking for any of the inhabitants of this village, but all thankful to the under population of this place it was hard to find anypony. Either that the public places had been closed for the night, were so permanently, or everypony was already asleep. The search had begun not that long ago, but enough to make Zequus start complaining just as fast as when they had left Canterlot earlier that day. Thankfully for both, they arrived in front of a pub that reminded Shadow Rush of a giant gingerbread house, which thankfully had a lot of activity inside, shutting up Zequus quickly. It had a panel written ‘The Blazing Pie’ on it. A pictogram of a piece of pie spewing flames with dragon wings on its back was found underneath the place’s name. This seemed like a stereotypical place for two adventurers to start their quest in Shadow’s opinion, but it always proved itself as an efficient source of information. In books that seemed to be truthful at least.

They both walked in the place, and the first thing they noticed was the pub's music playing loudly and saw the place crawling with all kinds of individuals: ponies, griffin, a pack of diamond dogs, a few zebras, a pair of humans and even…pandragons, all drunk and enjoying themselves. How original. The two equines were met with no such thing as a greeting or even a stare from anypony of the place. That was until they went to the serving counter, where a dark-pink earth pony with a cider mug for a cutie mark was working, probably since before they had even arrived in the outskirts of this miserable town. After serving a few drinks to some already drunk stallions, she finally turned around and trotted towards the new comers.

“Aye there strangers, and welcome t’Th’Blazing Pie. I’m Swiggie Pie an’ I’m th’owner of this place, as’well as th’ bartender/cook/drug dealer/escort/gambler/gipsy/jester/joker/land lord/manager/mopper/party thrower/ her’. What can I git you two lads tonight?” she said with a heavy Struttish accent that made her barely comprehensible.

“Wow, that’s…uh… an awful lot of jobs on your hooves there, lady. And what was that part with the thing of throwing a party?” Zequus replied to the mare, with a sign of interest on that party part mentioned by her.

“Well I guess aye can’t blame ya on that first part. Gotta somehow find th’money, ya know. As fo’ th’party thin’, that’s kind o’ been’ a lon’ tradition stuck in me family. Basically, every time we met a stranger recently arrived in town, we throw ‘em a party so they feel welcome. Kinda been hard t’ fin’ anypony new comin’ t’town no’adays, with all th’shit goin’ aroun’. Not’a mention’ how broke’n shit I am. Aye.” she added.

“Very interesting…” Shadow Rush replied to that with fake interest, as he wanted to prevent Zequus any chances to start flirting with her.
“I am Shadow Rush, and this is my friend Zequus. We are magic adepts that are looking for a peculiar spell that originated from around these parts. I’ll have a glass of cider. What about you Zequus?”

“I’ll have what this lady thinks what treatment I should get. I’ll put everything on what I can bet.” the zebra answered, with a hint of flirting in his tone and expression.

(And in less than a minute. That’s an academy record.)

Suddenly, she hinted the zebra to come closer. Surprised, he did so, only to have his head smashed on the counter with amazing speed and strength by the mare. She had done so as if she had developed that efficiency over the years of working in this pub. With shock and astonishment, the unicorn could only blink at what had happened so fast in front of him, as his friend hugged his muzzle with both forehooves as this was the second time today his face collided with something hard.

“Ya gon’ have t’pay extra fo’ tryin’ t’spread your genetic codin’ in this body, zebra. As fo’ your unicorn friend, he can extra discount fo’ being sweet an’ nice.” she added, giving a friendly wink to Shadow Rush.
“Now, Ponyville has over them many years after its foundation’ many ponies who created many spells, some o’ which are real famous for their own good o’ bad reasons, and no I will not be givin’ any examples. Which one o’them would it be?”

“Well…” Shadow Rush exhaled, trying to unnerve himself.
“We are looking for a mind control spell that goes by the name of The Stare.”

At that moment, the music came to a halt and the ambiance of drunk-induced joys suddenly came to a total silence, as every single individual in the place turned to face the two strangers, fear and concern both present on all their faces. The two friends noticed the change, turning around to face the crowd and seeing their expressions and back to their host, who had a similar expression to the clients behind these two. Her mouth was gaped open, with no sounds coming out of it. The pub stayed like that for what felt like a long time before Shadow laughed nervously…

“Uh…was it something that I said?”

Swiggie Pie slowly nodded her head to confirm his question, her terrified eyes keeping contact with his as she closed her mouth using her hoof.

(This is going to be a long night…)

'...We Are Simple...'

The Stare: Malevolence of Evil

Chapter 3:
'...We Are Simple…’

The pub and its customers continued staying silent, as every single soul inside the place continued staring at the two new comers of which had dared to ask the previous question. Shadow Rush and Zequus, both being disfigured by the unnerving stares of everypony, felt that they weren’t stared down as part of persecution, but because the thing they had questioned before. This had made them feel uneasy. The silence kept up until the two friends both exhaled loudly at the same time.

“Ok then, could somepony please explain what I said that made everyone shut up?” Shadow Rush courageously shared his thoughts with the menacing crowd staring him down

The silent showdown between the natives and the outsiders went on, as their expressions didn't change. Shadow Rush scanned through the room looking for a change that could indicate that the people in this place could actually understand him. As he kept on looking and his hopes for an answer slid away, a massive crimson stallion at a table of nine stood up and slammed his hooves on his table, effectively shaking up everything on the table and denting it.

“I FEAR NO PONY…” he exclaimed with a booming accent from Stalliongrad, fearless and confident in his expression.
“But that thing…” he leaned closer in hopes that Shadow Rush could get a better grasp of what he was saying, even though his table found itself in the far back of the place.
“…It scares me.” the massive stallion added, as his previous confidence changed into cowardice.

Shadow Rush gave a confuse look at him, his mind flooded with questions at how could a massive stallion from Stalliongrad show the pride and courage that his kind were known for and completely lose it the next second.

“Dead mare walkin’…” a voice was heard from the table where the pair of humans sat, exchanging each other glares of uncertainty.

Shadow Rush recognized them as the two criminals known as Graves and Twisted Fate. A pair of hardcore mercenaries that were wanted throughout Equestria ever since the time he was alive. Yet they sat there with complete fear in their eyes. Something started to become unnerving about this whole thing.

“We thought we feared only one…but now we know that we fear two.” a pandragon added, who showed himself as being the leader of his group by branding his massive axe, all of which now lowered their head in fear.

Shadow Rush knew that dragons weren’t easily scared. He didn’t know what he meant by ‘the one their feared’, nor did he understand the following statement, but dragons were never seen to fallback from anything. Not even from something that could potentially take their lives. Sadly, this was confirmed by what was assisted throughout Equestria. All of this was becoming somewhat became scary to him, while Zequus kept staring the confessors with a blank and expressionless face.

“She’s an evil enchantress and she does evil dances…” one zebra at a table mumbled as his companions consoled him.

Shadow Rush noticed the whimpering zebra before looking back to Zequus. This had made an impression on him, as his blank expression was betrayed by his eyebrows rising in concern. He returned a stare to his unicorn friend, somewhat admitting his disbelief how this individual was reduced to a state of shock after the mentioning of a sentence.

The diamond dogs didn’t even bother saying something before the dozens of them mumbled something to each other and left their places, quietly moving through the tables, terrified expressions still stuck on their faces as they all made it out to the exit. The door swung back and forth as each member went through, until there was none.

Shadow Rush and Zequus could not believe it. With the stories that the others told them, it was hard to believe that a hardcore bunch like these creatures had not even tried following the other’s fad. Shadow Rush turned back to his host, Swiggy Pie, of whom she also had been listening to the short stories of her clients.

“I’m sorry but did everyone miss out on my question? What was it that I said that just made a gang of roughneck ponies, a pair of hardcore human mercenaries, hardened zebras, a fellowship of dragons and an entire pack of diamond dogs cower?” Shadow Rush asked the mare.

Her face turned into uncertainty for a few seconds as she was thinking up with an answer to that question.

“Well…by mentionin’ The Stare, ya might have’o’ brought t’everyone th’thoughts o’-“

“THE WEEPING FILLY!” a voice coming from the door rang inside the pub. Everypony turned to the source, as they were presented to an aged, cream colored pony of which his head was half missing its mane content while what was left was in a pale and messy tangle. His tail did not fair any better, and his flank showed that he…was a blank flank? His eyes seemed real bizarre too, as one looked directly on Shadow Rush as if he was a target sight, while the other kind of rolled around in his head.

“The evil has already chosen its next procession, and it appears that one of thee has appeared pleasant to her eyes! Those malevolent eyes of hers, empty and full, will strike you down with eternal darkness and corruption! Her constant thirst to fill her empty voids with the soul of the pure must always come true for every cycle, as it cannot be stopped, and never will be fully satisfied! Beware, BEWARE!” the pony continued on with his rant.

The place fell in an awkward standstill of silence after he was done. No pony or person dared to add a word after the strange rambling of this pony echoed in the pub.

“Come on, git’ this colt outside before he gits a drop’o’cider on his tongue an’ starts prancin’ his junk aroun’ an’ claim that it’s bigger than everypony’ elses!” Swiggie Pie gave a shout, ordering guards that seemed to not to exist.

Thankfully, if her claims were right, three ponies, including the massive pony from Stalliongrad and two of his table buddies, got up and dragged the lunatic outside the place.

“Alright tough guy, you got yourself a free ticket to tha’ exit door!”

“Come, we go together!”

“Oui mon ami. Juste sort d’ici et ne reviens plus!”

These statements from the three were heard before the door closed behind them, leaving the pub quiet…again. This time, it wasn’t sure if the raving pony was the cause or the same previous subject was still the affair of the silence here.

“Ok? What the heck happened now?” Shadow Rush looked back at Swiggie Pie, whom of which she now had a concerned expression as she looked in the door's direction.

“Well, that ther’ t’was NoBark. He’s a strange one, ladde. We don’ really know who he is, wher’ he came from or why he is so bloody insane. But he did answer your’ question ther’ friend.” she answer him as she looked back at him.

“Som’ ponies think that it was me drugs that made him crazy when he came ta Ponyville th’first day. But I doubt that aye leaf can make ya so damned crazy like him. Aye personally think that it’d be his mead o’ his that makes him loco in tha’ co-”

“Ok, ok enough! What is this story of the Weeping Filly, and what does it have to do with The Stare?” Shadow Rush interrupted her after hearing enough of this nonsense as he was now becoming impatient of having his questions being left unanswered.

Swiggie Pie looked down on the floor, then to her clients and back to the two, all with an expression of uncertainty present in her eyes. The stare's unsettling silence making Shadow Rush uncomfortable.

“Fine, but aye should tell ya now that this story is’not fo’ the light o’ heart. When hearin’ ‘The Stare’, most ponies in these parts think’o’ one thin’: th’ infamous Weeping Filly.” she said with a serious tone, followed by her clearing her throat.

“Long time ago, ther’ was this young filly that was very shy an’ lived in th’outskirts o'Ponyville. She was an animal caretaker that-…”

“You mean a veterinarian?” Shadow Rush cut Swiggie Pie in her story telling.

“Shut up ladde. You want’a hear th’story, don't ya?” the mare aggressively replied.
“Anyways, despite her shyness an’ cowardice, she was able t’tame some of them nastiest critters t’a ever roam th’Everfree forest with th’help o’ somethin’ that everypony though t’was lost in time: The Stare. We aren’t exactly sure who or when th’spell was originally created, but that young filly had discovered it, an’ mastered its limitless powers and used it in order t’keep her animals an’ pony friends safe from th’horrors of th’Everfree forest she knew all too well. Using its powers, she literally overcame manticores, hydras, sea serpents, cockatrices, entire packs o’ timberwolves, the hole lot o’ scary critters… an’even a full grown dragon that once nearly destroyed Ponyville.” she continued, heavily hinting that last part with her eyebrow as she looked at the two visitors, as if she knew what they're intentions were.

Shadow Rush was completely immersed in the story now while Zequus was nervously chewing on his hooves as the story went on. Literally.

“But… over th’years, th’powers that she once sought t’use only for good…changed her. First she was always in a darned twitchy mood. She then became uncomfortable wit’the presence o’ nearby ponies, becoming unsocial. She became resentful ‘bout some memories she had o’ her beloved friends. She went on and fantasized ‘bout how she should’a be th’only thin’ that mattered in th’world. Finally, voices were being heard in her head. Time t’was everypony’s allies, but that day, which is th’day after tomorrow tomorrow tomorrow an’-"

“You mean this Friday?” Shadow Rush once again cut in as she was telling the story. She now became annoyed by him cutting her as she spoke.

“Now that’s gonna be th’last warnin’ before I shove me hoof down your esophagus and tear out ya’r very soul ladde! Let me finish before startin’ t’talk!” she menaced Shadow Rush with a hoof.

“Now…where was I? Ah yes.” she cleared her throat like done so before.
“Yes, this Friday, nearly a hundred years ago, was th’day that this young filly…was consumed by th’very evil she sought to protect’er friends from. What I’ve heard from th’details, her eyes were a pair’o’ emerald green orbs full o’ life an’ innocence. That night though, they had turned into an evil looking red, surrounded by pitch black voids. She became corrupted, evil, an’ wantin’ to hurt innocence. It began wit’ her animal friends that she cared and loved. Her shed, which was a well-known safe haven to any kin’ of innocent creatures that looked for a place t’call a home away from th’Everfree, became one day devoided o’any animals that she tended in th’past. All o’which had fled th’evil that their caretaker had become now, until it all came down t’one: her favorite pet rabbit. It refused t’leave his mother, even if it knew that it would do no good t’him. Then one day, when she was in a very bad mood, she unleashed The Stare and all o' its malevolent powers on th’poor innocent bunny. After th’ordeal, it became an empty shell of what it once was. T’was at that moment that this filly found out that, get ready fo’ it, liked killin’ innocence wit’ her malefic powers.”

Swiggie Pie stopped for a bit, taking a long breath to calm her tense voice, which had been growing ever since she began telling the scary story, before starting again.

“From then, Ponyville’s days o’ happiness ended, as it fell into days o’ melancholy. Young fillies started dissapearin’ from the streets, ponies came back to their homes completely shaken up, an’ more disturbin’ details came floodin’. Somethin’ was hittin’ our village, an’ it struck us hard. Th’mares representing th’Elements o’ Harmony were there t’investigate the strange occurrences of a mare stalkin’ ponies at night an’ th’disappearance of their friend, th’ Element o’ Kin’ness. But th’searches never lead t’an actual trace. Instead, th’Elements, one by one, in th’time o’ a week, had all met wit’ a terrible fate.”

“Uh…what kind of…terrible fate have they met?” Zequus asked the story telling mare, with his voice cracking up.

“I was ‘fraid ya were goin’ t’ask that…” she replied.
“T’start, th’Element o’ Loyalty was th’first. Her neck broke as she hit th’ground when she was unlucky enough to have lost herself in a storm that she had tried t’wither down. The Element o’ Generosity t’was the second, she hung herself after havin’ written down a bunch ‘o nonsense on a paper. Th’absolute worse one was th’Element o’ Honesty, which was th’third one. When she was found, or at least what was left of her, a grizzly scene had taken place where her entire family and she had been brutally murdered in their barn. Bloody bits an’ pieces were everywher’ on th’walls, floor an’ celin’. We still haven’t figured out what happened over there t’this day.”

The two friends, along with everypony in the place, laid on their seats feeling extremely uneasy and even nauseous to the story. Zequus now regretted that he had asked the question. If Swiggie Pie felt uneasy, she clearly did not show it to her crowd of listeners.

“Th’Elements o’ Laughter had it relatively easy, where her heart literally exploded out of its cavity from the sadness she felt after learning th’tragic news. Th’Element of Magic was th’last one. She had been investigatin’ th’disappearances what had been happenin’ in town, while she’d been mournin’ the deaths o’ her best friends. She had gon’ mad, but persisted on t’find th’sick culprit of all these murders. In the end, she never found out, and neither was she. She had seemingly disappeared on th’last day o’ that horrible week. When th’princesses arrived, lookin’ for the prodigy student, Princess Celestia discovered all sorts of things in her student’s house: a bunch ‘o scribbles that had all sorts o’ clues that indicated th’culprit might o’ been…the Element o’ Kin’ness. When th’princesses an’ their guards broke into Element o’ Kin’ness’ shed, they had not found her, but had found plenty o’ evidence that she was th’one who committed these horrible murders. In other words: blood splattered everywhere an’ ponies lyin’ dead everywhere. The place was emptied, and when they were done, they found the Elements o’ Kin’ness outside, standing in the pourin’ rain, weepin’ an’ ramblin’ nonsense as her eyes were tearing up…with blood. She ran away after th’princesses had attempted talkin’ t’her, an’ th’guards gave pursuit where she left to: the Everfree forest. But she was never found, nor did they ever find th’Elements o’ Harmony. Later that day, Princess Celestia found a tome hidden inside th’Element o’ Magic’s residence. A book about th’many spells that had been forgotten an’ forbidden in Equestria. An’ on the last page, they found an incomplete page of a spell that was no spell nor magic: The Stare.” she finished.

Shadow Rush was now trembling from what he had just heard, while Zequus fainted on the floor. The pub became completely silent for the longest time, before everypony else in the place muttered incoherent words to each other.

“T’this day, it is said that every year on th’same day she was corrupted, th’Weepin’ Filly comes back from th’forest t’Ponyville an’ find an’ unfortunate innocent soul t’feed upon its life. Many ponies have claimed that they have seen th’revenant wander in Ponyville’s streets late at night. An’ this NoBark ya saw earlier always claims that he was attacked by her, and survived t’tell th’tale.” she added more to her part.

Shadow Rush laid silent in his seat, immersed in sweat and terror. He could not believe what he had just heard. Something this horrid could not have happened in his homeland of Equestria. If it did, how did no one ever mention it to him?

“Are…are you kidding me? A ghost story? How…but how? Ghosts and curses don’t exist! They are scientifically impossible! Please tell me that you are kidding!” Shadow Rush said, nearly screaming at the mare.

She closed her eyes for a few instants, taking again a deep long breath and staying quiet. She then looked back up to him, open her eyes and mouth…

“…Eeyup!” she said in a big smile.

The same cheering when they first came suddenly came back in bursting laughter, leaving Shadow Rush and Zequus the only ones not laughing. The three ponies who took NoBark back outside rushed back inside in tearing laughter. That had made Zequus open his eyes wide, followed by him springing back on his seat he fell from. Shadow Rush could not comprehend what had happened.

(Was all of this just a joke, or have they gone mad?)

He and Zequus were completely baffled as their mouths were wide open, both of them desperately trying to make a sound. But only massacred things that resembled confused blabbering came out.

“Oh lads. ‘Tis was just a typical ghost story from Ponyville! I cannot wait t’a tell you about th’Headless Horse tomorrow night! Anyways, if I did offend ya in any way possible, I deeply apologize in advance an’ have a free mug o’ cider, its on th’house!” Swiggie Pie said to the baffled unicorn, slapping in between his forehooves the promised mug of cider.

“As fo’ you, zebra, t’was just priceless to see ya fall down unconscious! Here, ya can have two mugs o’ cider. Ya were just so damn hilarious t’watch that I nearly lost it!” she added while throwing down in front of him three mugs of ciders instead of the two she had said. Not that Zequus seemed to mind.

Looking at each other with confused looks, Zequus and Shadow Rush’s minds were still trying to process what the heck was going on. Zequus turned to Swiggy Pie with a stern look and they both exchanged a long lasting glare, before they exploded in laughter together. He took one of his mugs of cider and chugged it down as everypony in the place looked at him and cheered:

“CHUG! CHUG! CHUG! CHUG!”

(They’re mad. He’s mad. They all went mad!)

When Zequus finished his deposit of alcohol, he slammed the mug on the table and the public once again exploded in cheering roars. They laughed and enjoyed themselves as the sweet ambiance of drunk-induced joys rapidly flooded back. Shadow Rush had finally put the pieces all together and now his looks pierced Swiggy Pie, with an expression of both hate and admittance of a good joke. The bartender mare turned to face him, looking into his eyes for a few moments.

“Alright lad. Now that I have told you the tale, I should say that this story t’was based on a few real facts that did in fact happen. Ya should always be careful when studyin’ dark magic, but no worries.” she said to him, nearly shouting as she was trying to overcome the loud ambiance in her pub.

“Alright then, thanks I guess…” he sighed to himself.
“Although, we still have to find a place to sleep during our stay here in Ponyville. Any idea where we could find a place?” he added.

“Ya came to th’right mare, ladde. Ya are all going t’sleep in the apartment block 173, room 666. It’s down from her’ to th’left, continue down four streets, take a turn right an’ it’s gonna be th’red apartment.” she replied to him, as she gave him the keys to the place.

“Oh an’ tomorrow, ya should go see a mare workin’ at th’town’s library. A certain Guilty Sparks, she will be glad to help ya lads wit’ your research there. Be sure to also say hi from me part, she’s a good friend o’ mine.” she added, this time in a tone and expression that made her sound and look seductive.

“Alright, will do. Thank you Ms. Pie. Have a goodnight and see you tomorrow… I guess…” he trotted off towards the exit.
While he walked towards it and was just about to push it open with his hoof…

“BOYS! STOP!” Swiggie Pie yelled out loud.

The place came to a stand still to the sudden uproar. Everypony looked back at the suddenly stern looking mare, who held a hoof high in the air. Shadow Rush included himself in that gang, looking back at the mare with a confused look as she also returned the favor back at him, not doing a single thing but stare and breathe.

“Watch out for any cryin’ fillies tonight! Th’Weepin’ Filly might git at ya!” she said in a humorous tone, after which the entire place burst in drunken laughter once more.

Shadow Rush rolled his eyes and opened the door, leaving behind him a place full of drunks who were enjoying themselves. Zequus did stay behind, as for Shadow Rush found that it was a place that did call as very fitting for his friend. Shadow Rush went to the directions Swiggy Pie mentioned before he had left The Blazing Pie, as he now was walking down the actually pretty scary, dimly lit streets of Ponyville.

...

Eventually after a trot that seemed to last forever, he did find the apartment: an ugly and disgusting red bricked building. He engaged the locks and opened them, climbed his way up the stinking stairways to his destined floor where his room would be, and after a few turns, found it. The door had a rusty handle, as it also appeared that time and humidity had been ravaging the contours of the door. He opened it with the tip of his hoof, and when he had his first glimpse of the place were he’d be sleeping for the following days, he had been surprised by what he saw. The place looked well kept considering how the place looked old and abandoned on the outside and how the place smelled kind of rancid in the inside. He had already begun drawing his magic to organize the content of their bags inside drawers and on shelves, looking for his toothbrush before going to bed.

A few minutes later, after he had done his ablutions, Shadow Rush threw himself on the bed, testing out its springs. At some pure luck or something, this bed had his instant preference, not even bothering in testing the other one. Being satisfied with his decision, Shadow Rush laid his head on the pillow and closed his eye, fatigue getting the better of him as it settled in comfortably.

But, Shadow Rush did not want to go to sleep. He wanted to think about Swiggy Pie’s story, and by what she wanted to say with ‘was based on some real facts’, or what she meant by ‘being cautious when studying dark magic’.

What dark magic?
The book definitely said it was a semi-psychokinetic spell that…wait a minute, she mentioned a book in her sto-

At that moment, Shadow Rush’s mind closed. His mind and body fell short on energy after such an exhausting afternoon. He would probably be better off answering all his questions the next morning.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, as Shadow Rush slept deeply, a shadow crept around the window outside, investigating the source of light that was inside. The body-less entity scanned with its missing eyes the contents of the lit room, mainly focusing on what was lying in a bed: a sleeping unicorn. After a few minutes of creeping, it rumbled happily before taking to the sky, whining like a quiet banshee as it soared through the sky. Later, it found itself flying over the Everfree forest, continuing its trajectory deep within the untamed wilderness’ sky before stopping abruptly and taking a ninety degrees dive. Its shapeless body flew amongst the leaves and branches of the canopy, before reaching the forest floor and pouring itself in a mount of disgusting goop surrounded by a lifeless area. The forest floor shook soon afterwards, the ground breaking as a dark and decomposed figure of what was once a pegasus rose. When it found itself completely out of the ground, a pair of empty voids with glowing red discs in its center appeared as it opened its eyes. It looked up to the sky and gave an ear-piercing screech mixed with the saddened cries of a young filly. In doing so, the creature had started placing one rotten hoof in front of it at a time, fashioning the slow pace of a walk in a seemingly random direction.

The time for this cycle's hunt was nearing.

`...Mortal...`

The Stare: Malevolence of Evil

Chapter 4:
'…Mortal…’

Celestia’s sun was rising in the far beyond horizon as a new day was spawning. A rooster recognized this early routine. It gave a small cough and cleared its throat before starting his part of the job.

“COCKA DOODLE DOOOOOO-“*BANG*

“SHUT UP! WE KNOW ALREADY!” a shout was heard from a nearby house, gun fumes escaping through its windows.

Further away in Ponyville, the morning cries of the rooster were registered by Shadow Rush’s ear, swiveling around as his sleepy brain tried connecting the dots. The unicorn groggily opened his eyes, the sunlight flooding his blurry vision. He let out a half-assed groan before he stood up, rubbing his eyes with his hooves. After that his system had finally woken up and started functioning at one hundred percent capacity, he got out of his bed and made his way to the bathroom. He applied a hairbrush onto his head and a toothbrush on his teeth, straitening his messy mane as he brushed away any yellowing simultaneously. A few minutes later, he came out of the bathroom all cleaned and ready for his first day in Ponyville. It was then that he noticed that the second bed, the one next to his, had filled up since last night. It seemed that Zequus had came back late during the night. He then noticed there was a…second bump within the same bed?

(Oh of course he already found a mate.)

Shadow Rush came close to the bed and poked what he hoped was his friend Zequus. There was no answer. He continued poking, but there was no response in the exception of a few tired groaning, the tone of this voice confirming that it was a male. This bump definitely was Zequus after all. A sneaky idea came to Shadow’s head, as he leaned towards the lump that was a head.

“I am the Headless Horse. I will eat you.” he whispered in a haunting voice.

The effects were immediate. Zequus literally hopped out of the bed with his arms thrown way over his head, his eyes opened wide.

“I SURRENDER!”

After a few moments of empty staring at the wall, Zequus’ eye slowly turned towards Shadow Rush, confusion displayed all over his face. He looked to Shadow Rush, then to the lump inside his bed, and then back and forth without even moving his head. He laughed nervously, before the figure of a mare dizzily stood out from the bed sheets, looking completely lost as she seemed to be wincing in pain, all possibly due to a bad hangover.

“Well, this is awkward. I guess I’ll have to give some sort of explanation afterward.” Zequus said to Shadow Rush, as a bad poker face crept on his face.

“Get cleaned up. We are going out.” Shadow Rush replied to his disarrayed friend.
“As for you, I guess you can stay a bit longer until you are ready to leave.” he turned to the mare in the bed.

The mare dazed at the unicorn in front of her before slamming back down on the bed, rapidly snoring loudly

___________________________________________________________________________________________

-An hour later-

The two, Shadow Rush and Zequus, were now trotting down a street, heading down to Ponyville’s square. Ever since their departure, Zequus had been carrying an icepack and wearing a pair of dark sunshades on his head in a desperate attempt to wither down his hangover. They had not talked much since they left their apartment due to that, but Shadow Rush at least tried to keep somewhat of a conversation by commenting on things he saw as they walked down the street.

“So… where are we exactly going? As for I do wish that we find a place to sit, my head is just being killed by it. I don’t think that I can keep up if it goes on so doing.” Zequus said in a near mumble, actually composing a sentence despite his current state.

“Well, my first idea was to go to Ponyville’s library. Swiggie Pie last night did tell me that it’d be a good place to start, as apparently the librarian of that place is friendly and is a good friend of hers.” Shadow Rush replied to his hung over zebra friend.

“Uh huh, well I won’t do so well in helping you in some lecturing with my condition. Hopefully she’s friendly enough to give you a hoof with that, as I trust and hope in my prediction.”

“She did also mention that she is a helpful hoof. Surely she will be willing to do so Zequus.”

When the two turned the corner of the street, they saw a mob of angry ponies gathered around one character that was familiar from last night…

“THE END IS NEIGH, MY FELLOW PONIES! THE END IS NEIGH!” the pony was yelling out loud to the crowd while he held a poster with the words he was shouting written on it.

It was NoBark, and he was doing this crazy prophet announcing the doomsday thing. This was confirming what the bartender mare had told them last night: he was indeed completely insane!

Suddenly, Zequus’ face contracted into a sour and painful expression, hugging his entire head as he whimpered painfully. Oh no, NoBark’s rambling was only adding to the painful experience of a bad hangover that Zequus was having. Shadow Rush noticed that, and he was afraid that it would only become worse.

“Hey NoBark, stop your senseless rambling! You’re giving my friend enough of a hard time now that he’s hung over. Could you please give your speech somewhere else, or at least stop?” Shadow Rush shouted at the insane pony.

NoBark suddenly stopped his foretelling as he looked for the source of the voice. He finally found that it came from a grey unicorn, and his eyes went wide from the revelation of something that only he knew.

“THOU ARE THE MARKED ONE! Thou have been chosen by the harbinger of doom to be its next procession! Thou must leave this town now, pony! Leave, and never come back for your own sake and life!” he announced as if he was a wise pony in a tone full of certainty.

The mob had enough of him though. They threw him over their heads and carried him away in a surf of hooves.

“Thou are not coming out of this town the same thee came in, pony! Beware! BEWARE!” he shouted as he surfed on the hooves of the ponies below, before disappearing with the angry mob out of sight.

With him now gone, Zequus slowly stood back up again, his head still hugged by one hoof. Shadow Rush thanked the remaining ponies of the angry mob who stayed behind and asked what that last part was all about. They seemed to react strangely to that question of his, judging by their worried expressions. They mentioned to the young unicorn that it was nothing to worry about, while using poker faces that could not have even fooled a foal, before all of which quickly galloped away from the two. Zequus quickly thanked Shadow Rush for his action before they both continued their walk to the library. On the way though, Shadow Rush was thinking of what NoBark meant in his message. He could not understand what this old pony had against him for behaving in such a strange matter. He noted in his mind that he would investigate this character to get an in-depth understanding of his antics, and his claims of having encountered…the Weeping Filly.

Half an hour later, Shadow Rush and Zequus were now walking in circles in Ponyville’s square, not having a single clue in where the library’s locations were. Zequus was very insistent that Shadow Rush asked one of the natives for its whereabouts, but his friend was reluctant in his friend’s bidding. Eventually, Zequus’ complaining did get the better of him.

“Alright alright I’ll ask somepony!” he admitted, defeated by Zequus.

He looked around for a likely candidate out of the many ponies in the area that he would ask his question to. He found a pair of ponies walking together that seemed to be a good source of info and walked up to them.

“Hello, my name is Shadow Rush. My friend and I are new to town, and we seem to have either both lost ourselves completely and ended up in the wrong direction, or that we missed something that was obvious, as we’ve been looking for the town’s library. Where would it be?”

“Oh, the library is the big treehouse that is right behind your zebra friend.” one of the two happily replied to him and pointed the enormous tree behind him.

Shadow Rush turned around to look, and it was only now that he noticed that this tree was actually a structure built within it. He felt very stupid for missing something that was so obvious, as it literally stood out of the ordinary as thus. He thanked the couple and galloped back to Zequus.

“Well, it appears that the library is the tree that we are standing right in front of at this moment.” he told his friend.

“Wow.” Zequus said as he turned around to face it.
“Shall we now?”

“We shall.”

They went to the door and knocked on its thick wooden door together. They heard something going on inside that sounded like something had fell hard on a floor, followed by a multiple of things that also hit the floor.

“Come in, it’s open!...ow.” a muffled voice was heard inside.

The two colts opened the door and walked inside. They both took a look around the as they were amazed from what they saw. This seemed not just an ordinary library, but also seemed to also be a house, indicated by a stairway that led to an open bedroom on the second floor. It was just incredible how this place could be so big inside while it seemed the exterior showed otherwise!

The zebra took notice how his friend Shadow Rush was reacting: his eyes was filled with pure glee and awe at the sight of the many books. Books were stored in shelves made inside the tree while others were on actual ones. Many book chariots were also present, along with a few piles books stacked onto each other to form pyramids of all sizes. Shadow Rush hopped and giggled like a young filly as he fell into pure childish ecstasy. Zequus rolled his eyes to that, when he suddenly saw a small disordered pile of books move. He walked towards it, leaving behind his friend alone to his own little world as he investigated this curious pile. Before he could go near it, the pile let out a sudden groan of pain, before the head of a unicorn mare popped out. That must have been the sound they heard before coming in the library.

“Good morning. It seems that we walked inside at the wrong time like a bunch of goons. But may I ask if you choose to not dismiss, are you alright Miss?” Zequus asked the dazed mare.

She mumbled a few incoherent words before her senses all came together. She turned around too see the zebra that had talked to her. She quickly shook off the books on her and stood up.

“Yes, uh, yes I am fine. Good morning and welcome to Ponyville Library. I am Guilty Sparks, and I am its head and only librarian. How can I help you?” she answered back, her blush fading away quickly.

“Well me and my friend over there come from Canterlot, as we have been sent on a mission to research a…well…we could say a spell that has not been heard by a lot.” he motioned at his friend and back to him.

“Well then, I must say that I would be glad to help your research that you two have gotten yourselves…in…to.” she said as her sentence broke apart at that last part.

Shadow Rush was still busy looking around the library at that point, until Zequus cleared his throat. It was then that he finally had a look at her, his mood changing quickly from total awe to surprise as he looked at her. She looked messy after she had just gotten out of a pile of books covering her, but looked really…cute. He approached towards the two’s location, his path tilting him closer to her than his zebra friend. When he stopped his pace next to Zequus, Guilty Sparks and Shadow Rush were now looking at each other with interest, without even blinking. Zequus laughed nervously as the silence grew in the place.

“Well, huh, my name is Zequus, and this is indeed my friend. As I’ve said, we’re here t-“

“Guilty Sparks I suppose?” Shadow Rush asked her, with a hint of shyness in his voice.

“Y-Yes, that is me. And may I ask what is your name?” she asked back.

“My name is Shadow Rush. Nice to meet you.” he said back, with a genuine smile on his face as he blushed hard.

“Charmed.” she replied, returning the smile’s favor, along with the blush.

(Oh, great. The nerd has met another nerd. I can see where this is going…)

Zequus gave a cough, trying to get the attention of the two lovebirds before he became sick, whenever it was from the scene before him or the hangover pulsating in his head. It came to no success though.

“I suppose that I am feeling not good enough for helping you, Shadow. As for, I guess I will…uh, go outside have some fresh air before you two swallow…I MEAN UH, follow…what is needed to be done. He will, uh, inform you on what we need, as I will go outside and let you two breed- I MEAN READ. DOH, I’m going to be outside!” Zequus said awkwardly before disappearing for the exterior.

Shadow Rush and Guilty Sparks had not even noticed what the zebra had said, nor of his disappearance. Their eyes had not left each other’s ever since they had made acquaintance. Suddenly after what felt like an eternity for them, the two broke eye contact as they noticed they both looked like an apple from blushing.

“Yes, well like my friend Zequus said, we need a few things to continue our research upon.” Shadow Rush said to break the awkward silence.

“Well, you came to the right place then.” she trotted off towards a desk, where she sat behind and opened a thick tome.
“Which reviews would you be interested in looking for?”

“Well anything that has to do with the followings.” Shadow Rush pulled out a list.
“The Elements of Harmony, biographies on their bearers, criminal history of Equestria, ghost stories, the supernatural, ancient magic, references on the Everfree forest, cultural references of Ponyville, the history of Ponyville, spell history of Equestria and…I think that’ll do for today.” he finished, gasping for air after having to enumerate so many things.

“Wow, it has been a while that anypony has come here for such a demanding request on books. Let me see…” she said, impressed by his demands as she flipped the many pages of her reference book.
“Ah yes, I know where to look for those.” she closed her book and got up, walking towards the center of the library.

Guilty Sparks then used her magic to drag dozens of books at a time from all sides. She passed every single one in front of her, and placed the ones that she seemed to find acceptable for his demand on a pile as the other books were placed back to their original spot, while more books continuously flowing out of their shelves and were suspended in the air without stopping. Shadow Rush looked at the mare amazed as she could work so efficiently without breaking a sweat or not even looking what she was doing. She was just so incredible, and she knew her books…just like he did. Ever since they had met, he had noticed that he felt a crawling tingling sensation grow in his stomach.

“I must say, what kind of spell you are researching on to have made a list that is so demanding and diverse in books. It seems that it’s got to be special. Oh, maybe I should put ‘The Great Book of Diverse an-“

“-and Incredible Wild Life of the EverFree Forest.” Shadow Rush recited along with her.

The librarian gasped, and all the books that were held by her magic were dropped carelessly by her inattention. The light-orange coated unicorn then turned around to look at Shadow Rush, amazed by his knowledge of such a title that only a nerd like her…would have known. A large grin crept on her face and her magenta eyes shined gleefully. She appeared in front of him as if she had teleported or something. She took a large gulp of air to ready the following sequence that she had in mind.

“You know that book?” she asked in beaming interest.

“Yes I do! I loved that book as a foal!” he happily obliged to answer.

“Oh my goddess, I must have read that book over twelve times, and I still love reading it! What other scientific references do you know about?” she continued, as her nerdy side of her took the best of her. Not that it had ever mattered at this point.

It was then that they heard an ear piercing scream outside and a loud thud. The two’s connection was interrupted as they both turned their heads to look at the door. The figure of a pony stood at the door, and was just about to enter the place…

___________________________________________________________________________________________

-Previously, outside the library-

Zequus closed the door behind him. It was a close call. As ironic as it sounds, he could not stand the pheromones that were at work back in there. He just wasn’t the type to see a mare fall into a stallion’s arms and beg him to carry him far away, in a sweet couple kind of way. It made him feel all weird and awkward, if not even a bit nauseous to think about it. That was the last straw for him, as he preferred to carry his mares to his bed for a one night stand.

But the thoughts of his friend finding a mare of his interest and not suffer from his condition of usual awkwardness in their presence was a relief for his hopes in his friend. This made him happy, as he smiled and hoped for the best.

After these moments of happy thoughts, Zequus walked towards the bench nearby, sat on it, looked upon the sun, hoped for a dream to come true for his friend, and closed his eyes. He now waited for his friend to come out, not as how he came, but as a whole different colt.

A few minutes later, he heard a pony arrived. Zequus did not budge nor open his eyes. He heard the hoofsteps come closer and stop by him, before he felt something poke his shoulder at many repetitions. He still did not budge, as he wanted to keep his wise pony stance as it was. Then…

“Oy there lad. What are ya doin’? Getting’ ya daily dose o’blindness aye see? Or perhaps ya’ve gon’ blind already!” the voice said, before laughing heartily.

He recognized this voice as Swiggie Pie’s. By momentarily opening a slit for his eyes to see, he confirmed it as he saw the glimpse of her slightly curled mane and dark pink figure before shutting close his eyelids. He took a calm and deep breath and exhaled through his nose before turning his head to her.

“I have, no goal!” he said in a booming voice that a zebra could offer.

“Oh? Aye suppose that you’re her’ for somethin’ else then. Perhaps ya waitin’ for somepony t’come out?” she asked back, her head slightly tilting from the lack of comprehension.

“I am, waiting for no foal!” he replied, continuing his bizarre masquerade.

Swiggie Pie continued glaring down the mysterious Zequus. Although she was pressed in wanting to know what he was doing, the mare was now sort of an idea what he was referencing to. As for that, she thought the best would be to play along with his game.

“Alright then. What’s your name, an’ were do ya come from?” she asked, already giggling to what he might say.

“I have, no name. And I, come from no home.” he pressed on.

As this show made her grin in amusement as she now waited for him to say something. But it never did. She had waited after a long time for nothing. He instead kept on with his strange masquerade of a character she’d seen in a movie. Despite the fact that this could have been quite an amusing thing to go along with, this gag could only end with no actual goal to it.

“Ay've have enough o’ this.”

She grabbed his sunshades and pulled until the cords could not strain anymore. Before he could ask what she was doing, she let go of the glasses and they snapped on his face. Zequus screamed as the recoiled shades now strongly amplified his hangover. He grabbed his head with his forehooves, desperately trying to wither it down. In doing so, he quickly lost his balance. At an attempt to rebalance himself, Zequus flailed his limbs rapidly, but that was in vain as he plummeted onto the ground behind him. Swiggie Pie chuckled at this misfortune as she made her way towards the door.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

-Present-

Shadow Rush and Guilty Sparks were still anticipating for who was going to come through the door. Guilty Sparks was filled with curiosity, while on the other hoof Shadow Rush felt for some reason nervous as he waited. The door then finally opened, to present a mare that they both knew well by now: Swiggy Pie.

“Good mornin’, Guilty Sparks! An’ hi there Shadow Rush.” she said with glee in her voice.

The two blinked at the same time as their expectations were somewhat fooled as the room fell silent.

“You know her Shadow?” Guilty Sparks asked the unicorn

“Well yes. I believe that we have acquainted ourselves last night when Zequus and I arrived in town.” he answered back.

“Hah, are ya kiddin’ me? This lad there had th’scare o’ his life when aye told him th’Weepin’ Filly tale! Did he tell ya that he’s from Canterlot, an’ t’was sent here t’study The Stare?” Swiggie Pie bugged in as she wrapped Shadow Rush around one of her arms, bringing him closer and rubbed his head with her other hoof.

At the mention of both The Weeping Filly and The Stare, Guilty Sparks’ expression turned sour as she looked at the books she had taken out and turned to Shadow Rush to give him a look full of concern and disbelief. She looked around looking for something, and used her magic to grab a few books and placed them inside a bag that she gave to him.

“Alright then. Well, I wish you good luck in your research, and if you ever do need more references, you know where to come from. Now if you excuse me, Swiggie Pie and I have to talk about some important things.” she smiled to him, waving him goodbye along with her friend as he made it out of the door.

Shadow Rush waved back before closing the door behind him. He felt weird now though. He wasn’t sure why he felt so happy and so sad now. But the feeling quickly faded as he noticed Zequus flailing in the bush nearby, calling for assistance in a weak voice. He trotted nearby and helped him get on his hooves.

“I swear I am going to give this mare a correction!” he said with anger in his tone.
“Wait a minute… my hangover has taken a turn to complete obliteration! But how did she…” he said as his rage-induce expression turned to complete disbelief to how he felt at the moment.

The unicorn and zebra looked at each other with blank looks before they laughed together to the amazing turn of events, before taking off in a slow pace as they engaged in conversation.

Guilty Sparks assisted this by looking out of the window. She sighed loudly before walking down the stairway to stop near Swiggie Pie.

“So, you told him about the Weeping Filly…” she asked her pink friend.

“Well, aye had t’after they told me they came here for som’ research ‘bout The Stare. Aye made them believe that it were a ghost story. T’was som’ good fun, ladde!” she said in a large grin.

“I guess. But I don’t know, it just feels wrong that we’re lying about something this big right in their faces. But I guess if we told them that it was real, they would not have even stayed in these parts for a minute. We need these visitors, and especially how they’re from Canterlot. This might finally be our chance to get rid of this…this…” she continued, as her eyes began swelling with sadness.

“Aye. True t’what you said, but ya know we need their help.” Swiggie Pie added.
“Ya like that unicorn don’t ya?”

“What?!” Guilty Sparks said in surprise, unready for that, as her sad expression suddenly faded away.
“No no no! Well, he’s a nice colt and all, but…but it’s not like that, its just…meep!” she added otherwise, covering her blushing face with a hoof.

Swiggie Pie closed in on her and gave her a friendly hug around her shoulders and held firm.

“Don’t worry. Ya shouldn’t feel ashamed for findin’ a colt in your likings. Aye do admit he’s quite th’adorable one.” she said softly.

The room was in a standstill of silence for a few minutes before the two separated. Guilty Sparks looked up at Swiggie Pie’s face and smiled, before the two laughed together. After their laughter came to a stop, stern and concerned expressions returned to their faces as they were thinking of what they had just talked about.

“You think we should tell them eventually?” Guilty Sparks said.

“Aye, but not now. I’m sure the unicorn one will figure out eventually that this whole thin’ is a covered up story. He seems pretty gullible so far, but he clearly isn’t th’dumb lookin’ one.” Swiggie Pie admitted to her.

“Shadow Rush. His name is Shadow Rush.” Guilty Sparks corrected her.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

-Three and a half hour later-

Shadow Rush and Zequus were making their way down the last street as they were making it to their apartment. So far they had eaten at a restaurant, explored the town for a few and talked about what had happened between Shadow Rush and Guilty Sparks inside the library and just what in the world was Zequus doing in a bush when Shadow Rush had come out of the library. They shared good laughs and shared thoughts of good will. As they made it to the front of the apartment, Shadow Rush heard strange rambling coming from the street opposing the one they were on. Turning his head, he could not believe just how absurd the scene was to him, as he saw a pony in a crude costume of a robot marching down on his hindlegs while making robotic noises.

“Beep. Boop. Maggot! Beep Boop. I am a robot, and I run on equestrian jobs! Beep. *thud* Sorry. I mean, Beep!” the fake robot spoke as it collided with a pony.

Its helmet fell for a few instants before the pony picked it up and placed it back on his head. That had given enough time to reveal to Shadow Rush that this strange ponybot was in fact NoBark in a obvious robot disguise. He squinted at him as the bizarre individual marched on, until he disappeared at the corner of the street. This made Shadow Rush wonder, before he looked back at Zequus who was struggling to open the lock with the keys he had in hoof, and then an idea came to him.

As he struggled with his key, Zequus had to also keep up with the heavy load of books that he carried on his back. It was hard to multitask all of this, but he persisted as he knew that he’d get it eventually. That was until the key was wrapped in a green aura of magic and turned on itself, opening the doorway for him. Zequus turned around to see his friend throw him his share of books before running off. He took everything like the strong male he was, but confused by what his friend had done.

“Where are you going? I’m going to need your help upstairs for the unlocking!” he yelled out loud at his friend.

“I’m going to get some additional information.” Shadow Rush answered back, yelling as he drew a notepad and pen from his saddlebag.

Zequus only looked in dismay at his friend running, before he felt his legs letting go. Books flew everywhere as they all fell around him, as one landed flat on his face. He let out an annoyed groan before heavily sighing.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Shadow Rush galloped down the street of which he saw the NoBark robot march down. He scanned everywhere for a biped equine in tin cans and cardboard around its body, which was relatively easy due that the streets were mostly empty in this town. He stalked him as the ponybot pressed on with its course, beeping and booping as it occasionally clashed onto oncoming ponies. This was going to be long and tedious…

It’s been nearly six hours now that Shadow Rush has been following NoBark, and every minute made him grit his teeth. The beeping that this fake robot made had become annoying and unpleasant long ago, and the banging of the tin cans hitting each other was just adding more to the insult. But Shadow Rush persisted. He would not stop until he found where this ponybot would stop, not wanting to let this opportunity of getting to know him better go to waste. He just had so many questions about so many things to ask him, even if he knew that this pony was insane and the odds of him rambling nonsense were great. Suddenly, the robot that NoBark was fell on his normal stance as he began removing the costume. After doing so, he slowly walked into a makeshift house made out of metal foils and…more tin cans.

(Just how much does he likes cans?)

Shadow Rush walked towards this abomination of a house and knocked on the nearly destroyed door. He waited a few instants before the door literally fell apart, and NoBark was standing behind it, looking down at the now useless piece of his house.

“Uh, hello?” Shadow Rush said in a sheepish smile, hoping that the pony wouldn’t get angry at what happened to his proprety.

NoBark looked up to see Shadow Rush. His one functioning eye pierced him with a glare that seemed to try and figure out who was this pony standing in front of him, while the other eye just mostly rolled around lazily in its socket. He then huffed loudly before turning around, leaving Shadow Rush confused to what had just happened. He did not prevent himself entering his home though, and looked around to see that the wallpapers were made with newspapers. But something was just wrong. These news papers all mentioned about disappearance of ponies, all of which were on the same day but different years. And some were not just from Ponyville; there were some from Fillydelphia, Trottinham, Canterlot and more! Shadow Rush gulped after having seen these unsettling walls, and turned his eyes to look at NoBark who was preparing tea. He opened his mouth, but he was interrupted by the crazy pony who held a hoof to indicate not to speak. He made a movement with his hoof to indicate to sit down at the three legged table as he placed the tea kettle on it. Shadow Rush obliged to that as he took a seat on the cold and muddy floor.

“You must be new in town. I know this because I know everypony in town and I’ve never seen you around these parts. What made you come to my humble household?” NoBark asked Shadow Rush with curiosity in his voice.

(What is wrong with him? I know he’s insane, but is he also a hardcore amnesiac?)

“Well, my name is Shadow Rush and yes I am indeed new to town. You do not need to present yourself, as for everypony that I’ve met so far told me about you. It is…uh, a great honor to finally meet this NoBark that everyone talks so much about.”

(Good one Shadow. Good one stupid.)

“Do they? Well that’s good to know that no one forgot about NoBark and his helpful hooves.”

(Yea, sure.)

“I suppose you are here because you are looking for somepony to lend you a hoof. Tea?” NoBark added.

“As a matter of fact, I am indeed here for that. As for, Mister NoBark, I have many questions to ask you. Yes please.” Shadow Rush replied

(Oh Celestia. Why?)

“I am listening.” NoBark said calmly as he sipped on his tea.

Shadow Rush looked uncertain at his tea cup, which actually was just a piece of shattered glass with a strange smelling tea inside of it. When he looked up, he saw NoBark looking at him with insistence that he drinks it. Not wanting to offend him, Shadow Rush did so.

(Hey, this tea is really not bad!)

He took a few more sips, before putting the shattered piece of glass that was a tea cup on the table with his magic.

“Well, first I’d like to show you this, and tell me what you think.” Shadow Rush said as he reached in his saddlebag for a dark colored tome.

He placed the tome on the table, and quickly skipped through its many pages using magic until he landed on the page he wanted. NoBark turned the tome around and brought it closer to him as he placed a pair of broken glasses that had three lense sockets, the one in between the two others still was the only one with a lense still intact. When he looked down on the page, his eyes went wide and he instantly started panicking, pulling himself away from the table. Shadow Rush immediately reacted and pulled away the tome off table with his magic, and placed it back in his saddlebag.

“I deeply apologize if this might have offended you in any ways possible, but I need to know any knowledge you have on The Stare.” Shadow Rush apologized to him as he readied his pen and notepad.

“The Stare! The malevolence of evil! The demon from within! The horrors of the fallen ones! The harbinger of doom! More evil than the spirit of chaos. Where have you found this tome?” NoBark asked with a terrified tone in his voice as he started shivering.

“It does not matter, I really need your help t-“

“It does matter!” NoBark yelled as he grabbed Shadow Rush from across the table and held him in the air, looking him into his eyes with his own scared ones. Suddenly, darkness was now settling inside the already dimly lit place.

“This tome was written with the blood of the first fallen ones! It should of never never fallen into mortal hooves. The Stare has a mind in whatever form it is in. It seeks out innocence and lures it to its vector, as it needs the suffering to sustain its twisted hunger.” he added, heavily breathing as he stopped.

“Some things are not meant to be seen to us. We are simple and mortal. The malevolence of evil has destroyed us.” he finished.

“Who? Who is this ‘us’? What are you talking about?” Shadow Rush said in between his teeth, wincing and tearing up as he became scared.

With that said, NoBark started slowly letting Shadow Rush down, letting him go after. His eyes kept the eye contact clean for a moment until he closed them, of which made the darkness surrounding them suddenly vanished away. The crazed pony shook his head, opened his eyes and looked up at his visitor, with a complete new expression now gazing up at him.

“Oh hello there. Would you like some tea?” NoBark asked in a completely calm voice, as if nothing happened.

Shadow Rush could not comprehend. One moment he’s being held high by him high up, darkness summons all around them and then the next minute he’s there proposing him for more tea. He’s had enough for today.

“No, I’m fine. I’ll just be on my way.” he said as he moved towards the exit, taking full gallop once he made it through.

NoBark looked at his curious visitor who was now running away. His eye not leaving the young colt until he was completely out of sight. He wondered to what could of just made him simply run away after he had proposed for some of his famous tea. He turned around and looked at a potato lying on a shelf beside him.

“Was it something that I said?” he asked his potato in confusion.

The potato, as it should always be so, kept his opinion to itself. Because it’s only a root, after all.

“Don’t say such things, Sir Pickle Surprise Cucumber.” NoBark said back, as he was replying to something that has never been said in the first place.

The potato, on the other hoof, had nothing to say back. As for, it lacked the vocal cords to do so, after all.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Zequus was in his room, studying the pages that he and his friend Shadow Rush had brought back to their apartment before he took off in a hurried gallop. He had been waiting for him for nearly nine hours now, and he started to become worried for him.
What could his friend find so interesting that he would ditch him and leave him carry over thirty pounds of books six floors up?

Zequus’ thoughts were abruptly interrupted as he heard something knock on the window. He turned at the source of the sound, but nothing was found, so he turned back to his books. Then, another hit was heard on the window. This time, he approached it and opened it to look around. As he did so, something hit him on the forehead. He picked up what had just hit him, and saw it was a pebble. Then, he heard Shadow Rush’s voice calling for him down on the street, waving at him.

He went down and opened the door, ready to blast him with many questions on where his we was all this time. Only to find a pale looking Shadow Rush with eyes beaming with terror.

“By Celestia, what have you gone through? Did a ghost attack you?” he asked his friend with a worried tone.

“We could say that. I just want to go to bed.” Shadow Rush replied to his friend as he made his way up the stairways, not saying a single word as he made up to his dorm.

Zequus continued blasting him with questions, but he would not answer any of them. He did not want to. He just wanted to call it a day and forget everything he experienced earlier that day. When they arrived at their room, Shadow Rush trotted slowly toward his bed, went inside the comfort of its covers and did not move. Zequus looked at him, worried by his friend’s strange behavior, before he admitted to himself that it might be a good idea to do the same. It was late now, and it would be better to ask questions the next day. He went to the lights and engaged their switches, closing the lights one at a time before he also slipped inside his bed.

'...The Malevolence Of Evil...'

The Stare: Malevolence of Evil

Chapter 5:
'…The Malevolence Of Evil…’

Four days later...

“Zequus, are you ready?” Shadow Rush asked his friend who found himself in the bathroom.

“Just give me a minute! This darn costume is a real bugger to put on, and I want to look good for a biscuit.” his muffled reply rang through the door.

Tonight was Nightmare Night. Shadow Rush and Zequus had to get in the last minute a pair of costumes from one of Swiggie Pie’s friends, for a party was given tonight at Guilty Sparks’ library. They had completely forgotten that this Friday of this week was a holiday due to their deeply immersed studies they were so deeply into in the previous days.

For his share, Shadow Rush had gotten from this Woven Webs mare a zombie costume, while Zequus had gotten the ‘generous’ part by acquiring a large oreo cookie costume. Shadow Rush snickered at thoughts of his friend inside such an outrageous disguise, irony at its greatest splendor. He then heard the bathroom door unlock and turned to have the glimpse of the funniest thing he’d seen in a while, exploding in laughter.

“Shut up, bonehead. If you’re going to be like that, I’ll make sure that you find yourself dead.” Zequus sternly ordered his friend as he glared at him, hoping that it could kill.

“Alright, oreo. Let’s go before your temper makes you melt and lose your colors. Oh wait, you can’t. Due because black and white aren’t colors!” he said before again laughing alone to his lame science joke.

Zequus could only lower his head and sigh in shame at his misfortune, regretting that he had gotten the worse share of the deal earlier today before leaving with his friend their apartment.

The two wobbled downstairs and got out of the apartment building, as they saw ponies in costumes of all kinds of ghouls and monsters already wandering in the street as they all make their way towards tonight’s highlight: the ‘Treehouse of Horror’. Shadow Rush and Zequus followed the monster mash flow as they engaged in conversations with the other fiendish creatures.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Twenty minutes later, they arrived outside the library as they saw the place was being packed. They saw a mummy and another zombie at the door, greeting the invitees and wishing them a happy holiday as they entered. They recognized the mummy as Swiggie Pie and the zombie as Guilty Sparks. Shadow Rush smiled at the sight of the latter one and called out for her. The zombified mare looked for the source of her name being called, and saw a grey zombie unicorn waving at her in the distance. She smiled and indicated her mummy friend to come along, together trotting off towards the other pair.

“Good afternoon boys. How are you two doing?” Guilty Sparks said.

“Good afternoon Sparks, we’re doing real fine. Well except that this stupid cookie here got stuck in the stairway every time he took a step.” Shadow Rush replied to the enthusiastic mare as he pointed at his zebra friend.

“Hey, that isn’t true! I only got stuck on every new staircase that we arrived to.” his reply was said in an annoyed, but playful tone.

Guilty Sparks quietly giggled at their conflict, before the two colts laughed in unison, quickly joining with them. It was after this they had noticed Swiggie Pie was not heard since they had grouped. The three turned to a mummified Swiggy Pie, who had been apparently staring at Zequus ever since she had arrived along with her friend. Her wide-eyed stare was now making Zequus uncomfortable in doing so. The mare then burst into tearing laughter, rolling on the floor as she held firmly her ribs.

“A zebra inside an oreo cookie costume! Now aye’ve seen everythin’!” she wheezed in between her teeth, her face scrunching from the uncontrollable laughter.

“Alright, well I’ll see you later. We’ve got to stay outside to greet everypony until we make sure that all who have been invited came.” Guilty Sparks said to Shadow Rush before he trotted off inside the library with his friend.

Once they made it inside, they found the place already crawling with many ghouls chattering amongst each other, playing games in friendly competitions, drinking with their friends, or were already intoxicated as they sang along with their comrades. The place had all sorts of costumes worn by the many present in the place: dragons, skeletons, scarecrows, royalties, monsters and many more. In Shadow’s opinion, the least original he’d seen was the two human criminals he saw the first night, Graves and Twisted Fate, disguised as…each other. As for the scariest was none of the horrible monsters he saw, but was the Stalliongrad pony in a disturbing Princess Celestia costume.

“I am pretty pony princess. Brush my mane, BRUSH IT!” he said to ponies around him while holding a fairy wand and a brush in his hooves, prancing and hopping as if doing ballet.

They all seemed to slowly back away from the ugly princess. He was already scary enough as it was, becoming the ultimate proof that a giant pony like he could become a lot scarier by all simply wear something meant for the opposite sex. Shadow Rush knew that the Stalliongradnian would regret it the next morning considering that this stallion was drunk out of his mind, or at least he hoped.

Putting aside the disturbing visualization, Shadow Rush and Zequus looked at each other with a grin appearing their faces knowing this was going to be a great night.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

The party raged on with the night, ponies danced and drank as music blasted the dance floor. The joyful atmosphere fueled by the holiday spirit bringing everypony together as more of them continued pouring into the place. Despite his ridiculous costume that he wore, Zequus was now surrounded by a few mares he had acquainted on the dance floor, making small talk with each one of them. Shadow Rush on the other end, was just sitting on a bench, looking around aimlessly but not lost. The unicorn just didn’t have the spirit to engage into something exciting, as if there that something was missing tonight. He sighed to himself as the song currently playing was coming to an end. Then he felt somepony poke him on the right shoulder and turned around to see Guilty Sparks, smiling at him.

“Hello Shadow.” she said.
“What are you doing all alone there? Aren’t you enjoying yourself?” she added

“Well, yes. I am enjoying all of this, its just…I don’t know, I feel like there’s something missing in all of this.” he added dissatisfied.

“Hey, come on now. It’s Nightmare Night, no one should be feeling down. Wanna come dance with me at the next song?” she asked him.

Shadow Rush turned his head back to look at her magenta eyes, deeply blushing as he did so.

“Oh I wouldn’t dare, my dancing skills are not the most refined as I would say.” he admitted to her, his gaze not leaving hers once.

“Oh come on, I can’t be that bad. Plus it’s only for fun. Do it for me?” Guilty Sparks insisted him.

As if by pure coincidence, Zequus the oreo was passing by along with his groupies and heard their conversation. The two unicorns turned to see him as he faced them.

“Shadow Rush, are you *hips* kidding me? He’s a *hips* total beast when it comes on a dance floor, you’ll see. Like *hips* killin’ the others with no mercy. *hips*” he said completely drunk, but truthful.

“Oh alright, let’s go.” Shadow Rush grunted, defeated once again by Zequus.

Guilty Sparks was happy to hear this, as she got up with Shadow Rush towards the middle of the library. She looked at him in the eyes with genuine likening for his decision and took his hoof into hers. He was taken off guard by this, but when he noticed her gaze on him, he could only offer a smile. They stopped in the very center the library’s dance floor, as now they waited for a new song to come in.

“You know, I am still not sure about this. What if it is a song that I don’t know? Because to be honest, I haven’t listened to much of today’s music and I probably won’t know what to do once it starts to-“ he was interrupted by Guilty Sparks’ hoof that had placed itself on his lips to shut him up.

“Just believe in yourself. Because I do.” she whispered into his hear as she pulled him closer, before pulling back.

Shadow Rush was now having the same feeling he felt when he had first met her. The rising tingling sensations in his stomach making him feel nervous, but strangely at the same time, courageous. Then he heard a scratching noise from the speakers as the song was about to play, followed by a blasting shockwave of bass that shook throughout the library, making everything in his body vibrate.

“Fillies and gentlecolts! Welcome to the 206th annual Nightmare Night festival in Ponyville! We regret to announce, that tonight will be your last, as for there will be no tomorrow. Due to because everypony in town having changed into infernal creatures from Tartarus, and that ponykind is rapidly going extinct through the same mutating assaults of drum, and, bass.” a booming voice was heard as a dark figure revealed itself on the stage, while a show of strobbing lights of all colors flooded everything but him.

“Instead, I bring you tonight, the musical recreation of the end of the world. Fillies and gentlecolts, I give myself, DJ Scratching Disc, as a pony sacrifice to the bass goddess, and prepare yourselves to GET READY FOR THE STOMPING!” he shouted into his microphone at that last part as the lights turned at him, everypony in the place cheering as they were getting ready for this world ending stomping.

Shadow Rush’s eyes went wide. He absolutely loved this DJ! Shuffling and tectonic moves were now in his selected list to dance to this following song. As he turned towards Guilty Sparks, his eyes became full of confidence, as hers became filled with anticipation. They simultaneously frowned as their eyes met with one another, a wild grin appearing on their faces. Their bodies now shook with anticipation as they could not wait any longer for the drop to kick in.

Then, the bass dropped, and they engaged into combative dancing. Shadow Rush lead the dance as Guilty Sparks tried to imitate his moves. As she was having a hard time in doing so, the colt was having no troubles in gracefully twisting and spinning his hooves all over the place. The female zompony, after having given her best to keep up, could only now look at her partner’s dancing as she abandoned, resorting instead to a typical body swinging as she looked at the unicorn with amazement.

(Zequus wasn’t kidding at all! He really is a dance floor beast!)

Other ponies quickly took notice of the zombie unicorn’s dance, as they one by one stopped to turn and look at his moves, bringing awe to any gazing at him. All who had stopped dancing to look at him were now cheering him, bringing Shadow Rush’s spirit up. He accelerated his movements, transiting between tectonic, shuffling and even break dancing. A circle was now forming around him and Guilty Sparks as ponies pulled themselves away, leaving the two unicorns alone in the middle. This was bringing more attention to them as more and more ponies assembled around them and cheered the colt. Shadow Rush was now being overwhelmed by acceptance, as Guilty Sparks could only feel pride crawl in her as she saw him stealing the show.

In the far back of the library, Zequus was sitting with his harem of mares all desperate to get some kisses from the handsome cookie. He did notice the crowd of ponies all forming a circle, his curiosity made him get up to see what was going on. As he somehow expected, he saw his friend in the middle, raving with blazing passion. He chuckled, and a sensation of righteousness grew in him, until it was cut short by a mare kissing him as she pushed him back on his seat. This mare turned out to be the mummified Swiggy Pie, with stoned passion found in her gaze as she kissed the zebra intensely.

At this point, the unicorn prodigy slowed his pace as the song took a slow turn. He was exhausted, but his actions were noted as it was only now that he noticed all the ponies encircling and making an uproar. Suddenly, another pony, he being disguised as the famous Coltrean artist Psy, joined inside his circle and challenged him to a dance off after he pushed him in a friendly and competitive manner. With his eyes, Shadow Rush confirmed his acceptance of this challenge as he glared at his opponent. They took a readied stance as the two waited for the second bass drop of the song. Shadow Rush turned his eyes towards Guilty Sparks and then back to his challenger just before the waited moment came. At the signal, the two started their showdown, giving their best shots at transitioning between twists and turns. This competition was fierce, as Shadow Rush was actually breaking a sweat at the moment. He started feeling fatigue taking over his body as his movements begun to slow down. The moment he was about to let it all go, he heard the crowd shout in repetition something.

“Zombie! Zombie! Zombie! Zombie!”

This gave Shadow Rush the needed strength, and he made a sudden come back when he stood on one of his hindlegs, turning on himself as he spun his two forehooves on each other at a constantly accelerating speed. The crowd suddenly exploded in joyful shouting, their favorite dancing zombie was back in the game and was surpassing his opponent, who was now desperately doing his costumed character's famous dance. It was clear by the crowd's hooting at the Psy imposert that Shadow Rush had now won the challenge.

His head dropped in defeat, facing down to the floor until Shadow Rush lightly punched his shoulder before holding his hoof in the air, asking for a hoof bump. The competitor gladly returned the favor as the song was finishing and everypony in the library was now clapping at the victor. Shadow Rush looked around him, noticing just how many ponies were now praising him, if not the entire place did. The lights came back on, as a speaker made a few screeching noises.

“Alright fillies and gentlecolts. Because of some ‘minor’ show stealing inconvenience, we demand for the zombie unicorn to stand up and show himself. We want to hear what he has to say after this outrageous performance he let us all assist.” Scratching Disc’s microphone-amplified voice was booming, making Shadow Rush grin in pride after his DJ idol had now acknowledge him.

He gladly did what the DJ had bided him to do, and he cleared his throat.

“PLAY PONY ROCK ANTHEM!” he screamed out in full capacity.

Scratching Disc looked at him with peculiarity hinted by his eyebrows, before he turned back to his DJ set and placed a CD in it. He rubbed it, creating the ever satisfying sound of DJ scratching before he nodded in satisfaction, pulling his microphone close to his mouth.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts. This is Pony Rock Anthem, requested by…?” the pegasus DJ asked curiously.

“Shadow Rush! My name is Shadow Rush!” the unicorn replied back, hopping high in the air as he did.

“SHADOW RUSH!” he yelled in his ear-piece before another song ripped the room with bass.

Fellow ponies were now pulling up Shadow Rush by his flank and pushed him over their hooves place, his body went up and down from the crowd surfing. Eventually, his carriers slowly put him down on the floor before diving back on the dance floor, leaving Shadow Rush behind with a particular mare he was with before. Guilty Sparks approached him and ran a hoof over his mane, widely smiling as she did so.

“That was amazing Shadow, I knew you could make it. You stole the entire show and everypony was just…wow!” she said with excitement.

“I know! Thank you, without you I could not of ever achieved something near to this.” he said back to her, with a thankfulness in his voice.
“Want me to go at it again? I still have enough strength for the rest of the night, you know.” he added, somewhat hinting something there.

“Pardon me for my language, but FUCK YES!” she said with total passion, as her hoof was grabbed by Shadow Rush and was taken back to the dance floor.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

It took twelve songs in a row before Shadow Rush finally sat down on a bench, Guilty Sparks at his accompany. The two were now completely out of breath after all the dancing, Shadow Rush now pumping water steadily in his mouth to refuel his body. They had been conversing for a few minutes now, telling each other some of the things they enjoyed in life and speaking of themselves.

The room went dark and the song currently playing faded away before the speaker emitted a noise, indicating that the DJ was just about to give an announcement.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts, I hope you had fun tonight. My time behind the turntables is over as I’ve been told that it is time for the next scrub to play his set of music. Before I leave you all for the night, I’ll play this classic by Led Dirigible . It’s got to be one of my favorite by them, and probably yours too! Everypony, this is ‘Staircase To Heaven’. Thank you and have a wonderful Nightmare Night!” he finished before leaving, starting the song as he did.

With this announcement and the promised song now playing, the two sitting unicorns turned to each other, with eyes connected to each other in passion. Shadow Rush smiled and got up on his hooves before offering his hoof to Guilty Sparks.

“Guilty Sparks, would you like to come dance with me to this last song?” he said with a smile, not breaking their eye contact.

She looked at his hoof for a few seconds, taken in surprise as she did not expect this. Her gaze stayed on it before she looked up at him, her eyes shining in content.

“Yes. I would gladly go dance with you to this last song.” she said softly, grabbing his hoof as they made their way, blending in other couples who were already softly dancing.

They each put a hoof around each other’s necks and connected their horns together, moving together to the flow of the music carried them as they both silently closed their eyes shut. Time went by slowly, enjoying each other's presence as they danced to the smooth song.

Their hearts raced, but not in a bad or awkward way they had felt it many times in the past. This was different, created by what they felt for each other. This was their special moment together, adapting to these emotions they could live with forever, as their proximity to each other was the only thing that now mattered in the world. It was easily explainable what they were feeling for each other at the moment, but to them this was completely alien. The two were in deep thoughts, both of them searching for the word in their heads as they tried to describe to themselves the unstoppable forces that were engaged. Guilty Sparks got it quicker than Shadow Rush, due to her feminine side. She opened her eyes to look at her colt, smiling as she did.

The word was ‘Love’.

“Hey Shadow?”

“Yes?”

“What did you mean by ‘dance to this last song’?”

Shadow Rush was taken back by that as he did not expected her to have asked this, a lump now forming in his neck from stress before he swallowed it down. Although he had wished that she had not asked this question, afraid of how she would react to the following statement he had in mind.

“I will be leaving tomorrow. After this, I’ve got to go back home and set things up for our trip.” he said calmly, but his joy leaving his face.

Guilty Sparks was now her turn to be taken back by his statement. Her face quickly losing all of its happiness that she had gained since the beginning of the dance.

“But…but why? You told me you’d be staying for another two days!” she said, as her voice grew irritated.

Shadow Rush looked away from Guilty Sparks, his look transmuted into expressed guilt as the memories of what Princess Celestia told him rushed in his mind. In one hoof, he absolutely wanted to tell her the confined truth about his mission and its reasons, but on the other hoof he didn't want to betray her feelings with the verity behind it. With this confusion he became momentarily livid as he became unsure what to tell the bitter mare. Then, as a hunch tingled the back of his head, this telling him to stay loyal to her while admitting the truth about his reasons to be here in Ponyville.

“I’m tired of this masquerade. I’ll tell you everything.” he said, noticing that his partner was now looking at him perplexed.

“Princess Celestia is my tutor, and Equestria has been under assault by an army of dragons that came from a far away land, where they treat ponies as inferior to themselves. Our forces are managing to keep them out of equestrian territory, but this protection wont last forever. My tutor told me, and other important ponies, to develop a spell that would either wipe their army clean or force it to surrender. I came to Ponyville after discovering the existence of The Stare as you know. But as she granted for my departure, she strictly ordered me not to make friends here and to only perform research. I'm truly sorry, Guilty Sparks.” he added, his voice cracking up from emotions building up.

Guilty Sparks looked at him in an expression of both amazement and disgust. She felt stupid how she was so blind all this time. Such a pair of ponies could not have just come to Ponyville for just simply researching a spell, they were here for some arcane weapons development. And the dragon’s story that had been so quickly revealed to her, she now understood why she had met with some unexplainable troubles when attempting to leave the borders in the past few years. All of this became so fascinating, but the statement that he had added afterwards was just so wrong. How could the almighty princess of the sun ever say that to one of her subjects?

“But I love you! I really do, Guilty Sparks. You are a fascinating girl, the only one that I’ve ever been able to speak to as a normal individual and understand!” he said with authenticity. Guilty Sparks was taken back by those words, now looking at him straight in the eyes.

“It’s just…I can’t stay any longer. One day I will come back to Ponyville, and I promise. Because I cannot even think of leaving you, even if I have to so soon. Please don’t think other wise of me.” he added as he looked away from her with tears filling his eyes.

She placed her lips on his, kissing him with passion. Shadow Rush, in complete disarray by this, closed his eyes and let the greatest moment of his life take place. They stayed in this locked position for a few seconds before separating, opening their eyes as they pierced each other with a stare of passion and love. The colt was just about to open his mouth to speak before the mare brought a hoof on his lip, shutting him up before he wanted to do so.

“Shut up tiger. You just hit the jackpot.” Guilty Sparks said in a soft and alluring tone, enough for him to comprehend her.

They both smiled as they reconnected their horns together and kissed again, repeating that last action until the song ended.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

-In Canterlot Castle-

Princess Luna was staring down a telescope aiming down to Ponyville, witnessing the cute couple dancing together.

Her smile curved upwardly, glad for her sister's prized student and his fortunate turn of events. He had finally met somepony that he loved and made a vow to her, the strongest bond that existed in Equestia, if not the world. Although the confidentiality of the mission was breached, she did not gave a single flying feather about it. The princess turned around to face a now pleased looking Princess Celestia who nodded to her sister.

"And you are telling me that you called it?" the princess of the night asked her sister.

"As indeed I did, dear sister. You know what that means!" she chuckled, Luna now rolling her eyes as she felt defeated. Princess Luna threw a sac containing one hundred and twenty-five bits at Princess Celestia who caught it with her left hoof, smiling as her sister's waged bounty now belonged to her before trotting away.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Author's thoughts: You are forced to continue listening to the song, or else I will smite thee.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Lights came back flooding in the library with everypony now disassembling from their previous unisons as they all begun to talk with each other, now becoming the party's main ambiance. Shadow Rush and Guilty Sparks headed towards the exit door and they both opened it together and headed through, stopping at a nearby bush as they removed their costumes.

“I must leave now. I’ll come see you tomorrow morning before Zequus and I have to leave.” he said as he was getting ready to trot off, until he felt something tug on his hoof.

“Please. Stay with me. Only for tonight, I want to be with you.” the unicorn mare said to him, holding his hoof.

“Sorry, but I have to. Royal duties and all. Just be sure that you have a leaving party here at noon my ride won’t take it lightly if I arrive late.” Shadow Rush said in a humorous tone, smiling before kissing his mare and waving her goodbye as he left.

Guilty Sparks smiled at him as he left, looking out for him until she saw him fade away into the night. She turned back towards the door and began hopping and giggling like a filly in happiness from the happy turn of events that had happened, as she headed towards the door. When she got inside, she noticed through one of the windows the bright full moon, shining all of its majestic beauty. All she could do is continue having the glorious memories of before, as she took the beautiful moon as a good omen.

Much further away, at the EverFree forest’s extremities, a creeping figure stopped dead in its tracks to take a look up at the full moon. Its evil eyes regarding it as a good omen for her hunt before spreading its half torn wings and took off to the sky. An eerie whine screeched in the sky as it flew towards its destination: Ponyville.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

When Shadow Rush left in a hurried gallop, he did not take notice the costume-less Zequus and Swiggie Pie making out on the bench. They in return did not notice the colt running off, as they continued their dirty talk. They then heard the loud giggling made by somepony. This had made them get up and try finding the source of a happy mare known as Guilty Sparks before they noticed the door closing. They looked at each other with curiosity and an evil smile appeared on their faces, as if they had both shared the same idea to go investigate. They hopped off the bench and galloped to the door, opening with their bodies with great force. Guilty Sparks was the first thing they saw to their left as they arrived inside.

“Oy Sparks, where’s th’sweet prince of yours?” Swiggie Pie exclaimed to her unicorn friend.

This had gotten Guilty Sparks attention as she saw her two friends standing behind her. She grinned like a madmare as she was still hyped up from the events of before. Her two friends, instantly knowing what this grin meant, each gave her a hug as they waited for their respective turn.

“Where is this lucky colt? I must congratulate him before it is time for us to jolt.” Zequus rhymed in pride, sure of what he was saying was true.

“Oh he went back home. He wanted to leave early to finish up on a few things for his departure tomorrow. And when did you two get together?” she replied without hesitation.

Swiggie Pie’s face turned into complete horror to what her friend had just stated. She started to baffle incoherent words before shaking herself up, putting herself together after her horrible realizations.

“WHAT DID YA DO?! WHY DID YA LET ‘IM LEAVE? DO YA KNOW WHAT TIME IT IS RIGHT NOW?! AND DID YA KNOW THERE’S A FULL MOON?” she yelled on top of her lungs at her friend, who looked confused to her questions.

“Well, like I said he needed to go home to prepare his things for his departure tomorrow. And it is currently 11:16 pm and yes I do know there’s a full moon out…side…oh no.” she gasped in horror as her eyes went wide, realizing Swiggie Pie meant previously.

Zequus stood there, unsure of what they were talking about. He suddenly was pulled over Swiggie Pie's back by her newfound strengh, literally smashing through what was once a door and taking off in full hindleg sprinting, followed up by Guilty Sparks who galloped behind her.

“Uh, what is it that I'm missing, and how did you smash through that building?” Zequus asked the mare carrying him over her back with her superpony strength.

Swiggie Pie turned around slammed Zequus back his four legs, her forehead sticking against his as her eyes nearly came out of their sockets. Her breathing had become erratic and irregular as if she was having an asthma attack. She took a big gulp of air, readying for what she was going to say.

“TH’ WEEPIN’ FILLY, SHE’S REAL! WE LIED T’YA TWO! NOBARK ISN’T THAT CRAZY, well ya he kinda is, BUT WE DIDNT WANT T’SCARE YA AWAY IF YA KNEW ‘BOUT HER EXISTENCE. NOW SHADOW RUSH MIGHT BE IN GRAVE DANGER! COME WIT’ ME IF YA WANT HIM T’LIVE!” she yelled out loud, giving herself no time to take a breath in between her sentences.

Zequus’ eyes went wide with this revelation. He looked back and forth between Swiggie Pie and Guilty Sparks, trying to see if they were playing a gag on him. Their looks proved otherwise, and the sudden realization hit him as he got up and pushed himself to full throttle in his gallop, the two mares following behind him.

Shadow Rush was still on his way home, walking his way through Ponyville’s dark streets that were being shined by the bright moonlight of the full moon high above the sky. He whistled a tune that had gotten stuck in his head ever since he’d heard it at the party back at the library. His trotting did not change in pace, as he was now so immersed in remembering kissing Guilty Sparks that he hadn’t noticed that there was the figure of a pegasus standing on the rooftops above. Following him as it hopped onto a roof to another, the figure stalked her prey without making any noise. The game of predator and prey had begun ever since this prey of hers had arrived in this town of puny mortals, but it was only now that it was engaged.

(Good.)

A few minutes later, Shadow Rush stopped in his tracks as he noticed there something that wasn’t right. It seemed that he had forgotten about something very important, but he couldn’t remember what. He also took notice of his surroundings. It had become very silent for a while now, and the air had become uncomfortably cold and foggy for some reason. Yet, there was no such thing as a breeze or even a cloud over Ponyville at the present.

Then all of a sudden, the feeling of being watched by someone came to him. It was the same of when he had first arrived in Ponyville a few days ago. He started to look around his surroundings, quickly scanning for anything that was out of the usual. After having passed here earlier with Zequus, he tried remembering what was not in its place and what had moved, but found nothing out of the ordinary. He then heard a metal trashcan tumble, quickly turning around to find its source. At the corner of a street, he saw NoBark moving in the middle of the next street, moving in a limp as if he was injured.

“Hey, NoBark!” Shadow Rush called out to him.

The old looking pony looked around in dismay of somepony calling his name. Eventually, he found the source as he saw Shadow Rush waving at him. From where he was from, Shadow Rush saw NoBark’s eyes widen in terror, as if he was a horrible monster or something.

“Run!” NoBark yelled before taking off in a limping gallop before disappearing into the foggy night .

(What was that all about?)

Shadow Rush then heard the sounds of weeping. It sounded like the ones of a filly that was frightened, and it sounded close. He turned around to find a pony running off, crying loudly as she went. This had surprised him for a few instants, rendering him motionless for a few instants, before he gave chase to her. Turning the street, he saw her take another turn at the corner of a street. He groaned to himself to why he was doing this, but he knew that as a citizen of Equestria, it was his duty to help his fellow pony from next door, even if he didn’t like him or her or if he wasn’t from the same town.

His chase continued for a few minutes, taking twists and turns as he followed this young pony. Eventually, he saw her take a turn for an alleyway that found itself just about in front of him. He smiled as he finally had a chance to catch up to her and help her with whatever troubles she had. Moving at a slower pace than before, he went towards the corridor and penetrated its darkness.

“Hello? Are you there? Don’t be afraid, I’m here to help.” he said, making his voice loud enough so that she could hear him.

“No, please! Go away!” she exclaimed back, her voice still in fright.
“No, come! I need you.” another voice was heard, this time sounding different from before.

“Huh? Like I said, I’m here to help, so don’t be scared.” Shadow Rush replied back, with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

“You’re the one who should be, mortal.” a distorted voice was now heard.

He was taken back at that last comment. Shadow Rush started feeling his blood turn to ice as the unknown he was facing was now starting to scare him. It then occurred to him that this alley was very dark, and decided to use some of his magic to at least brighten up the place. As he did so, the place was flooded in a green light, and the figure of a yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail appeared in front of him. He glanced at her for a few instants, tilting his head in curiosity to who this pony was, as he did not recall seeing her in Ponyville during his stay. Although, what bothered him is that she was awfully familiar. But where did he see this filly before?

“Uh…hello?” he asked, his voice now uncertain and worried.

It was then her eyes opened wide, revealing as being glowing red and empty dark voids surrounding the blood-colored orbs. He then recalled who she was and what he had forgotten before, his memory coming back to whom this was: The Weeping Filly! A horrible realization came to his mind, as his racing heart told him to get out of there.

She existed after all, and she was there, ready to take him away.

His magic suddenly vanished away unexpectedly, and he now knew what he had to do: run. He turned around to make his escape, only to see his only exit being closed by darkness as she rose up from the ground. He backed up as much as he could until he hit the alley’s end. Shadow Rush was now cornered, and as he turned the Weeping Filly was now walking towards him with her malefic eyes wide open, trying to entrance him using The Stare that he knew all too well about. He closed his eyes in a desperate attempt of survival as he waited for her to go away. But he then felt two hooves grab him by his neck and pulling him up, leaving his legs dangling as they were only a few inches away from touching the ground. The unicorn tried using his magic to blast her off, but his horn would not respond, and he was quickly becoming out of breath as she started choking him off ground. He could feel that he was quickly becoming out of air, he had to find a way to get out of her grasp. His limbs were now hitting her from all angles, but she did not budge to these desperate attempts of escape. By reflex, Shadow Rush opened his eyes. He was met with the now disfigured and decomposed face of the filly he had seen, an ugly abomination of what she looked previously. She opened her mouth, letting out an ungodly horrifying sound of a gurgle mixed with a scream, as her stare was now transfixed to his eyes. As much as he wanted to look away, he couldn’t pull away or close his eyes. This was like the time he met Guilty Sparks back a few days ago, but instead this abomination was forcing him in keeping his open for its own sick purpose. The corrupted screech it had for a voice came to a halt as darkness over took him, blinding him.

...
Shadow Rush found himself in a strange place. He looked around him only to find that his surroundings were nothing but dark fumes rolling everywhere. This was an empty world that had no sound, no smell and no air. An empty, dark place filled with nothing inside of it. It took a few moments until that he saw that he was suspended in the air, neither falling nor flying. At this realization, he attempted to scream, but he couldn’t as if he became mute.

(Ok Shadow, you got attacked by the Weeping Filly. Just calm down, think of what you’ve read about her and The Stare. NoBark did say he survived…and that’s pretty much it. What now?)

“Your doom is what is coming…”

The unicorn heard a malefic voice reply to him. He spun on himself to try to find the source, but he only saw nothing. There were only the same fumes running everywhere around him. Suddenly, he was hearing a faint rumbling echo. He turned to its source, to find the dark smoke was now taking shape of something, and as it went on completing itself the rumbling became louder. This was very bad, and it wouldn’t get any better if he didn’t get out of there. The only problem was: he couldn’t move any more. He tried turning on himself to get on four legs, but his movements were in vain as he was now completely anchored to where he was. Then something occurred that it might be possible for him to use magic.

“Do not try. Your magic is futile here…” the malefic voice replied to his thoughts.

When Shadow Rush looked back at the transforming smoke, it had now completely taken shape of a gassy creature with two long stumps for arms and a round head with no neck, with pure white orbs that made up its eyes. He could only gaze at the thing and shook uncontrollably, his mind and body not responding in fear.

(Who are you?)

The gassy giant looked down with its lifeless eyes and stayed like that, finding an appropriate answer as it looked in its mind.

“I…am The Stare, the malevolence of evil. Suffer…” it said before it brought its arms to Shadow Rush’s head, keeping them held firmly on his temples.

Whatever it did, the effects were immediate, as for Shadow Rush now screamed in agony as it did something horrible to his mind.

He saw everything. He saw the suffering and death of every victim that came before him. His mind flashing with images of ponies betraying, destroying, murdering and raping the lives of others as they died horribly for their actions.

The Stare continued laughing down at his agony as the unicorn continued screaming.

Shadow Rush then assisted to the images of a Equestria with no life, no one left to roam its lands as everypony laid dead on the ground. He saw Princess Celestia and Princess Luna tearing each other, his friends and family getting decapitated alive and even his love of his life, Guilty Sparks, leaving him for good before jumping off a cliff, smashing against the rocks found below.

Shadow Rush had stopped screaming, as instead was now crying profusely while his eyes rolled into his head. The Stare drained his innocence through his arms as they made their way towards his eyes, filling them up. The creature rumbled happily as it could feel the procession being complete.

The unicorn was now having all of his memories of his life being drained. All the ones from his birth to the night's party. All of which were being presented again to him in what felt like forever, but all of which happened in a matter of a few seconds. He saw how prideful he was when he was chosen to enter Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns, when he first met Zequus, the good memories with his family and friends and more recently, him kissing Guilty Sparks.

Then, all of a sudden, they disappeared.

Darkness surrounding him was the last thing he saw.
___________________________________________________________________________________________

Zequus, Swiggie Pie and Guilty Sparks had now been running for nearly half an hour while searching for Shadow Rush. Their first destination was his apartment, where he originally intended to be. But when arriving, they had not found him. With this alarming discovery, they immediately ran back to the streets as they all felt increasing distress growing. They explored together street by street, alley by alley while searching high and low. Guilty Sparks had even casted illumination orbs and tracking spells to facilitate their search, but to no avail so far.

They continued running down Ponyville's streets, until they all came to a halt. Before them was a crying filly dragging somepony behind her. The trio looked at her as she turned its head to face them. None of them said a word and focusing instead on the tragic sight that had befallen to this pony, followed by the painful truth: the Weeping Filly had completed her cycle of procession, and this pony was Shadow Rush.

The Weeping Filly let out an ear-piercing scream as she took herself to the air and dissipated into the fray of night, leaving an unconscious Shadow Rush on the ground. At that moment, the moon in the sky had now been covered by a large formation of clouds that passed in front of its rays.

“SHADOW!” Guilty Sparks yelled as she ran, along with her friends, towards his body.

When they arrived, they saw as the horrible realization came true: it was indeed Shadow Rush. He laid there motionless, his lifeless eyes reflecting the moonlight and his cutie mark completely vanished from his flank.

Guilty Sparks shrieked in sorrow as the tragic sight before her made tears uncontrollably flow out of her eyes. Zequus had also crushed by sorrow by the realization that his friend was now dead. Swiggie Pie could only sit back on the ground, as a feeling of regret flooded her as she felt that all of this was her fault.

Guilty Sparks and Zequus hugged each other, reaching for each other’s solace as their heads were crying onto each other's shoulders. With something that came as a hunch, Swiggie Pie moved closer to Shadow Rush’s motionless body. She placed his ear close to his mouth, then to where his heart would be, only to come to a shocking conclusion.

“He’s still alive.” she quietly said, as tears where now flowing down her cheeks.

As the two broke off their hug, they could sniffle and wipe their tears away with their hooves. Before they had any chance whatsoever to open their mouths, a powerful light shun upon them. As they looked up, they saw a flight chariot with a powerful spotlight under it as it hovered. Then, blinding light filled their eyes.

'...Destroyed Us.'

The Stare: Malevolence of Evil

Chapter 5:
'...Destroyed Us.'

A two-way door in a hospital blew open as nearly a dozen pony physicians carried a bed ridden patient in directions to the ER on a hurry, clearing their way of anything or anypony that stood in their way. The patient, Shadow Rush, laid unconscious in his hospital bed as he was carried to his destined room. It was given the full order of Princess Celestia that be becomes tonight's major priority by all hospital staff tonight.

Princess Celestia had taken immediate actions earlier when her sister, Princess Luna, had summoned inside her bedroom yelling that she had lost her protege. She took some of her best personal guards, along with her sister and her own share of soldiers to swarm Ponyville in a rush. Upon arriving, the sun goddess's fears had come true when she found three ponies, Zequus and two of the natives, surrounding the motionless body that was Shadow Rush. Now, she waited just outside the emergency room, hastily waiting for any news.

These news came 7 hours later as the doctors confirmed they had stabilized their patient's vital signatures. But these relieving news were all that was good, as the head doctor afterwards added grieving information that tore her heart in two: Shadow Rush would probably never the same again. He had to be taken to Canterlot Psychiatrict Hospital for further evaluation, as his body had no injury whatsoever, but his brain had been severely damaged by whatever ordeal he went through. Princess Celestia's head lowered to the sorrowing words. The feeling of regret were now crushing her, as not only she was blaming Shadow Rush's perdition on herself, but she had to announce his pony friends who were found back in the waiting room. Entering the emergency room, she ordered calmly to all the medics in the room as she wanted to be left alone with her unconscious student. They all did so, as the princess found herself all alone in the room like the way she wanted. She approached towards Shadow Rush, looking over his shape with teary eyes before she connected her horn to his.

Her mind flowed down her horn and entered through his as she appeared inside his mind, looking for any evidence to what had happened. But what she found instead was bare emptiness, as if his mind was wiped clean of everything. No memories nor persona was found except the presence of dark-colored fog that flooded everywhere. Unhappy and confused to what she didn't find, she disconnected and reentered her own body before leaving the room.

Princess Celestia made her way towards the waiting room and upon arriving, found Zequus the zebra caressing this dark-pink female earth pony, who seemed vaguely similar to somepony she had met in her life before, and a teal unicorn of which her eyes had become completely red from the night-long weeping.

The princess cleared her throat, catching everypony's attention, before giving them some 'good' news about Shadow Rush's condition. Unfortunately, as she was going to continue on with the 'bad' news, she came to a halt. The goddess had wished that this moment had not come and had instead gone away, but she couldn't hide the other truth from them. As she took a breath, she continued on and announced them the gloomy verity. As she went on, Zequus' eyes began twitching to her words Princess Celestia was announcing. First, they became melancholic and teary, before they became full of hatred when he turned towards the two mares. Swiggie Pie became deplorable to look at as guilt melted her insides, and Guilty Sparks was now gazing emptily at the princess, the crushing news rendering her speechless as she suffered quietly, but greatly.

As Princess Celestia finished pronouncing the final words, she genuinely apologized to them, and to herself mentally, before making her way back to her castle. The three were now left alone, and their room was completely silent before Zequus turned around and threw a punch at Swiggie Pie. He started yelling uncontrollably at the two mares, who in return began walking out but refused to defend themselves as they knew what the zebra was saying was true.

They had indeed acted selfishly to them during their stay in Ponyville. They were indeed mares who had no redeeming factors. They were indeed absolute living trash.

Guards were now restraining the furious zebra before he could do any more harm to the sorrowful mares as two other guards escorted them to the exit.

___________________________________________________________________________________________

-2 hours later-

Shadow Rush now was inside a room in Canterlot Psychiatric Hospital, his body still fused to the same bed and his head completely swarmed by sensors stuck on his head, connected to all kinds of brain sensors. The princess of the sun had given yet again another order for this patient to become the priority by all the hospital's staff.

As the scans went on, the doctors were in complete awe by the given results, or by what they did not give. His brain had apparently ceased to function for more than 20 hours, yet he was there still alive but unconscious on his bed. They ran the tests again, and again and with further more repetitions, but the results all came back the same. After a while, they all agreed that their systems had not failed and the patient was indeed brain dead in some way or another. They all began packing their devices and was just about to remove him from his bed before Shadow Rush came back to consciousness with bursting energy. He pushed the doctors around with great strength, thrashed everything surrounding him and started screaming and howling as he rambled nonsensically about things such as a filly with evil eyes, a great demon who resided in her stare, a spell called the Stare and many more things. It took many ponies to immobilize the frenzy unicorn before they administered a tranquilizer. They carried his paralyzed body to Patient Room N.013 before contacting Princess Celestia.

The once-was prodigy unicorn woke up soon after as he now found himself in a dimly lit room. He began to panic, his breathing now uncontrollably going erratic as he cowered back to the room's corner, crying as fear begun to overwhelm him.

It was a few minutes later that Shadow Rush saw something pass in front of the door, momentarily blocking the only source of light in the room, before he heard from the same direction voices, one of which was very soothing and somewhat familiar to him. His breathing began to slow down as he listened to the voice that enchanted him. He tried to move his body so that he could approach to the calming sound that came from the door, but his body did not respond.

Then suddenly, he heard a popping noise coming from the shadowy end of the room.

"Uh, hello? Is anypony there?" a feminine voice suddenly called out.

Shadow Rush's eyes went wide as fear once again took over him. He desperately tried to move so that he could crawl away from whatever was found in the darkness, but once again his body failed his commands.

"Don't be afraid! I'm not here to hurt you. I only came to talk." the voice called out again.

With these spoken words, Shadow Rush gradually became relieved as his thoughts of running away now began to fade away, lost in what was left of his mind.

"I'm Twilight Sparkle. What is your name, sir?" the voice asked him, becoming increasingly less intimidating to Shadow Rush.

Shadow Rush was taken back by this question. He did have a name, and he knew. But what was it again?

"My...I think my name is Shadow Rush." he replied.

"Hello, Shadow Rush. It's nice to meet you." Twilight Sparkle's voice said back, her voice now becoming just as soothing as the one that came from the door.

"It's curious that I find a fellow unicorn in such a place, don't you think?" she added, this time her tone becoming more questioning than before, but keeping it friendly.

This was true, though. How did he come here in the first place? Was he a condemned prisoner that was subjected to some horrible experiment?

He winced as the previous idea was now clear to him that this wasn't his case as he started to vaguely remember things. Most were clearing up, while other things were still blanks.

"I...I was researching a...a spell or something. A spell that could finish...finish something. I can't remember what it is, but it was something bad." he said hesitantly, his thoughts still trying to piece everything together.

"Yes I remember! I was sent to Ponyville on a mission to discover a spell that could eliminate the dragon menace that is threatening Equestria." he exclaimed as more things regenerated in his mind.

"Ponyville? I used to live there! How does it look?" Twilight Sparkle said excitedly, her tone filled with interest to his statement.

"Scary." Shadow Rush flatly replied, his answer being the only thing that came to his mind to describe the town.

"Well, that's a shame to hear. Anyways, what is this dragon menace you're talking about? Wouldn't the Elements of Harmony have taken care of such a thing by now?" she asked again.

Suddenly, at the mention of the Elements of Harmony, his mind yet again unlocked something that was lost to him before. This Twilight Sparkle, she was the bearer of the Element of Magic nearly a hundred years ago. How was she here?

"Aren't you one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?" he questioned her in a tone of both dread and curiosity.

"Well, yes. I used to be at least. Do you know my name from somewhere?" she answered him.

"You died over a hundred years ago. How can you be here talking to me?" he asked carefully.

"Oh my, has it been that long? Well, to answer your question, I am what you can call an apparition, or a ghost for that matter." she answered with empathy.
"Now, please do tell me of what happened to the Elements, and why they haven't they been used yet?" she asked him again, her tone now increasingly sounding worried.

"They...they were lost after when the...the Element of Kindness ran to the Everfree forest after she became the...the..."

"The Weeping Filly?" Twilight Sparkle superimposed, sounding troubled by what she heard.

"Poor Fluttershy. Even after all these years, she still causes grief to everypony. She used to be such a good mare, a good friend. That was until The Stare corrupted her. You've seen it, haven't you?" she added, her voice now becoming distressed.

At the mention of The Stare, Shadow Rush snapped and began crying again.

"Why are you here?" he exclaimed loudly.

There was a long moment of silence between the two until the approaching sound of walking was heard coming from Twilight Sparkle's direction, muffled by the padded material that covered the room. Shadow Rush was fully aware of that, readying himself to finally see this mare he has been talking to so far. She finally appeared after what felt like forever to Shadow Rush in the light shun from the door, appearing as a purple coated unicorn. Her eyes were magnificent, as if they had been cloned onto someone that he knew, but was unsure who exactly. This mare also looked a lot like...Guilty Sparks! His eyes went wide from the realization that these two were nearly parallel copies of each other. They were just so much alike that Shadow Rush began to feel the same butterflies tingling in his stomach that he had felt when he had first met Guilty Sparks.

Twilight Sparkle's horn began to flicker with magic as she started casting a spell. But in between the sparks, something became very different of her. Then, her spell successfully came to life as a indigo-colored light flooded the room. The form he saw her as previously abruptly changed, transformed into a disturbing and rotten figure, an abomination of what she was before. Behind her, four other similarly disfigured characters appeared. Shadow Rush froze in terror and began screaming on top of his lungs at their sight.

"Some things are not meant to be seen to us. We are simple, mortal. The malevolence of evil destroyed us..." Twilight Sparkle's mutilated shape recited.
"...We are the fallen ones. We wait for our dear friend's corrupted soul to come back with us to the promised plains. Please retaliate her soul." Twilight Sparkle said before the door opened and two ponies in white suits came towards Shadow Rush's position.

The poor colt continued shrieking, his eyes not leaving Twilight Sparkle's empty sockets as he was being dragged away. The mare somehow continued to fixate him as he was moving away, before her and the rest of the ghouls' figure vanished into thin air. Despite that, Shadow Rush was still dreadfully screaming, even when the doors of his cell closed up as he was being brought inside a room with a large sign written over its two doors: Execution Room.

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A while later, Shadow Rush was strapped down on a table with syringes plunged everywhere in his skin. Doctors crawling all over the room made sure preparations were complete, as they took samples of the poison they would inject the unicorn with inside machines who were linked to the needles. In another room, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were present, both of them looking into the other room with expressionless glares as they assisted the preparation for Shadow Rush's execution. A intercom rang inside their room, as one of the doctors in the execution room was adjusting a microphone, giving it a few tests before getting the confirmation that it worked. As minutes passed, one of the doctors walked up to this microphone and activated it.

"We are going to begin with the euthanization of Shadow Rush, or Patient N.013 in a few moments." he announced in a mourning tone, his voice flooding the room where the two princesses waited.

A pony who seemed to be the head doctor of this procedure came nearby Shadow Rush, looking down on him with a long, sorrowful stare. He then turned around to a pony near a lever, nodding his head to acknowledge the start of the procedure. This pony looked uncertain at the level before pulling it down. Poison now started flowing from their containers down through tubes and into Shadow Rush's body. The head doctor was about to step away from him when he suddenly felt a weak grasp around his hoof. As he looked back, he saw that it was his patient wrapping his hoof onto his, looking back at him with a stare. Not one full of hate or fear for that matter, but one pleading a favor.

"Please. Retaliate the soul of the corrupted one. Her friends are waiting for her on the other side. Transmit this message to my...my best friend, Zequus. He...he'll know....what I mean." Shadow Rush said faintly to the head doctor, his voice being registered by the microphone as it echoed in the other room.

"A....a.....and tell him...that I s-s...say...I'm sorry. I-I...I'm sorry every...pony. I'm sorry....G....G...Guilty....S-S...S...Sparks." he added his final words, gasping for air before his grasp went loose and his eyes closed shut.

Everyone in the room lowered their heads, not saying a word to the tragic event they had committed. In the other room, Princess Luna followed their example, as Princess Celestia stood there with a different reaction. She instead cried silently with tears profusely flowing down her face, mourning to the death of her beloved student and subject.

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Somewhere else in Canterlot, there was a saddlebag that was left open. This one used to be Shadow Rush's personal piece of equipment that was given to him by his parents as a foal when he had been accepted into Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Inside of it was many notes that he had taken during his research time in Ponyville and a few books that had not been returned to Guilty Sparks during his emergency departure. There was one tome that stood out from the other contents found in the bag: a black leather tome. At the moment when Shadow Rush's life ended on the other side of the city, the book began to quake onto itself. Its vibration making it levitate and creating a dark void behind it, where it dissipated into.

A faint sound of distorted laughter was heard coming from the vortex.

Diaries of Patient N.013

Warning:
This data is considered confidential and belongs to the equestrian government, and only those with approved consent from the highest ranks can view it. Some of the names and details have been blacked out due to personal and security reasons for the ones who were associated. Viewing the following information should also be reconsidered or prohibited for some due to some of its content may be considered disturbing and the possibility of arcane-induced symptoms appearing are great. These strange symptoms have been reported in the past by some lecturers after viewing the notepad and any future individuals may suffer the same symptoms that range from paranoia, hallucinations, catatonia, muscle spasms, extreme anxiety, cardiac arrest and many more.

You have been warned.

The following is a notepad that had been found inside Patient N.013's saddlebag after he was declared dead. It was used daily by him as a diary, with every page being a resume of each day he had in Ponyville explaining in details his research and events that came about to him and his partner. Four of the two-hundred pages have been used for this purpose, one was left completely blank, nearly a dozen had drawings on them and the rest are covered in undecipherable scribblings.

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Day 1:
On the first page of the pad it is completely blank. This was compensated by the subject on the second page, describing the reasons of the postponement.
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Day 2: Tuesday, 28th October.

2136 Hours
Alright, I'm sorry for being late, but last night I just wasn't in the mood to make a report of my first day in ██████, and with good reasons that I'll explain later on.

First I'd like to mention that this town is a total shit hole, as if the town's development degraded instead of advancing in time. The settlements look like they haven't been maintained in a while, the roads are broken and terribly dark at night for that matter, and the inhabitants are something to reconsider your choices in staying here. But that was only my first impression, as the apartment that ██████ and I have acquired for our stay proves otherwise as being well-maintained and very comfy. The scary looking settlers in this town are themselves quite amicable despite most of them being of considerable degree. This doesn't change the fact that the roads just suck!

Yesterday's morning was just plain awkward for me. After waking up, I found ██████ along with a mare in his bed, both of them completely hung over from their 'adventures' last night. Fortunately for him, I managed to find a pair of sunglasses in my suitcase and found some ice that I placed inside a bag, but no painkillers for his migraine. Even so, it still took an hour to drag him out of the building because he was resentful in going outside. We were on our way to the town's library until we came across a strange pony, known as ██████, who was rambling some fake, but some what accurate prophecy of ██████████████████. I told him to move away, before my presence disturbed him greatly and continued saying more nonsense, this time about me. That was until the rest of the citizens carried him away, a hilarious sight it was. But then these ponies also became disturbed after I asked them politely what his ranting was about, all running away from me. What it something that I said?

Eventually, me and ██████ did arrive at the library, where we met the town's librarian, ██████. A real nice and good looking mare I say, she was...never mind that previous statement. In our stay over there, we met again █████████, the bartender from last night. Unfortunately we didn't stay enough to start a conversation with the two, as they insisted us both to leave because they had some important matter to speak of. I wonder what it could of been so that they rushed us so unexpectedly? None of the less, we took what remaining time we had to explore all around █████████. After walking around for a long time, we decided to call it a day and get back to our apartment to start our studies on ██████████, that was until I saw strange activity at the corner of our street, revealing to be once again ██████, this time acting and disguised as a robot. I then decided to follow him, a greedy attempt to study the bizarre psychology and his claims of encountering ███████████, a decision that I ended up regretting later.

Never will I attempt to follow somepony who is as crazy as he is, the pursuit was just grueling and my ears now hate me for what I made them go through. Upon arriving at his 'house', which was actually just a few metal foils tied to an amazing amount of tin cans, his door literally fell off as I knocked on it and he greeted me with only a grunt. I did permit myself to go inside, and this is where it took a turn to the disturbing: his wallpapers were just newspapers that all talked about kidnappings and disappearances that went throughout Equestria. He was onto something, not exactly sure what it was. Maybe he was aware of the dragon-pony war going on? Anyways, his mood suddenly changed when he greeted me to have some tea with him. I did accept, as for he was my chance in getting to know more about ██████ and ████████████. After showing him ████████████, his reaction was immediate and began rambling things that were similar to what he went on earlier that day. I tried reasoning with him that it was only a tome, but he became aggressive and launched at me, holding me high in the air with his hooves. He continued on with his speech, and I could of sworn that he had cast a spell, summoning darkness all around us. I was terrified at that point, I could barely speak but I managed to say a few things that apparently calmed him down, the darkness soon vanished away. It was then that I realized that he was amnesic, after he offered me more tea as if nothing had happened. I couldn't stay after that, so I ran away. And then....I don't remember much, but I know I was coming back to the apartment where we resided. ██████ furiously greeted me at the door after he came down the stairs, but I just couldn't talk to him. And this is why I didn't make a report the previous night.

Now, for what we did today: absolutely nothing but study and occasionally go out to get some food. We did come across a few familiarities as we went out, such as ████████ and █████████, but we didn't really stay long enough engage into an important conversation as ██████ and I were in a hurry to get back to our studies. I'll leave it at there, because now I'm completely worn out from all the studying. See you tomorrow!
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Day 3: Wednesday, 29th October.

1337 Hours
Today, ████████ and I had a crazy idea for our research on ████████: we visited the abandoned shed in the outskirts of █████████ where the Elements of ████████ used to reside, also known as 'the traces of darkness' by the locals. We did have a glimpse of it when we arrived two nights ago, but back then was already too dark and unclear to see the place, but today is our chance to get an up-close view of that place. I'm really excited for this!

1953 hours
As we left, many curious ponies asked where we were heading and when we answered them, they always ended up either begging us not to go or slowly trotted away from our position, all of which had fear in their eyes. We dismissed their pleas and ███████ mentioned that some ponies in towns like this one are always very superstitious, but we immediately understood their fears when we arrived at the shed: the place was really eerie looking. At that moment, I had a feeling as if somepony had followed us and were now observing us, something that I had felt in the first night. But I forgot about the feeling and we broke inside the place... for science that is!

Upon inside, we found what was quite expected: overgrown plants crawling everywhere and many rotten and broken wooden planks that we nearly killed ourselves at many repetitions, figuratively that is. We made a few experiments all around the place, but most of which had resulted with disturbing news: the floors, walls and even the damn ceilings had traces of blood! And not just animal blood...pony blood was also discovered. We both agreed to immediately leave the place and never come back and as we did, I saw through one of the first floor's windows something that caught my attention: the figure of a pegasus in between trees that resided in the Everfree Forest in a distance. After that I turned my attention elsewhere for a few seconds and looked back to that figure, it had vanished!

As I'm writing this, we just about came back from there a while ago and we are now planning in heading at ██████████, to get a few drinks and chat with some locals, do something to forget the horror we witnessed back at the shed. Maybe I'll get to see ██████████ and engage in a conversation with her. Gesundhoof!
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Day 4: Thursday, 30th October.

1217 Hours
Wow, it was a hell of good times last night! I still have this particularly catchy tune stuck to my head, it was just that catchy! Anyways, █████████ is still asleep at the moment, and I'm trying to get myself too excited after remembering last night's events! I even had a chance to talk with ███████ for a while, that was until ███████ stood on the counter and started waving his......nevermind. This doesn't need anymore details.

Now that we are done with the books that █████████ offered us, I'll soon be on my way to return them to her, if not now. On a side note before I leave, we got mail from Princess Celestia. It said that we'll have to cut it short on the research, as instead of leaving on Sunday we'll be leaving this Saturday, like this causes much of a difference. I'll come back to write some more on you, my little note-y!

1735 Hours
Oh my goddess, I kissed her! I kissed █████████! Ok ok ok Shadow Rush keep it together! It isn't that much of a big deal is it? Who am I kidding, I kissed a mare by accident and...and...I liked it. Ok let's all summarize what happened:

I arrived over there as I had expected. As I knocked on the door, I heard some banging inside. I rushed inside to see what had happened and found that she had tripped on a staircase. She seemed dazed from her experience so I helped her get up before I told her that I had come to drop the books she had given me the other day, and that I had come to take more. Her expression became perplexed at those words and became impressed how the two of us finished nearly two dozen books in less than four days. We then engaged into a conversation that despite the fact it felt like time had not passed at all, it had actually lasted over four hours long! I had to remind myself that I had to pick up the books from her, so we went together look for the books in the library. As we organized the books, she yet again tipped over on some books that were in her way and fell on me, and before we knew it, our lips had connected. After being in disarray for a few instants, I immediately got up ran away, leaving her and the books behind.

Right now ███████ left to get the books back, but right now I feel so ashamed to what happened and that I did something so stupid. Yet I feel...relieved, I just don't know why but I feel relieved. My body and mind has been acting very strange ever since it happened.
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Oh no, that means I've just compromised one of the rules that Princess Celestia ordered me not to do! I couldn't make any friends here in █████████, and now I just came back after kissing a mare on her lips! What do I do, what do I do?
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Zequus is at the door right now, gotta go!

2458 Hours
Crap, I completely forgot that tomorrow is Nightmare Night! I better go off early with Zequus to find some costumes! Maybe there is some tailor in town that could help us.
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Day 5: Friday, 31st October.

1943 Hours
Happy Nightmare Night! Apparently, Nightmare Night is real big deal here in ██████████, because apparently it was the night when over a century ago the Elements of Magic had convinced to the town that the newly arrived Princess Luna was not Nightmare Moon. Ever since, it has been not only a holiday night, but a night in honor to this brave mare who showed everypony else that looks and rumors are not to be trusted.

The Elements of Magic, if the story of ██████████████ is true, she was kidnapped on the final night of the week after Nightmare Night by the ghoulish figure of █████████████. Such a sad and strange story. Now that I've been searching for over five days on subjects about █████████, I'm starting to wonder if the story is true after all and if the inhabitants of this town have been hiding the truth all the long. I'll ask ███████████ about this tonight.

Putting my worries aside, ███████ and I did manage to find a pair of costumes from a tailor by the name of Woven Webs! I got the coolest one: a zompony costume. I don't know why, but I've always liked myths about the living dead coming back to life, a reason why I was looking forward to this assignment. Not that I've encountered any zompony so far, but it has its own thrills. ███████ on the other hoof, got himself an oreo cookie costume. That's right, he's going to be a zebra...wearing an oreo costume. I'm dying of laughter at these thoughts!

Anyways, we've been invited to a party that's going to be at ███████'s library. It's called the 'Treehouse of Horror' event, and there's going to be everypony in town over there enjoying music, drinking and conversing with each other. I don't know about all this, considering that we'll be around some very worrying individuals, but the fact that I know that ███████ will be there is very...relieving. ███████ is just about done putting on his costume now, stay tuned to the stories of Shadow Rush the unicorn!
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͐̋̐Y̍́ͭ̾͆ͣO͗͑͆̌̇ͬ̐U ̒̌̏́W͐̽͐̆̐̈̚I̓̑̐̃̃̔LĹͭ̎ͩ ͥͤ͊ͥ̿̃̍D͋̀̐ͨIE ̊̾ͭ̉͐I͋̉̓̂N͌̏̉ ͛̑̑ͫͣͮVͥ̚Å̋̏ͮ̽͌̐IN ̈́̎̊̃̐͑Aͤͮͩ̂͑N̈D͆ͫ͐ ͮ̂ͩỲ͐̾̓̐̉Ǒͨͩ̀ͣ͗͂Uͬ̿ ͪ͂̒̆͛WIͦLͭ͌ͬͨL͊̈̏̍͒͒ SUͪ͐̄ͨͩ̿ͪF͛͛F͐͗̓͛̃̊E̓R͂ ͑͗̓̆J̏ͫUͭSͦ͋͐Tͫ ̔͌A̍S͂ͯ̇͊͒̃̚ ̾̋̃̒͑M̚A̎͆͂N̂̾Y̍̅ͦ͗̐ͦͯ ̈͆ͥ̊D̒Ī̌͆̓ͤͨͨD̓̅ͮ̽ ͮͥ̂ͬB̐ͫ͗ͩ́EF̿͆̀̆͋̎ORͪ͛̽ͧĚ͆̌́̇ͫ́ ͑̽Y̾̓Oͣ̇̂ͭ̋̐̓U̎͆
ͨ͋ͫͧͩ̓D͐ͮͪ̒̅͋̈́I͐̈́̓ͦͭE̐ ̄̏͛ͥͤ͗ͥM͋́O͆T̓ͧ̓ͬ̑HEͫ̆͛ͭ͌Rͮ̀̈ͧ́ͭ̚ ̓̾ͬFU͊̉̾̔ͦ͋ͣĈ́̉̈́̈̐K̎ͥ̇̆̾E̐̾͛̔R̀ͦ́͐̎̃, ͥ̾ͨDİ̐͊̄E͛͆̓͒̇ ̾ͣ̀̏̾̋D̈́I͑͂E ͆̈ͣ̈́̏D̅ͧ́̎ͥ͊ͪI̓Ȅ̄ͤ
̄̾̓ͥ̐ͭ͗E̊̐ͣ̅Vͭ̒ͪĖR̊YPͤO͌͊NY͑̅ͮͭ̔̄ͫ ͬ̆͛̚THͥ̐̑̓̒ÄT̑ͭ̉̑̈́̚ ̇ͨ̉̇ͧͣͤY̽́ͧͦ̒͋O̽̎̓Ůͬ̓͛ͮͫ͆ ̔ͣ̀Ľ̓̿̑̎̾̋Oͩ̔̔ͬVͧ́̐̓͗̏E̅D̔ ̊̑̄̈̎̍ͥWͭ̾ͭ̂Ĩ̓LLͣͪͥ̃ SU͋͗Fͩ͆F̒̓́͌ER̎ͣ̄ͩͤ ͒̎A̎N̆̃ͧD̋ ͤͤ̂̉ͬ͛͑Mͦ͑̆͂̅̑O̓ͮ̏Ű̔̍͊ͣ͐R̒͆͐̽N ̒ͨ̓̒̅̐ͥTͭ̈́O TͣͣHͥ͛͆ͫ̉ͮͨE͒̈͛ ̏̅͋Àͪͭ̔T̋R͋̓ͧOCͣ̆ͯI̔̉ͦTIͮ̉͐E͊̌S ͯ̊T̓̍͒H̍̌̒A̋ͥͧ͛̎̆T̔̽̂̑ͤ ̆ͪ̓̒͂I̋ͯͩͬ ̈Wͫͥ̓I̔ͤͨͫ̈́L̎̈́́̑́Lͧ̇ͮ ͩͮ̍̎̓ͫ͆MA̎̈́͐ͮ̉K̒ͪ̂͑E̎̈͐ͣ̒ ͦ͗̎ͤ̇ͮY̒O̚U ̿͛͂͑̇͂̿G̽ͩ́͒͐Oͥ͂ ̄̓͋Tͬ̒H̒̏̿̄̏̀ͫRͬ̄͂̑O̔͗̈́ͬ̒Ǘ̈̓͒̿͗G͒ͭ́ͣH̔ ̋̂ͤ̉Y͊̂̈Oͤͤͨ͌̒U̒ ͬS̈́̑H̒͑O̓̊ͨͫ̌ͩULͧͣD̍̉̾ͬ̏ ̍ͪ̇̔ͬ̌OͤF̈́̍ L̃̒͋̀̀́̎Iͦ̆̉̑̓͑ͯSͫ̍̑̍̏̒T̓Ē͊͋̓ͨN̿ͭ́̇Eͭͨ̎̇̽ͬ̉D͛ ̑̌ͫ͒̚T͑̾O͗ T͐̄ͧ͑͋͑̚H͛̉̔E͂ͥ͗͑ͧ Cͩͩ̉̐̇R̽̊Ǔ̎̆ͧ́̇̚Sͮ͛́͋T͑ͦ͌͛Ÿͣͥ ͥ̾ͭ̐O̽̈́̄̚LD P̓̾ͧO͋ͤ̄NͯY̽́͂ͧ̌̆̓
͊̐̀̋̔Ẏ͋ỎU WI͌Lͦͥ̎L͆͐̂̊͒ ̊̚NŌ̐͒T̄̎ͯͥͫ͂ ͋̄́ͨ̌ͮ̀L͛͊̍ͮ͋ͥEͮͩ́ͬǍ̿Vͮ͂́̑E͆͆͆͊̂͐̚ Tͤ̒ͬ͐̄͋ͨHÌ̅Sͩ ͧ̉͋T̾̆ͤ̓̽OWN̉̅ͤ ̅̑͒̏̂͛ͦṪHĒ̉̿ͮ͗ S̄A̍ͥ̄M̈̄̂E͒͐̐ͧ͐ ͧͨ̓ͬ̋ͧ̚Y̓͆̇ͫO̓ͮŪ̎ͨͣ Ȧͫ̃̓̀ͯ́R̉̀̆͊Ȅ̉̓͐ͤ̈̿ ͣ̀Nͬ̓͛̌O̎͛Wͣͣ̅̉
̾ͭ̉͑̃DͫͨI̒͆ͪ̃̍͂E Dͪ̄́I̍Ë D́I͗ͯ͒͆͛E̊ͯͪ̊̏̀̿ D̏Iͣ͗ͬ̐̽̀E͋ ̄ͩ̒ͣ͗Ď͐ͮ̈͆̐I͐̑E͐̂̆ ̓̓ͥĎ̓͊̑̏ͩI͆ͨ̄̅E͛ ̉̊ͯ̃D͐ͪ̚Iͯ͌͐̈́̎̎̾E͗͑̋ͥ͌ͬ ͪ̄ͬ̎̎̄D̈͐ͣͧǏ̂̍E̾ ̀ͦ̄̎͑D̅ͥ͆̔̓ͬI͊͑E̓ ̉̈́D̒̉̍̽ͨͥ͒I̊ͬ͋̓̌͐E
͑̄̔͒͋̿p͆̊ͫl͗ͣ̓é̆aͦ̋sͥ͂̓ȅ helͪ̉͑̃pͣ̓
͆͐ͤDI͗ͪ̂ͮ̀Eͪ͌̊ͪ̊ ̽͌Dͭ̊́͗̂Iͫ͂Ẻ̐̑ ̅̅DIͮͤ̽Ẽ̇ͤ͆ͧ͊ ̈̑D̑Ỉ̆͂̓ͧ͛̓E̔̑ Dͨ͗̂̅I͑̒̈́̿̔̍E̔ ̀̃ͫDͥ̉̇̅̉̌͆Ĩ̽ͫ̄E ͭD͋̑͊I͋̒̿̔E͌̋͆̃̐ͪ̌ ͦͪ͛D͂Ïͥͫͭ̎́E͛̀ ̋D̂ͧ̾ͮͫ̄̽Îͭ̾̇̽̆E͌̔ͩ̓̀ͪ ͧ̒̈̑Ď͐ͪͤͬͤ̇I͊͑̋ͩ͐̔̈́E̋̌̚ ͛ͦ͐ͮ͌D̋I̽Eͣ̈́ͩ̿ͮͤ ̈̅̃̓͌̉̀DI͂̍ͮ͗ͬ͆E͊ DI̒͌Ė ̔̽ͤ̈ͩ͑D̂ͮ͗͆̀̒̓IͬͫEͪ͊ ̏̅͑͆̅̚D͊͂͛͐ͫ͐Ȋͯ͑ͦ̿Eͧ͂ͪ̽͒͐̚ ̔͗͊̾Dͫ̈̓̓IEͧ̈́͂̎͆̿ͫ ̄̅D͐̾̑͛̉Iͭ͊E̔ͭ͛ͭͦ̀ D͊̉͊̾̾I͐ͮ̒É͊͆̎̅ ̂̓ͤ͑ͣDͬ͗ͦͥI̍ͤ̍̒͗̿Ē͆͐͌̏̍̋ ̏̓̀̃ͩͧ̏D̋̀̔I̊̿͋̂̐̏E ͦ̄̋ͣͭDͬͭ̄ͩ̇̓̂I͑ͣ̽̈́̅̓E̓ͬͧ̑̂̎ ͩ̇ͫͬDͥ̓Ĩ̉͆E͑ͨͣ ̒̌͗D͂IͧEͪ͒ DĨE͐̂ͧ͋̓̅ ͥ̌D͑͐ͮ͒ḮĖ̅̌̓̅ͥ̆ ͪ̈̔ͦ̉̏DIͫĔ͒̽ͮͫ̒ ͌Ď̓I͊̌ͮͩE̊̃͑ D͗̇Iͬ̅Ë̅ ͭ͆̆̇̈́ͨD̅̋I̎̃ͦEͣ̿
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The following pages are crude drawings of macabre acts being committed with scribblings of a lost language covering all of the drafts. It was at this point where most previous readers of these notes had started showing the mentioned symptoms. We currently do not know the individual who engaged in drafting inside Patient N.013's notepad and enchant it with a powerful spell, nor do we know of his intentions.

Author's Note

Now that you are completely done with reading The Stare: Malevolence of Evil, how about you play a game? It's simple:
- Find all the game/movie/pop culture/brony culture references that I've placed in the story. If you find everything, I promise to be your B.B.B.F.F and give you a TF2 hat.

Thank you again for reading The Stare: Malevolence of Evil and be sure to give your final comment and criticize the story as much as you can, and have a nice day.

Peusterokos1