Night In The Neverfree

by Late Night Luna

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Lyra, Horror, Scootaloo
Length: 4224

Those who run from their fears, risk being consumed by them.

Scootaloo enters the Everfree in search of an escape from her own nightmare. Finding out monsters come in all forms.

Published 2023-05-07 17:30:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-05-09 16:48:08 UTC

Arrival.

Scootaloo trotted across the empty path leading into The Everfree, her hoof steps echoed high into the treetops as all light had been blocked out by the overgrowth of the forest. Midday felt closer to midnight than anything else, the child wondered if the flier promising twenty bits a day for “Help” was worth it.

The tiny pegasus came to a large block in the path, thorns grew around bushes and trees. She tilted her head to the side to make out a detour, yet could only see the twisted growth of this dark place.

Wondering if she should turn back, the child spun around, the dark outline of a pony atop a nearby hill catching her attention. Bleak eyes and a shadowy frame gave haste as it bolted off, the figure too fast for a pony.

Scootaloo swallowed the lump in her throat, pushing off the main path and into the tangled woods around her. Her violet-colored hues kept watch for the stranger, she could feel thorns and branches tear at her coat like monstrous claws.

She let out small yelps of pain, blood from the scratches forming across her body trickling down towards the ground. Each new scratch stung like a lashing from a whip, she tried to call out but felt the words trapped in her throat.

Bursting out of the brush with many new cuts across her small frame, she came muzzle first to a small cozy cabin lost within the middle of this horrible place. Smoke wafted from the chimney giving hope that somepony was home, her tiny legs carried her over to the old wooden door.

“Knock-knock” Her delicate hooves pounded across the oak frame, and the sound of her breathing started to calm as she waited for a reply.

“Hello, I’m Scootaloo. I’m looking to answer a flier for help?” She spoke in a soft melody, not wanting to draw attention to herself.

“I think... somepony might be out here? Can you please open up?” Scootaloo tapped her tiny hooves across the frame again.

She could feel those bleak eyes gazing into her soul, she swung around to catch a glimpse of the shadow. Yet she could see nothing but dying woods for miles, those eyes hidden somewhere deep within forever watching.

The pony was close, she could feel it, blending in with the death around it. Taking joy in the fear it brought the small child, the filly helpless but to just stand out in the open shivering wildly. Her hoof lifted to smack the door, echoes wafting about to deaf ears.

“Anypony home!?” She spoke in a loud and frightened tone, walking over to a dust-covered window and glancing inside curiously.

“Thwack!” The loud pop of an ax slammed down right next to the child's head, slicing deep into the window sill like melted butter.

“Ahhh!”

“Whatcha doing buddy?” An odd older mare giggled as she towered over the child.

She rested a hoof against the shaft of the ax in a playful manner, watching the child fall to the ground with a thud.

“Did you try to hit me with an ax!?” Scootaloo felt her heart race deep within her chest wildly, threatening to explode out into the open at any second.

“Phst, No! I always slam my ax there.” The mare gave a loud snort as she flaunted a hoof to the sill, indeed many ax gashes could be seen across the surface.

Scootaloo gave a soft groan as she fell back onto the cold moist ground. Her eyes gazed at the hidden sky above, as she took a minute to collect herself from the scare. The mint mare cantering over with a smile, glancing down to the child shaking her head amused.

“You must be Scootalong?”

“Loo”

“Ah, Loo right! Well, I’m Lyra Heartstrings, but you may call me friend.” Lyra gave a soft wink and helped the child back to her feet.

“I thought you lived…”

“Lived in town? I do, but my marefriend Sweetie is hosting a La-de-da!”

“La-de-da?”

“A fancy pants party! I of course didn’t want any of that, so I’m holding up in our spare cabin for the weekend.” Lyra gave a small stretch as she galloped over to the front door, using her light green magic to float a key down from the roof.

“Um, what is it that you need help with?”

“I need a friend.”

“Umm.”

“I hate being out in the woods alone, so I thought what better way to meet new ponies than a flier!”

“...”

“So yeah. No jobs really, I just need somepony to talk with and help me scarf down some junk food.”Lyra unlocked the door with a soft click, simply tossing the key back onto the roof afterward.

Scootaloo tilted her head to the side unsure what to think about this, taking a few steps forward she peeked into the cabin. Within was a cozy set up for a weekend getaway, the fireplace had a dwindling flame and freshly bought supplies were set atop a nearby table.

The filly inched within as the mare closed the door behind her with a soft click. The cabin was in great condition and very clean with various knick-knacks lining the wall. Scootaloo blinked confused at a wall to the left, across every inch of it were photos of just Lyra alone at different locations across Equestria.

“Why are you alone in all the…” Scootaloo scrunched her muzzle, seeing a large self-portrait painted to the right, the mare flashing a forced duckface upon it.

“This is my little getaway, I call this wall “The Me Machine!”.” Lyra giggled and softly inched the portrait to the side to keep it centered.

“...”

“I painted this one by hoof on a warm winter day…” Lyra gave a soft sigh and spun to face the filly, her eyes locked upon the many cuts covering her guest.

“Well, aren't you roughed up!? Follow me and I’ll clean you up." The mare ruffled the mane of the child, galloping off into the kitchen at top speed and vanishing near the corner.

“Uhhh.”

“C’mon, pokey!” Lyra poked her head out from the corner, her ears twitching in place cutely.

Scootaloo took each step slowly into the kitchen, an odd smell wafting from someplace nearby as she lifted a hoof to cover her muzzle. Eyes falling to a loose plank of wood on the floor, a very dull almost black substance covering the edges.

Her attention was pulled back into reality as Lyra lunged out at her from a small bathroom. It was tucked away near the kitchen, a single-lit candle keeping it in view. Lyra couldn’t help but giggle at the cute filly, watching her back up and curl into a ball near the corner frightened.

“Don’t be such a scaredy cat! I come bearing health!” Lyra gave a squee holding up a small white rag and an old jar of yellow liquid.

“I’m fine really.” Scootaloo gave a weary giggle as the mare inched close, popping open the jar and dabbing the rag into the odd warm liquid.

“Don’t be a silly filly! If you don’t use some of this, you are just asking for trouble.” The mare gave a soft coo, gently dabbing the rag onto the cuts covering the child’s hooves.

Scootaloo winced as her ears folded back, it was warm and stung her many scratches. Yet left a tingling and cool sensation behind, she had to admit it did feel nice after the fact. Standing in place she allowed the mare to gently dab the wounds, a sweet and gentle hum lifting into the air.

“So what made you think this job was right for you?” Lyra broke the soft hymn with a question, eyes locked upon her work and not the child.

“I just like helping other ponies,” Scootaloo replied as her head turned away, looking out a nearby window as the sun began to set.

“Oh, is that so!? The bits mean nothing to you?” Lyra gave a firm dab onto a large cut, causing the child to wince slightly.

“I guess it’s good pay…”

“Going to buy a new toy?” She scraped roughly across a bleeding cut.

“No…”

“Eat lots of candy?” The mare pressed her hoof hard against the smaller hoof, the pressure causing the child to fold her ears back.

“Ow…”

“Maybe go out and just get something you don’t need,” Lyra spoke in a stern and harsh tone of voice, sending a shiver down the child’s backside.

“No! I need the bits to help my family!” Scootaloo yelped as she pulled away from the mare, curling up in her corner and fighting back a flood of tears.

“Oh!” Lyra bit her lower lip, floating a long stream of bandages across the air that very tenderly wrapped around the child’s hooves.

The mare folded her ears back and trotted out of the kitchen, leaving the jar open and the rag thrown onto the floor. Scootaloo gave a glance down at her freshly bandaged hooves, taking a small moment to gather her thoughts and calm her soul.

“Thud!”

“Thud!”

“Whack!!”

The filly eased herself into the dining area, the mare sitting on a nearby chair. Her head banged up and down on the oak table, her forehead turning a dull red color as each smack became harder.

“What are you doing?” Scootaloo spoke up in worry, the mare continuing to bash herself before going limp.

“Lyra?” She spoke in a shivering tone, her hooves carrying her a bit closer to the mare.

Lyra never gave a movement, her body as still as the dark and cloudless sky outside. Scootaloo extended a hoof to the mare, her tiny touch pressing in on her side for any sign of life.

“Whut!?” Lyra grumbled aloud as the child jumped back. Her heart raced again as the mare lifted her head, a small stream of blood cascading down in front of her left eye.

“I…"

“Bits are right there.” She flaunted a hoof in front of herself.

The child glanced to the edge of the table, a bag overflowing with coins left out on the wooden surface.

“That's more than twenty.”

“It’s five hundred.”

“Why?”

“You need help.”

“Are you ok?”

“I need...yes.”

“You sound sad.”

“Sweetie is gone…”

“What about the party?”

“Gone…”

“I…”

“I’m sorry I told a lie, she left me today...I don’t want to be alone.” Lyra folded her ears back, hiding her muzzle away on the table surface again.

“I won’t leave you.” Scootaloo inched closer to the mare, nuzzling her muzzle on her side tenderly.

“They all leave.”

“I won’t...I promise.”

The mare lifted her head again, eyes weak and broken as if full of a deep internal conflict. Lyra gave a small huff as she lifted a hoof, the child cuddling in close as she gave the mare a warm hug.

Peace filled the air around them, the night had finally fallen completely silent.

It brought the warmth of friendship if only Lyra could open her heart and accept it.

Creators.

Scootaloo let her eyes lift to the abyss high above, the branches of dying trees seemed to stretch out like monstrous claws. Hiding away the beauty of this crisp night and instead showering the world below in bleak emptiness.

Her tiny hooves pressed down on the drinking well hoof pump, ice-cold water from far within the earth pouring forward. Scootaloo took a quick hoofful of the liquid, splashing her face with it enjoying the cooling effect it had upon her.

Closing her eyes she allowed herself to be carried back home, away from the chill of the woods and the fear of the night. Opening soft violet hues she gazed towards her reflection in a mirror, back at home and alone in the bathroom as the sound of screaming could be heard downstairs.

“Leave her alone!”

“Let her see what this sickness brings!”

“Nooo, Just stop!”

The banging of a strong hoof on the door caught her attention, each smash causing the frame to bulge off the hinges. He would be inside soon enough, the door began to shake uncontrollably before it swung wide open.

“Look at what this evil brought!”

Scootaloo just gave a stare in silence, a stream of tears rolling down her cheeks.

“Scoots in a half-shell! It's time to party!” Lyra yelled from deep within the cabin, the filly shaking off the haze that was her memories.

Splashing her face one last time to wash away the tears.

“I’m on my…” Scootaloo couldn’t even find the words to finish, walking inside was a sight to behold indeed.

Fresh apples and oranges in a large bowl, a long silver platter decorated with many sandwiches of all kinds, from lovely oats and hay to the always great PB&J. Bag after bag of candy lined the table, as icy bottles of pop were out in the open to enjoy.

“Just wow!”

“I know right? We need to check if we are still ponies after this, we might just transform into pigs!” Lyra gave a soft wink as she sat in an odd position on her chair, back to the frame and sitting straight up.

Scootaloo jumped onto her seat, curling her hooves underneath her tiny frame. Her eyes filled with wonder as she reached a hoof out and nabbed a PB&J, taking a large bite from its delicious center as jelly rolled down her chin.

“So?”

“Om-nom. Mmm?”

“What trouble is your family in?” Lyra floated a string of small gummies high into the air, having them calmly float around her head as if in orbit around a sun.

“I’d rather not say.” Scootaloo popped open an icy bottle of pop, taking a small chug from the cherry flavor within.

“No fair, I told you about my Sweetie!”

“Well, you just told me that she left you.”

“...”

“My mom's friend is in trouble.” Scootaloo shared just a small bit, with the hope Lyra would jump off her back.

“Oh, I see!” Lyra gave a small giggle, floating three gummies into her mouth.

The filly just nodded along and took another bite from her sandwich, a sudden sting from a gummy hitting her in the right eye followed. Scootaloo winced and gave her eye a soft rub, looking over to the mare who just laughed.

“I see how it is! I’ll share a bit more on the subject, it would only be fair.” Lyra floated a bottle of pop in her magic, carrying it over to her as she broke open the top.

“You don’t…”

“Sweetie was always the odd one. I know, right?” She flaunted a hoof over herself.

“...”

“She wasn’t odd in a weird sense, just had to have things her way. Out in public, I was always to act in a certain way, chew with my muzzle closed, and sit down not on my backside.”

“I don’t think anything is wrong with the way you sit.”

“Oh, you!”

“...”

“Sweetie was just herself, she had to be the one in control. When we were out to watch a movie it was her choice, out to eat I always went with the salad.”

“Hehe. Salads are pretty good.”

“I BUCKING...I have to admit, I’m not a fan of salads.” Lyra gave a slight twitch to her left ear, calming her mind and flashing a smile.

“...”

“Sweetie always kept control. Why did I let her?”

“I don’t…”

“Because I loved her! Scootabuddy, we allow those who hurt us to keep on doing so, because deep inside we know they only do those horrible things out of love.”

“...”

“We will take that pain and mold it into excuse after excuse. Because they know in their souls, what they are doing is wrong and can’t be justified.”

“...”

“So really, we hurt ourselves, we create our monsters. Because we fuel our hell with not hate, but love.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. They set the rules, and we follow them to the letter! But when push comes to shove, they will always choose to break the rules.”

“I…”

“Sweetie would yell and embarrass me in public, telling those around us I was a slob or a piece of filth. I could never be perfect, I could never be more than...me.”

“Lyra…”

“Then one night…"

"..."

"She comes to my work drunk, saying with cider on her breath that it was I who drove her to this fate. Her muzzle stained with vomit and eyes as red as the sun, she cursed my name to all in the world.”

“...”

“She didn’t hold herself well in public, she didn’t keep her muzzle shut when drinking. She acted like a slob and indeed was a piece of filth.”

“...”

“So…I SMACKED THE BUCKING CIDER OUT OF HER! I MEAN IF I FOLLOW THE DAMN RULES, AT LEAST YOU COULD DO THE LUNA-BUCKING SAME!” Lyra smashed the bottle across the wall behind her, the cherry soda staining the wall a bright crimson.

“I’m so sorry.” Scootaloo folded her ears back in horror, gazing down at the floor in silence.

“As I said, it's only fair. Now Scootabuddy, why don’t you share?”

“But…”

“Tsk.”

“It’s only…”

“Fair. Yes, it would be.”Lyra flashed a sly smile, floating a new bottle to herself and cracking it open.

“My mom and her friend are in trouble.”

“Well duh? We’ve already established that it's rude to waste a pony's time.” Lyra enchanted a nearby hay sandwich and flew it over to herself.

“My mom’s friend has been kicked out of her home, she had been caught doing something horrible.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, my mom only wanted her to be herself. But something followed her.”

“Well?”

“She feels sorry for her, she just wanted to be happy. My mother told me that everypony deserves happiness, though some have to fight for it.”

“What followed her?”

“Hate or perhaps love?”

“Knocked upon the door?”

“Smashed it off the wall.” Scootaloo slowly lifted her head, eyes locking onto the mint mare in silence.

Lyra just batted lashes and lifted food to her mouth, taking a large bite from her meal and chewing it in deep thought. Scootaloo placed her food on the table, her appetite was no longer a problem.

“You are hiding something. Not telling the whole story, but that is fair.” Lyra gave a playful smile, quickly chugging her bottle of soda at top speeds before a loud burp filled the air.

“Sorry.”

“No apologies! A lie for a lie, I did the same to you.” Lyra just shook her head and tossed the half-eaten meal atop her plate, her hooves dancing across the old wooden surface.

Scootaloo could only watch as the mare lunged off her seat, cantering happily over to the front door and swinging it open proudly. The cold wind of the night gusting forward, Lyra sighed as her mane flowed back and her body shivered.

“Let’s go!”

“Where?”

“Monster hunting!” Lyra could barely hold back a squee, her eyes filled with enchantment and something else.

Something darker.

Hope.

“Brrr.” Scootaloo couldn’t stop her delicate frame from shivering, hooves were like jelly from the long hike deep into the darkness of The Everfree.

Teeth chattered as she could see Lyra skip and bounce excitedly ahead, a sing-song melody escaping her muzzle loudly filling the silence around them. Scootaloo felt sick to her stomach right now, her mind wondering if the shadow pony was still amongst them.

Yet at this moment in her life, it would not be the worst thing she was frightened of. The mare began a swift canter, her hooves picking up speed as it forced the filly into a sudden gallop.

“Please, come back!” Scootaloo yelled into the empty void.

“I’m scared.” The filly folded her ears downward in shame, her eyes watched the floor in fear of the unknown.

“Nothing to be scared of honey.” Her Aunt Holiday spoke up as she sat in a dark corner, her frame hidden behind a cloak of shadows.

“Things just happen. We must pull ahead.” Aunt Lofty gave a reassuring smile, features blocked by a haze yet her voice was so gentle.

“But what if?” Scootaloo held back tears.

“Nothing bad will ever happen, I won’t allow it! You don’t need to live in fear!” Holiday spoke up as she trotted out of the shadows, her body shimmered as if basking in Celestia's warm sun.

“Holi."

“Scootaloo, you are perfectly normal! I swear you're nothing less than wonderful.” Holiday stood beside the child, eyes gazing down upon her with a sense of tenderness.

“I’m afraid…”

“We’ll never judge you.” Her aunt leaned in for a hug, whispering those words she yearned to hear.

“Please, don’t run away from me!” Scootaloo felt her small body collapse into the cold damp dirt.

Her violet hues gazed forward to the emptiness ahead of her, the tone of Lyra completely gone.

The dark would creep up on the child, she could only curl into a small ball for protection. Those bleak ate-filled eyes were watching her, the pony of the abyss never understanding its prey, only wanting to tear apart the light.

Perhaps she deserved the hunt to end, to be outed by the monster and swallowed by the fear that gripped her heart so tight. She could hear its hoof steps come ever closer, hiding her muzzle behind small hooves. She tensed her body and winced in place, ready for the end at long last.

Hooves came to a complete stop, standing high above her wickedly. Breathing so shallow and dark, ready to lunge forward and drag the child to her own personal Tartarus. A firm hoof that offered no mercy stroked through her mane, a touch that only held lies and hidden hate.

“Why are you scared?” Lyra spoke up, her dull-colored eyes watching her shiver upon the damp grass.

“I’m not afraid, only tired.”

“Tsk. You only have one lie, any more than that is breaking the rules.”

“Where are we going?” Scootaloo spoke in a muffled tone, her tiny face buried into her hooves hidden away from the world.

“We are here to run from the monsters, can you hear them?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you stop?”

“I deserve to be found.”

“To be found now is to be lost.”

“I know.”

“Would you rather just run?”

“It’s too dark.” Scootaloo began to sob.

“It is quite bleak.”

“...”

“Share with me friend, why do you seek the end?”

“I’ve seen love, destroyed by hate.”

“This love you share?”

“I don’t want this fate.”

“The monsters are here.”Lyra could only sigh as she galloped ahead into the abyss, hidden away from the world once more.

“...”

“Run, the dark can only last till dawn!” Lyra’s voice wafted across the air, faint and quickly fading.

“Run? Face the dark, face it until it is gone.” Scootaloo lifted her face to nothingness, gritting her teeth as she lunged into the twisted woods.

Running with no fear in her eyes, breathing wildly, and hooves on fire. Facing head on the monster that gave chase, giving it no chance to attack as soon all would fade away. A pale blue light suddenly burst into view, a large opening in the middle of this nightmare was filled with beauty so bright.

The child slid to a stop in complete awe, Lyra gasping for breath near an old rotting tree. Scootaloo let her gaze rise, the trees were spread out neatly in this one place. The sky was not hidden but shone for all to see, stars lit the sky elegantly as the moon was at its brightest.

Her eyes soaked in the majesty that was before her, soul gaining peace. Such a light deep within the abyss, where nothing beautiful could survive. Gave her hope that even in the worst places, beauty could still form and flourish.

Nopony was beyond the light, we might find ourselves lost yet never forgotten. Lyra slowly pushed towards the child, the silence building once more between them. The night was more than half over now, the mare lifted her gaze to the sky as well with a look of confusion.

“What are you looking at buddy?” Lyra searched for anything of interest above, seeing only a dull and bleak sky full of emptiness.

“The light.”

“You see a light?”

“Don’t you? The stars are dancing and the moon is glowing.” Scootaloo could not help but giggle softly, eyes full of enchantment.

“Ah.” Lyra simply watched the skyline, all beauty gone from the world.

“Lyra.”

“Hmmm?” Lyra gave a soft silent huff in reply, her heart shattered as the light was lost to her.

“Thank you for showing me this.”

“You’re welcome.” The mare held back the sorrow, a single tear rolling down her cheek.

The time had come, she could no longer see the light.

She had to finish what she began, the night was ready to end.

Placing a soft hoof onto the child's shoulder, they watched the sky for a few more moments. The monsters that haunted them both faded out of the world, some coming into light while others sink into the abyss.

“Time to go home.”

“Why?”

“I have something to show you.”

“What?”

“My secret.”