Scootaloo and the School of Ghouls

The applause continued for a good few minutes, the armor standing absolutely still, with no indication it was even watching them. Twilight Soulshard continued to gaze upon it with adoring eyes, looking back at the audience every few minutes or so. When it finally died down, there was a few more seconds of silence...

...

And then… nothing happened.

Soulshard raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shadowed with slight hint of annoyance.

"Shadowed..." she whispered to him.

A beat.

...

Silence continued to fall as Twilight moved over to his side.

"Ugh," she grunted, tapping him slightly. "Edeathstria to Shadowed..."

At that, she finally got a response from it, what sounded like a loud, hoarse whisper:

"Mph."

"Come on! They're expecting a speech!" Twilight silently growled towards him.

Scootaloo raised an eyebrow. This... headmaster was far from what she expected. To be honest, she was expecting an old, Starswirl the Bearded-like ghoul with a black, cobwebbed beard or something to fit the nightmare theme, not he who seemed to be a warrior. He almost seemed to have a reluctant quality to him. Though perhaps he was just a bit thick... which wouldn't be much better.

"Very well..." he hissed back.

There was another few seconds of nothing before his whisper for a voice once again echoed through the hall:

"Greetings, younglings of the Nightmare Realm," he droned in an almost apathetic tone, though it being a whisper it was hard to tell for Scootaloo.

Still, as soon as he spoke, there was a renewed series of applause.

Ms. Soulshard smiled her usual merry smile, though with a hint of nervousness on her face, before the applause died down, and Shadowed continued with:

"I am Shadowed Armor, commander of the Northern Forces of the Edeathstrian Legion, and former Senior Instructor of the Necropolis Guard Academy. You will report to me any suspicious activity sighted or unusual behavior from your fellow students. Your classes start at 0700 hours. Rest up. That is all."

Clank!

Clank!

Clank!

Shadowed then began to make his way back around the table.

The ghouls of the hall looked at each other, as if unsure of what to do, before giving a series of polite applause, as Ms. Soulshard gave his brother a look that could kill.

And then, yet another new voice made itself known:

"Easy there, Shadowed! Don't want to show too much enthusiasm, they might think you're faking it!" it chirped, this one actually sounding deceptively soothing, as it echoed from a small door on the left of the staff table.

Scootaloo's eyes then widened as the most beautiful pony, or ghoul, she had ever seen entered from it. Pink, with a broken heart for a Cutie (or Putrid, as she knew them as) Mark. She had long, angelic wings stretching from her about the size of Princess Celestia's, though she wasn't nearly that size.

"P-Princess Cadence?!" Apple Bloom squeaked, gazing upon her nearly hypnotic presence.

Pipbossa immediately gave a growl. "Nay, that be no mortal princess, lass. That be Princess Congeria, everyghoul's favorite Siren." His eyes then narrowed with a spite none of his new friends had seen from him before. "We've... met before. Don't trust that witch, that's all I can say."

He then turned his attention back on Shadowed, watching him as he made hushed conversation with her.

"Uggggh... wives," Shadowed growled in a low tone, pausing in his steps. "Why did god see fit to create a problem that can't be dealt with via surgical strikes or decapitation?"

"Because that would take the fun out of life, sweetie," Princess Congeria smiled, scooting to his side and giving him a peck on the helmet.

He threw her back a light grunt.

"And furthermore, why did god have to make that problem so irresistible?" he said, taking a deep breath.

Still, at least one ghoul had enthusiasm for her arrival.

"Princess Congeria, I wondered when you'd get here!" Twilight chirped merily.

The princess immediately turned, smiling wide.

"Twilight Soulshard! It's so good to see you!" she beamed back.

And yes, the two of their voices could now be heard by the hall. The two then stood across from each other, before beginning a small little hoof-bumping routine to an almost unbearably happy jingle:

"Moonlight, Moonlight,

Make them dread our wake!

Hail to the eventide,

And make the mortals quake!"

They then giggled fanatically, as Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, and pretty much the entire hall gazed at them with blank looks.

Both Ms. Soulshard and Princess Congeria turned towards the students, the former simpering, but the latter holding her ground with a smile as if to say, 'buck you, I do what I want!'

At that, Soulshard took a deep breath and turned back to Shadowed, giving him another annoyed look.

"But anyway, come on, Shadowed! You can do better than that lousy speech!" she hissed.

If Shadowed had eyes, they would be narrowing.

"I am a soldier, Twilight. I should be out bashing heads on the field of battle, not patting heads in the field of academics. That's more of... your line of business. Why Nightmare Moon believed I would be fit for a task of a nurturer is beyond me."

Soulshard rolled her glowing, white eyes, giving a huff. "Fine, would you like me to continue?"

"I thought you'd never ask," he grunted, before continuing to march back around the table.

As Twilight Sparkle gave her a sympathetic glance, and 'Shining' a raised eyebrow, Ms. Soulshard then faced the crowd of students again, simpering. As she did so, Scootaloo caught Trixie chuckling slightly, sticking a playful tongue out at her.

"Well, it appears I will be leading the activities for this evening... as Shadowed is..." She shot him a glare. "Very tired from his long trip."

Shadowed merely stood motionless in response...

SHIIIIIINNNNNNGGGGGGG!.!.!

…Before unsheething a massive, glowing blue sword and beginning to sharpen it with a whetstone, ignoring the looks of awe from the crowd, and pretty much everything else around him.

"Seriously, hunny?" Princess Congeria said, giving him a sarcastic smirk.

"Ugh... be quiet, woman," he hissed, continuing to sharpen his blade. "Constant vigilance and a sharp sword. That's the only thing this school needs. To be honest, I'm happy they brought most of the children here. It makes guarding them easier. It's a perfect location to safeguard our youth, really, and that's all it is and ever will be to me: not a school, a fortress."

Princess Congeria raised an eyebrow. "But don't you think you're frightening them a bit?"

"Good, then I'm doing my job," he said, with not even a hint of a chuckle. "They need to be alert. A little taste of their own medicine won't hurt them, because even ghouls need fear. Fear makes you quick. Fear makes you tread delicately. And most importantly: it makes you as sharp..." He looked down upon his sword. "As a well-made blade."

Princess Congeria rolled her eyes, before turning her attention back to Twilight.

"As stated earlier," Ms. Soulshard continued. "Each of you will be divided into one of the four honored houses whose banners wave behind me!"

She then gestured towards them.

"Alright! Maybe we'll get into your father's house, Scoots," Sweetie chirped.

"Yeah..." Scootaloo sighed, gazing at its banner longingly. "That would be pretty cool."

"I just hope we all get placed in the same one..." Apple Bloom gulped. "I wonder how the whole thingamajig works."

Almost as if to answer her question directly, Soulshard then continued with:

"Now, each house represents the characteristics of the founders, of which will be elaborated upon shortly. Naturally, if you share the same traits as one of them, you will be placed into their house..." She then smiled warmly. "Though take heed: your say can and will affect the verdict of your placement. Choose wisely." She then glanced towards the massive, metal doors of the now freezing hall. "However, since the only ghoul who could possibly select your placement accurately is someone who could read minds, it's unfortunate that placements could be... miscalculated... unless we had someone like that among us, of course."

The students about the hall glanced at each other worriedly.

"Oh no! What if they make the wrong call and we all end up in separate houses!" Sweetie gulped. "I mean, the ghouls here are nice and all but I don't really want to-"

"Hang tight, Sweetie, I don't think Twilight's done," Pipsqueak smiled.

Indeed, Twilight then grinned widely. "Oh wait! We do happen to have someghoul like that!" Shen then cleared her throat before announcing, "everyone, give it up for everyone's favorite friendly neighborhood Eldritch Abomination, and both founder and leader of the House of Void, the Slendermare!"

At that, the eyes of everyghoul (and even pony) in the hall widened in delight as the monstrosity that was the Slendermare slowly crept through the doors to it: his evil, black tendrils licking into the moonlight, and his blank face quirking about occasionally as if to 'scan' various fillies and colts.

At that, a mass of black confetti fell from the ceiling, as a singing voice that sounded suspiciously like Pinkie's blasted from a loud speaker:

"Slendermare, Slendermare!

Friendly neighborhood Slendermare!

Rapes your mind,

(But with care),

Friendly neighborhood Slendermare!

Watch out! (OH GOD!),

Here comes the Slendermare!"

At that, the Slendermare halted in its treks, and Scootaloo could just tell it was giving Twilight Soulshard a glare.

"Mmm... think I went overboard?" she said, sweat-dropping towards the teachers.

"Nooo, it was fine," Twilight Sparkle smiled.

"Not bad, Lich Queen," Trixie Elphaba smirked.

"Pretty awesome if I say so myself, did you get Pinkie to record that on Nightmare Night?!" Rainbow Dash grinned.

"It was perfect, sourheart," Princess Congeria beamed.

However, Shadowed merely paused in his sword sharpening, before giving her a blunt, annoyed: "Yes.”

Soulshard gave him another glare, before turning back towards the students and the Slendermare, who was now right before the platform the staff were on, it 'gazing' at the students.

"Alright, Slendermare! Let's begin!" Soulshard chirped merily.

"YAY, SLENDERMARE!" the students cheered.

At that, the Slendermare silently crept a tendril to the back of Soulshard's undead head... before actually digging it through her skull and into her brain.

The mortal ponies' eyes widened in horror, Sweetie's jaw nearly dropping.

"OH CELESTIA! NO, SLENDERMARE, NO!" she shrieked.

She then halted, noticing the ghouls in the crowd were gazing upon her as if she had lost her marbles, to which she grinned sheepishly at.

"Everypony, relax," Soulshard smiled. "This is perfectly safe and normal! And by that I mean it definitely doesn't cause brain damage, right Slendy?" she continued in a hopeful, though slightly nervous tone.

Slendermare merely shrugged.

Soulshard's eyes widened in horror, before she gave a half-cough, half-laugh, and glanced back at the students. "Right! Totally safe!"

"Ugh, and this was the acting headmistress," Bloody Tiara grumbled to herself.

"Shut up, Twilight knows what she's doing!" Apple Doom growled, her yellow eyes piercing into (or through) the banshee. She then turned back towards her, gulping. "I think..."

Twilight then took a deep breath, and nodded towards Slendermare. "Alright, go ahead."

It gave another curt nod, before in the blink of an eye, Twilight's white, glowing eyes flickered off, revealing nothing but the black holes of her sockets, much to the continued unnerve of the mortals in the hall.

However, after a second or so, she began to drone forth in an almost zombie-like way:

"Greetings, honored students of Bogmorts. I am Tkla-wet'sra-srtrnotiumla-trian'osla-sra'ok-nor sara Trikno'lasthrila' de R'leh son Cthulhu-fs'da."

"Oh come on!" Sweetie cried to herself. "How am I supposed to remember that?!"

"...Though you may call me Slendermare," he continued. "I have assimilated this mind for use as a temporary way of simulacrum communication. And what a strange, maze-like mind it is.

But I digress.... Long have I waited for the day when hooves, claws, and talons dare tread upon these ancient halls yet again, for Bogmorts is much more than just a school for some: it is a home, and it can be, if given the proper love: your life. Secrets hide from even my mind within these hallowed tunnels, towers, and dungeons, planted there by ancient forces beyond even the founders. On a red moon, perhaps you will have the chance to find some. Though perhaps you'll wish you didn't...."

He then paused, before continuing with:

"However, I am not here to talk about Bogmorts, as much as I'd love to. I am here to sort you into what may as well be called your family for the next semester and onward. For that, I will need to access your mind...

The mortals in the hall gave a slight gasp, as well as some of the not-so-undead ghouls.

The Slendermare sighed.

"No, it will not be in this manner, it will be slightly more... pleasant.

However, to continue, as stated by the Lich Queen: each house represents certain characteristics of a ghoul... of equal strengths and weaknesses. Some may have certain advantages over the other, perhaps, but in the end, it does not matter, for only together are we strong. You cannot build an empire with just soldiers, or fortify it with just builders. And you cannot hope to make their lives worth living without artists, entertainers and others of their ilk. Strength must be forged with unity and cooperation. It must be forged through the fires of synergy."

Pipsqueak squinted an eyebrow, before smirking and saying:

"I see what he did there."

"However, sometimes it's best to keep these classes... separated," the Slendermare continued. And by now, you're probably wondering what the four founders represent. Though if you aren't, I'd say it's *time you've begun.*"

The Slendermare paused, before continuing with an odd poem as his tendrils gestured towards the four banners, one each at a time:

"Oh poor Blackfire who sailed to distant seas,

Never have I seen one with more fire than thee,

A heart of ice, I dare not say,

Burning with desire it was each day.

The one before you is of the timeless null,

Filled with logical beings of wisdom and old,

And from my homelands I give the gift,

Of strengthening an already strong mind's lift.

Nightmare Moon, a vessel of strength,

Perhaps eternity will meet its length,

And unlike her counterpart's woeful life,

Her's spawns courage to parry strife.

And then there's Sleighbell, the odd ghoul out,

Who only wished for his time without,

Petty conflict or inner strife,

Nothing for all but peace-filled lives.

Together these traits can be made to forge,

An almost perfect, diamond sword,

That which can cut through any manner of Hell,

From beyond or from within thyself."

He then stopped, his puppet Soulshard actually giving a hint of a smile, as the hall erupted into enthusiastic applause.

"Heh, not bad, though he could have gone for more multi-syllabic rhyming words," Sweetie smiled.

Scootaloo merely rolled her eyes, sticking her tongue out at her. "Not everyghoul is a bookworm, you know."

"You mean uh... everypony," Sweetie said, raising a somewhat concerned eyebrow, and Scootaloo could tell it wasn't just because she had said the wrong pun.

"Oh, heh... right," Scootaloo sighed.

"Thank you for the warm applause," Slendermare said. "Now, let's begin the sorting, shall we? When I call your name, please come towards me. Then, when sorted, head to the table facing downward from the banner of your house."

There was a pause, the ghouls and mortals in the crowd taking deep, anxious breaths, before Slendermare cleared his throat and called: "Dinky Stitched!"

The somewhat apprehensive looking, but still smiling little ghoul Scootaloo had seen at the train station made her way to Slendermare. She then stood facing the ghouls in the hall, before giving a slight gulp. Slowly, the Eldritch Abomination touched a tendril to the back of her head, and after a few moments, it began to fluctuate ever so slightly, turning a blueish color.

"Mmmmm... this mind is already on the road to peace... though there is some minor conflict within..." Slendermare said to himself. "You desire it more than anything else, however... Not a very hard choice, you are."

After a moment, Slendermare took a deep breath before announcing: "WINTER HOUSE!"

At that, Dinky gave a huge sigh of relief, before heading over towards the assigned table, the hall, including the teachers, stomping and clapping hooves.

"Alright, Dinky!" Apple Bloom cheered.

"Heh, she seems just as sweet-hearted as her counterpart, or as horrific-hearted as they'd say here," Pipsqueak said, clapping enthusiastically.

"You know, I gotta say, with the whole counterpart thing this is actually making this pretty easy to get used to," Sweetie smiled.

"Bloody Tiara!" Slendermare then called, her quickly making her way to Slendermare with a cocky grin on her face, the eyes of her friends following her intently.

Slendermare then tapped his tendril against her head, before muttering:

"Mmmmm... a storm brews within this one. You think the world doesn't give you enough, and you desire more...

"Just hurry up and put me in Mortus House," Bloody said impatiently.

Slendermare's puppet cocked an eyebrow. "I have not finished examin-"

"Pleeeeeeease," she said, giving him puppy-dog eyes, at least the best a banshee could give.

And as it soon turned out, even Slendermare was not resistant to them.

"Very well, then.... MORTUS HOUSE!"

There was a mix of enthusiastic and unenthusiastic applause as she made her way to Backfire's table, her giving a wicked smirk.

"Wow, what a twist," Pipsqueak muttered, rolling his eyes. "Didn't see that coming like a bloody iceberg."

"I just hope none of us get placed in the same house as her," Sweetie grunted.

"Yeah, it'd be nice not to have to put up with her for once, at least her counterpart. Maybe we'll even be in separate classes!" Scootaloo said hopefully.

"Vlad Seed!" Slendermare then called.

Scootaloo's eyes widened as she spied a black cloaked, fanged version of Babs made her way to Slendermare. She looked strikingly like a female, filly version of Nosferatu.

"Woah! I didn't even know Babs' counterpart was here!" she said, smiling slightly.

"Oooo, and she's a vampire too!" Sweetie squeaked.

Slendermare touched a tendril to her head, pausing in thought for a second, before announcing:

"NOCTUS HOUSE!"

There was more thunderous applause as the counterpart of Scootaloo's one-time bully made her way to Nightmare Moon's table, smiling proudly.

"Heh, I guess she was pretty brave, facing Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon like that back in Ponyville," Sweetie beamed. "I think that house suits her."

"Do you think we're going to get into Nightmare's house, though?!" Apple Bloom grinned. "I mean, it's a pretty big compliment to be called brave n' stuff."

“Mmm, I dunno… I mean, are you sure that’s the best house there is?” Sweetie said, quirking an eyebrow.

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow. "What other house do you have in mind?"

"Metus!" Slendermare then called, the group's new friend slowly rising to her legs and calmly making her way towards the Eldritch Abomination.

"Good luck, Metus! I hope we get into the same house!" Scootaloo called.

"I hope so, too," Metus said, and to Scootaloo's shock, with a hint of a smile. "It's been... interesting hanging around ghouls who actually..."

She paused, before taking a deep breath.

Scootaloo gazed at her sympathetically. She knew exactly what the young Fearling was about to say.

"It's cool. Carry on," Scoots said, Metus nodding appreciatively before moving towards the Slendermare.

"Personally, she still kind of creeps me out a bit," Pipsqueak muttered, Sweetie quickly elbowing him.

"Aye matey, that be true-" Pipbossa said, before gaining an elbow from Apple Bloom as well.

"Oi, we're bloody surrounded!" he cried to Pipsqueak, who quickly chuckled.

"Mmmmm... a powerful mind is within you," Slendermare mused. "A hint of inner conflict though, as well, on multiple levels... for you desire inner-peace, but the duty to your people outweighs it..."

He then paused for a second, before announcing: "VOID HOUSE!"

There was a roar of approval from her new friends, a hint of a smile creeping on her once again.

"Wow, I honestly didn't think she had that much of a brain in her," Apple Bloom said, blinking.

Sweetie shook her head. "She's just... a little weird, not dumb.”

Apple Bloom then gave a sigh. "Yeah... but this means I'm never going to get in the same house as her... so much for our group of friends..."

Sweetie lowered an incredulous eyebrow at her, before shaking her head.

"Nips!" Slendermare cried, a version of the slightly... annoying pony Snips making his way to him. At first, Scootaloo couldn't tell what exactly was so horrific about him, until he opened his mouth to say something... or his mouths, as it soon turned out. Like a certain horror monster who lurked in the depths of space, he seemed to have a double-mouth, a mini-mouth within the bigger one, that would leap out of the latter when he spoke.

"Oh Celestia, I'm not getting to sleep tonight," Sweetie gulped, shaking her head.

"Huh? I thought you said you watched Alien like five times!" Scootaloo said, grinning slightly.

Sweetie quickly chuckled nervously, sweat-dropping. "Oh uh... did I?"

"You were just trying to look cool on Nightmare Night, weren't you?" Apple Bloom smirked.

"No..." Sweetie said.

"Uh huh," Apple Bloom said, folding her arms, her smirk widening.

There was a beat, before Sweetie continued with:

"Ugh, look! Aliens just really freak me out, OK?!" she cried.

The group giggled wildly.

"WINTER HOUSE!" the sorting Slender cried, Nips double-ginning merrily before heading towards the table.

"Give me Nosferatu any day, but keep space monsters away from me," Sweetie grumbled, hugging her chest with her arms.

"Pipbossa!" Slendermare then called.

"Oi!" Pipbossa cried, nearly jumping out of his seat as he dropped the apple he was munching on. He quickly sweat-dropped, his friends smirking at him.

"Well, bloody hell! I just didn't expect em' to call me so soon," he grunted.

"Good luck, pirate Pip!" Sweetie beamed, the undead pirate gaining a slightly envious look from the living one.

"Thank ya lass, and if I don't see any of ya before the night's end... well metaphorically speaking, I hope it ain't our last meeting," he called.

After a few more seconds, he positioned himself in front of everyone's favorite horrific Eldritch Abomination.

"Mmmmm... well there's no mystery of who you are, Pipbossa," Slendermare said to him.

"Well, though a simple lad I may be, that's a pirate's life for thee," he said, smiling slightly.

"Bravery beyond leagues... and a hint of nobility too... I can see it within you without even looking! NOCTUS HOUSE!"

"Wooo yeah!" Sweetie cheered, clapping enthusiasically.

"Alright, Pirate Pip!" Scootaloo cheered.

"HAHAHA! NOW WHERE BE THE APPLES AT THIS NEW TABLE?!" Pipbossa shouted merrily, before leaping enthusiastically over to his new seat.

There were a few more names called, the anxiety within Scootaloo increasing more and more as the night went on. She could see it in her friend's faces as well. Not one of them wanted to be the pony to break their sacred trio, even if it did seem like they would be able to hang out with each other anyway. Pip also seemed to be a bit nervous as well, despite his usual calm demeanor. And Scootaloo had to admit, even if with a little guilt, that while she had always seemed him as a bit of a background item, she wanted him at her side during this whole crazy business.

What was funny though, at least to Scootaloo's mind, was that none of them even seemed to know which house they wished to get into for sure, save for the one that didn't have Bloody in it.

"Pipsqueek!" Slendermare called.

"Oi! Finally," Pipsqueak cried. "The knot in my chest was getting tight enough to burst!"

"Go for the House of Noctus!" Apple grinned enthusiastically.

"Nono! The House of Void!" Sweetie smiled.

The two then glanced at each other, squinting eyebrows.

"I thought we were going to try to get into the same house!" they cried in unison.

"Easy, girls," Scootaloo smiled. "Even if we don't get into the same house, we'll probably be able to see each other easily, no matter where we end up sleeping."

"Mph," Sweetie said, folding her arms. "I still say we should all go for the House of Void. You guys totally have brains, you just need to use them once and a while!"

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom gave her a blank look, to which she gave an apologetic smile back at.

"A mortal mind... it's been a long time since I've examined one of yours... as equally complex as a ghoul's but with slightly different priorities," Slendermare muttered, the tendril touching Pip's head glowing red and fluctuating rapidly.

Pipsqueak didn't respond. He merely took a deep breath.

"I sense a lot of guilt in you... as well as anger, so much anger..." Slendermare mused. "However, you, like your counterpart are a being of bravery... and nobility, despite what title you may have had on the sea. But what do *you** want, Pipsqueak of the Black Pearl? Do you wish to find your inner light, or continue to face the darkness of the outside world with sword in hoof?"*

"I... don't know," he squeaked, sinking his head slightly.

"Very well then... I will make the choice..."

Slendermare then took a deep breath, before announcing: "NOCTUS HOUSE!"

Pipsqueak gave a slight smile, before making his way to the table, Scootaloo and her friends roaring in approval.

"YEAH, PIP!"

"Hah! I knew that kid had some guts," Rainbow Dash beamed.

Sighing ever-so-slightly, he quickly made his way over to his counterpart, the two of them entering a conversation Scootaloo couldn't hear.

"Sweetie Belle!" Slendermare then called.

Sweetie's eyes immediately widened, her giving a deep gulp.

"Oh my gosh oh my gosh..." she squeaked nervously, shaking as she rose from the table.

"Don't worry, Sweetie! Just remember: anything but Mortus!" Scootaloo smiled, patting her on the back.

"Right... no Death. Death is bad," Sweetie shivered, making her way over to the Slendermare, her nerve ever-apparent on her face.

"Haha! The mortal looks like she's going to wet herself!" she heard Bloody Tiara call.

Every single one of Sweetie's friends gave her a glare, including Rainbow Dash, though the smug grin on her face wouldn't go away.

"Just ignore her," the little filly peeped to herself, as she stood in front of Slendermare, facing the crowd of ghouls. "She's just an even dumber version of Diamond..."

"Don't worry, Sweetie Belle, you'll be fine no matter what house you're in!" she heard Twilight Sparkle call.

"As long as she isn't asked to cook, from what Rarity says," Rainbow chuckled, Twilight rolling her eyes at her.

Sweetie felt her mane being parted, and a cold, black tendril touching the back of her head, sending further shivers down her spine. It immediately began fluctuating, a little less than Pip’s, but still somewhat rapidly, turning a green color.

"My, this is a treat…  A number of mortal minds in one day to examine...," Soulshard the puppet droned. "You are a logical being, that's for sure. However, I also sense a lot of emotion in you... and passion. Mortus might be a decent pick."

Sweetie rapidly shook her head.

"Yet you have a desire to avoid desire, it seems, for some strange reason. There is nothing wrong with ambition, young one, as long as it doesn't completely overtake you..."

"Not the kind of ambition Bloody has, though..." she squeaked.

"Ahhhh... I see. You wish not to harm those around you while seeking out your goals, for you feel ambition would corrupt you. And you seem to have it all worked out in your head, too... interesting... interesting. My house might be a decent pick. However, Despite your logical nature... it takes a very brave person to face one's own inner demons more than anything. Still, you are a... tough decision. As mortals are proving to be today..."

Slendermare's puppet actually squinted in thought.

"I wonder what's taking so long," Scootaloo said, raising an eyebrow.

“Heh, please, I don’t think even Slendermare could figure our Sweetie out,” Apple Bloom stated complimentary, smiling.

There was another beat of silence, the ancitipation among Sweetie and her group of friends building up to a rolling boil, before finally:

"NOCTUS HOUSE!"

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!" both Pipsqueak and Pipbossa cheered, the rest of her friends going wild as well, stomping rear hooves and clapping like mad.

"Heck yeah! I know I can get into that house at least!" Apple Bloom grinned.

Despite it all, however, Scootaloo could detect a slight hint of disappointment on Sweetie's face, though the filly still beamed merily.

"Apple Bloom!" the Slendermare called, the young filly taking a deep breath, before standing up.

"You know where to look towards," Scootaloo smiled.

"Heh, I wouldn't mind that or your pa's house, though, Scoots," Apple Bloom chirped. "Finding inner-peace sounds good nuff' for me."

At that, she made her way to Slendermare, the now familiar routine taking place. His tendril vibrated ever-so-slightly, glowing a bright, brilliant yellow.

”Interesting… you  already have a mind of peace. One that's already content... Sleighbell's house would be perfect for you," Slendermare stated.

"Eh, as long as I aint' placed in that nasty ghoul Blackfire's house.”

"Don't be so quick to judge her harshly, young one," Slendermare said, his puppet's eyes narrowing slightly. "She was once a great warrior... and a good friend. But all minds can be... tainted in time, depending on how rough they are shaken. As well as untainted."

"Well, if she wants my respect she's gonna have to earn it," Apple Bloom grunted. "By not trying to hurt mah friends.”

"You're very prideful as well... and from a very prideful family... one of great loyalty to those who they consider kin. A different, yet oh-so-similar mind to the previous mortal," Slendermare said. "You were willing to travel to an unfamiliar land, knowing there could be risks, to be with a friend who you may soon be just as... strange to you. Yet you're willing to stick to her like a butterfly to a flower..."

"That's right," Apple Bloom said, narrowing her eyes.

"Well then, there really isn't much else to analyze," Slendermare said bluntly, before shouting: "NOCTUS HOUSE!"

The hall roared in applause, and again, Scootaloo was ecstatic. Still, she gave a slight sigh, a guilty feeling rising in her. A part of her felt... odd about wishing to be in Nightmare's house instead of her father's.

"Man, are you sure Nightmare Moon is cool in this dimension? I wonder how she's going to react to having her house filled with us’ mortals?’" Rainbow Dash asked Twilight.

"Oh, I think she'd be flattered actually," Twilight Sparkle smiled. "She seemed pretty nice when I met her, just a bit... insane. Though honestly, she's probably the most laid back princess I've ever met. I'm surprised that Winter house's qualities aren't her's."

"Scootaloo Wintercall!" Slendermare then roared.

"Speak of the devil," Rainbow said, smirking slightly.

At that, it felt like the eyes of the world were upon Scootaloo. Slowly, she sat up from her seat, moving steadily towards the Eldritch Abomination with the light of the moon beaming down her. For one brief moment, she was at the center of all things, including a storm of raging emotions.

A tendril touched the tip of her head, it fluctuating more madly than any other, and switching between multiple colors: red, blue, green, and black.

"Come on Scoots, stick with your friends," Rainbow whispered to herself.

Slendermare's puppet's eyes then actually widened.

"My... yours is the most interesting mind yet, and that's saying something when dealing with a mortal's, child of Sleighbell. You have a great desire to be like and impress somepony nearby... one of a multi-colored shade. And that would imply ambition within you, or perhaps, to articulate it oddly: you have ambition to be ambitious."

"I do... I really want to be like Rainbow," Scootaloo said hopefully. "She's the coolest mare in the world... and I don't think anypony understands me like she does."

"Yet... you also desire to be like your father, someghoul you never knew. Possibly as a way to feel close to he who is so far away..."

Scootaloo sighed, glancing downward. The Slendermare, naturally, was reading her like an open book. She was the one holding it open for him, after all.

"And still, I sense much bravery, honor, and nobility within you. Something your father was too humble to admit he had. Him and Nightmare were very similar... we all were, really.

You stood up to the Horsehood member days ago, using your brain in a time of stress, a gift not all have to bare against the darkness. You defended your friends against Bloody Tiara during her attempt to bully you into Blackfire's house... and stayed loyal to them. You were even willing to go with Blackfire instead of putting Rainbow Death in harm's way, which naturally, she did anyway.

Yet still, your other traits are so... powerful."

The tendril continued to vibrate, its color still fluctuating rapidly.

"I could spend all day analyzing you, Scootaloo, but I must make a choice soon..."

Slendermare then took a deep breath, as Scootaloo glanced about the hall, a dizzy feeling overtaking her.

Twilight Sparkle threw her a warm smile.

Rainbow gave her an encouraging grin.

Trixie squinted an eyebrow, analyzing her as much as the Slendermare was.

Pipsqueak winked.

Pipbossa gave a hearty, pirate laugh.

Sweetie and Apple beamed at her with hopeful eyes.

Even Shadowed Armor silently turned his head her way, pausing in the sharpening of his blade.

And then... the hammer fell.