>>Herpy was afraid of the dark.
>>He knew it was a silly fear.
In fact he had several fears that others might consider silly.
Snakes, heights, mismatched socks, he feared them all.
>>He preferred to spend his days in the library, helping others with their research.
His main job was assisting Daring Do, the eccentric professor and fearless adventurer.
Herpy often wondered how she could be so brave in the face of danger.
>>The library was closing.
Reluctantly, he packed up his books and walked across the University grounds, heading for
his room.
>>The sun was drifting down towards the horizon, and as Herpy looked across the grounds he
spotted many other ponies in a variety of costumes.
Tonight was Nightmare Night.
>>Passerby: Hey Herpy!
Are you coming to the party?
>>Herpy: Uh, no, I should get back to my room.
>>Passerby: Are you sure?
>>Herpy: Yeah, I’m sure.
I’ll see you later.
>>Herpy returned to his room and turned on the light.
He stayed up for a while reading, but soon enough he grew tired.
Finally, he put down the book, turned off the light, and tried to go to sleep.
>>Herpy was always afraid of the dark.
But on Nightmare Night, he was especially afraid.
>>Herpy opened his eyes, but the world had changed.
His room was gone.
His bed was gone.
He looked out into a great writhing blackness all around, like a host of brooding thunderclouds.
>> Herpy: What the...where am I?
>> Voice: Hello, Herpy....
>> Herpy: What....
>> Voice: This is going to hurt!
>> Voice: RUN!
>>Herpy ran.
He didn’t understand what was happening but he ran.
Lightning flashed and splintered all around him, threatening to slice him apart.
He stumbled and fell.
>>Voice: Ha!
Oh...delicious.
And that’s only the beginning.
>>Herpy trembled with fear.
He looked up towards the voice.
There was a face in the blackness.
Eyes and mouth of a deep fiery red, shifting and turning, piercing him with its gaze.
>>Herpy: Who...who are you?
>>Voice: Oh, I’m offended.
Surely you’ve heard of me.
Perhaps I should jog your memory?
>>Voice: I am the Dream Sprite.
I feast on fear.
Your fear, for the moment.
>>Voice: Delicious!
>>Herpy: You...where did you come from?!
>>Voice: Your boss is always bringing back artifacts.
You really should stop playing around with them, Herpy.
You never know what might happen.
>>Voice: For instance, you might just get roasted alive!
>>Herpy: It’s - it’s - it’s not real!
It’s just a dream!
It’s not real!
>>Voice: But it feels real, doesn’t it?!
>>Voice: How about the snakes?
Do you like those?
>>Herpy: Help!
Help!
>>Voice: There’s no one to save you, Herpy.
It’s all in your head; just you and me.
You and me and memory.
>>Voice: Every little thought you’ve ever had, every fear you’ve ever felt, every
little monster you’ve ever imagined, Herpy, they’re all belong to me now.
They are my weapons as I see fit.
And you have provided me with so much!
>>Voice: You’ve always lived in fear, Herpy.
Hiding in your room, hiding in your books.
There’s not one speck of courage in your entire history.
Not a single thought that doesn’t serve me-
>>Herpy: No >>Voice: No?
>>Herpy: There is a mare.
A teacher.
A friend.
>>Voice: Stop that.
>>Herpy: She’s not like me.
She’s better than me.
>>Voice: Well she’s not here, is she?!
>>Herpy: But she is!
Because I know her!
Because I could never forget her!
>>Voice: Shut up, already!
>>Herpy: HER NAME IS DARING DO!
>>Daring Do: You called?
>>Herpy: Daring!
>>And there she was, the memory of Daring Do, blazing like a star of golden courage,
banishing the darkness!
>>Voice: NO!
>>Daring Do: Stick with me, Herpy.
>>Herpy: I’ll never leave you.
I’ll never leave you!
>>And with a great flash, the dream sprite was gone.
Herpy and Daring stood alone in a vast emptiness.
>>Herpy: He’s gone.
You...you did it.
>>Daring Do: I just helped out a little.
You’ve got more courage than you realize.
(Sound effect blur as Herpy wakes up) >>Herpy: Really?
...Daring?
>>Herpy: Daring?
>> The dream was over.
Herpy looked about his room, his desk, the clock on the wall, all bathed in sunlight.
The world of the dream had felt so real before.
But suddenly he wasn’t so sure.
>>Herpy: Was there really a dream sprite?
Maybe I dreamed of a dream sprite.
>>Daring Do: Herpy, are you coming to breakfast?
>>Herpy: Wha-?
Oh, yeah!
Just a second.
>>Herpy: I’m ready!
Let’s go.
>>Daring Do: You alright?
>>Herpy: Yeah, yeah.
I just had a scary dream, that’s all.
You were in it, actually.
>>Daring Do: That’s funny.
You were in my dream, too.
>>Herpy: That’s...interesting....
>>End Credits: Herpy in the Dark was written by Sonicsuns.
Herpy was played by Neil the Nerd.
The Dream Sprite and Random Passerby were played by Sonicsuns.
Daring Do was played by Wollffeey.
Art by Draco.
Editing by X-Trav.
Narration by Random.
This has been a Pony in a Box production.
My Little Pony is the copyright of Hasbro.