Moonlight 02

>Day, Sweet Apple Acres, Fluttershy

>You were busy watching Rainbow Dash help Applejack collect apples.  Applejack was bucking very quickly, but Rainbow Dash was certain she could get the apples down faster.

"Uh, this is SOOO SLOW," said Rainbow Dash for the fourth time.

"It wouldn't feel so slow if ya spent more time buckin' an' less time whinin'," Applejack retorts.

>You completely agree with Applejack on this, but there is no way you would openly admit that... at least... not while Rainbow Dash was here...

"I could totally knock down ALL of these apples in one go, if you'd just let me pull a Sonic Rainboom!"

"What in the hay is wrong with you, Rainbow!  Ya' know why ya' can't do that."

"And why not?"

 

 

>Applejack stops bucking and just stares right at Rainbow Dash.  It kinda gives you the creeps, the way she's staring, is that what you look like when you use "The Stare"?  Rainbow Dash seems to get the hint and looks away.

"I'd do it without knocking all the leaves off the trees... this time..." Dash says with a sheepish grin.

"Uh huh, Ah'm sure you would, Rainbow.  Now how about you quit moanin' an' help me finish up these here apples."

>You think about offering to help too, but remember how much you don't like bucking trees.  Every time you try to buck one, you can't help but think of how much it must hurt the tree.  You know that apple bucking is important, but you just can't help how you feel.

>While you were distracted with your thoughts, Angel scurries right up to you and starts dancing for your attention.  Didn't he say he wanted to stay home today?  He seems really agitated, you wonder what could be wrong.

"What's wrong, Angel?" you ask the bunny.

>Angel swings his arms rapidly, something was definitely bothering him.  You did remember to feed him this morning, right?  Oh, no!  Maybe you forgot!

"Oh, I'm so sorry, Angel, I promise to go home right now and get you some lunch," you apologize.

>The bunny stops gesticulating.  He is obviously upset, but he decides to try something else.  Now begins the game of charades to figure out what he really wants.  You've always been good at this game, and after a few minutes you finally come to what's bothering him.

"Pinkie Pie's saddlebags are on too tight?  Oh, Angel, surely Pinkie Pie knows how tight to make her saddlebags."

>The bunny facepaws, folds his little forelimbs and huffs.  Looking up from the irate bunny, you find that Rainbow Dash and Applejack have finished.  Oh, you were supposed to cheer for them!

 

"yay!"

>Applejack just grins and rolls her eyes, while Rainbow Dash gives you a look of surprise.  Did you cheer too loudly?

"sorry," you squeak.

>Rainbow Dash just shakes her head, flies over, and lands next to you.

"We have really got to work on your cheering skills," she says.  "Ready to go, Fluttershy?"

>You nod your agreement and look around for Angel.  It seems he already left.  You both take off, headed for Sugarcube Corner to pick up treats for Nightmare Night.  Pinkie has been working overtime trying to get these treats "perfectly scarylicious" in time for the the holiday.  You wonder what she means by that.

>Gliding down into town, you spot Twilight Sparkle helping set up decorations.  It always impressed you how many things she could levitate at once; she really is a special unicorn.

"Hey, Twilight!" shouts Rainbow Dash, "I thought those were going on the other side of town?"

"Hello, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy," she says, still paying attention to the things she is moving.  "They were, but then I did some math and found out that these stands would be woefully underutilized if left in their intended positions.  By moving them over here, we increase their accessibility by thirteen percent!  Isn't that great!"

>You can hear the smile in her voice.  It is just like Twilight Sparkle to rearrange everything last minute just to increase efficiency by a little bit.  You do hope everything gets set up in time.

"Yeah, sure," says Rainbow Dash, "as long as mine gets the best spot, you can put them anywhere you want."

>Rainbow Dash was giving tornado rides this year.  Ponies will sit in a barrel with little fins attached and Rainbow Dash will fly around them and create a small tornado.  The fins will guide the barrel up the middle of the tornado and back down again when the ride is over.  It was terrifying.

>At first, the mayor said neigh, but, after being reassured that the fins would not come off (Rarity was actually a little peeved when it was suggested that they "might" come off), and trying it herself, it was allowed.  Dash was ecstatic.  It was still terrifying.

>Then again, it probably won't break this time.

>You fly a little further and touch down just outside of Sugarcube Corner.  Rainbow Dash wastes no time and barges right in.  You follow behind her.

 

>Pinkie Pie is behind the counter counting out bits to one of the townsponies.  You don't remember his name.  You think he is some type of doctor, but every time you ask him you end up confused.  He collects his change, grabs his sweets and heads out the door.

"Hey guys!" says Pinkie Pie, bounding over the counter.  "I'm so glad you could make it!"

"Well, of course, Pinkie," says Rainbow, "We told you that we would be coming by today.  We just got slowed down a little bit over at Applejack's"

"OOOoooOOO," coos Pinkie Pie, "did she let you use your Sonic Rainboom to harvest the apples again?"

"Nah, I'm trying to strengthen my legs for Nightmare Night, so I just helped her buck'em instead."

"Oh, Yeah!  The Tail-Twisting, Eye-Misting, Flank-Blistering Tornado Barrel Ride!  I am so there!"

>At that, Pinkie Pie leaped into the air, performed an impossible series of spins, flips, corkscrews, barrel rolls, whammer-jammers and other things that you can't identify, and landed on one hoof right in front of Rainbow Dash.

"Ohohokay, Pinkie, just calm down," says Rainbow.  "There will be enough rides for everypony.  So, do you have the sweets?"

"Do I!?!"

>Pinkie disappeared so quickly that you could have mistaken it for teleportation.  Next thing you know, she's right beside you.  You let out a little squeak and side-step into Rainbow Dash who seems preoccupied with looking over your head.

"Wow, nice costume, Pinkie Pie," Rainbow says.

>Pinkie Pie was dressed head-to-hoof in tissue paper and chains.  It was really well done and more than a little scary.  Couldn't you just get your sweets and go now?  You start to back towards the door.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Fluttershy," apologized Pinkie.  "Here's your sweets!"

>From nowhere, she produces a pink box and hoofs it to you.  You peek inside to find dozens of little spider-shaped candies.  They look truly adorable!  You smile and place the box on your back, between your wings.

"Why, thank you," you beam, "they're perfect!  Oh, the little ponies will just love them!"

>Rainbow Dash collects her box and slips it on her back.  You both thank Pinkie Pie and head out the door.  Twilight is still moving stands around, but seems quite happy.  You wave goodbye and head off down the road towards your home.  Rainbow Dash decides to join you and starts telling you about how she saved the mayor from being hit by a falling package.  You've heard it before, but it was such a good story!  You do hope Derpy Hooves is feeling better, she seems so upset.

 

>You continue listening to Rainbow as she tells you story after story about her adventures.  You were there for most of them, but she tell stories so well.  You come to the bridge in front of your home.

"Cya tomorrow, Fluttershy," Rainbow says.

>She flips her box over her head and catches it in her hooves.

"Oh, ok, see you tomorrow," you reply.

>Rainbow Dash takes off very quickly and disappears before you can blink.  She is so fast!  You turn towards your house.  Now to can put the sweets inside and really find out what was bothering Angel.

>You approach your front door and give it a little nudge.  It begins to open, but before you can go inside, something slams it back into your head!  Ow, that hurt.  You rub the sore spot on your head, hopefully it won't leave a bruise.  What has gotten in to that bunny?  Maybe if you ask nicely, he will let you inside.  You rest a hoof on the door and lean into it.

"On, Angel, please open the door!" you ask as sweetly as you can.

>You hear something shift on the other side.  It sounds like somepony is whispering in there.  Who could it possibly be?

"Angel," you ask, "is there somepony in there with you?"

>You think for a moment, perhaps Pinkie Pie was trying to surprise you?

"Pinkie Pie?  Oh, please open the door."

>Your pleading apparently falls on deaf ears, so you push on the door a little harder.  It seems that whatever is blocking the door is rather heavy.  Perhaps you need to be a little more assertive with him.

"Angel!" you shout, "Open the door RIGHT NOW!"

>Enough was enough, reciting an assertiveness mantra to yourself, you turn around, rear back, and buck the door.  Hard.  So hard, you almost dropped your sweets.

>Whatever was on the other side was thrown away from the door by the strength of your kick.  Oh, you do hope you didn't hurt him.  You begin turning around to head inside.

"Now, Angel, it isn't..." you start, but pause.  "Oh, my!"

 

>There, sprawled out in the middle of your floor, is a very odd looking creature.  It's rather large, has long limbs, a short neck, and is wearing the strangest clothing.  You don't think you've ever seen anything quite like it before?  Is it a type of minotaur?  It rolls over and attempts to sit up.

"Ok, lady, look-" it starts to say, and freezes.

>What happened?  Is it hurt?  It's making a very odd face at you and you feel that it is in distress.

"I... I..." It stutters, "what?"

"Oh, dear, I've never seen any creature like you before!"

"Uh..." moans the odd thing.

>You take another step into the room.  The creature seems to be in shock, maybe you hurt it when you kicked the door in.  You must help it.

"Oh, I am so sorry!  Did I hurt you?  Oh please tell me how I can help you!"

>That fall must have been really startling, poor thing.  You trot over to help, but it just back away from you.  Is it afraid of you?  What creature could be afraid of you?!  You're always so nice and friendly to all of the animals.

"I... I have to-" the animal stutters, but stops when it backs into a strange bag on the floor.

>Angel bounds up from behind with a frying pan.  Oh, maybe it's hungry?  Good idea, Angel!  The creature turns just as Angel swings the pan.  Clang.  Oh, no!  Why would he do that!

>The creature's head flies back into a most uncomfortable-looking position and goes unconscious.  Angel prepares to hit it again.

"What are you doing!" you shout at Angel.

>The bunny drops the pan with a look of triumph.  He points over to the creature and bounces around the room.  You connect the dots, the thing that was bothering Angel earlier must have been this animal!

"Now, Angel," you lecture, "just because someone is different from you doesn't mean you should be mean."

 

>You stare down at the creature, a rather large stream of blood is pouring from its nose.  You go white and your head feels light.  NO, you can't faint now, you need to get help!  Calming yourself, you spin around and fly out the door.  Where will you go?  Do you get a doctor?  Maybe Twilight can help, she knows a great deal about healing.

>You head off towards the library, while a little white bunny stands guard over something completely alien.