//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3 
// Story: Cnideria - Fluttershys New Friend 
// by TP Night 
//------------------------------//

Back at the beach Cnideria stood on the still warm sand, as her new friends gathered around her. Fluttershy smiled and took a step forward. "It was really nice to meet you. I surely hope we'll meet again some day... won't we?"
Cnideria nodded with notable enthusiasm and waved her fins. "Sure thing! I'll do my best to visit here again, Even if I have to walk to Ponyville myself!"
Twilight frowned slightly. "Are you really sure that's a good idea? I mean, walking all the way. It takes us full-sized ponies almost an hour, and for you it would take at least a whole day on your own. And even if you could handle that, what about the sun, or dangerous animals?" 

Cnideria waved her fin giggling. "Nah, don't be silly. I'll do it during winter! The sun won't be so harsh."
Twilight wanted to object, but Rarity poked her and gave her a look that seemed to say "Forget it, It's no use reasoning with her".

Applejack leaned toward the small pony and pointed her hoof at her. "Well, ya better look out for yerself, Sugar cube. It was a pleasure to meet ya."
Cnideria jumped up and hugged Applejacks hoof. "Oh, I'm so glad you like me. I always try to make ponies like me, but for some reason..." Cnideria was unable to finish the sentence 
as Applejack suddenly let out a loud scream in pain, as one of Cniderias mane locks touched her hoof. Cnideria quickly jumped off Applejacks hoof, blushing. Applejack waved her hoof around in the air. "It stings, it STINGS! What in tarnation!?"
Cnideria looked nervously at Applejack and then down at the sand, stroking her own mane.
"I-I'm sorry Applejack! It's my mane, I can't always control it. It's a defence thing, the mane can get 'electric'. You're.. not mad, are you? I'm sorry!"

The other five ponies were all looking at Applejack, who was running around looking desperatly for a way to cool down the hoof to numb the still stinging feeling.
Fluttershy smiled awkwardly at Cnideria. "Oh, I'm sure she's not angry, just a bit shocked.
It wasn't your fault. I'm sure she'd say it's fine, if she wasn't running around in circles right now." Cnideria smiled when she heard this, and slowly started moving toward the water.
"Ooh, That's great! I was afraid she might be angry or something. Anyway, I need to go now.
It was a pleasure meeting you all, my less-transparent friends. And, please tell Applejack the stinging should gradually go away over a two, maybe three-day period. Bye!"
She waved her fin one last time as she moved into the water and let the waves wash her away
out into the open sea. The remaining ponies waved their goodbyes until the could no longer see Cnideria, and then Rainbow Dash turned toward Fluttershy. "Ok, I have to say, that was the most awkward situation ever!" 

Rarity nodded and, as the all walked back toward Ponyville. "I have to agree with Rainbow Dash. Even meeting Pinkies sister was less awkward than this."
Pinkie rubbed her head in confusion. "Wait, what do you mean? Was meeting Maud really THAT...." 
Twilight stepped between them and stopped Pinkie from finishing, smiling awkwardly.
"No, no, it was amazing, you know that. We're great friends now. Rarity just meant,
meeting Cnideria was... different. It's hard to believe somepony could be that.. uh.."

Now Rainbow Dashed interrupted, "...that what? Empty-headed? No-brained? Next to her, even I look like a huge egghead! I swear to Celestia, she's the stupidest pony I've ever..."

Suddenly, something pony-sized and grey came flying fast, crashing straight into Rainbow Dash, hitting her hard enough to send her crashing into a small ditch next to the road.
She shouted loudly, "OH FOR CELESTIAS SAKE, DERPY!!!"

"Muffin...?" The grey pony said.

//The End