Sunny Knight: a Pony's Tale

by TheothersideofSunny968

Hiking, S'mores, and Campfire stories

The Camping Trip

"Flashlights?" Applejack asked as she nervously paced back and forth in Sunny's room.

"Check!" Sunny called out as he held up several flashlights in his green magical aura, placing them in his hiking bag.

"Sleepin' bags?" Applejack asked the next think on her mind.

"Check!" Sunny replied, motioning to a few sleeping bags he piled off to the side.

"First aid kit?" Applejack asked, now worrying what would happen if one of them got hurt.

"Got two of 'em " Sunny smiled triumphantly as he pulled two first aid kits out of his bag before putting them back. " 'long with marshmallows, chocolate bars, gram crackers, emergency provisions, a compass, and ah map of th' area."

Sighing heavily, unable to calm down, Applejack continued to pace. "Oh...Ah sound more nervous then ah long tailed cat in ah room full ah rockin' chairs."

But Sunny just smiled and finished tying down his bag, first making sure to slip in his small lavender bag, then turned and out a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "Ah understand yer nervous, Applejack. But we're strong guys, we can handle ah few days of hoofin' it in th' woods."

"Have ya'll ever been campin' before?" The orange farm pony asked, her curiosity now slightly overshadowing her worry.

"Well.... kinda..." Sunny replied honestly. There were many times he and his group of fellow guards had to endure harsh conditions out past the safety of pony society in order to complete a mission. The closest he could honestly say he had gotten to 'camping' was a stalemate he and his fellow guards had with a group of bandits that held themselves up in a cave at the bottom of a gorge. Sunny and the others had them closed off and just needed to wait for them to give up and come out. But the bandits were stubborn, and waited a full five days before realizing they couldn't tunnel a way out with a spoon, and eventually came out. During that time, Sunny and the other guards took shifts between gathering food, fetching fresh water, and building/rebuilding makeshift tents and a camp fire. That sounds like camping, right?

"Ah just don't want nothin' ta happen to ya'll" Applejack admitted, her worries once again taking full control. "What if there's ah storm? Or ya'll get lost?!"

"Applejack, it will be ok" Sunny shot her a calm, laid back grin. "Even if I don't have any experience at all, Big Mac and Thunderlane had both been camping before. Even Doctor is coming along, and from what he's told me of his recent adventures, camping should be a breeze."

"Well... a'right" taking a few deep breaths, Applejack tried to calm herself down more. "An'.... an' if anythin' happens, ya'll come right back here, right?"

"Scout's honor" Sunny said as he saluted Applejack in an unfamiliar fashion.

This left Applejack kind of stunned. "... ya'll were ah scout?"

".... something like that." Sunny hesitated but eventually answered. 'Does a junior guards academy student count as a scout?'

(https://youtu.be/SJMizrTFiFo)

Everypony who was leaving for the trip met Sunny and Big Mac at the edge of Sweet Apple Acres. The party not only included Thunderlane, Rumble, and Doctor, but Spike, Snips, Snails, and Button Mash. It was meant to be a male bonding experience. Just stallions and colts ruffing it in the woods. Them against the elements.

"This is going to be awesome!" Spike said with great enthusiasm, jumping up into the air with a large purple back pack attached to his back.

"Heck yeah it is!" Rumble said joining Spike in for a high hoof. "No school, girls, just us guys against the wilderness!"

"Still don't see why I couldn't bring any video games..." Button mumbled under his breath, a rather annoyed look on his face.

"I understand your feelings, young Button" Doctor added. "Sunny told my I wasn't to bring any of my scientific instruments along either. Even though a water purifier, demolecular atomizer, or even a sonic screwdriver would have proven most handy in our venture into the wilderness."

"Guys, we aren't going into the Everfree or Froggy Bottom Bog" Thunderlane said as he flew between them and put his hooves around their shoulders. "It's just the same old forest at the edge of the Apple's orchard. It's as 'tame' as you can get."

"Not so tame that we can't have fun" Sunny added.

"Eh'nope" Big Mac agreed as he readjusted his own backpack.

"And we'll make s'mores" Snails stated as he began licking his lips at the thought of the favored campfire treat.

"And scary stories, right!" Snips asked looking from one older pony to the other.

"Right ya are, partner" Sunny answered with a sly grin. "And ah had ah idear. Ah'll tell ya'll when we stop ta make camp fer th' night."

"And idea? What kind?" Button's annoyed expression softened as he looked over at the yellow unicorn.

"Let's get ah move on, Ah'll explain on th' way. Might help if ah give ya'll some time ta prepare" Sunny chuckled to himself as he really started to enjoy himself.

"Hey! Wait up!" A voice called out over the hill. Everypony turned and saw some white stallion with a blue and black mane running up to them. It wasn't until the mystery colt got closer that Sunny realized the stallion was actually a Pegasus. But from what the yellow unicorn could see, the white Pegasus had his wings bandaged up and pressed to his sides. "Leaving without me?"

"Oh man, I'm so sorry!" Thunderlane smacked his hoof against his head before turning to the group. "You guys don't mind if my old buddy, Heart Patch, comes along, do you?"

"Eh'nope" Big Mac said with a grin.

"Sounds ok with me" Sunny said as he offered a hoof to the new stallion. "Name's Sunny. Pleasure ta meet ya."

"Heart Patch" the Pegasus replied, shaking Sunny's hoof. "My mates call me Heart. So you're the new bloke working in the Apple farm. I've seen ya around town, but never put two and two together."

"We can talk along the way" Thunderlane said, interrupting the two stallions. "Let's get a move on. We're burning day light."

"Thunder's right" Doctor added, bringing out a compass and a map. "If we're going to reach the camp site by sundown, we have to get going now."

"Alrigh' then, let's hit 'em up and move 'em out everypony!" Sunny said as he began to lead the group into the woods.

Every colt or baby dragon was paired with an older pony. Button Mash stuck with Doctor, Big Mac took Snails, Thunderlane had his brother close to him, Heart Patch watched over Snips, and Sunny partnered up with Spike. Ever since their little adventure in the comic book universe, Sunny and Spike not only make up, but have gotten really close. Everypony sticking together, the group of guys began their long walk to the designated camping sight. It would take them the better half of the day to get there, leaving them a short time once they got there to set up camp.

Along the way, the group decided to stop for a quick lunch. Sunny was about to break open the bags of trail mix to pass around, when he looked around and noticed a few members of their group where missing.

"Hey guys, where did Heart Patch and Snips go?" Sunny asked, taking a third look around.

Right as everypony began to look around and slightly panic, the two missing ponies popped out of the bushes, with large anmounts of odd looking fruits and root vegetables in their hooves.

"Sorry to worry ya, mates" Heart said as he put his harvest down in the center of them. "Me and the little guy were getting hungry, and I couldn't help but notice several goodies around us."

Taking a second look at the various vegetation Heart harvested, Big Mac and Sunny shot each other a nervous look. Sunny turned back to look at Heart. "Ugh... ya'll sure this stuff is good ta eat?"

"Yeah! Heart knows a lot of stuff about wild fruits and vegetables!" Snips spoke up.

"No worries, mates" Heart replied as he picked up an odd looking yellow fruit and took a bite. "Ah... tastes like mango, with a minty after taste. Here!"

The white Pegasus tossed Sunny another yellow fruit. Sunny hesitated for a moment, then took a nervous bite. After a few chews, a smile grew on Sunny's muzzle. As the yellow unicorn took another bite followed quickly by another after that, the rest of the group dug in. Between the ten of them, the boys polished off the gathered fruits and vegetables in no time, then continued their journey to the camp site.

As they walked, Sunny and Spike kicked back to walk closer to Heart and Snips, leaving Big Mac and Snails to take the lead. Sunny shot the white Pegasus a half smile. "Good call on them goodies. How'd ya learn 'bout all that scavengin' and what not?"

"I used to be a royal guard, mate" Heart replied, a half smile growing on his own muzzle. "I've had to survive in the wilderness with nothing but my wits before."

"Really? That's mighty impressive" Sunny admitted, happy to know that the royal guard hadn't gone soft in the 1000 years he's been away. That was a slight fear of his that Sunny wasn't willing to admit, but he was glad to put it to rest.

Not long after that, the boys arrived at the camping ground. Button and Doctor both let out a huge sigh of relief as the rest of the group either stretched or took a seat around the fire pit.

"That... was... exhausting..." Doctor admitted, obviously showing he didn't get out much.

"What.... he said..." Rumble agreed, also out of breath.

"You two just need to get out more" Rumble rolled his eyes.

"Let's set up camp" Thunder told the group, before remembering something Sunny said earlier. "Hey man, didn't you have something you wanted to tell us?"

"Right! One sec..." the yellow unicorn began digging around him his bag before finding what he was looking for. Without pulling it out of his bag just yet, Sunny faced the group with a deviant look on his muzzle. "Ah'right everypony! We're Ah'll tough guys here, no scared little fillies here, right?"

All the members of the camping party turned to each other and in one form or another, either in the form of a nod or a muttered 'yeah' agreed with Sunny.

"So ah propose ah competition! Tonight, after we settle in, camp all set up, and we're gorgin' ourselves on s'mores ta our hearts content, we will be telling the most frightenin', terrifyin', campfire stories we can!

"The pony who tells the scariest story gets this!" Sunny said with glee as he held up a tiny golden trophy with a pony figure on the top. "We'll put it to ah vote when we're all done, write th' name of the best creepy story teller on slips of paper, and one of us will read 'em out loud."

Pausing for a moment, Sunny tried to read the reactions of all the other ponies. Some of them proved harder to read then others. But Thunderlane and Heart Patch looked all aboard for it. The only pony who seemed slightly nervous about the whole thing was Snips, who looked to Heart and took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

"Sounds like fun" Big Mac broke the silence, managing a small grin.

"Yeah, plus that trophy will look awesome on my night stand!" Thunder smirked.

"I think you mean 'my' night stand, mate" Heart gave Thunder a playful nudge.

"Let's get camp all set up" Sunny redirected their attention. "While we work, think of some good ideas fer yer stories! Remember, make 'em as scary as ya can!"

With that Everypony went off to gather wood, water and food for tonight. With the exception of Button Mash and Doctor, who stayed behind to set up the tents.

Later that night, after a good healthy meal and some campfire songs, Sunny began passing out the marshmallows and sticks. Big Mac and Thunder joined in and passed out gram crackers and chunks of chocolate bars. Once Everypony had all they needed to make their s'mores, Sunny stood up and called all their attention together.

"Ah'right guys, it's time! Let the fright fest begin! Ya don't 'have' ta take part in story tellin' but ya will still need ta vote. Now who would like to start us off?" Sunny asked as he looked around the camp fire.

"OH! OH! I got a good one!" Button Mash called out, waving his hooves in the air.

"Ah' right, partner" Sunny said as he took a seat and began roasting a marshmallow. "Ya'll start us off."

"Make it a good one, man!" Rumble cheered his friend on.

"Alright then, let me ask you guys this; how many of you play video games?" The little brown earthpony asked, his tone seeming innocent. With a show of hooves, less then three ponies in the group answered.

"But all of you know about them, right?" Rumble asked again, this time Everypony nodded, even Sunny. "Then let me ask you this; what if you were stuck in one? Unable to get out?!

"Little, ugh... High Score! Yeah! Little High Score was obsessed with video games, couldn't get enough of them! His mother always warned him not to spend too much time playing them, but he ignored her. Chalked it up to her being a mom.

"But one day, when little High Score was in his room, playing Block Master, a package arrived for him with no return address. Curious, High Score walked over and opened the package. Inside was a game that even 'he' had not heard of! It was called... ugh... Magic... Sword... Quest? Y-yeah! That's it! Magic Sword Quest!

"Without waiting another moment, High Score plugged the game into his JoyBoy and began to play... when the lights flickered on though, sparks began to fly off of the JoyBoy. But High Score was too excited to pay attention to that... then the screen to start popped up and said 'the world of Magic Sword Quest is a dangerous one. Once you enter, you can't leave until the game is complete!...Do you still wish to start?" Button paused and looked around at all the other guys, glad to see they all were focused on him and his story.

"High Score, only half reading what the start screen said eagerly hit 'yes'!... as he sat there, now looking at a blank screen, his JoyBoy began to suck him in, like, a black whole! A magic portal opened up and sucked High Score into the game itself! High Score then landed in the magical world of Magic Sword Quest! With his only way out being to win the game!"

Everypony paused, wondering if there was more to the story. After a long pause from Button, they realized that was it, and they all smiled and stomped their hooves in applause.

"That was good, bro" Thunderlane commented. "Interesting, but... kinda lacking in the 'scary' department."

The happy little earth pony's joy filled expression faded slightly until Sunny tossed him a s'more and shot him a half smile. "But ah liked where ya were goin' with that. Maybe ya'll should write that down. Maybe make it into ah book some day."

"I'd read that!" Heart Patch further encouraged Button.

"Eh'yep" Big Mac threw in his two cents.

After receiving the praise from the older stallions, Button relaxed enough to begin chomping down his s'more.

"Who's next?" Doctor asked, keeping his own scary story in mind.

"You ready, Doctor?" Sunny looked over at his time traveling companion with great curiosity. Wondering what Doctor could have up his sleeve.

"Well... I'm not very good at 'making up stories'. But I do have a rather interesting tale from my adventures" The scientist admitted as he took a small bite of his own s'more.

"Don't leave us in suspense, mate" Heart replied on the edge of his seat. "Tell us your story!"

"Well... it was a few days ago..." Doctor began to tell his own tail. "Derpy and I had traveled about fifty years or so into the past, right when Manehatten was at it's wildest. The city was ruled by organized crime, the music was loud, the nights were long, and life in the city was one long casual jazz party.

"Derpy said she always wanted to go out dancing in the big city, so who was I to deny her the rare opportunity to enjoy the wildest night in pony history, when the great Al'Capony Senior was throwing a wild dance to celebrate his wedding night?! The entire city was out celebrating, including us!" The Doctor's happy expression turned grim, with the light of the flames changing the characteristics of his muzzle as he angled his head down, his eyes appear more sunken. "That was... until 'they' came..."

"Who?..." Rumble asked, growing more and more intrigued by the story.

"The pegusi... the weeping pegusi..." Doctor said in a dark tone.

"The... who?" Thunderlane said as he raised an eyebrow at Doctor.

"They look like statues" Doctor said as his terror filled eyes struck fear in the hearts of Everypony listening. "Just statues of pegusi, appearing to cry into their hooves or wings, keeping their faces hidden.... until they strike!

"You wouldn't know it by looking at them, but they are beings who exited at the beginning of time! Quantum locked to appear like statues of pegusi, these creatures need only touch you to send you hurdling back in time! And when they do, you never make it back to where you began. Not even with a time machine.... and why do they do this, you ask?"

Doctor paused and smirked as he noticed everypony leaning on the edge of their seats.

"Because they feed on the energy you create by being sent back in time!" Doctor finally answered. "When they send a pony back in time it creates a great deal of energy. Energy they need to survive. They don't care 'who' they send back in time, so long as they get to eat. Mares, fillys, colts, all sent years and years into the past by a simple touch!"

"That's supper creepy!" Thunder said under his breath.

"How did you get away from them?!" Snips asked nervously, bitting his hooves.

"The only thing that can stop them is starring at them" Doctor continued to explain. "If somepony is looking at them, they can't move. But the moment you blink, look away, or if the area goes dark for some reason, a weeping pegusi can move. And they are super fast... they can strike faster then lightning...And they will...."

Doctor paused, looking up and past the ponies, Big Mac and Heart Patch, who were sitting across from him. He gulped as he raised a nervous hoof. "Big Mac... Heart Patch... don't... move..."

Everypony froze, afraid to make a sound or anything. Even afraid to blink, not fully understanding how the 'weeping pegusi' work. Everypony held their breath for what seemed like forever... until... something... like a hoof... TOUCHED BIG MAC AND HEART'S SHOULDERS WITH THEIR HOOVES!!!

"AHHHHHH!" Both the big red farm pony and the former guard screamed and jumped forward.

Laughing behind them were Button Mash and Snails who managed to slip away while Everypony was listening to Doctor's story. The two colts were on the ground laughing as hard as they could, their sides starting to hurt from enjoying the scare they both got in. Even Big Mac and Heart managed to laugh it off a little when they calmed down and realized there were no weeping pegusi around.

"Great job, Doc!" Spike said as he stuffed another s'more into his mouth.

"Now we're kicking it off!" Thunderlane agreed.

"Who's next?" Sunny asked, placing a toasted mashmellow between gram crackers and a chunk of chocolate bar.

"I got this one" Spike stepped forward. "This one even scared Twilight, but I have to change it up a bit for us guys. So it all begins with a gentle colt working in the big city. He's an average guy working at a very demanding job. He works 8-10 hours a day, goes home to cook and clean for his wife who is unemployed and refused to do any house hold work. All the poor guys wants to do is sit down and read a comic book or two. He's a subscriber to a monthly comic book box subscription, and gets all the latest ones sent to him in a box at the end of the month.

"But lately he hasn't even been able to crack one open" Spike continued, taking a quick bite of his s'more before it got cold. "One day, the guy was at work and went on his lunch break. But he was so tired, he decided to take a nap instead. And the only place to get any quiet around the big city he lived in was in the building's cellar. He went down there, took off his glasses, and fell right asleep in a pile of old news papers.

"When he work up, he was shocked to see that he had slept through his entire work shift!" Spike continued, adding a little more emphasis to his tone. "He rushed upstairs, ready to beg his boss not to fire him...but no pony was there. Not just upstairs, but everywhere! The stallion walked out of the building and around the city, but Everypony was gone! Not even birds were flying in the sky! He was completely alone! The noisy city was silent!

"The stallion panicked for a bit, but thought 'it must have been some spell gone wrong, the princesses's fix it' and decided to enjoy th silence and peace for a while by, how else, catching up on his reading. Returning home as fast as he could, the stallion gathered all of the boxes of comics and took them to the roof to enjoy reading his comics in the sunlight and fresh air.

"Everything was perfect. The stallion had several boxes worth of comics, snacks, drinks, and a very comfy arm chair to read in. All he needed to do was sit back and enjoy. Only, when the stallion shifted in his seat, his glasses fell from his muzzle, bounced off his chair, and flew through the air, right off the building! The stallion watched in horror as his glasses fell, fell, fell down, landing with a loud 'crack'!

"Desperate, the stallion ran down the stairs to the bottom floor and outside, only to find his glasses in a million pieces! He didn't have any back up pairs, and the lenses had to be specially made for him! He knew then that he would never be able to read any of his comic books! The array of feelings began to boil up inside of him until be began screaming onto the air 'no! ... no! No! There was time now!.... there was time now!... that's not fair! THERE WAS TIME NOW!!!"

As Spike paused, several of the stallions stomped their hooves for a creepy twist to the story's ending. Spike took a bow as he stepped back and sat back on his seat next to Sunny.

"Ah could only imagine that Twilight would have nightmares 'bout that one" Sunny said with a half grin as he gave Spike a hoof bump.

"Oh Shinning used to scare her with that one all the time when they were younger" the little dragon chuckled.

"Nice one, mate" Heart said as he stood up and looked into the fire, a solemn look was cast over his muzzle as he gazed into the fire. "This story is a true one. One that will both scare you and, with any luck, keep you from making the same mistakes my friend made...

"Not that long ago, I was a captain in the Canterlot royal guard. I had made it there with ease thanks to my determination, quick wit, and ability to adapt. That, and with my special talent being compassion for others, the princesses saw fit to have a pony put in charge who not only could get the job done, but would put the safety of everypony first, before the sake of a mission. There had been an incident some time before I was appointed to my position where the previous captain was lacking in that department, but that's another story.

"Getting back to it, I had a very talented buddy of mine, who, if he had wanted, could have easily had my job. But he wanted something else" Heart Patch looked deep into the camp fire as memories of the past flickered back into his mind. "His name was Charming. Charming Knight. He was a brilliant bloke. He came from some backwater town in the middle of nowhere, but had more brains then anypony I knew. He was as skilled a fighter as he was a wizard. Although 'wizard' isn't a term he preferred. He preferred either 'mage' or more so 'magical researcher', and even took charge of the department of magical research in Canterlot.

"One day, a certain magical item came into his possession. The Alicorn Amulet!" If Heart Patch didn't have the crowd's full attention before, he sure did now. Everypony remembered what life was like when Trixie returned to Ponyville with the amulet and took it over. They knew the item was powerful and dangerous.

"Charming knew the power it had, having done more research on such items then anypony else, and knew of it's corrupting side effect. When he approached the princesses about using the amulet in some testing, they were hesitant. But he assured them that he was able to brew up a potion that would numb the corrupting power of the amulet. They still weren't sure about letting him take the amulet. To further win them over, Charming suggested to test the amulet and the potion on an earth pony and Pegasus volentier first before a unicorn would even be considered. The amulet not only amplified a unicorn's magic, but an earth pony and Pegasus as well. He theorized that with the power of the amulet, a single earth pony could cultivate and maintain ten times the land than a regular earth pony farmer, lift twenty times their own body weight, their muscles strengthened and their endurance stretched beyond that of anypony. The same could be said for a pegusas. With that, the Pegasus could fly faster, higher, and longer then ever before. They could even take on dangerous storm clouds that only skilled teams could before. And to be honest, it worked."

"Wait, it worked?" Thunder was surprised by the results.

"...You were the Pegasus who volentiered, weren't ya" Sunny asked, his expression an unreadable stone.

"...That I was..." Heart admitted. "The princesses allowed Charming to test the amulet on earth ponies and pegusi alike, but with the Princesses themselves supervising every test, of course. Test after test proved positive, with no side effects. But the princesses wouldn't let Charming proceed with testing on unicorn's until they found the right candidate themselves. Charming didn't like that.

"Then, late one night, while I was leaving the office, I swore I heard something. Almost like somepony laughing. Looking around, I swore I saw the shadows move and shift, taking the form of a smiling, toothy smile. That's when I heard a weak cry for help. I ran down the hall that I heard the voice and eventually came across no pony else but Charming. He had been taking the potion secretly as well as testing the amulet on himself without the princesses knowing it. He was desperate to take his research to the next step, and had payed the price. The potion may have kept the amulet from corrupting earth ponies and pegusi, but looking at him, it seemed it didn't have as strong of an effect on unicorns. He looked as though he hadn't slept in days, his breathing was heavy and weak, and he could barely stand up. I wanted to immediately take him into a hospital, but he insisted I take the alicorn amulet away from him. That 'that' was what was most important. He started to scare me with how desperate he sounded, pleading for me to get the amulet away from him. Against my better judgment, I complied and took the amulet and rushed as fast as I could to the princess's royal chambers. Ready to tell them everything and safely out the item back in their possession... Only, not long after I left my dear friend, did the laugher I heard earlier grow louder...and louder. I knew then I wasn't just hearing things.

"I began running faster and faster, trying desperately to put distance between me and the laughing as I raced to get closer and closer to the princesses. As I turned one more corner, though, just a few more turns away from the princess's chamber. That's when 'he' intercepted me." Heart's eyes showed that his mind had traveled years into the past a the words left his lips. His heart began to race as the horrible night replayed before him in the camp fire.

"He stood there, a good foot or two taller then myself, with a dark grey muscular body, yet so thin like a shadow on the wall. His mane, like my friends, was white and grey, but longer and more wild. His smile revealed two rows of sharp teeth, and just above those monster like teeth were dark green eyes that seemed to pierce and glow in the dark. Those green eyes... I will never forget how they looked down at me, like a snake would a mouse.

" 'Give me back 'my' amulet' he told me with that same grin on his muzzle as he took a calm step towards me. 'I don't want to have to hurt you. But I will.'

" 'You'll never get the amulet' I told him and started to fly away, trying desperately to put as much distance between him and me as possible. Only, as I continued to fly further and further away from him, the more I realized I couldn't escape. I don't know how he did it, but at every turn I took, he was there, waiting for me. Always two steps ahead.

" 'I tire of these games' he told me after several failed escape attempts on my part. 'Give me back my amulet now.'

" 'And what are you planning to do with it?' I asked the friend, speaking loudly enough to where I hoped my voice would be heard by somepony.

" 'I'm going to make Equestria a peaceful place' the tall unicorn told me, tipping his hat slightly. 'With my amulet, I can put all fighting and conflict to an end. More so then what even the princesses have done.' Then he hid his toothy grin, but remained smiling as he took his hat off and bowed slightly to me. 'Why don't you join me? Help me make Equestria a better place for all? You'll be a hero. They'll write about you in the history books for ages to come, sing songs of our team work. All you have to do is give me my amulet.'

"I'm not going to lie to you, I hesitated. I thought for a moment that 'this guy looks creepy, but he might be honest and telling the truth... but... but something seems off about him. Something was defiantly not right! Before he could read my distrust, I took off like a lightning bolt back towards the princess's chambers, yelling for help.

" 'I so hopped it wouldn't come to this' the tall, dark grey unicorn muttered just loud enough for me to hear. Then, without any hesitation on his side, he began charging up a dark green magic around his horn. The magic was sparking and made the air all around fence and hard to breath. I tried to make it harder for him to concentrate on me by performing the barrel rolls and quick turns as I continued towards the Princesses, but nothing could stop his next move. Although I didn't see him, I felt the air pressure in the area change, and suddenly, I felt a powerful blow hit my back, like I was a fly being swatted out of the air.

"I couldn't breath as I was sent flying, landing hard against the wall just ahead of me. For a long moment, I couldn't breath, move or think. My body was in so much pain, I almost wished the world would just go black. Worst of all, I caught a quick glimpse of my left wing. It was bent in a way that it was never meant to bend. That was the last thing I saw. Only my hearing remained.

" 'Now then, back to business' I heard the grey unicorn say as he approached me. I could hear his hoof steps as he casually got closer and closer. But then he stopped, his hoof steps stumbled a little. I could hear his breathing quicken. His voice seemed to grow lighter as it changed to a more familiar voice. 'No... no, what have I done?! Brother...'

"That's all I remembered from that night" Heart said as he looked up from the camp fire to Everypony around it. "A week later I awoke in a hospital, only to be met by one piece of unfortunate news after another. Not only had Charming been quarantined, but he refused to even see me. I couldn't believe what they told me about him either. Not May ponies were informed about that night, but because I was directly involved, the Princesses found it proper to tell me everything. I had a right to know... the dark unicorn that attacked me and did that to me to get the amulet... it was Charming. He had been transformed by the power of the alicorn amulet, and had taken the name 'Charming Knightmare'... though both princesses told me he had reverted to his normal form, he still ran the risk of reverting to his nightmarish state. And because of what he did, he never wanted to see me again...

"My wings, from what the doctors told me... they told me I'd never be able to fly again. I can't even use them as an extra set of hooves. From what they could see, it was like the bones were all taken out and thrown back in at random. I could have dealt with that, but because of my injuries, I had to leave the royal guard.

"They told me I could stay on, possibly as a ground night guard, but that would have made me feel more handicapped then I actually am. So with what was left of my pride, I packed up and moved to this small town, where I work in the quill and sofa shop" Heart said as he took a few more sticks and added them to the camp fire to keep it alive.

"Wow..." Rumble commented, the first of anypony to say anything.

Big Mac an Thunder knew that Heart had to leave the guard because of his injury, but they never knew to what degree.

"Have you ever thought about going to see Radiant Hope in the Crystal Empire?" Sunny asked, his thoughts popping to a solution to Heart's problem.

"No Doctor could help me, not even the princesses could-" Heart's tone was forlorn, oozing with sorrow.

"Auntie Radiant could fix up anypony" Sunny said with great confidence. "If you ever want to look her up, she's the head nurse in the Crystal empire. And the best Doctor equestria's ever had."

"I might do that, mate" Heart gave Sunny a half smile, mainly just wanting to drop the topic. He had given up hope long ago and just got used to living life on the ground.

"Soooo.... that Knightmare guy is, like, gone for good. Right?!" Button burst out, a nervous sweat starting to run down the side of his head.

"That, I'm afraid, is the most haunting part of my tale" Heart said as he stood up and looked at Everypony as he stood over the fire. "There is a darker reason why I thought to share this unfortunate tale with all of you. There were rumors of ponies, all throughout Equestria, having nightmares about a polite sounding unicorn stallion with a top hat, glowing green eyes, and razor sharp teeth asking 'have you seen my amulet?'

"My friend, Charming, had sense been rehabilitated by Princess Luna, who helped him to suppress the Knightmare, but the whole thing must have left my bro's mind split. From what my buddies tell me, he looks like he's always fighting with himself. Either trying to keep control or keep the Knightmare at bay. But at night, when Chamring sleeps, the Knightmare goes off, looking in other ponies dreams, searching for his amulet so he could finish his plans to rule Equestria!"

Everypony fell silent around the campfire. Even Snips and Snails who had enjoyed three times the s'mores then anypony else found it hard to swallow another bite.

"I'm so sorry..." Sunny was the one to break the silence.

"Sorry?" Heart asked, confused as to who Sunny was directing the apology to.

"Yes... I'm so sorry to you, and to him" Sunny sighed as we looked into the camp fire. "It's not that he doesn't want to see you because he's angry with you or anything. He can't face what he's down to you. He's taken everything away from you. Your position in the royal guard, your dreams, even your ability to fly...He probably thinks you hate him."

Heart jumped out across the fire and landed in front of Sunny, ready to slug him. "You don't know anything mate! How dare you even-"

"One thing I do know, it's that look in your eyes" Sunny answered as his calm expression flashed in Heart Patch's eyes, stopping the former guard dead in his tracks. "You hold no grudge against him, even though it was his fault you got hurt, and while you still have nightmares about everything that happened... you just want to see him again."

Heart studied the yellow unicorn before him, really taking a good look at him. There was something to him, something that Heart saw everyday he woke up and looked in a mirror. He had those same eyes. The grounded Pegasus whispered the question "Who hurt you..."

"My first friend and the only pony I thought I could trust before I came to Ponyville" Sunny said with other sad smile as he too took some fire wood and added it to the flames, breaking eye contact with Heart. "My father..."

Standing up now, leaving Everypony speechless, Sunny knew what he had to do to get this camping trip out of the blues and back in the groove of having fun. He grabbed one of the sleeping bags with his green magical aura and levitated it towards him, laying it over a few branches to make a flat surface that he could use to make shadow puppets.

"I hope y'all weren' wantin' ta get any sleep tanight" Sunny said with a grin. "Cuz Ah'm 'bout ta blow all ya'll stories out of th' water! This here story mah pa used ta tell me every harvestin' season!"

"Harvesting season?" Heart mumbles as he looked to Thunderlane, who in turn, just shrugged and looked back towards Sunny.

"Now, our story takes place thousands of years ago...

Back before the the princesses ruled Equestria, and brought peace and harmony to the lands, the world was a very frightening place, filled with monsters and creatures alike. Where ponies were too afraid to leave their homes after sundown, and locked themselves away in their homes that they hoped were safe. For creatures of pure darkness, arose from the shadows once the light of day went away, to torture and install fear into hearts of ponies, the action they considered foal's play.

Ponies who were unfortunate enough to be out durning the night would come face to face with the monsters. Beasts who fead on fear, and love to corner any pony or living thing, scaring them into a fetal like state with their worst nightmares come to life. Most ponies never saw what the creatures looked like. They only heard the scraping and scratching of their hooves and teeth on the walls and windows, as the monsters tried to get into the pony's houses. Screams and yells could be heard echoing all outside as the monsters ran about, searching for their next victim to feed on.

"I've never seen one myself, but I knew a mare who did" Sunny continued, the camp fire creating frightening shadows around his eyes, as his eyes almost seemed to glow brighter and brighter as Everypony began to listen more and more intently to the story

"She was too scared to tell me at first, but thought that if she did, she would spare me from ever being foolish enough to venture out on my own to look for them!" Sunny continued, enjoying how Everypony seemed to be on the edge of their seats. "She said, when she saw one, it looked like a sickly little old pony at first, but as she got closer, she realized it was hardly a pony at all. It did look sickly, with a thin skeleton like body, a long mouth like a crocodile, and oddly enough, torn and misshapen wings of a butterfly on it's back. But what bothered her the most wasn't it's smoke like body, or the way it seemed to not hold much of a solid form, but it's eyes. She couldn't look away from it's eyes. Two small red and green lights inside sunken black holes in it's head. The creature, she said, when it saw her, didn't look away, and got up from its sitting position to slowly walk over to her. She plead and begged for it to leave her alone. But all it did was stare at her and click it's teeth on occasion. It seemed to start to grow in size the more she panicked and backed away from it. By the time she was backed up into a wall, unable to escape, she said the monster easily towered over her, nearly triple her size! And it's green and red eyes we're now on fire with black and purple flames! Right as it opened it's mouth to breath a foul breath on her, somepony flung open their door and flashed several bright lanterns on the creature!

"the monster let out a haunting whale and ran off, the bright light hurting it, and the mare ran to her savior. Everypony knew what sent the beasts away was bright light, for the monsters who fed on ponie's fear also had one major weakness, light. But light alone didn't always expel the beasts. Had the stallion who saved the mare been filled with fear, the beast would have stayed and thrived on his fear as well. No, when the monsters are confronted, you need to not only flash them away with light as bright as the sun, but you must do so with valor. Without a single drop of fear in your own heart!

"Now ya'll are probably wonderin' 'why haven't ah ever seen them beasts before' right?" Sunny asked as he raised a brow.

"Actually, I was wondering if we could keep the fire going, like, all night" Snips replied as he paused from butting his hooves nervously.

"Ugh, yeah, that sounds like a good plan" Snails agreed.

"Now now, fellas, ya'll don't have much ta worry 'bout;

"Over a thousand years ago, a wise unicorn mare came forth and, with the help of a magical item, sealed the monsters away. The magical item, now powered by the hopes, joy, love and all a pony's heart had to offer without fear or anger, kept the monsters sealed away in a world of darkness and shadow. But, rumor has it, that a few of them escaped their prison, and wonder Equestria..."

Sunny used his hooves to make shadow puppets on the make shift screen
he had made from a sleeping bag. "They wonder dark, spooky places at night, searching for ponies foolish enough to get caught out in abandoned castles, caves, or even the woods at night! ... because if they do, the mosnter'll find you... and... gobble you up!"

In a flash, Sunny grabbed some of the broken branches and fire wood, levitating it up by the fire close enough to make a giant pony shaped skeleton on the make shift screen, one that resembled the monsters in his story. The colts screamed while Big Mac just froze with fear, and Thunderlane with Doctor fell out of their seats and hid behind the logs. Heart on the other hand cheered and smacked his knee.

"Good one on ya mate!" the now cheer filled Pegasus said with a great smile on his muzzle. "Blow's my story out of the water! But eh, what are them beasties called? Do they have a name?"

With his eyes glowing bright green over the fire, Sunny smiled as his gaze traveled over Everypony around the campfire once they calmed down. "They are monsters that started monster stories. The original creatures that went 'bump' in the night before the word 'bump' was invented. And it's said that they themselves created fear in the hearts of all before anypony knew what it was to fear. They are called the Umbrum. And trust me, this is no story. They are real. They could even be listening from the shadows, as we speak..."

Author's Note:

Ok guys, couple of things;

1) yeah, I went there with the whole 'stuck in a video game' ploy for Button Mash's story. I know it's been done in several books, a movie or two, and a tone of anime, but still, it seemed like something he'd think up.

2) yes, I also narrowed the weeping angels from the Doctor Who universe for Doctor Whoove's story. I had to change it up a bit to keep the PG-13 rating, but still.

Also, I'd like to give a shout out to one of my best pals, Brandon Pratt, who's oc 'Heart Patch' made Charming Knightmare's story so well done. It was actually based on our rps we used to do back when I used my oc Charming Knight (aka Alister). Thanks Bro!