//------------------------------// // Fogged down // Story: Prank War! // by Ashfur //------------------------------// The sudden burst of fog was thick, obscuring, and had no discernable end.  It was so dense that the ponies in it could see no more than ten feet in any direction.  Still holding the effects of his disguise potion, Nick dashed off down the street and quickly disappeared from view. “Well, so much for ending this early, I suppose.  Arcane, do you think you can get rid of this overwhelming fog?” Arca smiled at Celestia.  “Actually, it should dissipate on it's own over an hour or so. Plus, I have to get back home and do some tests on the fur sample Nick gave me!  Can you tell him that I'd be willing to send him potions to help him in your little prank war if he will let me visit and collect samples from him on occasion?  I can send him a catalog.” “I suppose.  Good luck on your tests, Arca.” “Thanks, Celly!  I can't wait… with my old mentor and my apprentice at my shop right now… I'll bet we could make any potion!  Even THAT potion!” “I seem to recall that Luna and I had solid color manes until the last time you gave us that particular potion.” “Don't worry, I told you I'd fix it!  Eventually. Now, I've gotta get going!”  There was a flash of teleportation, and Arca was gone. Celestia began trotting off towards the castle to try and minimize any panic about the sudden fog, glancing at her multicolored, flowing mane.  “I wonder if I can order him to make sure ‘eventually’ never comes? I've grown to like it this way.” Nick was lost. Yes, he knew Canterlot very well.  Even to the point that he could easily navigate some of the lesser known streets without a map, as to avoid most tourists.  But in such a dense fog, and after running in a panic from the moat-tossing princess of the sun… “Halt!  Who goes there?  Thou stand before the princess of the night, and…”  Nick turned around quickly to find Luna scowling at him.  He took a moment to realize that he still had that potion active that made him look like whoever the viewer expected to see there.  He could look like anything, be it the fog machine loving Countess Colortura, Discord, King Sombra, or maybe even some secret lover of Luna's from times long gone! “Nicholas Abernathy.  We knew thou was behind this.” Or, she could expect to see him, and that works too.  “Luna! Hi. How are you doing? Lovely weather we're having.” “Thou has ten seconds to start running before we pursue.  We hear the moat gets quite chilly when fog covers the land.  Ten.” “Luna, let's be reasonable here…” “Eight.  Seven.” Nick stepped back cautiously.  “Luna. Luna you're sounding a little angry.  Why not talk about this over tea?” “Four.  Three. Two.” “Crud.  Well… HEY LOOK, A DUCK!”  Nick pointed in a random direction at nothing, and took off running when Luna looked where he pointed. “WHO SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE DUCK?!” Luna turned and looked through the fog at the direction of the other voice she just heard.  “Was that…? No, skilled as he was at alchemy, he must have died centuries ago.” she paused a moment to think of her old friend, then snapped back to attention.  “WAIT A MOMENT, GET THINE FLANK BACK HERE, NICHOLAS!” Nick, meanwhile, was already far ahead, and approaching his goal now that he had passed a few landmarks.  He had to get in the moat and make this potion wear off before somepony saw him as- “Unca Nik!” Nick skidded to a stop across the bridge over the moat, coming face to face with his precious little Snowflake.  “Flurry Heart!” He quickly scooped her up into a big hug, which she reciprocated by engulfing his head in her wings.  “How did you know it was me, Snowflake? Everypony has been thinking I'm someone else! And what are you doing out here by yourself?” Flurry reached out and booped Nick on the nose.  “Siwwy hyooman! Unca Nik is always on bwidge, gettin’ toss in moot!  An Fwurry was pwaying with mommy when big cloud show up! Fwurry got lost.” Nick nuzzled his honorary niece back, smiling.  “Well I'm here for you now, and I'm glad you're okay.  And yeah, I do get thrown in the moat a lot, don't I!” “Unca Nik muss like be in moot!  Fwurry help!” she focused, her face scrunching up in concentration, her horn lit with a powerful glow. “Wait, Flurry, no-” Sploosh “Fwurry help!  Fwurry help! Fwurry trow Unca Nik in moot!” “So thou did.  Well played, Flurry Heart,”  commented Luna, trotting up to meet her grandniece. “Auntie Woona!  Fwurry wan cookie now!  Pwease?” “For thy valiant efforts in defeating Nicholas?  We think thou has earned a cookie or two.” Nick surfaced in the moat, paddling to shore.  “Great. Now she's throwing me in too. Bet nopony saw THAT coming…” “Starlight!  Starlight! You have to come quick!  The magical map looks like Rainbow Falls is a big ball of fur!” “You know Spike, Twilight already told me you came to her claiming it looked like Canterlot was covered in a cloud.  If you're gonna lie to get out of chores, get your story straight.”