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// Chapter 3:  Home Visit 
// Story: Nightmare Night 
// by Dreadnought 
//------------------------------//

Grandpa Gruff sat eyeing the two individuals sitting at the round table.  On the left was his young charge, Gallus.  On his right, was one of the School of Friendship's teachers, Butterfly or Flutterspy or whatever her name was.

"Oh, Gallus has been a good student.  I just love having him in class," she said.

"And how much trouble has he caused?" Gruff asked, well, gruffly.

"None," she replied.

Gruff eyed Gallus who squirmed on his stool.  Next, the elderly griffon turned his steel gaze to the pegasus, who seemed to wilt under his glare.

"Well, at least nothing lately," she qualified.  "But he's a good student now."

Gruff's gaze hardened.  

"Well, there was that time- "

"Oh look, there's Gilda with dinner," interrupted Gallus.

Gilda placed four plates around the table, before taking a seat herself.  Before each creature was a plate with a steaming dish of food.  It was rice with vegetables and other ingredients mixed in, and the aroma made everyone's mouths water.

Without hesitation the three griffons began digging in.  Fluttershy picked up a fork and took a bite.  It was truly delicious.  She could taste rice and carrots and broccoli.  But there was something else.  She took another bite.  Water chestnuts.  But what was that other flavor?  Another bite.  Peas and bamboo.  But what was it?  Another bite, and the mysterious flavor continued to confound her.  It was chewy, and tasted like nothing she'd ever had before.

Fluttershy asked, "What is in this?"

Gilda paused stuffing food in her mouth to say, "You know.  Rice, peas, bamboo, carrots, broccoli, rabbit."

"Rabbit?" squeaked Fluttershy.

"Yeah."

Fluttershy stared in horror at the food in front of her.  Rabbit.  Rabbit!!!  She'd never be able to look Angel Bunny in the eyes again!

Gallus leaned over and whispered, "You need to finish your meal.  It's a grave insult not to eat the food you're given."

"But - "

She looked across the table towards the elderly Gruff, who squinted at her with his larger eye.  Fluttershy hesitated, then, trembling, brought another piece to her mouth.