//------------------------------// // Haunted // Story: Keeper of the Forest // by ShowShine //------------------------------// Spike wore a green dragon costume, flying around the school. He was hanging up Nightmare Night decorations. “Perfect, just move the skull a little to the right.” Twilight instructed. Spike nodded his head and moved a cockatrice skull to the top of the doorway. Twilight wore a long white dress and a black wig. Spike landed next to Twilight, who stared at his wing in confusion. “What happened to your wing?” Twilight asked, pointing to the tear in his wing. “I flew into a rock.” Spike stated. It technically wasn’t a lie, he did cut his wing on a rock. The school doors opened, making Spike and Twilight turn around. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Fluttershy walked in the school all wearing costumes. Pinkie Pie wore a cheerleader costume with her hair in two ponytails. Applejack was dressed as a zombie, wearing old worn clothing. Fluttershy was a rabbit, her costume was simple with only ears, a nose, whiskers, and a small tail. Rainbow Dash was Daring Do. Finally, Rarity was a witch. She wore a large floppy hat and a sparkly black dress. “Darlings the decor is to die for.” Rarity complimented. Twilight smiled. “Thanks Rarity, Spike got most of the decorations.” Twilight explained. Rainbow Dash inspecting a few dark thorny plants that were high on the ceiling. “These look like the plants the attacked us when Twilight first became princess.” She pointed out. Pinkie Pie picked up a manticore spine. “This looks super duper real!” She exclaimed in disbelief. They all marveled on how really everything looked. “Oh come on, this is obviously all fake.” Smolder said, walking into the school. Sandbar, Ocellus, Gallus, Yona, and Silverstream followed close behind. Gallus scoffed. “Yeah, what this even supposed to be?” He asked, poking a Timberwolf tail. Little did they know, all of the things Spike had set up were very real. Anytime an animal died, there bodies would have to be deposed of and he would usually take them. A lot of potions he made relied on an eyeball of a roc or a tongue of a cockatrice. Waiting until they died was the best way to get what he needed. “Well the haunted school is gonna be even scarier.” Rainbow Dash said with a grin. All of the students exchanged glances. “No offense Professor, but this doesn’t seem that scary at all.” Ocellus stages. All of her friends nodded there heads in agreement. “Yona know that teacher will jump out and scare student.” Yona said in agreement. “Heeeeey, we worked hard on this.” Pinkie Pie defended. The students and teachers started to argue as Spike thought to himself. “I can make a scary house.” Spike stated. Everyone looked at him and started to snicker to themselves. “No offense Spike, but you’re the least scary creature I know.” Applejack said. Spike pouted and crossed his arms. “Well at least I’m dressed as something scary. What’s more scarier than a dragon?” Spike asked. “You’re already a dragon, why are you dressed up as one?” Smolder asked. Spike stared down at his costume. “I dress like a dragon every year.” Spike said. Smolder giggled at that. “Fluttershy, I need your help.” Spike said, turning to Fluttershy. Everyone gave a look of surprise. “Sure what do you need me to do?” Fluttershy asked. “You’re asking Fluttershy to help?” Rainbow Dash asked in disbelief. Spike nodded his head. “Yup, come on Fluttershy, we have a lot of work to do.” Spike said, walking out of the school. Fluttershy flew after him. Spike sat in front of Buddy, putting pet safe paint on his face and around his mouth. “Show me your scary face.” Spike commanded. Buddy let out a snarl, bearing his teeth and growling. A chill ran up his spine. “Perfect.” Spike said with a grin. “So let me get this straight, you’re going to scare a bunch of people because other people suck at scaring?” Irdes asked. “Uh huh, do you wanna help?” Spike asked, picking up a nearby flashlight. He placed it next to Buddy and Irdes shook his head. “If a mortal looks at me, there eyes will melt out of their head!” Irdes said dramatically. “But I’ve seen you and so has Fluttershy.” Spike pointed out. Irdes eyes darted around, looking for an excuse. “Okay fine, I just don’t like meeting knew people.” He admitted. Spike chuckled and stood up. “Fluttershy, can you finish there makeup, I have to set a path.” Spike asked. Fluttershy nodded her head, knowing that they had a few hours until there guest came. Spike flew out of a nearby window and landed in his backyard. He walked over to the shed in the backyard and opened the door. He grabbed a shovel, a wheel barrow, and a two large bag of rocks. He backed out of the shed and turned around to see a crow. What was odd about the crow was that it had a camera in its beak. “Um...hello.” Spike greeted. The crow snapped a picture, causing a bright flash. Spike closed his eyes, rubbing them a bit. When he opened them, the crow was gone. That was odd. Spike shook his head and continued with his task. The mane six and the student six walked towards the entrance of the Everfree Forest. “Isn’t it a little dangerous to hold a scary event in the Everfree Forest?” Ocellus asked. Twilight waved her hoof dismissively. “Knowing Spike, this whole thing is going to be five minutes and we’ll just walk in a small circle. Animals aren’t even that close to the edge of the forest.” Twilight stated. They approached the entrance to the Everfree Forest to see rocks lining up, making a path. A large puff of smoke appeared in front of them and Spike emerged from the smoke, wearing a mummy costume with patches of blood on it. “Welcome to the haunted Forest, enter if you dare.” Spike said menacingly. “How’d you get that fake blood on your bandages, it looks so real!” Pinkie Pie marveled. An embarrassed look appeared on Spikes face. “It’s not fake, I tripped and fell down a hill.” Spike admitted, making the others laugh. He cleared his throat and continued speaking. “Make sure not to stray off of the path or there will be dire consequences.” Spike warned. He grabbed a smoke bomb from his bandages and threw it to the ground, making smoke erupt out. Everyone watched Spike run out from behind the smoke and jump into a bush. “Let’s see how ‘scary’ this actually is.” Rainbow Dash said starting to follow the path. Everyone follow behind her, happily chatting to each other. “This isn’t even scary, I knew Spike couldn’t make anything scary!” Smolder said. Everyone’s ears perked up when the heard a soft growling from the bushes. “Did you hear that?” Silverstream asked. They all turned around to see a timberwolf slowly emerging from the bushes. It let out a low growl and it’s eyes shined brightly in the darkness. Blood stained it’s face and it slowly approached them. “Okay guys, don’t panic.” Twilight tried to make sure that they stayed calm. The timberwolf jumped forward. “RUN!” Rarity shouted. The group scattered off into different directions. Rarity and Rainbow Dash looked behind them to see the timberwolf right on her tails. Rarity tripped over her dress and fell to the ground. Rainbow Dash flew next to her, trying to help her up. “Lets go Rarity!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. The timberwolf pounced at them and they both let out loud screams. Smolder, Ocellus, and Gallus slowed down to catch there breaths. They had drifted off of the path and were in total darkness. “Where are we? I can’t see a thing.” Gallus asked, squinting. “Where did that timberwolf come from, Headmare Twilight said that they wouldn’t be at the edge of the forest.” Ocellus said, shaking like a leaf. “Hold on.” Smolder said, flying up towards a tree. She snapped off a branch and lit the end of it on fire, lighting it on fire. She landed next to Ocellus and held the torch up towards the forest. There was a rustle from a nearby bush. Smolder stood in front of both of them protectively. “Stay back!” She shouted, pointing the torch forward. Pinkie Pie stumbled out of the bushes, patting leaves out of her hair. “There you guys are, where are the others?” Pinkie Pie asked. Everyone shrugged there shoulders. Without any warning, a roc chick popped out of the bush. It’s skin was rotting off and it only had one wing. It let out a loud strained caw, dragging itself on the ground. The group screamed in fear, huddling together. Twilight, Yona, and Silverstream walked on the path, still all on edge from the timberwolf attack. “Alright girls, just take deep breaths.” Twilight said, trying to calm them down. “Yak scared!” Yona exclaimed, shaking like a leaf. Silverstream nodded her head in agreement, hugging Yona tightly. “That was terrifying!” Silverstream agreed. Twilights ears perked up when she heard a rustle from a tree. “What was that?” Silverstream asked, hiding behind Twilight. Yona shook in fear, putting her hooves over her eyes. Twilight backed in front of the children and got into a defensive stance. Three eyes appeared in the tree, glowing with the night. A manticore hopped out of a tree, letting out a roar. It had an extra eye in its forehead, glowing brightly. Dry blood was around it mouth as it slowly approached them. “Stay back!” Twilight exclaimed, her horn glowing brightly. Her horn flickered and the light went away. “My magic!” Twilight exclaimed in shock. It wasn’t working. The manticore slowly approached them, lifting up its paw. Everyone screamed in terror. Applejack and Sandbar walked into a very bright area, shielding there eyes. When they opened there eyes, the say a snack table and Heart Warming lights hung up in trees. Fluttershy danced to music playing from a record player and Spike took a sip of his drink. “You finished the haunted path! Was it scary?” Spike asked with a smirk. “Scary? A timberwolf attacked us!” Sandbar exclaimed in terror. Spike chuckled. “I know, I planned the whole thing.” Spike boasted. They both looked at him in shock. “You planned that?!” Applejack asked in disbelief. Spike nodded his head with a smile. “I know you wanted to do something scary, but you took it far!” Applejack shouted. Spike grimaced. “Did I really take it too far?” Spike asked. “Yes!” Applejack and Sandbar shouted in unison. Spike looked at them. Sandbar was pale and was shaking. Applejacks hair was ruffled up and she looked terrified too. “I should probably stop them before someone gets hurt.” Spike said. He reached into his bag and pulled out a squeaky dog toy. He walked through the bushes Sanbar and Applejack came through. He looked around and followed the hoofsteps that Applejack and Sanbar had left behind. He started to squeak the bone shaped toy in his hand. “Okay guys, pranks over!” Spike shouted, squeaking the toy. He followed the path to see Twilight, Yona, and Silverstream cowering in fear as Cinnamon circled them. “You can stop now.” Spike stated. Cinnamon ran over to him and rubbed her face against him. He pet her head, rubbing off the third eye. “Buddy, here boy!” Spike exclaimed. The bushes rustled and Buddy hopped out, his tail wagging happily. Rainbow Dash and Rarity pored there head out of the bush they were cowering in. Debbie came from a nearby tree approaching Spike. His friends walked up to him, all of them looking very shaken. “These are your animals?!” Twilight asked in disbelief. Spike nodded his head. “Where did you possibly find them?!” Rarity asked. Spike swallowed and he thought of a quick lie. “Oh you know, I just found them.” Spike stated. “Let’s go eat snacks, I set up a snack table not too far from here.” He said, leading them to the relaxation area. Smolder followed him, thinking to herself. “Has powers to grow plants, is friends with forest creatures, and weird weather lately?” She thought you herself. It all sounded so familiar as if she had read something about it before. She needed to figure this out.