//------------------------------// // Part 1 // Story: Flutterfright // by Jmaster49 //------------------------------// “Long ago in a haunted castle on a hill...ahem. Are you listening?” the yellow pegasus mare’s eyes narrowed in a deadpan fashion. Her rainbow-maned friend cackled at her expense. “Heh heh heh! Sorry, Fluttershy! I just can’t take you seriously!” Fluttershy’s unfazed expression remained on her face. “Are you serious?” “Yeah, Rainbow’s right,” the orange earth pony commented, “No offense, sugarcube. But yer more...cutesy than scary. Maybe ya’ll should leave the stories to me on Nightmare Night.” “Uh-huh,” Fluttershy replied with a lazy roll of her eyes. The three mares had gathered at the forest near the Apple Farm and set up a small campsite with a fire pit. In their time together, they spent it discussing what they’d do once Nightmare Night came. Applejack was already planning to handle the bobbing for apples stand, again. Rainbow Dash had planned to set up a party in the Town Hall with Pinkie’s help. “Or maybe I could do it,” Rainbow suggested, “I tell a super wicked story!” It was Applejack’s turn to roll her eyes with dismissiveness. “Fer the last time, sugar. Ain’t nopony wants to hear the story of the Jeepers Breezers. Everypony’s heard ya tell it hundreds of times.” “Aw come on!” she pleaded with her hooves on Applejack’s shoulders, “It’s a way cooler story than something about a mutant bat!” “Ahem,” Fluttershy cleared her throat to catch their attention. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have some new stories to tell. You never know. They could be scaaaaary…oooooh….” she said while she wiggled her hooves around in a spooky fashion to emphasize how spooky she intended to be. Both mares didn’t buy it. “HA!” Rainbow laughed, then paused. “Oh wait, you’re serious? Allow me to laugh harder. AHAHAHA!” Applejack flicked the back of the blue pegasus’ head with her tail. “What Rainbow’s sayin’ sugarcube, is that maybe ya should focus on...a different part?” “Hm…” It would take a moment for Fluttershy to respond. There was a hint of disappointment on her face, but she hid it behind a small smile. “Maybe you’re right. After all, with Twilight having been away in Canterlot for so long, this is going to be her first Nightmare Night. And hopefully Luster Dawn gets properly scared, right?” “That’s the spirit, sugarcube. Maybe you and the animals can set up a booth of yer own this year?” Rainbow Dash munched on a melted marshmallow and spoke with her mouth full. “Yeah, you don’t wanna haff a lame boof and insulff Nighffmare Moonf--wah!” Applejack pushed her friend off of her seat on the log and into the dirt. “...Just do yer best, okay, Fluttershy?” “Mm-hmm.” The yellow pegasus hid her plans behind a facade of understanding. “Oh...I think I might have just the idea. BEHIND YOU--AAH!” “Hyeh!” Applejack chuckled, “Nice try.” That night, Fluttershy went home. Her muzzle furled into a state of annoyance. “Hmph. They don’t think I can be scary, can they? Well I’ll show them. I’ll show them all.” With a huff, she pushed her cottage door open. A white, fluffy rabbit was the first to greet her as always. “I’m trying to relax, Angel Jr. Don’t bother me, please,” she trotted onwards to her bathroom. The rabbit frowned, and closed the front door for her. His father used to be the one to take care of the pegasus in times like these. Though now, he had passed on due to the shorter lifespan of rabbits compared to ponies. Angel Junior had decided to take up the mantle with a much more forgiving approach. He thumped his foot against the floor as he started to gather his thoughts. “...!” Something came to him. He snapped his little furry fingers, and hopped out of the window. Meanwhile, in the bathroom, the yellow pegasus looked at herself in the mirror. She checked her teeth. Nope. Nothing. “Darn...my vampire powers are receding. Perhaps it’s for the best. But how am I going to be able to scare anypony?” DING-DONG! “Oh? A visitor? This late? Coming!” she exited the bathroom, and flew to the door. She made use of the peephole to see who it was, but it was hard to tell. “Who is it?” The pony’s muffled voice came from the other side of the door. “I’m a travelling merchant. Here to offer spooky things in preparation for Nightmare Night.” “Ooh, that could help. Wait…” Fluttershy paused to think about it. “This is awfully convenient. Too convenient. Stay on your feathers, Fluttershy. You never know what anypony could be trying to pull around this time of year.” She inhaled, exhaled, and let her chest fall before she opened the door. “Hello?” A hooded pony stood before her with a gravelly tone of voice. “I think you’d be interested in seeing what I have to offer. You look like other ponies don’t take you seriously. Ya wanna prove ‘em wrong, don’tcha?” Fluttershy mentally scoffed. This pony was far too suspicious to trust. But she didn’t want to display any fear. She knew that if she did, then it would be all too easy for this pony to manipulate her. “Yeah...I wish I could,” she replied in a dejected tone, “but I don’t know how. I want to scare Applejack and Rainbow Dash specifically. But they’re not afraid of anything.” “Oh-ho...then you’re in luck. I have just the thing for you to use to make your friends run screaming. They’ll never take you for a fool ever again.” The hooded pony reached into one of their saddlebags, and pulled out a glowing green orb. “Take a look at this.” It was so bright, that Fluttershy had to shield her eyes with a hoof. “What is that?” “This, my friend, is the Orb of Insectivus. Use it, and any bug you want will be at your beck and call. Nopony can withstand the scariness of icky, creepy-crawly...things.” “And you’re just giving me this?” she asked with a tilt of her head, “What’s the catch? Don’t you want anything in return?” The hooded figure waved a hoof in a dismissive manner. “Oh how kind of you. But no. All I want is to see you satisfied with the results, madam. No charge at all.” “Yeah, I’m not buying it,” she thought to herself while she took the orb in her hoof. “Oh wow, thank you!” Fluttershy said with gleeful eyes, “You won’t regret this!” And right after that, she retreated into her cottage for the night and locked the door. “Oh I know I won’t...heheh…” the hooded pony mumbled to themselves as they trotted away from the house.