//------------------------------// // Laughing in Fear's Face // Story: A Mare's tale // by MapleTreeway //------------------------------// “Sure’s a nasty place ‘ere,” Big Macintosh said to Twilight. “It’s not that bad,” she answered. “But there’s vines an’ moss an’ stuff.” “True, but I told you, you didn’t need to come.” Big Macintosh grunted. The two were in the Everfree Forest surrounded by all sorts of things: Moss, spider-webs, vines, trees; trees with moss, spider-webs, and vines on them. Anything that resembles Spooky and Creepy was in there. Big Macintosh didn’t like it one bit. “What if a cockatrice or whatever they’re called come an’ turn us ta stone?” he asked. Twilight was in front of Big Macintosh, turned to look him in the eye. “It doesn’t hurt. You barely feel it anyway!” “How’s that gonna help?” The Mare cocked her head to the side studying the Stallion before her. He truly is scared, she considered. It was true; he was shaking from head to foot barely standing on his own four hooves. His teeth chattered uncontrollably, not from the crisp, cold air but from fear. He jumped when he heard a noise, too. “Or – or what if a big hundred foot spider comes…” he started to say when Twilight walked over to him and put a hoof on his lips. “You need to control your imagination. Your fear can’t hurt you as long as you’re not afraid of it; and when it comes, or if it comes, laugh in its face. Show the Fear you are not scared of it!” she advised. He nodded when Twilight put her hoof down, and hardened his face; but the eyes show all in a pony when emotional - Big Macintosh especially. His eyes, despite his hard core face, emitted with the biggest fear a pony could have. Twilight saw this and said, “Trust me; if Fluttershy can do it, and she did it once, you can too.” The Red Stallion gulped and nodded. “Now, if only I knew the way out…” Twilight said talking to herself. "WHAT? Ya don’ know ta way out?” “Well, I have only been here a few times, so cut me some slack.” They walked a few minutes more with Big Macintosh gaping at the Unicorn in front of him. “Uh, Twilight, how long’s we’ve been walkin’?” “About twenty minutes… OH NO! I was supposed to be back AGES ago! Oh what will Spike say, what will he think? I mean, he’s sick! Shoot, shoot, shoot!” the Unicorn started panicking running back and forth looking for a familiar sight. “Umm, Twilight – “ the Earth Pony started to say when he got cut off. “Not now Big Macintosh, not now! I’m trying to think!” Big Macintosh pushed away a shrub and waited for Twilight run his direction. When she did, she ran right out into Fluttershy’s gate, Big Macintosh trotted after her with the basket of Apples in his mouth. “I tried tellin’ ya, but ya won’t listen ta me,” he explained setting the basket down next to her. “Eh-he,” was all she said trying to stand. Standing not too well, Twilight levitated the Apples next to her. She looked at the smirking pony and asked curtly, “What?” “Ya said ya can take care of ya self, an’ what happened?” Big Macintosh replied. Twilight rolled her eyes, “Nothing. That’s what!” The bigger pony raised his eyebrow. “Nothin’, ya sure? From what I saw, you were panickin’ mighty hard. Then ya ran into Miss Fluttershy’s gate, ya call it nothin’?” “Yes, that was nothing.” A light came on in Fluttershy’s house, then came a timid scared voice, “Who – who’s the-there?” Both ponies looked at each other and galloped away as fast as they could. … …... …. …. ….. …. ….. “It was… nice of you to walk me home, thank you,” Twilight said standing on her porch near her door. “Just try an’ stay out of shortcuts an’ trouble,” Big Macintosh alleged. The Unicorn laughed at the statement, “No shortcuts, promise.” “Trouble?” “That either, no mischief.” Big Mac looked relived, and then bidding Good Night trotted towards the road and out of sight. Twilight sighed and headed in doors only to be greeted by an angry Spike. “Where’ve you been?” his strained voice asked. “I told you,” She said trotting to the mixing bowl and putting the Apples in. “I went out to get some Apples to make Applesauce.” “But you’ve been gone for an hour and a half when you said you’d be back in half an hour!” “Oh… well, I had some…. Detours…” “Let me guess, with Big Macintosh?” Spike asked put his claws on his scaly hips. “NO!” Twilight whipped around with fury. Then realizing how she sounded blushed and said, “You don’t know that.” “I do to! You’ve been away with him!” “NO I DID NOT!!” “Oh sure you didn’t Twi.” Spike said sarcastically. His tone turned sad as he started up the stairs, “I just can’t believe you lied and forgot all about me.” The purple Mare trotted to the base of the stairs and answered, “I didn’t Spike, honest. I just got lost on the road when I tried taking a shortcut that’s all.” Spike didn’t answer and kept going up. When he reached the top he said, “Fine, it’s not my fault if you get hurt.” Twilight’s stomach lurched. Appearing by Spike’s bed with Spike in it, she asked in such a quiet measure the baby dragon barely heard. “What do you mean?” “I saw him with another Mare.” “Are you sure, Spike? It wasn’t anyone from the Apple Family?” Spike looked at her, “I don’t think so.” Twilight backed away. “No, no it can’t be!” “I saw him, Twilight!” The Unicorn turned around and galloped to her bed where she cried a storm. Spike just sat there pleased with his acting skills and that he fooled Twilight into believing a false statement about her lover. Because he just didn’t want Twilight to forget him. He didn’t want Twilight to abandon him and leave.