Chapter 7
Aftermath
The clean up that fallowed was something of a grand size. From all corners of the town, Ponies (that were not in the Hospital) did all they could to remove the ruble, rescue trapped Ponies and remove the gunk that was the Towns tormenters. During this, Celestia and her Protégé Twilight, help organize the Townsfolk and plan out living arrangements until things were rebuilt and sorted out.
So far, only two deaths were reported, all the rest were injuries ranging from critical, too minor. The buildings, on the other hoof, didn't stand as much of a chance. More then half the town was decimated in some way, be it by fire, or the sawing away of support beams, there weren't that many left.
It wasn't even ten minutes before Luna appeared before them all, calling out Celestia as to why the sun was out when it should have been night. She knew it was important for her sister to aid her little Ponies, but as to why her sister needed the sun out puzzled her.
When Celestia did come, she only said that the sun was out because it was the only way to stop the problem and would need to wait for a time before it was all explained. Luna agreed with waiting and decided to pitch in herself.
While she helped, she couldn't help but wonder what could cause such destruction and force her sister to call the sun to stop them. Then there was the fact her sister's ever ivory whit coat had areas of black spots on her. She knew fire didn't harm the one who used the sun, but that didn't mean the fur was as resistant. She wondered what indeed happened.
When a good amount of the work was done did, five of the main six (excluding Fluttershy that went to get Mel for the fallowing conversation), one dragon and two Princesses gather at the Golden Oaks Library door, that was still miraculously intact.
Twilight let out a sigh of relief at the Library still standing and motioned for the group to fallow her in. Opening the door and walking inside, all Ponies stopped at the sight of the stack of books before them.
"Odd…" Twilight said eyeing the books that strongly resembled a building "I don't remember there being a stack here from earlier…"
Before anypony could utter a possible reason, two of the Fiends popped out from behind the 'Book Fort' and threw a book at Luna and Twilight each, successfully skewing it on there horns.
"Bullz eye!" The first gleefully said before high-threeing the other one and ducking back down into cover. Not a second later did they pop back out and threw another volley at them.
This time, however, Celestia caught these projectiles and lunched them back with interest, smacking them both in the face making both go stiff in pain. A moment latter, and they tilted back ever so slowly before falling off there fort.
Rainbow was the first to comment "What the hay! I thought we got rid of them all!"
"Apparently not." Rarity said rather venomously. Her experience with them had left a very bad impression that Spike could vouch for.
"In any case." Luna said calmly while carefully prying the defenseless book off her horn "We will not have to worry of these two, as they are now in our custody."
Twilight also pulled her now damaged 'Encyclopedia of Rock types and there environments' book and putting it down on a self more gently then needed. She then went to work on clearing the room out so they could get to talking on the whole…incident.
"I really be hope'n so Princess Luna, 'cause if its'en one thing we've learn' with 'em, its tha' you can't be too sure." Apple Jack said while helping Twilight clear the books away for more room.
Putting a few books away, Twilight looked over to Spike who was doing the same before saying "Spike, would you please go and get us something? I think some tea would be good to calm out nerves from all this."
"Oh, I do so agree Twilight." Rarity chimed while moving a few books herself "I'm sure that would be most relaxing for most of us."
Most did nod at this in agreement. With a salute, Spike turned about and marched right into the kitchen, being tail by a bouncing Pinkie who yelled "I'll bake some cupcakes!"
From there they began to clear more books aside and pile them (and tie up the two little monsters) aside so they could sit at the table to discuses what had happened. Celestia could tell her sister, though very patient, was very much restless to know what had happened.
*PONG!* *CRASH!* *POOF!* "EH-AHAHAHA!"
"Ya got ta be kidde'n me." Apple Jack sighed from the racket echoing in the kitchen.
"Don't worry Pinkie, I go-AAHHH!" It was at this point an all to familiar brown Gremlin with crazy eyes came running out with one baby dragon trying to weigh him down.
"Stop and get back here Loco!" Yelled Pinkie Pie, who rushed after the identified gremlin around the library. All the occupants could do was try and avoid the brown and pink missiles that whizzed about.
"WHERE DO THEY KEEP COMING FROM!" Dash yelled in frustration. No matter what they did, they just kept coming back like those Parisprites!
Luckily, or rather unluckily, did the Gremlin run past the front door, only for it to swing open right as he was and smack into it and stick like a fly to a windshield.
"Sorry for barging in." Said the ever so quiet yellow Pegasus who stood in the doorway with a bag "But I heard some noise coming from in here and got worried." Glancing left to right she then asked "What happened?"
"Nothing much." Pinkie answered cheerfully while prying off a now flat-faced gremlin from the door "Just another Gremlin."
"Never mind that. Pinkie, do something about that Gremlin." Twilight ordered, getting a mock salute and pink dust trail.
Turning to Fluttershy, the Unicorn waved her in before closing the door. After a few minutes did they finally get to the subject at hand.
"Alright Fluttershy, I think were ready." Twilight told her friend who nodded shyly and opened the bag that she had slung over her side. What fallowed was slight amassment to those who had not seen the Mogwai Mel.
"In all my years, I have not seen such a creature." Luna said, looking over the cute creature before her.
With a shake of her head, Celestia replied "Neither have I, Luna." Only to smile at how Mel smiled and waved "Though I must admit, he is quite adorable."
Looking to her friend, the farm Pony asked "not tha' I don't agee with th' Princess or none, But wha' dose he hav' ta do with them varmints?"
Most others nodded in agreement before the Pegasus explained.
"Well, a few days ago, I was just wakening up and heading out to take care of my animal friends for the morning, only to hit something."
"at first I got scared, but found Mel here, who I found out was something called a Mogwai, and kept him." Fluttershy felt something latch to her leg and looked down to find Mel hugging her leg and beaming up to her. She smiled back before continuing "Though he was a sweetheart, the box I found him in had these three rules I was to never break."
"What sort of Rules?" Rarity asked while admiring Mel's rather soft fur.
It was Twilight that decided to answer "Rule 1: Don't expose them to bright light, especially sun light, as it would kill him." That stunned a few, and made one sun deity look on with shock and some form of realization.
"Rule 2: Don't get it wet. And Rule 3: Don't feed it after midnight." Twilight finished and motioning for Fluttershy to keep going.
"Well, the first Rule was easy to keep, as I only had to keep some curtains shut. But the seconded rule was broken rather quickly after I picked up the Crusaders…"
"Don't tell me…" Apple Jack almost pleaded to herself with a whisper.
"And sort of spilt some water on him." It was here AJ pulled her hat down some. No matter where those three went, trouble fallowed.
"Then what happened?" Luna inquired with curiosity.
She didn't need to wait long for her answer "He sort of…popped out three more Mogwai."
"So Mogwai multiply when they get wet?" Celestia asked, sparing a quick glance to a closet where the Gremlins were held.
"Yes, and matured quickly…physically anyways." Twilight said with some reluctance in the end. With most gave her, she said "They were like young misbehaving Foals, getting into everything!"
"A-and they tend to not always listen." Fluttershy added.
"It wasn't until the next day did things…get out of hoof." She went on "Rainbow and Pinkie were visiting me and after they left, the Mogwai were gone!"
Feeling a tap on her leg, Fluttershy looked down to a crossed arm Mel and corrected herself "Sorry Mel. The three new Mogwai were gone." Mel nodded, happy with that correction.
It was at this point Pinkie butted in "Yea, and the next day, which is today, but is probably tomorrow, all the baked goods were gone!" Waving her arms for emphasis and added a little more lightly like an afterthought "Oh, and there were these slimy green things."
"I take it those things have something to do with the Mogwai?" Rarity said, shivering it the thought of something both green and slimy.
"Yes," Twilight came in yet again "From what we found out, if you were to let a Mogwai break the 'no eating after midnight rule' then they go into these cocoons and change into what we saw today."
"Please hold Twilight." Luna commanded "Are you saying that this-" She pointed to the rather innocent looking Mogwai before her "Turns into those monsters that hath destroyed half of Ponyville?"
"O-oh no, Princess." The shy Pegasus squeaks "T-they only do so if you l-let them eat after midnight."
Twilight nodded to her friends clam "When there not feed after midnight, there rather more mischievous Mogwai. But if they are feed after that time…then they become those things you saw, Gremlins."
"Bu' I don't ge' it." Applejack said "If'en there we're three, then why we're there Hundreds?"
"The seconded rule." Came Celestia's voice, making them look to her "Don't get them wet. I presume this is what happened?"
Twilight, Pinkie and Fluttershy hung there heads slightly and nodded saying "One got away before we could stop it, and then it began to rain…"
"And we know the rest." Rainbow said with a sigh.
"Come on Rainbow, it's not like you knew that there were a bunch of water multiplying monsters." Spike nudged her while giving the Mogwai a slightly wary eye.
"Be that as it may Spike, it still helped with creating a deserter that can easily rivaled that of Discord." Celestia said getting there attention "and because of this, I believe the Mogwai should be hoofed to somepony that can take care of him and keep something like this from happening again."
"P-princess?" Fluttershy shrunk as the Alicorns eyes looked to her.
With a sudden smirk that surprised her subjects, she turned to her sister and asked "Lulu, how would you feel about having a pet to keep you company during your nightly routines?"
Catching on to her sister, and some of the anxious looks the Ponies were giving, she decided to play along "I have been feeling like I should ask about that sister, but what would you suggest?"
"Why not the Mogwai?" Celestia asked "From what we know, it dose not do well in the sun and will most likely be active at night."
"And what of the Third rule of having such a unique pet?" Luna asked.
"I-if it h-helps any." Piped up Fluttershy's voice and the sound of unfolding paper "I-it says f-from twelve am. to five am. They cant be feed."
The paper was enveloped by a indigo aura and floated up to Luna who scanned it over and nodded "Yes, I think I would like to have one. What says you Fluttershy, do you not mind give us this Mogwai, Mel?"
With a wide smile she almost shouted "Yes!" And immediately put her hooves over her mouth and quietly say "I-I mean. Of course, I wouldn't. I-it would b-be for the best."
Both rulers nodded in unison before the night mistress mussed "You know…" Catching the attention of everypony.
"I must ask…who sent the box with Mel in it?"