//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Campfire Chat. // Story: The Shy Knight and the Rainbow Princess! // by Souldin //------------------------------// Chapter 2: Campfire Chat. Born from simple sparks, the crimson flame feasted upon a fuel source of leaves with an insatiable hunger. In doing so it rose with strength, its fires growing more and more intense. Its heat spread warmth to the chilled ponies huddled around it, the blaze’s presence bringing calm to their worried state of minds. The body of flame that sprung forth at first as but a small ember even fought off against the surrounding darkness, and with an ever present victory bestowed light to the ponies. Within the dead of night, within the unknown woods, within enemy territory, the campfire was the greatest gift of all. It was also perfect for roasting marshmallows with. At this exact moment, Pinkie Pie was awaiting for her marshmallow to roast as she stared eagerly at the stick. She was also attentive enough to keep an eye on her friends’ marshmallows, their attentions cast elsewhere. Fluttershy and Rarity were comforting one another, troubled by entirely different reasons. Fluttershy worried for Rainbow Dash. Rarity worried about keeping up her appearance without even a comb. Spike and Angel were arguing over who could collect the most sticks and leaves for shelter. This argument felt like a repeat of an argument the two had previously, though back then their arguing had been over who could collect the most sticks and leaves for the fire. Finally, Twilight and Applejack were interrogating a fairy. Well, ‘fairy’ had been the only thing they knew the creature by when they had first chased it. Upon chasing it down and trapping it within a wooden cage, paw-crafted by Angel himself, they realised that the creature wasn’t exactly a fairy. “Now then, we are going to go over everything one last time,” Twilight stated, her eyes focused on the ‘fairy’ they had caught, “Just reply yes or no, got it?” From within the cage a small pony, the ‘fairy’, not even the size of Angel, raised her head, looking to Twilight with her bulging eyes as she gently flapped her Parasprite-like wings. She smiled, and in a voice high pitched and sickeningly sweet she replied, “Yep, yep, yep.” “Okay then, let us begin.” Twilight cleared her throat, then stared eye–to-eye with their captive, “Your name is Parapony, correct?” “That’s what I told you it was.” Twilight and Applejack scowled at Parapony’s reply. Unthreatened by their stares, Parapony merely sighed, before dully informing, “Yes.” “An’ you’re a pony an’ a Parasprite combined, right?” “Yep.” Applejack was circling around the caged Parapony, making sure there was no way for the hybrid to escape. Twilight was supposed to ask the next question but was instead pondering on the existence of the pony and Parasprite hybrid before her. “An’ you mean to tell us that you were ‘created’?” Applejack asked slowly, her eyes narrowed. Yet again though Parapony nodded her head and confirmed with a “Yep.” “How is that even possible?” Twilight muttered under her breath, but pushing aside her curiosity she got back to demanding answers. “Furthermore, you mean to tell us that this whole place, this… land, was created by the same guy?” “Yep! My father’s amazing isn’t he?” Parapony squealed, flapping her wings with glee. “Your father?” Twilight and Applejack both asked in union. “Yep! He made me, thus he’s my father, right?” Parapony stared up at the two with large puppy eyes… at least as puppy like as insect-equine hybrid’s eyes could get, and soon Applejack uncertainly replied, “Ah guess.” Parapony began to giggle once more, a seemingly consistent habit of hers, but was interrupted by the sounds of a rumbling belly, “Oh oh! Food food! Can I have some food?” “Here you go!” Pinkie Pie said as she instantly appeared beside Twilight and Applejack, and passed through the cage a marshmallow. “Yay!” Parapony squealed before devouring the marshmallow in typical parasprite speeds. Twilight and Applejack turned their prior scowls to Pinkie, whom simply answered back, “What? We can’t let her go hungry can we? She’s just a little filly.” “More pwease?” The two interrogator’s expressions softened, while a still smiling Pinkie added, “Oh, and you two should probably eat your marshmallows before they burn.” Following Pinkie’s suggestion, Twilight and Applejack turned to the fire where there marshmallows awaited them. While Applejack picked up her stick-stuck marshmallow, Twilight telekinetically moved the caged Parapony into view, ensuring that the group would be able to see her. “Oh lookie here, I can’t escape from this cage but nope, nope, nope! Need me in sight,” Parapony remarked with a sing-song voice. “I’m just making sure,” Twilight said, and then proceeded to eat her roasted marshmallow. Giving herself a few seconds to swallow the roasted treat, she returned to asking questions, “Now then, just to confirm, you were sent here to guide us to Rainbow Dash?” Fluttershy perked up at this point, and with Twilight, Applejack and the fairy now closer to the rest of the group, the others also started to pay more attention to the on-going interrogation. “Guide you where colourful pony is? Yep yep yep!” Parony giggled further but before added on the side, “Though I was actually asked to bring just Butterfly Butt to the boss. You’re all extra’s father wanted to have come along.” Pinkie Pie snorted with barely supressed laughter at Parony’s nickname for Fluttershy, Fluttershy gulped at the mention of being brought to ‘the boss’, and alarm bells began to ring in Twilight’s head. “Wait, your father isn’t Fluttershy’s… arch-nemesis?” Parony shook her head, with Fluttershy adding, “I-I know it’s been a while since I last saw my arch-nemesis, but I really can’t see him creating a fairy… not that I don’t think he couldn’t if he tried really hard.” “Well, if the spelling of your arch-nemesis is anything to go by dear, I don’t think I could imagine it either.” “So just to be clear, what exactly were your orders again?” Twilight asked. “Um… To wait until Butterfly Butt has read the letter, then take her to the boss so he can have his revenge. Oh, and if anypony else is there, if they are not princesses then take them along too, we have surprises for them along the way.” “Ooh, I love surprises.” Pinkie jumped into the conversation whilst jumping over to Parony. “Yeah, about these ‘surprises:’ how about you tell us about them,” Applejack asked only to see two shaking heads. “Then it wouldn’t be a surprise, silly,” Parony and Pinkie Pie said in union, including the ‘tut-tut’ they added afterwards. Veins practically bulged from Twilight and Applejack’s heads as the synchronised speaking duo of Pinkie Pie and Parony chatted away, already dubbing one another as ‘Frenemies’. Applejack gritted her teeth and asked, “Okay then, next question—” Parony then yawned loudly, interrupting her interrogation. Rubbing her eyes and looking to the interrogating duo, Parony announced, “I’m sweepy. Good night.” “You’re in the middle of an interrogation! You can’t just go to sleep!” Twilight shouted out in frustration but any further yells were put to a stop by pink hoof placing over her mouth. “Twilight! She’s just a little filly, she needs her sleepy time.” Pinkie whispered in a manner that was somehow both friendly yet stern. “Besides she’s not going anywhere, we have her in a cage.” Twilight looked to the ‘serious faced’ Pinkie Pie, then to the already snoozing pony-parasprite hybrid captive of theirs, and then back to Pinkie. With a sigh, Twilight closed her eyes and shook her head. “Okay, okay, we can ask her more questions when we begin travelling tomorrow.” With their job of interrogation put on hold, Twilight and Applejack attempted to relax by the fire. The campsite was not loud nor was it silent; Pinkie Pie munched away at her marshmallows, Fluttershy and Rarity chatted away to one another, and Spike and Angel were still running about collecting sticks and leaves. Little sounds were a constant. With nothing to put her mind to, Twilight just stared absently into the fire, its bright blaze reassuring in their current, unplanned situation. Twilight eyes followed the waving flames, and gradually her eyes grew weary, shut them, and tried to sleep. “Fluttershy, Ah really think you need to explain somethin’ to us all first.” Twilight eyes snapped open at Applejack’s statement, and her eyes shifted towards Fluttershy, much like everypony else’s did. “W-what do you mean Applejack?” Fluttershy stuttered, her ears flattening as she spoke. “Well for starters, how in the hay did you get yourself an arch-nemesis, sugarcube?” Applejack’s tone was harsh at first—though not intentionally—and she softened her tone as she continued. “Ah mean, this nemesis of yours busted up your house, foalnapped Dash, and built a world in a tree! How did a pony like you get into such trouble?” “I must admit darling, I couldn’t have imagined you’d get on someone’s bad side to the point they’d foalnap a pony.” Rarity added in, though keeping a hoof slung across Fluttershy’s shoulder. As if sensing his owner’s nervousness, Angel had arrived back at the groups camping ground. Spike soon followed, whilst the little rabbit laid down his collected sticks, walked on towards his owner, and snuggled in her forelegs. Fluttershy looked her animal friend with a smile, proceeding to fuss his head as she replied, “It’s a bit of a long story.” “That’s okay! Stories are fun and there’s nothing else to do!” Pinkie Pie said as she pulled out another bag of marshmallows. “Except eat marshmallows, of course.” “We’re all ears Fluttershy,” Twilight said before turning to Pinkie and whispering “Why do you have so many marshmallows with you?” “Pinkie sense: it told me to bring marshmallows; lots and lots of marshmallows.” Fluttershy waited until Twilight and Pinkie finished their conversation, as well as until Spike had sat down. With a now silent and attentive audience before her Fluttershy readied her words. She thought back to the time, the time she met her arch-nemesis, the time she met her Angel Bunny, the time she came to Ponyville. Fluttershy looked back to these memories and all the feelings she had experience and once ready, then began to tell her tale. The events that led me to meet my arch-nemesis happened only a few years ago, before I had met all of you and when I had arrived in Ponyville for the very first time. In a way, it feels like a really long time ago. I had just left school and had already brought my first house. I was amazed at how cheap it was; I never would have imagined I’d have been able to buy a house so quickly. “Wow,” I remember uttering, looking with awe at my tree cottage, though back then there was a tad bit more foliage. “I can’t believe this cottage is only twenty bits,” I said as I turned around to the property salespony, “It-It’s not haunted, is it?” “Nope, not haunted ma’am,” I remember the pony replying, though thinking back, I’m sure he whispered something under his breath about the house being next to the Everfree forest. “Ah remember the town talkin’ ‘bout that, we all thought some courageous, fearless knight had come to live in Ponyville.” Applejack chuckled. “That, or some crazy pony that thought living by the Everfree Forest was a good idea,” Rarity said with a snicker, as she too remembered the gossip about Ponyville that day. Y-yes, I found that out, in one of my first trips into town. Upon getting my house, I was quite content to just greet all the animals that had taken shelter within it and let them know I would be living there from now on. We became friends quite quickly and they were fine with me setting my stuff up. I even bought some bird houses, cut out the holes a bit more for the mice, and made sure I knew where each animal was staying. Eventually though, I needed to go down town, I needed food, supplies, and a job. Thankfully the tax was low on the house thanks again to it being by the Everfree Forest, so I didn’t have to worry about needing one for a while. That said, simply the thought of meeting the townsfolk for the first time was terrifying! I had chosen to live in Ponyville because it was the only place with a house I could afford and I had no idea what the ponies were like there back then. After about four days of having been set up in my house, I ventured down town and, well, realised my worries were for nought … and that I was very lucky. “Come to think of it, what actually is your job?” Twilight asked, having waited for the moment Fluttershy would pause, “I mean, you care for all those animals but it’s not like you run a pet store or are a vet.” “My job is… a little different. I’m actually just about to get to that,” Fluttershy said before continuing. When I got into town, it was a lot busier than I expected. Ponies were out and about in either groups or pairs, all talking loudly with one another. A lot of them sounded angry and this just made me even more worried: I didn’t like talking with ponies when they were calm, let alone when they were angry. But while searching for a job something unexpected happened. “Hello little blue bird,” I called out to a bird that flew fast past my head, “How are you—” It was then that a pony ran into me. I was really dazed at first, but I could sort of see and hear what the other pony was saying. “No! Don’t go back into the house! Don’t go back into the house!” I could just make out the sight of the blue bird flying into a house, and the pony that had bumped into me began to stomp the ground. I must admit, with the bird being involved I was curious as to what was going on, but I knew it was none of my business and so tried to walk away. “Sorry about bumping into you.” I heard the pony say, and I flinched when she addressed me. “Um, uh… T-that’s okay, I-I… eep!” “Wow, you’re practically a social butterfly compared to how you were back then.” Pinkie said with a giggle as Fluttershy humbly smiled. “Ooh, while you’re here, I don’t suppose you could lend a hoof?” “Um, I—” I tried to protest but it was no good. The other pony grinned with a “Thanks,” and pulled me over to her house. “Now, I need your help getting these birds out of my house,” The pony said as she pointed to her house. Through it’s open door, I could see a small family of blue birds perched on a table, “When I rush these birds out of the house I need you to close the door. Then, I need you to distract them while I get back into my house.” “Um, h-have you tried to… tried asking them to leave?” I suggested, only to be given an incredulous look from the pony. “The birds? I’ve tried to shoo them out but they just keep flying back in.” “No, that’s not what I meant, let me just trying asking them,” I said as I walked on into the house. I was sure to walk up to the birds slowly and quietly. Even from a distance I could tell they were nervous and agitated, ready to fly around the room and out of reach if I made any sudden movements. I called out to them as I approached, “Hello there. How are you all doing?” The birds fidgeted, clearly taking notice of what I was saying. Still, the group of four birds looked at me wearily and I noticed that their feathers were tattered. Whatever had happened, the birds had been having a rough time. “Oh you poor things, why, whatever happened?” The birds didn’t reply, but I continued to talk to them. “I think I see what’s going on. You came here for shelter, but I’m sorry to say the pony here doesn’t want you living here with her. It is really inconvenient for her.” The birds squawked at this, so I added, “But I would love to have you back at my place, you can stay with me if you want. I promise to care for you and help you get food if you need me to. All I need you to do is leave this pony’s house, okay?” The birds were not moving, but they had stopped fidgeting and I could tell that they were considering my proposal. I decided to raise and reach out my hoof towards them. After a short while, the biggest of them hopped over to me. Tepidly, it touched my hoof with its wing, pulling it back at first, afraid I was going to do something, but seeing as I wasn’t it allowed its wing to touch my hoof once again. I walked on outside with the birds in tow, and as soon as I came into view, the homeowner gasped, “H-how? How did you… oh thank you!” “O-oh, it was nothing, I’m happy to help out whenever animals are involved,” I remember replying. The pony then chuckled and remarked, “Best you not be telling other ponies that. They’ll all be having you help out with their pest problems.” “Pest problems?” I asked, looking about the town on the lookout for any other animals. “Yeah. Recently this whole town’s been overrun by animals. They keep coming into ponies’ houses and stealing food. Why, they made a real mess of the local boutique the other day.” Rarity shuddered and muttered, “Rats, so many filthy rats.” “Huh. I didn’t know Ponyville suffered a pest problem before,” Twilight stated, looking to the others with a scrunched brow. “Ponyville’s always had a problem or two with the critters on account of bein’ right by the Everfree Forest ’n all,” Applejack explained. “Though this time it was far worse. The animals were coming out of the forest in droves and wrecking everything,” Rarity continued on from Applejack’s explanation and then remarked, “Well, everywhere but Sugarcube Corner.” “I wonder why. I threw them a party with balloons and cake and everything, but none of them came,” Pinkie added, looking back to the lack of animal guests with a set of downcast eyes. Leaning over to Twilight, Applejack whispered to her friend, “Ah reckon the pet alligator and the loud canon had somethin’ to do with that.” The fire crackled loudly at this point, drawing the ponies’ attention to the dying flame. Upon noticing the weakened campfire, they became aware of the lack of warmth they had previously and so with haste they gently tossed some wood for the fire to feast on. “May I continue?” Fluttershy asked, and upon seeing a series of nods, did as such. After that little incident and kind of getting involved with many more throughout my time in town, I was soon approached by Mayor Mare. She and the council had been trying to sort out the animal problem for a while now, but they hadn’t had any luck. Apparently seeing how I was able to communicate with the animals, they then decided to ask if I could solve the problem. I told the Mayor that I would love to let all the animals stay at my place, but I hadn’t found a job yet and without that I had no means to care and feed all of them. I was surprised when Mayor Mare gave me a job there and then. “Wait, so you’re employed by the town council?” Twilight asked. “Yes. I am employed as Ponyville’s official Animal Manager and Everfree Forest Border Control Officer,” Fluttershy stated with a smile, then adding. “Originally, they had me down as their Pest Control Officer, but I didn’t like my title referring to the animals as pests.” “So you’re paid by the town council to take care of animals.” “It’s the best job in the world,” Fluttershy announced with joy. “Although, there is a bit more to it than that.” “And so that’s the story of how Fluttershy got a job.,” Pinkie Pie said as she bounced in place, a smile on her face the entire time. The atmosphere of merriment turned to silence, then to awkward silence, which led to Applejack asking, “So what does this have to do with your arch-nemesis?” Further silence ensued before Twilight mentioned, “That’s right, what does any of this have to do with your arch-nemesis?” “It does have something to do with him, it just takes a while to get to that point,” Fluttershy reassured her friend. Clearing her throat out once again, she continued. “Now let’s see, I had just taken up my job as Ponyville’s Animal Manager.” It did not take me long to gather all the animals from Ponyville and find them somewhere else to stay. Many of the animals had decided to stay with me, and thanks to the funding from the town council, I was able to buy them all the things they would need. Thanks to having so many animal friends, I was never lonely, despite being new to Ponyville, and I worked hard to ensure they were all happy. As weeks passed though, more and more animals started to come from the forest. More worrying was how many of them kept coming to me with injuries. All sorts of animals, from the small ones to the big ones, were visiting me with bruises and scratches and even broken bones. I could tell that a lot of these injuries weren’t accidental; something was hurting these poor animals. “Oh dear, oh dear. How did you hurt your paw again, Mr. Fox?” I asked my patient, but he turned his head away and refused to answer. This was the case with all the animals I would tend to. I’d ask them who were hurting them, but they would all refuse to reply. Eventually I saw more hurt animals than I could bear to stand and so decided to investigate. I told my animals about what I was going to do, I swore that I would find out who was hurting them, and readied myself to venture into the Everfree Forest. It, um, took a few days to build up the confidence though. “Okay Fluttershy, you can do this.” I would say to myself, bags packed and standing in front of the forest entrance. Looking into the ever-expanding darkness of the Everfree Forest—the area seemingly swallowing up any light and making it seem as foreboding as possible—I would freeze. Eventually I’d make up an excuse and return home, continue to tend to the animals. Eventually—partly because of a few more injured friends—I finally urged myself into the forest. In fact, only a few short steps in, and I already witnessed my culprit in action. “Ah, I get it now; this pony bullying the animals must be your arch nemesis,” Twilight concluded, with a smile and a nod. “My, I never knew there was somepony responsible for causing that pest problem back then,” Rarity commented, turned to Fluttershy, “Go on dear, reveal to us your great and bitter enemy.” Before my eyes I saw a squirrel struck down, by a simple slap to the face, by… “Ooh, ooh!” A bunny rabbit. No response came from the listening ponies and dragon. Stunned silence followed, appropriate for this stunning revelation. Then it was followed by equally appropriate laughter. “Are you saying Rainbow Dash was foalnapped by a bunny rabbit?” Spike asked amidst chuckles, falling on his back. “Oh no! Not the bunnies! Anything but the bunnies!” Pinkie added with mock horror as she too feel on the ground, roaring with laughter. Fluttershy meanwhile couldn’t fathom the reaction she was getting, “Um, I think you may have made a mistake, my arch-nemesis isn’t a bunny rabbit.” Laughter died down quickly from Twilight, Applejack, and Rarity, but lasted much longer with Pinkie and Spike. Even as they heard the correction, the sheer thought of Rainbow Dash being held captive by a bunny rabbit amused them to no end. “So why bring up the bunny then, we really, really want to know about your archy nemesissy.” Pinkie complained, waving her hooves in the air like they were made of rubber. “Because this bunny is very, very important,” Fluttershy explained, Angel not being able to help but smile. “Stop that!” I immediately yelled out as I dashed over to the two animals. The rabbit thankfully stopped, but then jumped past me and started to flee. I first checked on the squirrel, a quick inspection telling me that little harm had been done, but I still wanted to apprehend the bullying bunny. I flew on after the rabbit and out of the Everfree Forest. I was able to follow him for a while but he was far too fast and I… wasn’t very good at going fast, or flying, or flying fast. In the end I had to stop, exhausted, and the rabbit had gotten away. I asked my fellow animals if the bunny rabbit has been the one who had been bullying them. They shook their heads and told me no. Maybe I had just stumbled upon a fight between two of the animals, likely over food, and so I decided to leave it at that. Having once been into the forest, I was a little braver next time and was able to venture forward the day after. I had only managed to venture a little further than I had before when I encountered the same bunny. He was hiding in the bushes near a badger and looking straight at me. It was as if he wanted me to see him and when he had my attention he ran on over to the badger and began stomping the poor animal on the head. “Stop that this instance!” I yelled out just like last time, and just like last time the rabbit ran past me. Everything we did was just as before, I checked on the badger, saw he was okay, tried to chase the rabbit, who ran of the forest, then failed to catch him. “Sounds like you needed to get in a work out. Ooh, do we get a training montage?” Pinkie added in enthusiastically. Um, no, next time I went into the forest with a plan. I had my doubts that it was the bullying bunny who was causing the injuries to all the animals—he was just one adorable little bunny rabbit—but I knew I had to catch him and tell him off regardless. I next saw the rabbit tripping up and attacking a bear. “Um, Mr bull-I mean Mr rabbit sir, over here,” I called out to the rabbit and he turned around to face me. I then put my cunning plan into action; I threw a carrot to the ground and readied a net to catch him. He looked to the carrot, just as planned, he moved to the carrot, just as planned… then he threw the carrot at me, that wasn’t planned. The rabbit got away that time but that did not stop my resolve to catch the culprit. Each time I entered the forest I would see the rabbit. He’d begin picking on an animal, and I would chase after him out of the forest. I once tried to trick him into slipping on some honey; he ended up jumping over and pushing me into it. I set up a net between the trees; he undid and used to trap me instead. I tried so many things but each time he’d escape and I’d end up chasing him out of the forest. “Hmm, it seems to be that there is a pattern with this story of yours.” Rarity mused, the others nodding their heads in agreement. “You mean how the rabbit kept leading me out of the forest?” Fluttershy asked, a group of nods answering her. “Well, I happened to notice this after a while as well.” A couple of weeks later, after another failed attempt to stop the rabbit, I chose not to chase after him. He ran off out of the forest while I decided to venture further in. I really don’t know how the Everfree Forest can be so spooky, even in the day time, but it made me skittish and jumpy. Every crack of a twig, every rustle of the bushes, every sound that I could not recognise, they all startled me. I then heard a tremendous crashing sound, and with it a great yell of pain. “W-w-what was that?” Birds flew from the trees in panic, the ground trembled, and I shook with fright. Even after everything had settled down I was frozen to the spot, worried about what could have possibly made such a noise, but when I heard faint groans of pain, I could not help but rush over to the scene. “H-hello,” I called out as I waded through the trees, and for the first time, met my arch-nemesis. Rainbow Dash groaned in pain, attempting to stand up. The world around her swayed about due to her disoriented state. It also literally swayed about as a result of the swaying floor she was on. These two factors combined made the task of standing a futile one, and her shaky legs gave way for her to fall. On the plus side she at least wasn’t the type to get motion sickness, something that no doubt would have made situation even less enjoyable. “Okay Rainbow, charging into steel bars wasn’t the best plan you’ve ever had.” The fallen pegasus groaned as she looked to the bars of the cage that entrapped her. With time the cage stopped swinging and her head stopped rattling, allowing Rainbow Dash to leap back up onto her hooves. She eyed the cage with both hatred and intent, having been trying to find a way to get out its accursed confines since awakening inside it. So far bucking hadn’t worked, biting hadn’t worked, and head-butting definitely had not worked. To note, Dash now had sore hooves, jaw, and head. “Who even keeps a giant bird cage anyway?” Rainbow Dash asked aloud in irritation, looking around at the hanging cage, “And where the hay is anypony? Don’t I at least deserve to have a guard to yell at?” It seemed Dash’s demands were somewhat answered as she could then somepony approaching… that and she could feel somepony approaching as her cage and the very room shook and trembled. “W-what in the…?” Rainbow Dash asked aloud, her voice itself unable to withhold the slight worry she had as the massive red doors of the room burst open. Coincidentally, as Rainbow Dash began to see the one who ordered her capture, Fluttershy was describing to her friends the very same guy, the arch-nemesis of hers she had met so long ago. He appeared to have fallen down a hole, a pitfall trap, but his belly was quite, um… I mean, he was quite big so he couldn’t quite fit down the hole. Rainbow’s mouth hung agape as the towering green skinned creature, at least as tall and wide as an Ursa Minor, waded pass the doors. He was trying hard to get out, using his four fingered hands to claw at the ground around him in an attempt to free himself. Rainbow Dash eyes bulged as within the creature’s huge hair covered hands, being dragged along into the room was a large steel club equal in proportion to its thick muscular arms. Eventually he began to make a little leeway, pushing off against the ground with his broad arms was enough to begin lifting his body out of the hole. Rainbow Dash gulped as with each step the creature before her took, the room trembled more and more. Out of the hole I could see him in full view, his dark green skin, his head riddled with protruding bumps… Before her Rainbow saw the creature’s large jutting teeth, and his dark, violet eyes... “Now Fluttershy, dear, are you sure that this is what you saw?” “Yeah, it doesn’t sound like any pony, or zebra, or even griffon.” “It sounds more like a big ol’ monster.” “Y-yes, and it kind of sounds like you’re describing a… well a—” Now girls, I’ve said before, my arch-nemesis isn’t a pony. Unless he’s turned into one now, who I saw that day was without a doubt… Rainbow Dash had the hulking figure before her in full view. Despite being inside a huge hanging cage, the creature still looked down to her. She could see his large grin, displaying his yellowed rotting teeth and letting out his ghastly breath. “Oh snap...” Was all the usually unintimidated pegasus could say, for towering before her was… …An Ogre. The princess of the bunny kingdom was very kind, very polite, but most of all, very shy. “H-Hello,” the Shy Princess would whisper, but no bunny would hear her. She couldn’t make any bunny friends because she was so shy and her father was always busy running the kingdom. As such, the Shy Princess was very lonely. The Rainbow Knight and the Shy Princess, by Fluttershy: Page 2.