Onigokko

by GWFan

Rumor

Disclaimer: I do not own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic or Kakurenbo: Hide and Seek.

It was a typical morning in Ponyville. If only that didn't include long lectures in a classroom. Apple Bloom was only half interested in what Cheerilee was saying. Why did they have to have school on Nightmare Night? Worse yet, they were going to have class the next day too, meaning Apple Bloom would have to go to bed at a decent time. If only Nightmare Night hadn’t fallen on a Monday this year.
“Well class it’s almost time to go, so in honor of Nightmare Night I thought I would tell you a little history lesson about a real ghost town,” Cheerilee announced.
Ghost town? Apple Bloom perked her ears and most of her classmates did too. Of course, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked just as bored as they always did. It was amazing that either of them managed to get good grades.
“Now most of us know about the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters in the Everfree Forest, but why do you suppose it is there? After all, some ponies believe that Everfree is actually outside of Equestria because of its unnatural elements such as plants that grow without ponies. During the ancient rule of Discord, this location is where our Princesses, Celestia and Luna, set up their secret home away from the tyrant so they could search for a way to stand up to his evil rule without him noticing.”
Diamond Tiara groaned. “What does any of that have to do with a ghost town?”
“I’m glad you asked, Diamond Tiara. Many centuries after Discord’s defeat, there were some ponies who believed that Everfree was actually a sacred place and that the ancient castle should be restored and reinstated as the real castle of Princess Celestia. So, around a hundred years ago, a large group of ponies tried to build a town nearby so that they could fix up the castle. The new residents were made up of mostly male ponies from Ponyville, so the town was called Bronyville. These ponies built up quite a fantastic town over the next ten years, one even larger than our own Ponyville because the residents were intent on rivaling Canterlot. However, the town was mysteriously abandoned shortly thereafter and nopony knows why. It was as if the residents just up and left and were never heard from again. Even today, the town still sits there, completely deserted.”
“I’ve heard of the town before. There’s some really cool rumors about it too,” The ever-astute Twist said.
“Ah, the rumors of Bronyville. Seems you really know your history as always, Twist.”
Abruptly the school bell rang.
“Well I guess we’ll have to save that lecture for another time. Class dismissed. And have a wonderful Nightmare Night my little ponies.”
Happy that class was finally out, Apple Bloom got out of her seat and pulled on her saddlebags. Twist turned around in her seat and smiled joyfully.
“Apple Bloom, wasn’t that lecture swell?” Twist said excitedly with her usual lisp.
“I guess. It’s just a deserted town though.” The lecture hadn’t been as interesting as Apple Bloom had hoped. The fact that anypony had thought to build a town in Everfree was perhaps the most interesting thing about it and that wasn’t saying much in the end. That and the residents had apparently disappeared.
Apple Bloom and Twist walked out of the classroom and into the playground where they were greeted almost immediately by Apple Bloom’s best friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle.
“It’s finally Nightmare Night! This is going to be so fun,” Scootaloo said.
“Not as much fun as we’re going to have.”
Apple Bloom turned her attention to Snips and Snails who walked over just then. Snips was all smiles.
“No pony is going to beat the prank I’m going to play this year.”
“I bet Pinkie Pie already has you beat and you just don’t know it,” Apple Bloom retorted.
“We’ll see about that. I’m going to beat her this year for sure,” Snips said confidently.
“Oh yeah? If you don’t then maybe you should go to the ghost town.” As long as she knew about it, Apple Bloom figured she might as well make use of her ghost town knowledge to try to scare him.
“Ghost town?” Sweetie Belle said intrigued. “What ghost town?”
“Ever heard of Bronyville? The scariest of scary ghost towns ever?” Apple Bloom said, having too much fun with the idea.
“You mean that abandoned town in Everfree?” Scootaloo said.
“Nopony has been there for years. What’s so great about that town?” Snips said annoyed.
So much for having fun with it. Apparently, some of the other teachers had decided to lecture on it as well.
“I’ve heard about Bronyville,” Snails suddenly spoke up. “I know a really scary rumor.” The others all looked at him with raised eyebrows.
“Really? You actually know something interesting?” Scootaloo said in amusement.
Snails lowered his head and spoke a little above a whisper. “I heard that if you go to the ghost town at midnight and play tag, something will happen.”
“Tag? What’s so special about tag?”
“That’s the cool thing. They say somepony will already be ’it’ when you get there.”
“What do you mean somepony? Who? And what’s supposed to happen when you play?” Sweetie Belle asked nervously.
“I don’t know who, but I heard it’s something dangerous. What’s more, once the game starts, you can’t stop playing till it’s over.”
Apple Bloom gulped. “Or else what? What happens if you stop playin’?”
Snails shrugged. “Beats me. It’s just something that I heard.”
“I heard that rumor too!” Twist said excitedly. “They say ponies who go to Bronyville and play the game never come back. I heard that monsters come and take you away.”
“That’s not a rumor,” Scootaloo guffawed. “Everypony knows that monsters live in Everfree. We saw that cockatrice there before. And Rainbow Dash told me about a manticore that lives there too.”
“Yeah, but what happens at the ghost town is supposed to be different. You know the game of tag Snails mentioned? It automatically starts if seven ponies all go to the town square at midnight. Isn’t that awesome?”
Apple Bloom looked quizzically at her friend. “I didn’t know you liked rumors, Twist.”
“I love them. They’re just swell. Hey, you want to find out if the rumor is true?”
“You mean actually go and play the game?”
“Go to some old forgotten town just to play tag? That’s dumb,” Scootaloo said annoyed.
“But it might be fun. I wanna go find out if the rumor is true tonight. You guys wanna come with me? I’ll even make some sweets.”
“We can’t go tonight,” Apple Bloom apologized. “Did you forget? It’s Nightmare Night.”
“That’s all the more reason to go. Doing something scary on Nightmare Night is part of the fun. What do you say?”
“We can’t. We’re all gonna be trick or treatin’. Aren’t you going with us?”
“Well, I do want to, but I really thought it would be cool to check out Bronyville,” Twist said disappointedly. Then she turned to Snips and Snails. “What about you guys? You wanna go?”
“And miss Nightmare Night? No way. I’m going to play the king of all pranks tonight. Even Pinkie Pie is going to be impressed,” Snips said.
“Besides there’s all that free candy and food,” Snails said.
“Speakin’ of which, I gotta get goin’. I promised Applejack I’d help make candy apples this year. She’s even gonna make homemade caramel this time.”
“Your sister always makes the best candy apples. I can’t wait,” Scootaloo said excitedly.
“Wait till you see the costume my sis made for me this year. It’s going to blow you away,” Sweetie Belle chimed in.
“Not as much as my prank is going to,” Snips added.
“Candy.” Snails drooled in delight.
The group of foals walked off, minus one rather distraught filly with curly red hair.
“What’s the fun of Nightmare Night if you don’t do something real scary?” Twist said to herself. She had wanted to check out the ghost town ever since she heard bout the rumor and had thought her best friends would be thrilled to go, especially on Nightmare Night. Even if she couldn’t go with her friends though, Twist realized she was still at school and there were other kids still around.
Twist flagged down the first two fillies that walked by her. “Sunny Days, Peachy Pie, do you guys wanna do something really scary tonight?”

Apple Bloom yawned at her desk in school. She had stayed up too late and eaten too much candy to sleep even after she had gone to bed. All the excitement surrounding the surprise arrival of Princess Luna hadn’t helped either. Apple Bloom had wanted to stay home, pretending to be sick, but Granny Smith wouldn’t have it. Apple Bloom yawned again as Cheerilee checked off the roll sheet.
“Hmm. That’s strange. Twist is absent,” Cheerilee said aloud.
That was strange. Apple Bloom was almost certain that Twist hadn’t been absent all year. Come to think of it, probably not in the last two years.
Cheerilee glanced around the classroom and looked back at her roll sheet. “Four students absent today? Is there a cold going around that I don’t know about?” She set the roll sheet down and scratched her head. “Well maybe they’re just coming in late after all the festivities yesterday. We’ll give them ten extra minutes before we start class.”
Apple Bloom lay her head down on her desk, figuring she could use the ten minutes to sleep. Something however itched at the back of her mind. There had never been more than two students absent at a time in the past and Twist was never absent. Yesterday was Nightmare Night and Twist… Apple Bloom hadn’t seen Twist all night. Where else would she be other than in Ponyville?
Apple Bloom raised her head with a start. “Bronyville?”
“Oh please. Don’t remind Cheerilee about that stupid lecture,” Diamond Tiara said in annoyance.
“I wasn’t,” Apple Bloom replied angrily. Still, Twist had been interested in Bronyville. She wouldn’t have gone there last night would she?

Apple Bloom walked outside and gulped. All the classes had been let out to an early recess so the teachers could have a brief conference. Just before she had walked out, Apple Bloom had overheard the principle mentioning to Cheerilee that there were three other students who hadn’t shown up for school. Counting her class, that was seven absent students. The game Snails and Twist had mentioned required seven. Twist couldn’t have gotten six other kids to go to the ghost town could she? Not on Nightmare Night. Then what were the teachers talking about?
Feeling worried, Apple Bloom looked around the playground and spotted Scootaloo. She was talking to Snips who didn’t look very happy. As Apple Bloom got closer, she realized why. Scootaloo was actually laughing at him.
“That was the best prank ever.” Scootaloo fell over from laughing.
“Aw shut up. It was only because Rainbow Dash scared me and ruined it. That’s all.”
“Yeah. Right onto your face when you screamed!”
“Scootaloo, have you seen Sweetie Belle?” Apple Bloom said as soon as she reached them.
“Yeah,” Scootaloo said in between laughs. “There she is coming this way right now.”
Sweetie Belle raced over to them as fast as she could. “Girls! Girls! I just heard the scariest thing,” She said, panting. “I just overheard the teachers talking. They said that some of the parents came over looking for their kids. There are seven kids who are missing.”
Apple Bloom gaped and her ears drooped. It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t. And yet…
“I bet they’re not missing,” Scootaloo said. “They just stayed out all night and slept over at somepony’s house. They’re probably waking up right about now thinking that their in for a heap of trouble.”
“I don’t know about that,” Apple Bloom said. “Twist is one of those missin’ kids. She would never class and she’d never do somethin’ silly like oversleep either.”
“Twist is missing?” Sweetie Belle said in surprise.
“Are you sure?” Scootaloo asked.
“And those six other kids that are missin’, I think maybe Twist convinced’em to go to Bronyville.”
“Twist wouldn’t do something like that. Would she?”
“She asked us to go to Bronyville yesterday. She wanted to go.”
“Are you still talking about that stupid ghost town?” Silver Spoon suddenly interrupted. She and Diamond Tiara approached them rather haughtily.
“What kind of loser wants to hang out in a ghost town?”
“The brave kind. That’s who,” Scootaloo answered.
“Whatever. It’s just a stupid town. There’s not even anything there.”
“There is if you play tag,” Snails suddenly appeared from behind the slide. His mouth was covered in chocolate.
“Are you eating my chocolate bar?” Snips asked him sternly.
“No… Maybe…”
“Tag? Tag is stupid too,” Diamond Tiara said.
“You two think everything is stupid,” Scootaloo retorted.
“Well tag really is stupid. It’s a game for poor kids and babies.”
“Not if you play it in the ghost town,” Snails repeated.
“Are you kids talking about Onigokko?”
The young ponies all turned when Cheerilee approached them.
“Oni… what now?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Onigokko. That’s what the game of tag in Bronyville is called.” Cheerilee smiled as usual, though not as brightly as she normally did. “I guess those rumors are still going around huh?”
“You know about the rumors Miss Cheerilee?” Sweetie Belle asked her.
“Those rumors have been around since I was your age. Probably longer.”
“Did you ever play Onigokko?” Apple Bloom ventured.
“Oh no. I was scared to death when I first heard those rumors. But now that I’m an adult I can appreciate how fantastic such silly stories really are.” Cheerilee tried to chuckle but her heart didn’t seem to be in it. “Anyway, recess will last for only about ten more minutes, then normal classes will resume.”
“Miss Cheerilee, is it true that those kids who were absent went missin’?”
Cheerilee paused. “Rumors really do spread fast.” She sighed. “Well, we really don’t know that for sure yet. They’ve only been missing since last night and things like this have happened before on Nightmare Night. Kids dare each other to do crazy things like spending the night in abandoned barns and such, so I’m sure the kids are fine. Anyway, don’t worry about it. We’ll get to the bottom of this soon enough. I’m sure of it.”
Cheerilee walked back into the schoolhouse though she did have a faint look of worry painted on her face.
“She’s just saying that,” Scootaloo said. “Adults never tell kids what’s really going on. They always have to sugarcoat everything like they think we can’t handle it.”
“I think Twist and the other kids went to Bronyville to play that Onigokko game. Do you think the rumors might really be true and they were taken away by monsters?” Apple Bloom asked the group.
Diamond Tiara harrumphed. “Monsters? That’s stupid. Didn’t you hear what the teacher said? They’re just silly stories.”
Scootaloo growled loudly. “I’m sick and tired of hearing you call everything stupid. If it’s really so stupid and really so fake then why don’t you play Onigokko? I dare you!”
“Whatever. How stupid. Come on Silver Spoon, I want to play on the swing before recess is over. Not talk about stupid rumors.”
“Stop calling everything stupid!” Scootaloo shouted at them as the two arrogant earth ponies walked over to the swing set. “Arg! They make me so mad.”
“Forget about them. I think Twist and the other students are in real trouble,” Apple Bloom reminded her.
“But what can we do about it?” Sweetie Belle asked.
Apple Bloom finally smiled. “I say the Cutie Mark Crusaders go to the rescue.”
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo smiled and then all three of them shouted at the top of their lungs, “Cutie Mark Crusaders, pony rescuers!”
“Come on guys, let’s ask around and see if any of the other kids know anythin’ about Onigokko before recess is over. We might need all the information we can get.”
“Yeah. Then later we can go to Bronyville,” Scootaloo put in.
“Wait! Go to Bronyville?” Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said simultaneously.
“Sure. It’s just a rumor. You don’t really think there’s a real game? Besides, it’s just going to be the three of us. Apple Bloom, you’re the one who said that Twist might have gone there. I bet she’s still in Bronyville. If we find them, then maybe the adults will take us seriously.”
“I guess. In that case, maybe I can get a map from Twilight. We don’t even know where Bronyville is. I’ll just tell her it’s for a school project.”
“But when are we going to go? If those kids are really missing then my sis isn’t going to let me go anywhere,” Sweetie Belle said.
“Then we’ll go tonight after it gets dark.” Scootaloo told her.
“Okay then, we have a plan. Let’s get to it Crusaders!” Apple Bloom said, raising her hoof.
“Yeah!”
With that, the three fillies raced to different parts of the playground.
Snips stood there, feeling rather dumbfounded.
“What just happened?”
“Chocolate,” Snails said, eating another chocolate bar.

“Are you sure this is good idea? My sister is going to have a cow if she finds out I snuck out of the house,” Sweetie Belle worried.
“Don’t worry about it. We just have to find Twist and the other kids before Rarity even knows you’re gone,” Scootaloo assured her.
“Assumin’ we even find Bronyville. I can hardly read the map.” Apple Bloom squinted in the moonlight wishing she had remembered to bring a flashlight. It was a full moon and yet, since they were in the Everfree Forest, the trees blocked most of the light. As it had been the last time they ventured into the forest, every tree almost looked alive and ready to grab them.
“And assuming we don’t run into any monsters,” Sweetie Belle pointed out.
“Don’t be such a fraidy cat. If any monsters come jumping out, I’ll take care of them,” Scootaloo said confidently.
“Yeah, like you took care of the cockatrice,” Apple Bloom reminded her.
“That was different. It just took me by surprise, that’s all.”
“You were runnin’ and screamin’ right along with the rest of us.”
“Hey, I’m not chicken.”
“I didn’t even say you were.”
“Girls, come on. I thought we already decided that our special talent isn’t arguing,” Sweetie Belle complained.
“I wasn’t. I was just sayin’- oof.” Apple Bloom abruptly ran into something that felt like a rock. It took her a minute to realize it was actually an old building. And behind it…
Apple Bloom looked back and forth between the building and the map. “This is it. Bronyville. The ghost town.”
“It’s not as spooky looking as I thought it would be,” Sweetie Belle said, looking around. “It’s not as run down as I thought either.”
“Yeah. It almost looks brand new.”
There was some sign of decay and wear but otherwise it looked to have only been abandoned for a few months, rather than several decades. The roads were paved in some kind of stone instead of dirt like in Ponyville. The buildings for the most part were still in fine order if not a little dirty and the whole town looked as of it could still be lived in.
“So where do we start?” Scootaloo asked, actually sounding a little nervous finally.
“Well, accordin’ to the rumor we need to follow a bunch of signs that spell out Onigokko. When we find the last sign, we should be in the town square. That’s where Twist woulda gone to start the game.”
“I guess that makes sense, but what do the signs look like?”
“Uh… girls?” Sweetie stuttered, pointing a little to their left. There was an old sign on the side of the worn building that read, BRONYVILLE. However, two letters were lit up in neon light. ON.
“There’s electricity?” Apple Bloom said nervously.
“Maybe it’s glowworms?” Sweetie Belle suggested.
“That just so happen to light up two of the letters we’re looking for? As if,” Scootaloo said excitedly. “I’m starting to like this rumor. Come on. I’ll bet that silly Twist went this way.”
With Scootaloo leading the way, the three fillies galloped through town, keeping their eyes open for signs. To the right, they saw a street called Much Obliged Lane. A small hole on the side of a broken streetlamp, shown a beam of light that lit up perfectly on the ig. Turning down that way, the fillies eventually saw a business simply called Books. Similarly to the entrance sign, ok was lit up in neon light. After a much longer stretch, the Crusaders saw a restaurant sign hanging over a street that read, Koala Café. As expected, Ko was lit up in neon.
The fillies raced down the street and came upon an open space of paved stone, quite literally square shaped. There was a large set of wooden doors between two pillars and two buildings, over which read, Town Square.
“We found it,” Apple Bloom said excitedly. “Twist!” She called. But there was no answer. “Twist are you here?”
“Please say something Twist! We came to find you!” Sweetie Belle called. Still no answer.
“She’s not here. Now what? It could take all night to search the whole town.”
As if in answer to her question, Apple Bloom heard the sound of hooves beating on the ground. Somepony was running their way. In moments, it was all too apparent.
“What the? Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon?” Scootaloo said angrily. “What are you two doing here?”
“Duh. You dared us to play that Oni-whatever game and I never lose at truth or dare,” Diamond Tiara said snootily.
“That’s stupid. You came all the way out here just for that?” Apple Bloom said annoyed.
“Well you’re here aren’t you? What are you doing here then?” Silver Spoon asked.
“We’re lookin’ for Twist. She disappeared last night, remember?”
“As if we really cared what happens to that egghead,” Diamond announced as if it were no concern at all.
“Come on. You can’t really be that heartless can ya?”
“What do you mean? I’m the caringest pony there is. I always invite everypony to all my birthday parties.”
“Is there going to be cake?” Another voice asked.
The fillies all jumped and stared when two familiar unicorns walked into the clearing.
“Oh, it’s you guys. I didn’t think you had the guts play this Onigokko thing,” Snips said, walking into the square.
“And what about the cake?” Snails added.
“There’s no cake,” Diamond answered curtly. “What are you losers doing here?”
“We’re going to debunk this rumor,” Snips said proudly.
“Ha. I’m surprised you even know what debunk means,” Silver Spoon mocked.
“Oh yeah? Well, we know lots of things. Right Snails?”
“Yeah. Except math… and literature… and science… and history…,” Snails said, getting quieter and quieter as he listed the various things he didn’t know very well.
“Never mind,” Snips said annoyed. “We still know lots of stuff and we’re going to prove that this rumor is phony.”
“You’re goin’ to play tag?” Apple Bloom asked in surprise. “But ain’t there a bunch of conditions you got to follow first?”
And then it happened. A clock tower to the west of the foals rang out a loud chime. And then another. Then another. Apple Bloom silently counted out twelve chimes before it stopped.
“It’s midnight,” She announced slowly. “And we’re in the town square.” She quickly looked at each of her peers. “Oh my gosh! There’s seven of us too!”
“Don’t get so worked up. Like Cheerilee said, it’s just a silly story. Snips has it right for once,” Scootaloo said, flipping her hoof nonchalantly.
“Yeah,” Snails chimed in. “Besides, the rules say there has to be seven ponies and there’s clearly eight.”
The foals all stared at him.
“Is your head on straight? Who’s number eight?” Diamond asked him angrily.
Snails pointed towards the large wooden doors that towered over them. Standing in front of the doors was a foal-sized pony wearing a strange white mask.
“Who’s that? When did that pony get here?” Silver Spoon asked in surprise.
“Wait a minute. I know that hairdo,” Apple Bloom said, taking a good look at the small pony. “Twist? Is that you?”
Except for the mask, it certainly looked like Twist with her curly red hair and amberish grey coat. However, she didn’t answer. She stood silently as if waiting for something.
“We’ve been looking all over for you Twist. What are you wearing that mask for?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Whoa! Backwards brain fart!” Snails suddenly announced. “That mask reminds me of our mythology lesson last week. That looks like a human.”
“Human?” Apple Bloom asked, vaguely remembering the lesson. “Twist, what’s goin’ on? Why are you in that getup? Nightmare Night is over.”
Again, Twist was silent. But only for a few moments.
“Ready or not, here I come,” She said with her typical lisp.
Apple Bloom stared in confusion. Before she could say anything though, the giant wooden doors slowly opened with a loud creak and crack. As they did, Twist ran through, looking back only once before she disappeared in the darkness.
“What just happened? Where’d she go?” Apple Bloom finally asked.
“She must be ‘it’,” Snails said slowly. He looked positively terrified.
“Well, that means the game started right? So… let’s play then,” Diamond Tiara said slowly though her voice sounded a little unsteady.
“Are you sure about this?” Silver Spoon asked nervously.
“Of course I am. I never lose at truth or dare.”
“No way. We can’t play Onigokko. Twist said monsters come and take you away,” Sweetie Belle reminded them.
“Fine. Don’t play. If you’re chicken.” Diamond started to squawk like a chicken.
“Who’s a chicken?” Scootaloo barked. “I’m no chicken.”
“But what about the rumor?” Sweetie Belle said worriedly.
“Forget about the rumor. We came here to find Twist, remember? Cutie Mark Crusaders, pony rescuers,” Apple Bloom said confidently. “Besides, Twist is a really smart pony. I bet this is all somethin’ she set up just for fun. She wanted us to play the game…,” The confidence slowly left Apple Bloom’s voice. “She just rigged the gate somehow, that’s all. I’m sure there ain’t any real monsters in there.”
“That’s right. It’s just a silly rumor,” Snips added. “Come on Snails, let’s prove the rumor wrong.”
Snails gulped. “I wanna go home.”
“If you want to walk back all alone then be our guest. We’re playing tag.” Diamond smirked at Snails.
The young unicorn looked around nervously. It was clear he didn’t want to walk through Everfree by himself but the idea of actually playing Onigokko was a lot scarier.
“Don’t worry Snails. It ain’t real,” Apple Bloom tried to comfort him.
“It sure looks real,” He replied.
Diamond Tiara rolled her eyes and walked through the gate followed closely by Silver Spoon.
“Come on. We’re not going to let those two show us up, are we?” Scootaloo said, urging them on. She, Apple Bloom, and Snips bravely crossed the threshold of the gate. Sweetie Belle and Snails looked at each other and quickly followed their friends.
The other side of the gate was quite different from the rest of the dreary town. Many streets and signs were lit up with electricity. The buildings not only looked more modern, but in perfect living condition. As the foals walked further in, a light fog settled on the city, making the lights glare at them through the mist.
“This is weird. I thought Bronyville was supposed to be abandoned,” Sweetie Belle spoke up.
“Maybe somepony forgot to turn the lights off before they left,” Apple Bloom said nervously.
“Forget the why. We just have to find Twist and the other kids, right? We can ask Cheerilee or Twilight about it sometime,” Scootaloo said.
They all stopped when they heard a high-pitched scream.
“Snails? For Celestia’s sake, you scream like a girl,” Scootaloo scolded him.
“What’s that!?” He pointed to something on their left.
The four other foals raised their eyebrows in wonder. A large wooden sculpture, a little under the size of a one-story house, stood behind a broken glass window in an unnamed shop. It looked sort of like a giant monkey. It was in a sitting position, seemingly staring at the sky. On its back, there was another wooden sculpture, a rather limp looking thing the same size as Snails. It almost looked like a big rodent or dog of some kind. Both had remarkable detail.
“That ain’t nothin’. It’s just a big old statue… thing.” Apple Bloom had to admit though, it didn’t look so much carved as it seemed put together like a toy robot. Its various pieces were set together almost like joints, giving it the appearance that it could actually move. “Modern art. That’s all.”
“I don’t like this,” Snails whined.
“Don’t be such a scaredy-pony,” Snips said angrily. “We’re here to solve this rumor, remember?” He picked up a rock and tossed it at the statue, hitting the monkey dead-on in the head. “See, it’s just a dumb statue.”
“Come on guys. Let’s catch up to Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. I don’t want them to find Twist before we do. They’ll gloat about it for a billion years.” Scootaloo said, walking away from the store. However, she didn’t walk very far before she stopped. “Hey, which way did they go?”
The buildings around them stood tightly packed and five streets lay out before them, none of them particularly well lit. The two snobby fillies could have gone down any of them.
Apple Bloom walked up next to her and peered down each of the streets. “I don’t know. We’ll just have to pick one.”
“We’ll do it this way. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe!” Snips pointed down the fourth street.
“You coulda figured that without sayin’ it,” Apple Bloom said annoyed.
“Yeah, well…,” Snips couldn’t think of anything to say. “That’s just the way it is.”
“What if they went a different way?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“Well…,” Apple Bloom peered down the streets again. “Okay, Snips, you and Snails go down that one you picked and the three of us will try a different street. Let’s say we meet back here in one hour.”
“Sounds good to me I guess. This is just like a spy story,” Snips answered excitedly.
“I still want to go home,” Snails wailed and followed his friend down the fourth street.
“What do you guys say? Go straight ahead?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Do you think it’s a good idea to split up?” Sweetie Belle asked.
“If nothin’ else, maybe we’ll find the missin’ kids faster this way. Come on Sweetie Belle. There’s nothin’ to be afraid of.”
With Twist and the others in mind, the Cutie Mark Crusaders braved the third street. However, none of them noticed the large orange eyeball that had appeared on the small rodent-like statue, watching them leave.