“Well, howdy Twilight, girls. What brings y’all out here this evening? C’mon in, I’m just makin’ supper.” Twilight, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle sat down, while Apple Bloom began helping her sister.
“Twilight and us got somethin’ we need to ask you,” said Apple Bloom.
Applejack paused in the middle of stirring a sauce. “Oh? An’ what’s that?” They all looked at Twilight, who cleared her throat, and began.
“It’s about the Squatter’s Shack.” Applejack dropped her spoon.
“What in tarnation you wanna ask me about that place for?” She looked at her sister. “Apple Bloom?” she said warningly.
Apple Bloom blushed, and then she took a deep breath and said,
“WeneedcostumesforNightmareNightbutwehadtheideaofgittin’somethin’scaryinsteado’justbein’scary soweneedaghostbutSweetieBelledidn’tbelieveinghostssoItoldherabouttheSquatter’sShackan’thenweaskedTwilight (GASP) howdowecatchaghostan’SHEdidn’tbelieveitsoIsaidweshouldaskyou!”
Applejack blinked at her, while taking a moment to sift through the babble. “So let me git this straight: y’all want to catch a ghost fer Nightmare Night?” All three girls nodded vigorously. “Well, that’s just crazy. We shouldn’t go messin’ with things like that. We leave them alone, they leave us alone.”
Her tone did not go unmarked by Twilight. “So you believe it too?”
“A COURSE I do! That shack’s been on the property fer years. We stay away from it, and the one that still haunts it.”
“So you’ve seen it? The ghost I mean.”
Applejack nodded. “Only once. That was enough fer mah lifetime.” Right about that time Granny Smith and Big Mac came into the kitchen.
“Is supper ready?” asked Granny. “I’m hungrier than…oh! Hello, Twilight, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle. How nice of you to join us. Make yerselves at home,” she said as she sat at her place.
Big Mac nodded and said, “Evenin’ Miss Twilight, girls.”
“Good evening,” they all said.
As Applejack brought the pot over, she almost dropped it when Granny asked, “Now then child, what was enough fer yer lifetime?”
Feeling fairly caught out, Applejack said, “So you heard that?” She sighed. “They all was askin’ me about the Squatter’s Shack. Seems someponies got the idea of catchin’ themselves a ghost.” Granny Smith laughed long and loudly.
“Where’d you young’uns get the idea you could catch a ghost? Cain’t nopony catch a ghost!”
“But…but we need it for Nightmare Night,” said Scootaloo.
“Nightmare Night? Ain’t there enough spooky stuff goin’ on that night without no ghosts moanin’ about?” This was all getting to be a bit too much for Twilight.
Holding her head in her hooves, she said, “So you’ve all encountered the ghost? Granny Smith, and you as well, Big Mac?” They both nodded. Then Twilight sat up straight. “That’s enough for me.” Turning to Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, she said, “We now have enough evidence for a conjecture.”
“A conjecture?” asked Granny. “What is it you’re trying to prove?”
“The existence of ghosts, and their physical characteristics, if any.”
“For land’s sake, child, why didn’t you just ask? I can show you that ghost.”
With the exception of Big Mac, who slowly continued eating, the others all said, “You can?!”
“But Granny,” said Applejack, “I always was told to stay away from that place!”
“And I plum near died of fright when I saw it!” said Apple Bloom.
Granny chuckled. “I knew that old feller when he was alive, and he was as stubborn as a mule then, and he hates company now. That’s why you was told to stay away, Applejack, and that’s why he yelled when he saw you, Apple Bloom. But he really wasn’t so bad once you got to know him.”
“But how do we catch him?” asked Scootaloo.
“Lord a mercy child, weren’t you listening? You cain’t catch him, but you may be able to just ask him.”
“Well, when can we do that?” asked Scootaloo.
“Not tonight, child. I need my rest!”
There was a collective, “awwwww” from the girls, but Twilight spoke up. “She’s right: it’s almost sunset, and I should get you two home.” She stood. “Thanks for the offer of supper, but you Apples have given me more than enough to chew on. Let’s go, girls…girls?” The three had formed an impromptu huddle and had been furiously whispering while Twilight had been speaking.
“Coming!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle shouted. They each gave Apple Bloom a long look before turning to follow Twilight out the door. Apple Bloom watched them go, looking a bit scared but determined.