The stranger trod merrily down the long dirt road. The matted black fur that covered his body managed to keep him warm enough in the chilly autumn night. His cloven hooves made a distinct noise against the ground. A dark, tangled mane ran down his neck and stood out in every direction. His muzzle was adorned with a huge, unnerving grin. The teeth were gigantic and yellowed with plaque. There was no reason for him to be grinning as he did, but there was no reason for him not to be either. It was just who he was.
As he came around the bend of a cluster of oak trees, he spotted a pony pulling a load of apples. The stranger slowed as he neared, his golden eyes locked on the apples. It had been a while since he had anything to eat besides ditch grass and forest roots. The pony slowed down as he spotted the stranger. He was not expecting to see anyone out here, especially at this time of night. He was also intrigued by the stranger’s dirty, rawboned appearance.
“Evenin’,” said the stranger. His voice was as dark an oily as his mane, and there was a peculiar accent to it. There was a pause as he waited for the pony to respond.
“Good evening,” the pony finally replied. The stranger heard a wary tone in his voice, but he knew that it was because the pony was unsure of his bedraggled appearance.
“Those are some canny apples ye got there,” said the stranger as he took a step toward the cart, “Mind if I have ane?” He glanced back over at the horse, who was backing away. The stranger saw that the pony had noticed his cloven hooves. The wary look on the his face had turned to one of suspicion and fear.
“I don’t know,” he said, “I should get going. I’ve got to be to Trottingham by morning.” The stranger let out a sigh of disappointment, but kept on grinning.
“Trottingham, eh?” he said, “I’m frae west o’ Trottingham. Beautiful country, if I remember it right.” The pony seemed very reluctant to leave. The stranger merely let out another sigh. “Well then, I suppose ye best be on yer way.” The stranger turned to leave, but just before he did he turned back to the pony.
“Good luck on yer journey,” he said. Just as he passed the cart, he gave it a small kick. An apple tumbled out and landed before him. Seconds later there was a sharp crack as the wagon’s axel snapped in two.
The stranger continued his own journey down the lonely road. He scanned the distance with his yellow eyes, which glinted like two small moons on his coal-black face. At last he came to the top of a hill. He looked down from it at the valley that lay before him. Within it was a small town, one that looked like a very pleasant place to live. It wasn’t quite as rustic as most towns he had visited, but it would do. Then something caught his eye. Just outside the town was a vast field of apple trees. He could smell the ripening fruit all the way from here. The harvest was eminent. The stranger looked up at the sky. The near-full moon confirmed his suspicion. His grin appeared to grow wider. The stranger began to trot down the hill towards the town. The wind followed him, knocking crisp leaves from the trees with a gentle rustle.
Rarity’s eyes fluttered open, ready for a new day of designing and making dresses. She crawled out of bed and trotted over to her mirror, which was the first thing she did every morning. Something happened on this particular morning that distinguished it from every other morning. The moment she saw her reflection, she let out an earsplitting scream. She stared in wide-eyed horror at herself. Slowly, she reached up with a hoof to touch her hair. What was once a gorgeous, flowing mane was now a hideous mess of snarls and snags. It seemed that each individual hair had been twisted and tied with another.
“My…hair…” whimpered the unicorn. She was in such shock that all she could do was stare at the ugly rat’s nest upon her head. Rarity suddenly burst out of her stillness and madly grabbed for a comb, trying desperately to straighten out her hair. She let out a scream as the teeth failed to undo to the knots, instead causing her head and neck to feel pain. She threw it down and grabbed another, and then another, and finally she cycled through all of her numerous hair-grooming utensils. After tossing the last comb across the room, she tried using her magic to unravel the knotted mane. Each hair began to pull against one another, causing even more pain than the attempt with the comb. Rarity began to cry at the pointlessness of it all. At that moment the door opened.
“Rarity?” asked Sweetie Belle, “I heard you screaming. What’s going on?” Rarity snatched a towel off of her dresser and pulled it over her head.
“Don’t look at me!” she bawled. Sweetie Belle rushed over to her sister.
“What happened?” asked the filly, “Are you okay?” Rarity responded by turning away from her sibling and letting out a series of long, miserable wails.
“Rarity,” said Sweetie Belle, “Take off the towel.”
“No!” replied the unicorn, “Never! I’m never taking it off! I can never show my face in town again!” Sweetie Belle grabbed the towel with her teeth and started pulling.
“I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what the problem is!” said the filly. Rarity defiantly held the towel on her noggin. The two were in a tug-o’-war, and the smaller sister finally ended it with a sharp yank. Immediately the towel flew off, leaving Rarity’s awful hairdo exposed. Sweetie Belle’s eyes went wide and blank as she laid them on the rat’s nest.
“Oh, wow…” she mumbled.
“What do I do?” cried Rarity as she fell back on her bed and began to weep, “My life is ruined!!” She rolled over and began to hit the bed with her front hooves. Sweetie Belle jumped up on the bed and put her foreleg around Rarity’s neck.
“It’s not that bad,” lied the filly, “I’m sure we can think of something.” She looked over at Rarity’s vanity.
“I’ve tried everything!” moaned Rarity, “I’ve tried every comb, curler and brush!” Sweetie Belle got off the bed and went over to the vanity.
“Have you tried these?” asked the filly as she held out a pair of scissors. Rarity squealed the moment she saw them.
“Are you crazy?” she shrieked wildly as she scooted to the corner of the bed, “Put those away this instant!” Sweetie Belle slowly put the scissors back where she found them.
“Why don’t we get Twilight Sparkle?” said Sweetie Belle as she backed away from her sister towards the door, “She’ll know what to do.”
“NO!!” screamed Rarity. She jumped from the mattress, slammed the door shut, and blocked it with her body. Sweetie Belle looked up into her sister’s face and saw a desperate, half-mad gleam in them.
“Not a soul must know of this!” cried the unicorn. She grabbed the filly and shook her by the shoulders. “Do you understand?”
“I understand,” Sweetie Belle breathed with a solemn look. Rarity let out a deep sigh, and her tense body relaxed.
“Good.” The moment she moved, Sweetie Belle darted around her and ran out the door.
“I understand that you need help!” she called as she sprinted down the stairs. Rarity’s face became a portrait of shock and anger. She ran across the room, but froze to a complete stop the moment she came to the door.
“Sweetie Belle!” she roared, “Come back right now!” Rarity heard the front door open and close. “…Please?”
“There you go Angel,” Fluttershy said as she gave a fresh carrot to the rabbit. The Pegasus smiled as Angel happily nibbled on the vegetable. Suddenly a loud crunch echoed through the air. Fluttershy jumped in terror and turned around to see whatever was behind her. There stood an emaciated pony with a wild mane leaning against the chicken coop. A yellow grin stretched across his mangy muzzle.
“ Good forenoon,” he said nonchalantly as he took another bite of the apple in his hoof.
“G-good morning sir,” Fluttershy stammered. The peculiar pony finished off the apple and smiled at the Pegasus.
“That’s a nice rabbit ye got there, Miss,” said the coal-black creature as he moved toward Fluttershy.
“Oh, well thank you,” Fluttershy mumbled. She didn’t feel as frightened as before, but there was something about this pony that unnerved her. Perhaps it was the vulpine glitter in his golden eyes, or the unkempt look of his mane and tail. In any event Fluttershy felt a chill in the air as he walked towards her.
“As I was sayin’,” he continued as he looked at her with his bizarre golden eyes, “That’s a nice rabbit.” Fluttershy looked down to avoid his gaze. She suppressed a shudder as she spotted his hooves. She caught herself staring and tried to look away, but it was too late. She looked back into the grinning face of the visitor. He held up his front hoof and wiggled his toes back and forth.
“I hope these dinna bother ye too much,” he said, “Just somethin’ I was born with.” Fluttershy felt absolutely terrible for starring, and seemed to shrink down even smaller than she already was.
“Oh dear,” she muttered as her face turned a deep red, “I’m sorry.” The stranger laughed. It was a peculiar whinnying noise, and like himself it seemed both old and young at the same time.
“It’s quite alright, me dearie,” he chuckled, “Just think of it like a unicorn’s horn, or yer wings, for example.” Fluttershy gave her shy little smile. The stranger may have been mysterious and unkempt, but he seemed pleasant enough.
“I’m Fluttershy,” she mumbled quietly.
“Pleased to meet ye,” the stranger replied with a nod. He never offered his own name, which Fluttershy considered odd. The pony looked around Fluttershy’s yard. “I’m new here, as ye can probably tell. I was just wonderin’, do you kin the name of that apple orchard out yonder?” Fluttershy followed his pointed hoof to Applejack’s farm.
“Oh,” said Fluttershy, “That’s Sweet Apple Acres.” The stranger’s eyes lit up at the name. He seemed keenly interested in the farm, and kept a hungry gaze upon it.
“Aha,” he said softly, “So then me dearie, do ye kin where I might find something’ to eat? I’ve been stavaiging for many a week noo, and I’m thoroughly wabbit.” Fluttershy looked at him blankly, then gave him a confused smile.
“Um, I’m sorry,” she said in her typical sheepish tone, “Could you explain that last part for me?” Again, the newcomer chuckled in a good-natured way.
“I’ve just come from a long ways and I’m tired,” he said.
“Well,” said Fluttershy, “You could try Sugarcube Corner. It’s got lots of good things to eat.” Once again, the stranger flashed his mysterious grin at the Pegasus.
“Thank ye, Fluttershy,” he said, “I’ll be sure to come and visit again gey soon.” Fluttershy watched as the pony trotted out of her yard, not entirely sure what to make of him.