//------------------------------//
// Lightning and Terror 
// Story: Kind Yet Humble Courage 
// by misskoifishpony 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 1: Lightning and Terror

A galumphing, limping, but shadowy mass slowly clawed through the Everfree Forest. The forest was dark and wet with morning dew. The only sound that could be heard throughout the mysterious foliage was the sound of screeching birds and the heavy panting of the shadowy mass. Each step that the mass took sent small earthquakes into the ground. And every step left heavy and hard prints in the mud. 

After what seemed like to be hours of dragging through the forest, the bulky creature finally saw light. A sign for the end of the forest. It wasn’t a bright light, but enough light for this predator to keep moving forward. When it reached the end of the forest, the beast noticed how dreary and grey the weather was. The grey clouds consumed the sky. The air’s pressure was close to the ground surrounding the creature, that means that a rainy thunderstorm was coming. It lifted his head and saw a grassy meadow and… a small cottage inside a tree? The creature tilted its head at the odd homing structure. However...a scent caught his attention. There were animals. Lots of them. Most of them were animals of prey. This made the beast snicker and growl evilly. 

As the blood-thirsty intruder prowled through the cottage, the clouds in the sky burst and the rain came down.. 





"Alright everyone, it's time to clean the cottage." Fluttershy announced to all her little animals in her living room.

Despite it being the first day of spring, it was a grey and cloudy day. Rainbow Dash had told her earlier that thunder and lighting would arrive in Ponyville by the afternoon. As much as Fluttershy feared loud and noisy storms, her little animals feared them even more than she did.

So, she decided to distract them by having them help her with spring cleaning. And in return, they would all get special treats.

"Robin, Caroll, Gale," Fluttershy told the songbirds, "you're in charge of dusting. But be careful of Charlotte's webs when dusting the ceiling, it took her quite some time to make those."

Then, she directed her attention to the squirrels and chipmunks on the floor. "You're in charge of sweeping the floor and beating out the rugs."

After that, she turned her gaze to the large brown bear waiting patiently by the clock. "Mr. Bearington, you're charged with cleaning the fireplace. But don't clean the chimney, I don't want you to inhale the soot and get sick."

Next to Mr.Bearington was a grey goat and a small group of bunnies, and Fluttershy tasked them with "And as for all of you, you'll be in charge of cleaning the kitchen."

She turned her attention to the whole group and asked, "Does everyone understand their tasks?"

Her animals answered her happily with squeaks and growls.

"Oh, wonderful! Have fun everyone."

As the group dispersed, the yellow pegasus noticed something tapping one of her hind legs. She looked down and saw Angel bunny kicking her back legs with a frown on his face.

"Don't worry Angel, Mommy didn't forget you. You get to help me with cleaning the bathroom upstairs and washing my bed sheets. Won't that be fun?"

Angel answered his owner's question with squeaks of protests. He waved his little arms around to emphasize his point.

"Come on Angel, everyone has to do their part for spring cleaning day. And that includes you too."

Angel then scowled at the pink-maned mare. His frustration caused him to turn around and cross his arms.

"If you don't, then there will be no treats for anyone. And that includes you too, Mister."

Angel turned his head back towards Fluttershy, to see if her face matched with her kind yet stern demand. With a sluggish sigh, he hopped upstairs. This made his owner smile, "Oh, that's a good boy Angel."

Before the kind mare could join her bunny upstairs, there was a hard and forceful knock on her door.

Huh? That's strange. She thought to herself. Nopony is supposed to come today. Especially in this weather.

However, despite these thoughts, Fluttershy called out "Coming!"

She trotted up to her wooden door and told her guest, "Yes, how may I help...AAH!"

A flash of lightning revealed a tall, horrifying creature at her door. Its skin was red like fire. It had large fangs, a long spiky tail, and claws that dragged in her doorway. It was panting...hard. She could see the creature's breath in the cold air. It was drenched and dripping wet with rain water.

When it opened its eyes, it growled at the sight of Fluttershy. She immediately backed away from the intruder and quivered. It crawled on all fours and entered into Fluttershy's beloved home.

Her animals, in the midst of their cleaning, immediately noticed the monster and ran away into the dark corners of the house. That is...except for Mr.Bearington, the goat, and Angel Bunny.

The goat was the first to attack. With his horns out in front, he planned to head-butt the enemy. However, his enemy's head was a lot harder than his. He sent the poor goat towards the couch with his counter head-butt.

"Shaun!" Fluttershy cried out.

Mr. Bearington was the next to attack. He towered over his opponent easily. With a quick swing of his claw, he swiped the creature's back. This made it roar in agony. The beast, once it set his eyes on Mr. Bearington, thrashed his tail against his stomach. Mr.Bearington went down to the ground and hugged his aching belly.

"Mr.Bearington!" Fluttershy cried out with tears in her eyes.

Then, she saw her dear Angel hop angrily towards the intruder. She couldn't bare to have another one of her defenseless animals getting hurt for her sake. "Angel! No!"

The creature looked down and saw the white bunny furiously kicking his front claw. Without a second thought, he grabbed Angel by the stomach and stood up on his hind legs.

"P-Please!" Fluttershy pleaded desperately, "Don't hurt him. I'll...I'll do anything. Anything! Just please...don't hurt my animals. Don't hurt Angel."

"Anything huh?" The beast replied with a smug smirk.

Fluttershy noticed that his voice sounded fairly young. Almost like a teenager. It was strange...she didn't expect this powerful creature to be so young. Who was he? What was he?

"In that case," her intruder continued, "this namby pamby pony home...belongs to me now."