//------------------------------//
// Prologue: A Very Berry Beginning 
// Story: Ghost Squad 
// by Sollace 
//------------------------------//

11:59 PM, Berry Punch Residence, Ponyville

“AAAHHHHH!”

A shrill scream broke out through the night. Lights were turned on and a heavy beating of hooves concluded with Berry Punch practically breaking down her daughter’s door, “Pinch! What is it? What’s wrong?”

Her eyes frantically jumped across the room, piecing together the scene, “Ew! Ew! Ew! Get it away! Get it away!” Berry Pinch was perched atop her bed doing an imitation of the Great Standing Canterer whilst screaming at the tops of her lungs. The pillows and duvet were already unceremoniously kicked off and now lay at the side of the bed in a crumpled heap.

In the centre of the room, on the floor, lay the source of her daughter’s distress. Berry breathed a sigh of relief upon spotting the tiny black spec, and pressed a hoof to her still beating chest, “It’s just a spider, honey. He’s not going to hurt you.”

“I don’t care!” Berry Pinch screamed, “Get it away!” still keeping herself as far from the spider as equinly possible. She squeezed her eyes shut and trotted to the farthest corner of the bed where she continued her dance.

Berry sighed, oh to be young again, “All right, Pinchy. Just give mommy a second.” She grabbed a plastic container from Berry’s toy shelf, dumping the contents— an assorted collection of well-chewed crayons, pencils, and carrots. She made a mental note to have Pinch clean up her room.

She also grabbed a sheet of paper from Pinch’s school supplies and took them over to the spider, “Here, watch,” Berry said as she placed the container over the spider. She then slid the paper underneath and used it as a support to pick up the container, still with the spider trapped inside, and held it up to show her daughter, “Perfectly harmless.”

“Ew!” Berry Pinch cringed away from the foul beast and Berry rolled her eyes.

She took it to the windowsill and set it free in a tree branch outside, then closed the window to ensure it wouldn’t bother them again. “There you go, Pinchy,” She began as she turned back into the room, “All f-f-f—“

Berry Punch stammered and stumbled on her hooves. She could feel her heart beating against her chest once more.

“AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!” This time there were two shrill shrieks to break out through the night.