Ch 3.

“I’m free!” Rook–in the body of Pinkamina–cheered. “Thank you so very much!” Rook began trotting around in circles, enjoying his new found freedom of bodily movement. He began to shift again, causing the six ponies to flinch in fear. Their worries were unfounded, as a small bunny took the place of the gruesome Pinkamina.

“W-w-what are you? What did we free you from? Why the hay did you torment us like that?” a bemused and angry Twilight asked the boggart. It was hard for her to process that the thing that had just been tormenting her friends was now a small rabbit.

“Ahh, introductions, yes. My name is Michael, but everyone calls me Rook. I’m a boggart. You freed me from the compulsive defense mechanism that boggarts possess. When an intelligent creature looks at a boggart, boggarts unwillingly assume the form of the creatures worst fear and act out the worst case scenario. I had no control over my body during those encounters, until now. You freed me from the compulsion!” Rook cheered.

“So you couldn’t help it? You said it was a defense mechanism, so does that mean we scared you?” Fluttershy asked.

“Yes, Fluttershy, I couldn’t control it. And I’m terribly sorry about what I put you through. Rarity, thanks for hitting me. If you hadn’t, her fears would have made me rape her,” Rook said, shuttering as he did so. “That really was your father, wasn’t it? I’m so sorry… All of you, I’m sorry for putting you through that. I feel terrible," Rook said, tears forming in his little bunny eyes

“Oh, don’t cry. It’s ok. I forgive you,” the yellow pegasus assured.

"My plan was to live out in the Everfree, but that didn’t work out so well," Rook continued.

“Why would you want to live in the EVERFREE FOREST, of all places?” RD asked. “That place isn’t natural!”

“Yes, there is that little fact. I, however, wanted to avoid ponies as much as possible to spare them the pain I would cause. Unfortunately, Zecora found me. Her worst fear was being chased by a large shadow beast. She ran straight into Ponyville,” Rook explained.

He paused for a moment before continuing, “I should probably mention this now. Laughter hurts boggarts.” At the mention of laughter causing pain, Pinkie’s hair deflated partially. “The main defense against boggarts was some sort of spell. Whoever cast it would force the boggart into a shape that they found funny, like giving a giant spider roller skates so that it can’t stand. Though, there’s no way I could explain how to do the spell, but that’s it.”

“Why would you tell us of a spell that hurts you?” Twilight asked.

“Because other boggarts may appear. It’s unlikely, but you never can tell. Wouldn’t you want to be prepared to face your worst fears? I thought so,” Rook said.

There was a flash of light above the group, and Princess Celestia appeared above the group. “My little ponies, are you alright? I came as soon as I got Spike’s letter. Where is this beast?” the solar princess asked.

“Tamed, much to his pleasure, your majesty,” Rook-bunny answered for the ponies. He quickly introduced himself and explained what had happened. “I’m just really glad that I didn’t run into you first. I had my suspicions that you would have some pretty awful fears, and I’m right.”

“Hey! She’s the princess! She isn’t scared of ANYTHING!” Rainbow Dash shouted.

‘Loyal as ever,’ Rook thought to himself. He spoke, “I beg to differ. Princess Celestia has a tremendous number of fears, most of which involve the return of Nightmare Moon. The absolute worst, however, would be absolutely catastrophic for me to appear as.” Celestia winced, realizing that this creature had access to her subconscious fears.

“Rook, I trust you will not be assuming that form?” she asked. He nodded in affirmation, then yawned.

“Sheesh, I’m beat. I was trying to sleep when Zecora came across me, starting this whole incident. Where did she wander off to, anyway? Doesn’t matter, I’ll apologize next time I see her. I’m going to find somewhere to crash. Preferably under the stars. It’s such a lovely night.”

Rook bunny transformed into a small bird and flew off into the night without so much as a goodbye. The mane six and the solar princess just looked at one another, confused to his sudden departure. “That was rude of him. Rook did not even say goodbye,” Rarity scoffed. The group said their farewells and went back to their homes to resume their night’s sleep. Or, at least, they tried too. Each pony had their dreams haunted by what they had seen.

Morning greeted Ponyville with an interesting sight. A white pegasus stallion walked down the deserted streets. He looked all around in every direction except in the one he was going. Looking forwards was impossible for him; his head was on backwards. The populace of Ponyville cowered in their homes, to afraid of the disfigured pony to come out. Of course, most of their fear came from rumors that spread faster than he walked.

Twilight Sparkle was not amused. The newly crowned princess ruffled her purple feathers in annoyance. Wondering why the town had cleared out like it had in the Zecora incident, she set off to find her answers. The sleep deprived alicorn paced up and down the streets, looking for answers. She hadbeen walking for a while when the white pegasus bumped into her.

“Pardon me, I can’t seem to get my head straight this morning. Could you give it a twist?” The stallion asked.

“I- uhh… what?” Twilight asked the stallion. Her confusion only increased when she saw his head. Then she looked down at his cutie mark: a rook chess piece. “Rook, are you the one scaring the townsfolk? How could you be so mean!”

“Twilight, I assure you, of the ponies that I have seen, absolutely none of them have a fear of a backwards headed pony. I checked. What they do seem to be afraid of is the products of the rumor mill. Can you believe it?” Rook said. He pointed to a pony in a window that was looking out at them. “She believes that I’m going to make a stew out of her little colt. Are you all really that cowardly and gullible?” the boggart asked.

“Grrrr, this is Zecora all over again,” she growled.

“What happened with her?” he asked, knowing full well what happened. Rook had decided last night that he wasn’t going to tell them about MLP, if he could help it. And considering that Twilight had wings, this was post season three; he had no foreknowledge.

“Exactly what’s happening now, just swap you with her,” Twilight explained. Her temper was evident in her voice.

“Oh, okay. Can you fix my head now? Just grab and twist.”

Twilight’s horn lit up and Rooks head spun 180º with a loud crack. He slumped to the ground, giving off a slight moan of pleasure. The mare in the nearby house, however, didn’t know that the boggart was perfectly fine. The scream echoed throughout the town. “SHE’S KILLED HIM! TWILIGHT BROKE HIS NECK!” The town came alive, ponies screaming out the accusation to their neighbors, who in turn repeated it to their neighbors.

“That did not go as planned,” Rook said, glancing at Twilight.

“Great, now they all think I’m a killer. Don’t you dare change until we get this all sorted out.”

“Didn’t plan on it.”

Author's Note

New chapter! *Ding*

How's Twilight going to get rid of murder accusations?
Three guesses as to what happens when the background ponies see Rook transform for the first time.

This story is really fun to write.