Once upon a time...

"You begin like this every time, Mommy!"

"I begin like this because that's how the story begins, Twilight."

"Okay, Mommy."

There was a pony named Red. Her full name was Red Riding, but everypony called her Little Red, or Red Riding Hood, or often a combination of these names, Little Red Riding Hood. Little Red had a grandmother who was very old and sick, and needed a very special medicine to cure her.

"Mommy, what did Little Red's grandmother have? How was she sick?"

"I don't know. Why do you want to know?"

"I want to know if Granny will get sick as well."

"Don't you worry, Granny is fine."

One day, Little Red's parents got the very special medicine that Granny needed, and decided to send Little Red through the forest to give the medicine to Granny. So Little Red set off through the forest. Clip clop clip clop. Clip clop clip clop-thump! Clip clop clip clop-thump!

What is that noise, Little Red wondered. it certainly isn't me. Then who is it?

Clip clop clip clop-thump! Clip cl-Thawhump!!

"Aaahh!!"

"It's just a story, Twilight."

"What was that?" Little Red wondered out loud.

"It's just me, no reason to be scared." Something said.

"Who are you?"

The something materialized, taking the appearence of a opaque pony. "A relic of times long past, but you can call me a ghost, or just plain Ghost."

"Okay..." Little Red nervously responded.

"Don't worry, I don't bite. Couldn't if I wanted to."

"Why?"

"I can't affect physical objects." Ghost explained.

"Really?" Little Red curiously asked.

"Yes. It is both a blessing and a curse."

"Can you really not affect real things?"

"Yes." Ghost patiently responded.

"So, why are you here?"

"I am a messenger from the Aether, a relm in between relms, a world to fill the gap where there are no worlds, a place that exists because no other place will exist there. I have brought a message for all of this existance."

Red was speechless for a long moment. "Wow."

"Indeed, it is a lot of responsibility." Ghost agreed.

"Do you want to come with me to my grandma's house?"

"I would like that very much, thank you."

Little Red smiled, she had clearly made Ghost happy, and she liked making ponies happy. Even if they weren't ponies. Even if they were interdimensional etheral messengers. Little Red and Ghost set off down the road together, walking (and hovering) side by side. They walked for a while, and eventually they came to a cottage. It was Granny's house! Little Red and Ghost went inside.

"Granny! I'm here! It's Red!" Little Red called.

"Hello, Red! Come in, come in."

"I found a friend while I was in the forest!"

"Really?"

"Yep! Come and meet Ghost!"

"It might be better if I came to Granny, Red."

"Okay!"

Ghost went up to Granny, who smiled at first, but then lost the smile as Ghost came into view. "Who are you, Aetherian?" Granny said.

"I am Ghost, no more and no less. That is all I am and all I will ever be."

"Why are you here?" Granny demanded.

"To save this reality, or at least help to."

"Please do not involve my granddaughter in this."

"I will not."

"Why, Granny? Ghost is my friend."

Ghost disappeared mysteriously and Little Red soon forgot all about the strange friend she had met in the woods. Granny got better and-

"Yay!"

And Granny got better and everyone was happy.

But she didn't forget.

"What do you want to hear next, Twiley?"

"The Gingerbread Pony!"

"Okay, if you say so."

Author's Note

So, how did I do for my first story? Please feel free to comment. NO spoilers though. Thanks for reading!

Next: Dashie's first story of the night! Get ready for...
The Very Dirty Colt!!