Author's Note

Sorry for the wait. Google Docs are really annoying sometimes. Oh well. Have some horses... and spiders.

Storytime, With A Mistake

Days passed. Like a monochromatic grey blur they all just faded into one and swept past. When you’ve lived as long as I have individual days have the tendency to do that. The day court went by and everything blended into one.

But a fateful savior came to me in the form of a letter. One from my student, Twilight Sparkle. I had just finished day court and was having a small nap in my chambers when the scroll appeared above me, it’s presence signaled by a green flash, one I could not mistake. I rose out of bed and unrolled the white parchment.

Dear Princess Celestia (Even after all these years she still calls me that!)

Due to the extra hooves available during the Appleoosa harvest, we have been able to gather a good harvest. It’s been hard work but everyone is relieved we managed to get it done. Mr Braeburn, the head of the appaloosa farm, was practically in tears when we arrived. The situation there was dire at best but we stuck through it. It seems like we all learned a valuable lesson of trusting others to help you when you need it most. On a little side note, rainbow was acting a bit strange during the entire trip. I don’t know what it was but it looks like something spooked her. It might be nothing but I can’t bear to see her like this. Perhaps there is another thing that we can all learn about friendship. We should have just come back to town around the time you get this. Anyway, I hope you are doing well, Princess!

P.S: It’s been awhile since I last saw you, Princess. Maybe we could meet up sometime. That is if you can spare any time, It’s okay if you can’t, I understand you are busy.

Love from your Faithful Student
Twilight Sparkle

“Interesting” I whispered to myself. Perhaps Rainbow’s fear of spiders were greater than I imagined. Then I remembered what the letter had told me about the elements coming back today and I looked behind me. Just as I thought, there was a rapidly rotating red ball of light pulsing slightly with each rotation. A sign that somepony was moving near the magical nexus.

I swiftly covered the distance between myself and the nexus and peered inside…

I could see the entirety of the attic from this angle and I spotted the hatch of the trapdoor shifting upwards. Then a soft voice pierced the silence. “Don’t worry, i’m sure there’s nothing up here, but I’ll check if you really want me to…” A cacophony of noise answered her. “ O-okay then. But don’t worry, it’s probably nothing” She sounded like she was reassuring herself more than her animals with that statement.

The trapdoor opened a bit more and a soft pink mane followed by two wide cyan eyes rose above the trapdoor, both shaking like a rabid leaf in the autumn breeze. Slowly, ever so slowly, Fluttershy’s legs and body joined the rest of her. She slowly circled the attic as I watched impassively from the magical nexus. Soon enough she spotted the small box full of spiders. A couple of spiders were running on the outside of the box which I thought was quite odd. They were usually quiet unless threatened. Something also looked amiss with the box itself but I couldn't pin down what it was… Another mistake I regret making.

Fluttershy slowly walked towards the box speaking soothing sentences as she did so. All of her past fear had disappeared now. But, as I expected the spiders did not calm down, in fact they got more agitated until one reared up and showed its tiny bared fangs.

This stopped Fluttershy in her tracks, even if the spider bit her it would cause next to no pain. But she was experienced enough with animals to know this was a blatant sign of aggression and you should probably stop.

“Um… I hate to be a bother, but you are causing some of my friends to get worried” She whispered. The spider responded by leaping forwards and creating a clacking noise with its front legs. Fluttershy promptly took off and moved with a yelp of terror straight back down through the trapdoor.

I had to stop myself from laughing aloud lest my guards or anyone else hear ( I know I’m a terrible pony!) Although that was quite amusing the main attraction had yet to show. I pulled my head away from the magical nexus and shook myself to clear my head. Then I walked over to my ornate dressing table and procured a piece of alabaster white parchment while simultaneously dipping a quill into a bottle of ink.

I quickly finished the letter, then I trotted over to my door and opened it slowly. Giving the guards outside time to move aside. I stuck my head out and looked toward the guard closest to me.

“Deliver this to the guard barracks, ask for Senton Aurorae, he’ll know what this means.” I said while letting the guard take the letter.

“At once, Princess” He replied back in a gruff voice.

I smiled warmly at him as he took off down the hall. Closing the door, I sat myself down on the bed and waited…

I didn’t have to wait long. I could hear Senton way before I could see him.

“Password?” The other guard outside asked.

“Limpond Redback” I heard Senton reply.

The door swung open and in walked the guard I was expecting.

“I’m guessing its time, Princess?”

“Soon, not long now” I replied.

We made small talk to pass the time. Or rather I grouched about my day while he listened patiently. Poor pony was still a bit unsure around me. At least he listened well. What more could A immortal Princess want? Time passed and soon enough the magical nexus in the corner of the room began to flash red. “Here we go!” I thought. It had been too long.

We both stuck our heads into the magical nexus and I felt my vision change and shift until I was looking at the familiar attic again. There was a slight thumping noise coming from below. The distinct noise of a pegasus flapping their wings.

“Well it can’t be that bad. Even if it is I can beat it!” Came a scratchy voice from below. That was definitely Rainbow Dash.

“Just be careful and don’t hurt them!” There was Fluttershy.

“Yeah,yeah. So all I do is drop this in the nest and they leave?”

“Unfortunately yes… Oh I feel awful! I don’t know what went wrong but they wouldn't listen to me. Thats never happened before. But it’s better that they go then stay… I just feel bad for doing it…” Fluttershy sighed.

“Ah c’mon Shy! I’ll make it quick” Rainbow replied.

The troor opened suddenly and the element of loyalty came up through the hole, with whatever they were using to move the spiders wrapped up in her hoof. She moved forwards a bit before seeing the cobwebbed covered spider box before stopping in her tracks. It was odd at the time why the box had suddenly been covered in cobwebs, when there had been none there half an hour ago, but like a fool I again dismissed it as coincidence.

“Uh… F-Fluttershy, what exactly were the critters you wanted removing?” Dash asked her eyes wide.

“A nest of spiders. I don’t know the species but we don’t get any poisonous spiders out here so I think they are relatively harmless… Are you okay Rainbow?”

Rainbow Dash quickly cleared her throat.” Yeah,yeah just curious, thats all.” She said (upon a throne of lies!)

Rainbow steeled herself and I could hear her muttering under her breath. “C’mon, your Rainbow Dash you ain’t scared of nothing.” Much like Fluttershy had done she creeped forwards ever so slightly. Wincing with each step. She was so intent on the box she had failed to notice the rather large spider sitting a few feet away from the box, near the trapdoor. To be fair to her I had only noticed it because of the angle I was looking at. Senton saw it as well and I heard him take a breath in anticipation.

The spider reared up and still Rainbow failed to notice. Closer and closer until… Click! The spider moved fast, digging itself into Rainbow’s hoof. She looked down to see beady eyes looking straight back. She almost deafened my ears with the intensity of her scream. She flew around the attic yelling and hollering. The faces she was making were pure comedy gold. In fact they were more comedy platinum. I couldn't help but snicker and Senton, being the twisted pony I knew hid in there somewhere, was practically bawling with laughter.

It got even better when Rainbow crashed into the box the spiders were in before giving one last yell before detaching the spider from her hoof. It spun through the air and landed on the wall, watching with beady eyes.

Through my tears of mirth I noticed something that made my heart stop and my laughter to cease instantly. Now the cobwebs had been removed from the box by Rainbow. I could see that the red side of the box was facing upwards. Definitely bad news.

The realization hit me like a brick to the head. Unfortunately for me my fears came true before I could react. A loud hissing echoed through the attic causing everyone to stop and freeze in place.

“R-Rainbow, what was that?” Fluttershy whimpered.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw something crawling towards Rainbow Dash from the ceiling. The amorphous black mass detached from the ceiling and landed right in front of her. It was A Limpond Redback. Except it was as tall as Rainbow Dash and much wider than her. It hissed again and Rainbow Dash suddenly broke out of her stupor.

She gave an ear rending scream and bolted down through the trapdoor. The spider seemed extremely confused and more than a little angry. With an angry snarl, it leaped through the only window in the attic; smashing the glass to smithereens and leaving behind a sickly trail of web in its wake.

I pulled my head back from the magical nexus taking Senton with me.

“ This definitely isn't good.” He said breathlessly.

“No. No it’s not.”

What had we done?