The Shorse's Chortle

Princess Twilight Sparkle had noticed that the storm clouds seemed particularly dark and evil-looking, but thought nothing of it.

Until now.

The pegasi had marked off the Everfree as a lightning-zone, to let off some of the cloud’s excess energy, but no one ever went there, so there was nopony enforcing the borders.

Twilight had seen the largest, crimson lightning bolt hit with earth-shaking force in the middle of the Everfree. And just had to document its effects.

So she was going. Now that she could fly, and had alicorn magic, she no longer feared the wood as she once had.

~

As a rule, whenever something on that much of a cosmic level happened, especially in someplace as forbidden as the Everfree, there had to be something magical about it.

Probably another Brony Fanfic. They and the Pokémon episodes always seemed to start this way-with giant lightning blasts in scary forests.

Plus, she wanted to meet up right on time when the others discovered that their paths led them to the exact same place.

And, being best pony, she wanted to make sure that all the Bronies got their good old-fashioned fill of Pinkie Pie, so off bouncing she went, without no knife, without no gun. (Double negatives ignored- she really didn’t have weapons other than her adorable cuteness).

~

Prior to the lightning storm, Applebloom had gone to see Zecora, which she was wont to do.

And Applejack, though her sister had become adept at avoiding the various dangers of the Everfree, still felt uneasy until her little girl returned home.

And, it being a lightning storm, and Zecora’s house being a tree, Applejack decided to go after her, not knowing full well what she intended to do, just that she had to do something.

So, pressing her cowboy hat farther onto her mane, she set out into the forest.

~

Rarity was at her boutique, making use of Spike’s frequent offers of service by having him help sort out her older sets of clothes. Sweetie Belle, Rarity’s younger sister, was there too, but doing more to help her practice with the Rubik’s cube than doling out clothes.

“Too last season.” The older unicorn said, flinging a pantsuit on top of the dragon, who held out his claws to receive such favors.

“Too frilly- I can’t believe that was in at one time. Yech!”

Then, Spike belched quite loudly, incinerating the clothing covering him. A rolled-up scroll landed on the floor.

“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry Rarity!”

“That’s all right darling- they were going to the give-away anyway. What does the note say?”

Spike unrolled it and squinted at the hoofwriting.

“Dear Spike,” he read. “I’ve gone to Everfree to investigate lightning strike that happened this evening at 6:05 P.M. I probably won’t be back till- bla bla bla . . .” Spike went off, his green eyes skipping down the letter.

“Is Miss Twilight going to go into the Everfree all alone?” said Sweetie Belle, suddenly interested.

“Not if I can help it, she isn’t.” said Rarity stubbornly, starting towards the door. Spike trotted behind her.

“Well, there they go again.” Said the little unicorn after the door closed. She started scowling at the Rubik’s Cube again. “I know there’s a trick to this . . . Maybe fingers would help.”

~

Rainbow Dash never missed the opportunity to inspect lightning strikes. Being the creator, no- more master of such natural wonders, she loved to see the aftermath.

But it wasn’t as much fun without someone to come with her, to show her how awesome she was.

And she knew just the Pegasus.

~

Fluttershy opened the door to see her friend Rainbow Dash, looking smug.

“’Sup?” she asked coolly.

“Hello Rainbow.” Fluttershy replied. “What brings you here?”

“Oh, just something really awesome! Here c’mon, you’ve gotta see!”

“Oh.” Said Fluttershy, looking a little frightened as Rainbow tried to pull her out the door. “You mean that really scary lightning strike?”

“Yeah!”

“Ohhh.” Groaned Fluttershy, but she knew Rainbow wouldn’t give up until she came, so she walked after her friend against her better judgment, bading her bunny be benevolent until her return.

~

Twilight reached the clearing (of course it was a clearing) first. She saw a large crater and was about to walk over when Pinkie tapped her from behind, making her jump about a foot in the air.

“Aagh!” Shrieked Twilight.

“AaaahhhhIii scared you!” said Pinkie with a ‘you mad, bro?’ face.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for the others. They should be here any second.”

Twilight was about to ask, when they heard a familiar, western voice.

“Twili- and Pinkie Pie? What in the hay are y’all doin’ out here?”

“Waiting for the others. They should be here any second.” Said Pinkie with a smile.

Applejack was about to ask, when they heard a familiar, almost snooty voice.

“Twilight we got your- Wait, what are you two doing out here? The note only said Twilight was coming!”

“What note?” asked Applejack.

“The note Twilight sent me!”

“I didn’t send any note.” Said Twilight uncertainly.

“Then who-” said Spike, looking scared.

Pinkie burst out laughing. “You guys are so easy to creep out!”

“Hey! What are you guys doing here?” said Rainbow from over the canopy.

“Waiting for the others. They’re here.” Said Pinkie with a smile.

“Well, now that we are here, I’ll go see what my lightning bolt did.”

Before they could stop her, she flew towards the crater. Before she got there, lightning flashed again and they all jumped back in surprise as a roll of thunder rattled their bones.

It started raining. Like, driving sheets of rain. Rarity squealed as she tried to create a magical shield to protect herself from the water.

“Rainbow!” the others shouted.

“I didn’t do that!” she said defensively. She tried to push away the clouds, but every time she approached one, it zapped her with a painful shock of static electricity.

One of her burned hooves in her mouth, she flew back down to the others.

“Maybe whatever’s in the crater’s doing it.” Said Pinkie, looking towards it.

“There’s nothing in the- is there?” asked Twilight, looking towards it from under her wings.

They approached it cautiously, Fluttershy hanging back. Way back.

Twilight dared look over the edge. She blinked. Slender, muddy-looking hooves and a long, long mane and tail trailed from under a gigantic pair of bat wings. It was unusually tall (almost like Celestia) and lying on its side, whatever it was. Its face, head and neck were obscured by its enormous wings.

“It’s a pony!” said Rainbow, already flying towards it.

“Hold on! We don’t know that!” said Rarity cautiously, having given up the battle to protect her mane from the rain.

“It is a pony.” Said Twilight, following the Pegasus.

“C’mon y’all!” Said Applejack, sliding down the slick crater wall. Pinkie slid after her with a ‘Wheeee!’, but Rarity and Fluttershy stayed on the edge.

Twilight volunteered as the unspoken tribute for first making contact. Her eyes caught on its cutie mark: an infinity loop with fangs and a drop of something red. She swallowed and reached out to touch the creature, but she jumped back, landing with a splash in a puddle as lightning flashed and thunder rolled again.

She shook her head as she got up and gently shifted aside a wing. Her jaw dropped as the others gasped. It was stunning, with a long, slender neck and a sculpted head. Its long mane and tail were crimson melting into mahogany. Its large eyes were closed. But its beauty weren’t why they were amazed- from the center of its forehead grew a long horn tinged with a reddish-brown that curved slightly backwards.

An Alicorn.

What were the chances?