Season Z, Episodes V-X: Playtime?

Season: Z

Episode: V

Playtime? (Part 1)

(By: Flame Runner)

Young fillies and colts stole glances out of the Ponyville Schoolhouse. Brightly colored leaves littered the ground and the weather was cool. Birds flew happily through the sky, free and not in school.

“Now class, I want to remind you all that there will be no school this Friday,” Miss Cheerilee, the teacher, stated happily.

This elicited grateful cheers from her class.

“This Friday is Ponyville’s Taste of Fall and I expect to see you all there.”

“I love the Taste of Fall!” whispered Scootaloo, a young pegasus filly, to her friend, Apple Bloom.

“Me too!” the earth filly Apple Bloom, replied quietly. “Me and my sis have been harvestin’ plenty of apples jus’ for it!”

“Does that mean that there’ll be apple cider?” Sweetie Belle, a unicorn filly, asked.

“Plenty of apple cider!” Apple Bloom said a little too loudly.

“Apple Bloom,” Miss Cheerilee pried upon hearing the young filly, “is there something that you’d like to say to all the class?”

“Only that there’ll be plenty of cider at the Taste of Fall!”

Another cheer erupted from the classroom.

“I’m glad that you’re all getting into the spirit of the season,” Cheerilee continued, “The Taste of Fall is one of my favorite events. All Ponyville gathers together to celebrate everything that makes Fall such a wonderful season. In fact, Sweetie Belle isn’t your sister presenting a new Fall fashion line this year?”

“Yes she is. And it looks amazing!”

“I can’t wait to see it,” Cheerilee was thoroughly derailed from any previous topic. “In fact, many local craftsponies will be displaying their wares at the Taste of Fall.”

“And don’t forget all the games!” Snails, a unicorn colt, blurted out.

“Yeah! The games are the best part!” Snips, another colt, agreed.

Just then a thunderous noise split the sky and shook the school. Every head turned to look out the windows. What once before was a cheery autumn scene had now turned dark as black clouds hovered ominously above the nearby Everfree Forest.

(Insert Theme Music Here)

* * * * * * * * *

“W-What is that?!” screeched Diamond Tiara, a snobbish filly, as she pointed shakily at the dark clouds.

“Uh, class,” Cheerilee said with uncertainty, “perhaps it would be best to move away from the windows. Just to be safe.”

The class did as told and the ponies soon found themselves squeezed together at the opposite side of the room, all except for three young fillies.

“We’re not scared of the Everfree Forest,” declared Scootaloo defiantly.

“Um…actually I’m afraid of the Forest,” stated the white unicorn, Sweetie Belle, as she hid behind Apple Bloom and Scootaloo.

“No you’re not.” Scootaloo turned to face her friend.

“Am too!”

“Are not!”

“Am too!”

“Are not!”

“Girls!” Cheerilee interrupted their heated debate. “It really doesn’t matter if you’re afraid of the Forest or not, but I would recommend that everypony stay far away from the Everfree. It is a strange and magical forest after all.”

Scootaloo rolled her eyes.

“You won’t have time to explore the Forest at any rate,” Cheerilee gave one of ‘those looks’ to Scootaloo, “Don’t forget that you all have homework due before the Taste of Fall.”

Disappointed groans now came from the young ponies.

“Oh! It looks like class is over for today. Good bye my little ponies! And stay safe!” Cheerilee dismissed her class.

The young students bolted out of the school and walked into the oddly bleak fall day. The ominous clouds almost seemed to cling to the branches of the mysterious Everfree.

* * * * * * * * *

“I can’t believe that Miss Cheerilee gave us this much homework!” complained Scootaloo, the orange pegasus to her friends.

All three of the friends were gathered in their tree house which also functioned as their club house. The three tended to go by their club name, the Cutie Mark Crusaders. They were hard at work scribbling on paper and being generally annoyed.

“I know,” Apple Bloom agreed. “Jus’ because we don’t have school on Friday doesn’t mean we should get extra homework.”

“Tell me about it,” mumbled Sweetie Belle as she scratched an answer onto her page with a pencil held precariously between her teeth.

“Hey girls!” a loud southern accented call echoed from the ground outside the tree house.

The three Crusaders peeked their heads out of their club house. Down below stood a strong orange mare with a cowboy hat on.

“Howdy Applejack!” Apple Bloom called cheerfully, thankful to have a break from her work.

“Howdy sis!” the orange mare called back. “Why don’t y’all come down? The mayor has called an urgent meeting and everypony is supposed to be there.”

“We’ll be right down!” Apple Bloom called back.

“What do you think the meeting is about?” Sweetie Belle asked privately to her friends.

“I don’t know, but I’m positive that it has something to do with the Everfree Forest,” Scootaloo replied with confidence.

Soon the three fillies had crawled out of their tree house and were on their way with Applejack to the urgent meeting.

* * * * * * * * *

“Citizens of Ponyville!” declared the mayor in her commanding voice.

The mayor was standing on a small stage built close to Town Hall. The residents of Ponyville stood around and listened intently.

“I am sure that you have all noticed the recent clouds above the Everfree Forest. The Forest does some strange things from time to time and we have never had any issues here in Ponyville before. Still, for everypony’s safety I would recommend that nopony go near the Forest. I understand that this shouldn’t be an issue, but with the Taste of Fall coming up so soon I want to make sure that nothing goes wrong.”

“Mayor! Mayor!” cried a voice that seemed out of breath.

All heads turned to find an earth mare scrambling into the assembly. She was a light yellow in color with two-toned pink and blue hair. She also had a cutie mark of three wrapped candies.

“It’s Lyra!” bemoaned the mare. “She’s missing and I think she might have gone into the Forest!”

“What?!” shrieked Mayor Mare and her mayoral glasses became skewed on her face. “Has anypony seen Lyra Heartstrings?” the mayor quickly quizzed the audience.

Many discomforting whispers passed around, but there was no sign of Lyra.

“This is not good,” the mayor stated. “In light of this current situation, I would again ask that nopony go near the Everfree. Please keep a watch for Lyra Heartstrings and if she is not found to be anywhere in Ponyville, then and only then, will we will organize a group to go looking for her in the Forest. Once again, do not, under any circumstances go near the Everfree Forest as of the time being.”

The mayor stepped down from her podium amid many vigorously hushed conversations. Amongst these many whispers broke out the voice of three young fillies.

“What was Lyra thinking?” Sweetie Belle asked her friends.

“I thought that she was workin’ on some harp music for the Taste of Fall,” Apple Bloom replied in confusion.

“It doesn’t matter what she was working on,” Scootaloo blurted. “If she’s gone into the Forest then somepony needs to rescue her! And why shouldn’t it be us?”

“I-I don’t know if that’s such a great idea,” Sweetie Belle responded nervously. “Didn’t you hear what the mayor said?”

“Yeah, but think about our Cutie Marks!” Scootaloo dismissed Sweetie’s concerns. “If we saved Lyra then we’d be sure to get them!”

“Well…I…suppose.” Sweetie Belle looked down at her hooves.

“Plus it’ll give us a good excuse to not do homework,” continued Scootaloo.

“I’m up for no homework,” Apple Bloom agreed with a small jump.

“What are we waiting for then? Let’s go!” Scootaloo raced off.

“Wait up Scootaloo!” Apple Bloom called as she ran after her pegasus friend.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” mumbled Sweetie Belle as she too joined her friends.

As the crowd was slowly dissipating, an orange pony with a brown Stetson turned her head and watched as the three little fillies took off toward the Everfree Forest.

“And jus’ where do they think they’re goin’?” Applejack asked herself.

The orange farm pony silently raced after the galloping trio of troublemakers.

* * * * * * * * *

The Everfree Forest was normally dark as a result of towering trees, but this day it was somehow darker still. The eerie black clouds hung low above the forest and seemed to be steadily spreading. The fillies now stood at the outer edge of the Forest and gazed into the mystical woods.

“It looks even creepier than usual,” Scootaloo said with excitement in her trembling voice.

“I can hardly see the path,” Apple Bloom commented.

“M-Maybe we should just get our homework done instead,” Sweetie Belle pleaded.

“Are you crazy?” Scootaloo said. “Who would actually want to do homework? Come on! This is so much cooler!”

With that the little pegasus took a step into the strange Forest. Apple Bloom also stepped onto the darkened path.

“Come on Sweetie Belle! There’s nothin’ to be scared of. We’ve been in the Everfree Forest plenty of times,” Apple Bloom encouraged.

The two in the Forest pranced around the outskirts of the path to show that there was nothing to fear. Finally Sweetie Belle took a hesitant step into the Everfree. Soon one step lead to another and in no time all three were well into the Everfree Forest. As they traveled through the dark, a sound of gleeful laughter echoed through the Everfree.

“That sounded like Lyra!” Apple Bloom shouted excitedly.

“I can already see our Cutie Marks!” Scootaloo said.

All three fillies raced toward the sound, ever further into the gloomy woods. Little did they realize that behind them Applejack was following close behind. She was now standing at the edge of the Forest herself.

“Girls! Git out of there right now!” shouted the concerned mare. “Girls! Apple Bloom!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders didn’t respond.

“Alright, if I have to go in and get ‘em I will.”

Applejack then charged forward with amazing speed. Suddenly, a puff of bright blue smoke flared up at the entrance to the Everfree. Applejack ground to a sideways halt.  Three gigantic trees with bizarre purple leaves now stood blocking her path.

“What in tarnation?!”

There was no possible way around the strange trees but Applejack manged to squeeze her head through the foliage. She barely managed to catch one final glimpse of the fillies as they walked ever further into the darkness.

“Somethin’ strange is goin’ on and it looks like I’m gonna need some help to get those three out.”

Applejack popped her head out of the tangle of branches. With determination etched in her hard set eyes she galloped away from the forest, back into Ponyville.

* * * * * * * * *

The woods were dark, but as the Cutie Mark Crusaders ventured further in they found that it became easier to see. Soon the dark clouds above didn’t quite seem so bleak and the strange forest almost seemed welcoming.

“Hey! Isn’t this the way to Zecora’s house?” Scootaloo blurted out with sudden excitement.

“Eeup! This path’ll take us straight to Zecora,” Apple Bloom replied cheerily.

“I like Zecora!” Sweetie Belle said. “She’s the best zebra I know.”

“She’s the only zebra you know,” deadpanned Scootaloo.

The three continued their walk until Apple Bloom ground to a halt and looked around with confusion.

“I don’t see Zecora’s house.”

Plenty of strange trees, bushes, and flowers littered the forest floor, but there was no sign of Zecora’s house.

“It should be here!” Apple Bloom cried. “I’ve been to her house plenty of times.”

“Ok. Where is her house normally?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Right…there. Where that clump of trees is.” Apple Bloom pointed to a dense patch of twisted trees with purple leaves.

Without warning a bright flash of green light exploded from the trees Apple Bloom was pointing at. The three screamed and ran jumped behind a fallen log, barely daring to take a peek or two at the strange trees. But the flash died down just as soon as it had come and the Everfree Forest became the same comforting dark hue as usual.

“W-What do you think that was?” Scootaloo stuttered.

“I-I don’t know,” Sweetie Belle murmured back.

Then joyful laughter filled the air again. The Crusaders turned their heads down the path the noise had come from. The silhouette of a pony prancing happily could be seen for a brief instant before the image was lost from sight.

“That must be Lyra!” Apple Bloom shouted.

“Cutie Mark Crusaders rescue mission go!” commanded Scootaloo with the pump of her front hoof.

The three fillies charged passed the odd tangle of trees and deeper into the forest, after the pony. Behind the fillies a yellow explosion filled the skies, but the Crusaders paid it no heed as they were busy chasing down the elusive Lyra Heartstrings.

* * * * * * * * *

Applejack rushed into Ponyville with one place in mind, the Carousel Boutique. Normally the down-to-earth work horse wouldn’t consider the dress shop as her number one destination, but today was an exception. Today Applejack needed the white unicorn and dress maker, Rarity, to help get the fillies back. Applejack slammed the front door of the shop wide open with her powerful back legs.

“Welcome to the Carousel Boutique where everything is chic, unique, and magnifique!” cooed the voice of the elegant Rarity.

“Rarity!” cried Applejack with passion.

“Applejack? Is something wrong?” The unicorn asked with concern.

“It’s Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo!”

“Yes, what about them?”

Applejack ran up and grabbed Rarity’s head as she practically shouted at the prissy unicorn.

“They’ve gone into the Everfree Forest!”

“They’ve what!?” shrieked Rarity.

The unicorn took a step back and over dramatized taking a deep breath.

“Why would they even think of doing something like that?” continued Rarity.

“I have no idea. But your sister is in there and so is mine. We have to get ‘em out before anythin’ happens to ‘em.”

“Very well. Let’s away this instant. There’s not a second to lose.”

Rarity marched toward the front door, but then turned back around.

“Right after I grab something to wear. That forest is always a bit nippy.”

“Rarity, we don’t have time for that!” said Applejack. “Our sisters are stuck in the Everfree Forest and the entrance is bein’ blocked by some sort of magic.”

“Magic?” Rarity lifted an eyebrow. “Hmm…then perhaps we shall need Twilight to help as well.”

“Fine, but let’s get a move on. I don’t want my sis in there for any longer than need be.”

“Agreed.”

Applejack took off at a fast gallop toward the Ponyville library where Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn scholar, lived. Rarity followed suit, but not before she snagged a scarf from the counter.

* * * * * * * * *

The joyful laughter grew louder with each step the fillies made until finally they found themselves in a large open grove. Here the Everfree had a small open meadow. Majestic pink flowers glowed softly. One of the Crusaders stepped on one and fluffy seeds spewed into the air, each with their own soft glow until they hit the ground and the light went out. Trees also twisted around with both horror and elegance. Large green nuts of some sort tugged down on the braches on some while others bore nothing. The grass beneath their hooves seemed to sigh contentedly whenever it was brushed aside. It was also here that the dark clouds above seemed to be darkest and yet somehow most beautiful. But all of this way soon overlooked when they noticed, dancing in the center of the meadow, was a mare.

The dancing pony had a sea foam green coat with duo toned white and sea foam green hair. She was a unicorn and had perfect amber eyes, although for some reason they seemed to be a bit clouded. Adorning her flank was the cutie mark of a harp.

“Lyra!” shouted Apple Bloom happily.

The laughing Lyra turned her head curiously toward the noise and began to giggle until she finally fell to the ground in a fit of laughter. As this occurred, the fillies walked carefully, but quickly, up to Lyra’s side.

“Lyra? Are you ok?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Never better!” Lyra managed to giggle out.

“Great! Then let’s get you out of here,” Scootaloo stated.

Lyra stopped laughing.

“But I don’t want to go. I’m having too much fun!”

“What?!” shrieked Sweetie Belle. “In the Everfree Forest?”

“Sure, why not?” Lyra replied with a smile.

“But you’ve already been in here for a few hours!” Apple Bloom protested.

“Really? Huh. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun!”

“Having fun doing what?” Scootaloo asked with a look of total befuddlement.

“Playing with my new friend of course!”

“Friend? What friend?” asked Sweetie Belle.

A small cloud of blue mist began to around the four ponies just as Sweetie Belle finished asking her question. The fog started to contract until it became a bright blue speck. Finally, the dot exploded with a flash of light but no noise. When the light faded a strange creature greeted the Crusaders’ eyes.

The creature was small, not quite as large as a filly. It was a translucent blue and most certainly not a pony. The creature never touched the earth, but always remained floating above the ground. Its eyes were a bright light blue that pierced through the darkness of the Forest. Its hair flowed from the top of its head, which was a round shape, in only a few large flowing strands. It had four appendages, two legs and two arms, but these were not properly attached to its body. Instead they floated off to the side of its body with open air between the spaces where they would normally be connected. Strangest of all, however, were its arms. For at the very end they ended in fingers, like a monkey would have.

“Girls, meet Phillis. She has hands,” Lyra introduced.

* * * * * * * * *

A large oak tree stood before Applejack and Rarity. This hollowed tree was the town library. The mares knocked on the front door. A few moments later it opened and the two were greeted by a young dragon.

“Hi Applejack!” the purple dragon said. “Hi…” he gulped and his eyes went wide as he began to blush ever so slightly, “Rarity.”

“Howdy Spike!” the farm pony greeted as she entered the tree.

“And how’s my little Spikey-wikey today?” Rarity leaned in close as she spoke to the dragon.

“F-Fine,” he stammered, “I-I mean, g-great!”

Spike dragged his foot around the floor sheepishly and he looked down at it.

“Wonderful!” Rarity smiled. “Is Twilight around?”

“Coming!” a call came from the top of the tree library.

Down from the upper loft walked a purple unicorn. Her straight hair was three toned with hues of deep blues and purples.

“Twilight,” stated Applejack bluntly just as the unicorn reached the main level, “we’ve got a problem.”

Twilight looked over both Applejack and Rarity. Spike ran up to Twilight’s side.

“Did Rarity try to make you stop wearing your hat again?” Twilight asked.

“Most certainly not!” defended Rarity. “Although she does need a new one,” the white unicorn mused.

“No. Now listen Twilight,” Applejack replied without missing a beat. “Our sisters and Scootaloo jus’ walked into the Everfree Forest.”

“What? Didn’t they hear what the mayor said?” Spike blurted out.

“But It gets worse,” Applejack continued. “Some strange magic kept me from chasin’ in after ‘em.”

“We need your help Twilight,” Rarity added.

“Strange magic, the Everfree Forest, and those fillies?” Twilight thought aloud. “That’s a recipe for disaster. You can count me in. Let’s get them out of there.”

“Great! And I’ll grab some snacks!” Spike cheered happily and ran off to grab something to eat.

“No Spike. I need you to stay here and watch the library,” Twilight commanded. “Besides the Forest is acting really strange. The fewer of us go in it, the better.”

“Fine,” moped Spike. “But you’d better bring me back some of Zecora’s best tea.”

Twilight chuckled. “Deal.”

“Now, we don’t have any time to waste. Applejack, lead the way,” the librarian stated.

“Right,” Applejack said as she turned out the door.

The three mares followed after their orange companion as Spike stayed behind and sighed.

“Guess I’ll organize the library…again.”

* * * * * * * * *

Phillis smiled a sweet and welcoming smile. The creature seemed pleasant and quite friendly.

“Hello,” Phillis opened in a soft voice. She sounded like a young, sweet girl.

“Whoa,” each and every Cutie Mark Crusader gasped at the exact same time.

Their eyes went wide as they looked over the creature. Phillis giggled.

“Would you like to play with us?” the translucent creature asked as she began to float around the heads of the fillies.

“Well, er…um…ya’ see we’re actually here to get Lyra,” Apple Bloom stammered out.

“Oh, but I don’t want to leave yet,” Lyra replied.

“Besides, do you have anything better to do?” pried Phillis.

“Just homework,” grumped Scootaloo.

“Yuck,” Sweetie Belle stuck her tongue out.

“You sure you’d rather do homework? Come on, play with us. Lyra’s been having a great time,” Phillis pleaded.

“It’s true!” Lyra defended.

The three fillies looked at each other. Stares of questioning and uncertainty flitted across each face. Finally, Scootaloo broke the silence.

“Alright sure, but Lyra’s got to come back with us when we’re done.”

“Deal,” Phillis agreed with another giggle.

Suddenly, the creature’s hands lit up like a blue fire and there grew from the ground a rubber ball, perfect for playing games with.

“Let’s play!” Lyra shouted.

* * * * * * * * *

Three mares soon found themselves standing at the edge of the Everfree Forest. The large trees still guarded the path. Twilight was walking around them and poking at them with her hooves. Rarity poked her head through the foliage to see inside the Forest and Applejack tried bucking the monstrous trees with no luck.

“It sure is dark in there,” Rarity commented.

In an instant the black clouds above the Everfree expanded in all directions and encroached upon the boarder of Ponyville. At the same time, the mysterious apple trees disappeared in the same puff of blue smoke that had brought them forth. Rarity found herself not holding onto anything and tumbling onto the dirt. She jumped up from the ground screaming.

“Ah! My scarf! My beautiful scarf! Now it’s all dirty.”

Twilight poked around at the open air.

“They’re gone,” stated the purple mare in disbelief.

“Then let’s not wait for ‘em to come back,” Applejack declared.

The brash farm pony brazenly marched onto the path.

“Y’all comin’?”

Twilight walked up to Applejack’s side. “Let’s just be cautious. I don’t like this.”

Rarity also walked into the Forest, fussing with her accessory.

“My perfectly good scarf.”

The trio walked carefully deeper into the Everfree Forest, ever alert for any signs of trouble.

* * * * * * * * *

“Batter up!” called Scootaloo.

Apple Bloom stepped up to a small patch of flowers that had been formed into the shape of a base. Throughout the meadow were three more of these “bases”. Also, a patch of dirt had been scratched into the center of the makeshift diamond where the pitcher would roll the rubber ball from.

The young farm pony put on her game face as she stared down Scootaloo. Scootaloo met the gaze evenly and then rolled the ball through the grass. Apple Bloom punted it with all the force she could muster. The ball sailed through the sky and Sweetie Belle scrambled after the flying sphere crying, “I got it! I got it!”

Apple Bloom sprinted up toward the first base and dove for it, but the effort was in vain. Sweetie Belle caught had caught the ball.

“Out!” umpire Lyra shouted. “Switch sides everypony!”

“Kickball is so much more fun than homework!” Scootaloo said as the teams switched positions.

“You said it!” Apple Bloom agreed.

“Oh, excuse me for a moment,” Phillis stated from the outfield. “There are some new guests that I must go and greet.”

The floating creature then puffed up in a cloud of blue smoke and disappeared.

“What do you think she meant?” Sweetie Belle asked.

“Who cares? It’s my turn to kick and I’m getting a homerun,” Scootaloo replied.

“In your dreams!” Apple Bloom called back from the pitcher’s mound.

“Play ball!” shouted Lyra.

Each pony began to laugh uncontrollably when Scootaloo missed her kick.

* * * * * * * * *

The three mares had arrived at Zecora’s house, or where it should have been.

“That’s odd,” commented Twilight.

“Where’s Zecora’s house?” asked Rarity.

“Zecora!” called Applejack. “Zecora! Ya’ here?”

A bright flash of blue light exploded from the thick grove of trees in reply. The mares all jumped at the sudden explosion.

“I don’t like the sound of that,” the orange mare commented.

“But that’s where Zecora’s house should be,” Twilight stated. “She might be in trouble.”

Then the sound of laughter floated along the air.

“That’s Sweetie Belle!” Rarity cried excitedly.

“And Apple Bloom!” Applejack added.

“You two go and find them,” Twilight said, “I’m going to figure out what that explosion was.”

“Right,” Applejack nodded in agreement.

The farm pony and dress maker took off toward the sound of their sisters, but Twilight remained behind. The bookworm started poking around the thick clump of trees where the green explosion had come from. She couldn’t seem to fit her head through the tangle of limbs and leaves.

“Zecora? Are you in there?” she called.

“Hello!” a cheery voice greeted Twilight from behind, but it wasn’t Zecora.

Twilight spun around to find herself staring into the face of a blue creature.

“I’m Phillis! Want to play a game?”

“Wait. What?”

“Let’s play tag!”

“What are you?” Twilight poked at the strange semi-transparent being and her hoof went through it, like pushing against water.

“I’m it!” cried Phillis happily.

The creature then poked Twilight back.

“Now you’re it! Catch me if you can!”

Phillis sped off through the dark Everfree sky. Twilight just sat there, dumbfounded. Soon the creature returned. A look of annoyance was in her eyes.

“You’re supposed to chase me!”

“What?” Twilight didn’t know what was happening.

Phillis sighed. “You’re boring.”

“Excuse me?”

“Oh! I know how to make this more fun!” Phillis smiled and then her hands ignited with a blue flame.

Beneath Twilight’s feet a strange blue vapor came from the ground and gripped her hooves. Through the smoke a tangle of vines grew up instantly and trapped the unicorn’s hooves in place.

“Ah!” screamed Twilight.

The unicorn tugged at the magical vines and even tried to pry them off with magic, but they stuck to her like some kind of gluey rubber.

“Now try to catch me!” giggled Phillis.

“How am I supposed to catch you if I can’t move?!” Twilight shouted with some fear in her voice.

“Duh. You’re a unicorn silly. Use your magic!” Phillis giggled once again before spinning around Twilight’s head quickly.

Twilight’s eyes couldn’t keep up with the creature and the mare finally had to close her eyes and shake her head. When the unicorn’s vision had cleared, Phillis’ face was directly in her line of sight wearing a big smile.

“Catch me!” commanded the strange creature.

“Urgh!” grumped Twilight in frustration.

The purple unicorn lit her horn and a magical aura surrounded Phillis’s body. Twilight yanked on the blue nuisance, but Phillis slipped out of the magical pull.

“Huh?”

Phillis laughed even harder.

“Come here you!” the unicorn grumped.

Twilight’s magic gripped Phillis even harder, but still the blue pest squeezed out of the unicorn’s pull. It was like trying to pin pudding to the wall.

“This is still boring,” Phillis stated. “Oh! I’ll put a timer on this game!”

“Timer? What do you mean?” Twilight was getting seriously scared of this small creature.

“You’ll see,” Phillis giggled as more blue smoke appeared around Twilight and slowly climbed up the unicorn’s body, starting at the tip of her tail. Twilight ignited her horn once again and put every effort into capturing the elusive Phillis. The blue creature struggled out of the embrace but was slowly being drawn to the determined unicorn. At the last moment, however, Phillis slipped through Twilight’s grasp. The creature began laughing again. Twilight turned around to find her tail slowly being replaced by twigs and leaves as the mist continued to climb up her legs.

“Stand still!” roared Twilight.

Magic lashed at Phillis once more.

“What fun is that?” the creature giggled as she zipped around the magic field Twilight had created.

“Urgh!” grumbled the unicorn.

“Twilight Sparkle, do not play her game!” a faint voice cried from within the tangle of impenetrable trees. “If you do, yourself you will maim!”

But Twilight could not hear the warning; she was too focused on catching the bizarre creature in front of her. As she tried to capture Phillis, Twilight’s eyes slowly began to fog over and she even started giggling. The mist quickly engulfed the laughing Twilight until naught was left but the tip of her horn. Soon the last of her unicorn magic sputtered out as Twilight’s transformation was complete from unicorn to garden sculpture.

“Ooo. This will look nice in my garden!” Phillis mused at her prize.

Both Twilight, the garden bush, and Phillis puffed away in a cloud of blue smoke. Just as the two vanished, a flash of red light blazed forth from the cluster of thick purple trees. The odd trees soon melted into a fog of blue steam. Through the fog stepped a zebra, and she was not happy.