The Mare Who Cried Monster.

by ChromeRegios

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo, Fluttershy, Adventure, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Applejack
Length: 27849

Telling false stories.. may lead to trouble~

Rainbow Dash likes to tell monster stories. She’s told so many that her friends are sick of it. One day, Twilight and Spike took a vacation leaving the library with a temporary caretaker… but discovers the new librarian was a real live monster and was in charge of Twilight’s Library! To her misfortune… the new librarian knew her... and is coming after her next!

Published 2013-02-22 06:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-02-21 09:08:05 UTC

Chapter 2

“EEeeeeiiiiaaaaahhhhh, RAINBOW DASH!!!!” Scootaloo let out another scream as she kneels down crying.

“Rainbow Dash!!!”Fluttershy quickly flies over the hole and breaks down crying and uttering “sorry” every now and then.

The growling continued for another second, then changed to a laugh… “I’m alright! I was just kidding!" I shouted laughingly as I fly out of the seemingly deep hole which was only seven foot deep.

“H-huh?” Scootaloo looked up to see me flying to the air. “Y-you’re alive?!” she said in a surprised tone. Fluttershy stared at me not believing what just happened.

“YOU’RE A CREEP!!!” Scootaloo yelled as she took off running.

“Scootaloo~ wait! Wait! I’m okay!” I yelled but was soon replaced by a very loud laughter. But she didn't look back.

I stare at her as she runs away, until I can’t see her anymore. Fluttershy looked at me disappointed, as she shook her head.

“Look what you did, Dashie…” Fluttershy said in a disgusted tone, the flew back to her cottage.

I stood there for another second before I burst out laughing again… I mean, the Ground Grabber was one of my best creations. And falling to a pre-meditated hole I made yesterday and pretending the monster had gotten me, too~ what a riot!!

Poor Scootaloo. She was just too gullible and too easy of a victim. But surprisingly, Fluttershy didn't run first. All I thought that she would run home crying instead of Scootaloo. I was wrong. But the victory was bitter sweet, now I need to apologize to the both of them.

I stood there staring at the sky, hoping that the both of them would come back here. Suddenly a clawed hand grabbed my shoulder hard from behind. “Gotcha” a voice growled.

“YIKES!” I cried out and nearly jumped out of my skin.

A monster!

I spun around ~ and stared at the laughing face of my friend Spike.

Spike giggled his high-pitched giggle till he had tears in his eyes.

I shook my head and flapped my wings as I frowned at him. “You didn’t scare me,” I insisted.

“Oh, sure,” he replied, rolling his green eyes. “That’s why you screamed for help!”

“I didn’t scream for help,” I protested. “I just cried out a little. In surprise. That’s all.”

Spike chuckled. “You thought it was a monster. Admit it!”
“A monster?” I said, sneering. “Why would I think that?”

“Because that’s all you think about,” he said with a smug look on his face. “Ever since you got interested in books you always read about Daring Do and monster stories. You’re obsessed.”

“Ooooh. Big word from a baby dragon that’s afraid of the dark!” I teased him.

He made a face at me. Spike is one of my best’s friends who lends me books when Twilight isn't around or when she's too busy to ask for a book from her personally. He’s a bit smaller than me when standing… though he has scales and spines all around, he’s still a cool dragon I know and love… I mean, who doesn't?

“I just saw Scootaloo run off from here. Why was she crying like that?” Spike asked, glancing back at the road.

“Yeah, I think I scared her too much,” I told Spike.

“Huh? Not monsters again!” Spike cried. He gave me a playful shove. “Don’t you think you went too far?”

"I'll apologize to her and Fluttershy later, I said. Then suddenly, I had a devious plan. You know, there's a monster on top of this tree..." I said seriously, pointing.

Spike looked up the tree. “You’re so dumb,” he said grinning, crossing his little arms around him.

“No. Really,” I insisted. “There’s a real ugly monster. I think it’s trapped up on top of this tree.”

“Dash… come on, stop it,” Spike said.

“It’s up there right now… see?” I continued, pointing up to the tree...I know, I know… I was planning to scare him as well but pointing to the swaying leaves, pretending something was moving behind the leaves.

“You see monsters everywhere,” Spike said.up “Don’t you ever get tired of it? Cuz, I’m already sick of it…”

“Alright, alright… sheesh, no need to get all upset,” I said to him, finally giving up to my plan. "So what are you doing here anyway?” I asked.

Spike sighed and looked at me as he speaks. "Well, me and Twilight are going on a vacation to Canterlot this summer. She wanted to spend some time with the princess so... yeah."

"Wait, so you're leaving? B-but, who can I borrow books from when you go there?!"

“Well,” Spike started. “A temporary Librarian is taking Twilight’s place in the meantime… So don’t worry, Dashie!” Spike said with a smug look.

“Is that so?” I said. Spike looked around and looked back at me. “What is it?” I asked curiously.

“I think we're about to leave." Spike looks back at the town. "Want to see Twilight before we leave?” Spike suggested, which I thought was a good idea.

“Okay, dragon boy! Sounds like a plan!” I swiftly picked him up and tossed him on my back. Before he could react, I took off like a bullet shooting out of a barrel of the Canterlot Gun Squad’s rifle.

“OOOOOOHHHHH MYYYY GOOOOOOSSH!!!” Spike screams and was about to yell stop then I suddenly screech to a halt.

“We’re here!” I said as he topples down to the ground. At the same time, Twilight opens her door and immediately sees Spike lying on the ground.

“Spike! Where have you been? We’re about to leave!” Twilight said as she takes a couple of bags out.

“O-okay~ I just have to…. Get myself together…” Spike slurred out as he tumbles back inside the Library.

“Good grief…” Twilight face-hooves herself and looks at me. “Oh, hello there Rainbow Dash. What brings you here?”

“Oh, well… I’m here to say goodbye! I know you’re going for a vacation in Canterlot and all… so… yeah~” I got not much to say at that moment, but whatever works.

“Aww that’s sweet of you, Dash. But you can always visit me there.”

“Nah, I better not… After all you want to spend some time with the Princess and catch up with her and all… and I don’t want to bother you because… you know, since I’m loud and stuff.” I said, flapping my wings dry of moisture.

“Okay… well, have you seen Fluttershy?” Twilight asked as she picked up Spike, who was completely knocked out. He never did handle my sweet speed…

“Well, she’s back at her cottage taking care of her animals and~”

“You scared her again, didn't you…” Twilight guessed, which was not surprising for me anymore. “Dash, I told you before, scaring other ponies won’t make you, cool. Keep that up and someone is bound to ignore you, and you hate that… right?”

I was speechless, but Twilight was right… “Gosh, Twilight… you really know how to break a mare’s fun.” I sneered.

“Well, it’s true, while I’m gone, please treat the new Librarian good and don’t make any monster stories again… alright?” She smiled then walks towards the train station…

I nodded to her after she left. But then again, since when have I stopped pranking other ponies before? I shrugged and sat on top of a cloud, waiting for that librarian to come. After several hours of waiting, it was already dark so I went off to Fluttershy’s house just to see her and say sorry before I went home for the night.

But before I can even take off completely, I spot a pony-like shadow walking inside the Library. I was a little far away, but I can see it go inside the library. I turned around and went back. I wasn't sure why that pony went inside during the evening. Curious I glided down in front of the Library’s steps.

I stopped and stared up at the Library. The whole place was dark with no lights on inside. Deep in the shade, it seemed to stare back at me, its dark windows like black, unblinking eyes.

I went up to the handle, and then hesitated with my hoof on the door. I had a sudden chill.

Was it just from stepping into the deep shade?

No. It was something else.

I had a funny feeling. A bad feeling that I get sometimes. A signal. A moment of unease. “Come on Rainbow Dash, this is Twilight’s house. You've been here before! Why are you scared?! You’re the bravest pony I know. GET A GRIP!” I said to myself shaking that feeling off of my system. I pushed open the creaking old door and stepped into the musty darkness of the library.

Chapter 4

The shadows seemed to pull away. The sky outside the window brightened, and the grey triangle of light from the moon fell over Mr. Warts’ desk. Opening my eyes, I realized I’d been holding my breath. My chest felt as if it were about to burst. I let the air out slowly and took another deep breath. Then, without glancing again to the front of the room, I turned and ran. My hooves thudded and clopped over the creaky floors, but I didn’t care.

I had to get out of there as fast as I could. I bolted out of the front door of the library onto the street then flew up to the sky quickly. I flew as fast as I could, my wings flapped wildly at my back, my mane blowing behind me. I didn’t stop until I was about a mile away.

Then I dropped down on a cloud and waited for my heart to stop pounding like a bass drum. I saw some pegasi flew right above me pushing several storm clouds in place. The sky became eerie, dark and ominous.

A mail wagon with several mail mares on the back of it flew pass me as they called on to me, but I didn’t raise my head.

I kept seeing the shadowy scene in the library again and again.

Mr. Warts is a monster!

The words repeated nonstop in my mind. It’s can’t be, I thought, gazing up at the black clouds so low overhead. I was seeing things. That had to be it. All the shadows in the dark library. All the swirling darkness.

It was an optical illusion.
It was my wild imagination.
I was a daydream, a silly fantasy.

NO! a loud voice in my head cried.
No, Rainbow Dash, you saw Mr. Warts head bulge. You saw his eyes pop out and grow like hideous toadstools on his ballooning face. You saw him reach for the critter. You hear him humming so happily, so…hungrily.

You saw him jam the critter into his mouth. Not just the critter, but a jar of pink stuff too! What was in that jar?!

And maybe he’s still in there, eating his fill. It was dark, Rainbow Dash. There were shadows. But you saw what you saw. You saw it all!

Mr. Warts is a monster!

I climbed to my hooves. I felt a cold drop of rain on top of my head. “Mr. Warts is a monster!” I said out loud. I knew I had to tell Fluttershy and Scootaloo as fast as I could. “The new librarian is a monster.” That’s what I’d tell them.

Of course, they’ll be shocked. Who wouldn’t be? Feeling another raindrop on my head, then one on my shoulder, I started Gliding for home. I had gone about half a mile when I stopped.
The stupid book!! I had left them in the library again.

I turned back. A gust of wind blew my mane over my face. I pushed it back with both my hooves. I was thinking hard, trying to figure out what to do. Rain pattered softly on my body. The cold raindrops felt good on my hot forehead. I liked the rain… Sometimes I prance around the rain and sing.

I decided to go back to the library and get my book. This time, I’d make a lot of noise. Make sure Mr. Warts knew someone was there.

If he heard me coming, I decided, he’d act normal. He wouldn’t eat critters in front of me or jam a jar with pink stuff in front of me. He wouldn’t let his eyes bulge and his head grow like that.

Would he?

I stopped as the library came back to view. I hesitated, starting through the drizzling rain at the old building. Maybe I should wait and come back tomorrow with Fluttershy.

Wouldn’t that be smarter? No. I decided I wanted my book right now. And I was going to get them.

I’ve always been pretty brave. The time a windigo ran up to me and my friends, I was the one who yelled and screamed at it and chased it with a big stick. I’m not afraid of windigos or any of those things. “Or monsters,” I said out loud.

As I walked up to the front of the library, rain pattering softly all around me, I kept telling myself to make a lot of noise. Make sure Mr. Warts knows you’re there, Rainbow Dash. Call out to him. Tell him you came back because you left your book. He won’t let you see that he’s a monster if he knows you’re there.

He won’t hurt you or anything if you give him some warning. I kept reassuring myself all the way up to the dark, old building. I climbed the wood steps hesitantly… even if it’s just three steps. I looked around some more, making sure I wasn’t being watched in the window… Then, taking a deep breath, I grabbed the doorknob and pushed…

But the door refused to open.

“What?!” I tried again. It took me a while to realize that it was locked. The library was closed. “No! My book!! That’s not fair!!” I shouted as I punched the door in frustration. How come he never head that?

The rain pattered softly on the grass as I walked around the front window ledge and looked inside.

Darkness. Total darkness…

I felt relieved and disappointed at the same time. I really wanted to read that book tonight, but I didn’t really want to go back there. “I’ll get them tomorrow,” I said out loud.

The rain was starting to come down harder, and the wind was picking up, blowing the rain in sheets. “Seems the weather mares are doing a good job tonight,” I said to myself. Though I loved the rain, I didn’t want to do my mane once more if it was too wet… especially at night!
I started to run as my hoof squishing over the wet grass… I slowly flapped my wings to get momentum until I finally was air born… I flew as fast as possible back to my little cloud home. But despite my maneuvering of my flight pattern, I was totally drenched by the time I made my way to the front door. My mane was matted down my head and my coat was soaked.

“That’s just great!” I cried. I ran through the hallway, nearly slipping on a smooth cloud fluff and went straight to my bathroom and took a bath all the way.

After several minutes, I went up to my room and dried my mane and body… I started to go into a deep thought.

Is Mr. Warts really a monster? That question repeated in my head. Did I imagine the whole thing? DO I just have monsters on the brain?

It had been so dark and shadowy in the library with all the lights turned off. Maybe Mr. Warts didn’t eat that critter. Maybe he pulled it out of its cage and gave it a drink using the jar. Maybe I imagined that he ate the critter and stuffed the jar in his mouth. Maybe his head didn’t swell up like a balloon. Maybe his eyes didn’t pop out. Maybe that was just a trick of the darkness, the dancing shadows, and the dim grey light. Maybe I need glasses. Maybe I’m crazy and weird.

“Great, now I think like, Twilight…” I said to myself, frowning at that thought…. Me, like Twilight? Yeah, like that would happen…

I went to my bookshelf and looked for some (Or rather repeat) a book. “Daring Do and the Soul Cube…” I took it and went back to my bed, flopping on the soft mattress and lay on my back as I open the first page. Although I already did read it, I still want to repeat it, since my latest one got felt back at the library.

I’d seen Daring Do’s movie of “The Soul Cube” and this is chalk full of monsters. It sounded like my kind of story. I wondered if it was true.

As I was about to flip the pages, I was surprised to see Scootaloo walking up towards me… How did she got up to my house, I wondered. But before I can ask, Fluttershy came in next.

“H-hello, Rainbow Dash… Good evening…” She said in a mild tone of a voice.

“Hi… so, what brings you here Fluttershy?” I asked her, while looking at the book I was holding.

“Scootaloo just wanted me to take her here for a sleepover…” She said softly.

“Is that so? Well you’re more than welcome to sleep with me, kiddo!” I said with enthusiasm in my voice…Actually I was glad that Scootaloo was sleeping over, that way, I can apologize to her properly.

“Okay, I’ll leave her to your care then…” After that, Fluttershy went home, leaving Scootaloo standing in front of my bed. There was an awful moment of silence for a minute or two, as we both looked at each other oddly.

“W-well… come on in bed Scoots…” I offered as I patted the side of my bed. Scootaloo nodded and trotted herself near my bed and went under the covers. She pops her head out next to me and looks at the book I’m reading.

“What are you reading, Dashie?” She asked curiously…. Though Pinkie was the only one calling me by that nickname, it seems that everyone in town, (Or at least the one’s who’s close to me) Are also calling me by that name.

“Oh, just the usual~ Daring do!” I nearly shouted her name, as I was all giddy with excitement, just imagining her adventures in my head.

“Are there any monsters there?” Scoots asked, gripping at my pillow as she looks at me, expecting what I’m about to do next is to scare her again.

“No scoots… and, by the way… Sorry about earlier.” I said, remembering what happened to her earlier. “I shouldn’t have scared you like that… sorry, kiddo.”

Scootaloo simply shook her head and looks at me reassuringly. “No, don’t worry Dashie… I’m not scared anymore…” She said smiling at me… almost makes my heart all warm.

“That’s good to her,” I said to her, then patted her head. Then, I remembered… about Mr. Warts. I kept having second thoughts on saying to Scoots about what I saw earlier… But since she said she wasn’t scared, might as well tell her… I have to tell somepony at one point in time, now’s probably the time.

“Scoots…” I started, as she looks at me, listening closely. “Earlier, I saw… a real monster.” I said in a low tone. Scoots went silent, and her smile disappears. “Yeah, it’s real… he even ate a critter!” I continued.

Scoots just frowned and grunted. “Dashie, I said I wasn’t scared, but you don’t have to start that again…” She said with a disgusted look on her face.

“But it’s true! I saw a real monster! I swear!” I kept saying, but she just won’t believe me.

“Dashie, did you ever hear the saying… “Evidence speaks louder than words”?” She asked, which I only respond with a tilt of my head. “I mean… show me that it’s real, then I’ll believe you.” She said, while rolling her eyes at me.

“B-but~”

“Dashie… please, it’s really getting old…” Scootaloo cuts me off, then just covers herself in my sheets.

I don’t believe it… She didn’t believe me!! I was so angry at this… I’m really angry that the fact is I was telling the truth for once, and she didn’t took it seriously! I knew at that moment, that I had no choice. I had to prove that I wasn’t lying… I had to prove I wasn’t making this up. I had to prove to Scootaloo and probably Fluttershy that Mr. Warts was a monster!

Chapter 5

A week later, I was passing along Fluttershy’s cottage when I saw her doing something with a blue-plate like thing… She was tossing the blue-plate, and then catching it when it snapped back at her. “What’s that?” I asked Fluttershy.

“It’s sort of a Frisbee… on a long rubber band,” She said while tossing the Frisbee and it snapped back fast, Fluttershy nearly catches it but she missed it and flew behind her, then snapped back again ~ and hit her in the back of the head.

Fluttershy fell forward and sobs under her mane… Sure she’s a wimp, but I can’t just stand there and watch her like that… it’s just unbearable…

“Are you alright, Shy?” I sat next to her, stroking her mane as I comfort my shy little friend.

“T-that’s not h-how it’s supposed to work exactly,” She said, while her eyes still watering.

I started to untangle a knot on the thick rubber band. “I’ll play with you, if you want…” I said, helping her up.

“I loved to, Dashie…” She said, smiling at me. I could have sworn… even for a mare like me, my heart just stopped at the sight of her cute face… I never admitted it, but I kind of liked Fluttershy… unfortunately, I’m not the opposite gender to have such feeling for her…

“Okay, so how do you play with it?” I asked, as I examined the toy.

“Hmm, let’s see… you hold this end, and imagine like it’s a yoyo…” Fluttershy explained, as she gave me the Frisbee.

I remember what Shy was doing earlier, and tried to imitate what she did… “Okay… I just imagined this like a yoyo, aaand~”

“Hey!! What’s up!?” Scootaloo yelled behind me, I let out a yelp and accidentally flung the Frisbee right in Fluttershy’s face!!

“Gaahh! F-Fluttershy are you okay?!” I asked in a panicked stricken voice, as she starts to cry again.

“I’m sorry!! I didn't mean to startle you, Dashie!” Scootaloo apologizes coming to see if Fluttershy is okay.

“Don’t do that Scoots! Scaring ponies isn't funny!” I scolded the filly, but Scootaloo gave me a bad look and grunted. I completely forgot I do the same to everypony… so; I just smiled sheepishly at her. “Yeah, anyway… Shy, I’m sorry! I should have been more careful!”

“I-it’s a-alright… I-I’m okay~” She said, while still sobbing under her bright-pink mane.

“We better stop playing with this thing; it’s really dangerous to play it when you’re around… no offence.” I looked at Fluttershy, and help her up again.

“Well, I better be off anyway… I need to go to the library to get a new book to borrow.” I said to them, as I turned around and took off.

“Bye, Rainbow Dash! Take care!” Fluttershy called out.

“Let’s hang out later, Dashie!” Scootaloo waved at me, as I waved back to the both of them, and zooms towards The Library.

It was a beautiful day, the weather mare’s seems to made the whole day sunny. Everything seemed bright and cheerful, golden and summer green… Even the other ponies think so as well as they were all enjoying the sunny day.

The Library, as usual, was bathed in dark brownish shadows. I’d only been back once since that day. Once very quickly, to get my book. I stopped at the curb, staring up at it. I felt a sudden chill. I never felt this chill before when Twilight’s around…The whole world seemed to grow darker here now. Darker and colder.Just my imagination? We’ll see, I thought. We’ll see today what’s real and what isn't.

I pulled my saddle bag off my back, and swinging it by the straps as I glide to the front door. Taking a deep breath, I pushed open the door and stepped inside.

Perched over Twilight’s desk in the main reading room, Mr. Warts was just finishing with another pony who was also borrowing a book from there. It was a Mare I knew back from Cloudsdale, Cloud Chaser.

I watched from the end of a long row of books. Mr. Warts was saying goodbye. He gave her the book, then he shook Cloud Chaser’s hoof, and I could see her trying not to make a disgusted face. She said something, and they both laughed. Very jolly…

Oh, I forgot to mention… Two days ago, I overheard on some ponies talking, that his hooves always seemed wet. Though, I didn't know why that was… I didn't take much notice to it, until he shook my hoof… He would reach out and shake your hoof and his hand was always sopping! It went on like that for the past week until now…

As Cloud Chaser said goodbye and headed toward the doorway. I stepped out to greet her. “What book did you get?” I asked after we said our hellos.

She held it up for me. “It’s called White Fang,” She said pointing to the title.

“Is it about a monster?” I guessed.

She laughed a bit on that. “No, silly. It’s about a dog.”

I thought I saw Mr. Warts’ head lift up when I said the word monster. But I might have imagined that. I chatted a while longer with Cloud Chaser then we said goodbye to each other as we part ways…

Hearing the front door close behind her as I took my seat next to Mr. Warts’ desk and pulled “Daring Do and the Throne of Dracula” from my saddle bag.

“Did you enjoy it?” Mr. Warts asked. He had been studying his little critters, but he turned to face me with a friendly smile on his face.

He was wearing a turtle neck, a bright yellow one. I noticed that he wore a big, purple ring on his horn. He twirled the ring as he smiled at me.

“It was kind of cool,” I said. “And I really love it!” I had read this book more than two times this week, I really love it… especially if it’s Daring Do.

“Did you enjoy the description in this book, too?” Mr. Warts asked, leaning closer to me over the desk.

My eye caught the big jar of Pink Stuff on the shelf behind him. It was very full. “Well, yeah,” I said. “It was just as I expected… More action!”

“What was your favorite part of the book?” Mr. Warts asked.

“The monsters!” I answered instantly. I watched his face to see if he reacted to that word. But he didn't even blink. His tiny black eyes remained locked on mine. “The monsters were really awesome,” I decided to test him. “ Wouldn't it be great if there were really monsters, Mr. Warts?”

Again he didn't blink. “You know, we have real monsters here… like The Ursa Minor… and Major, the Chimera… The Hydra… Basilisk… You name it… Why would you ask something that already exists?” He said quietly, twirling his purple ring. “But, there are other monsters that ponies haven’t seen yet… and ponies tend to prefer their scares in books or movies. They don’t want their scares to suddenly march in town and cause panic,” He chuckled.

I forced myself to chuckle too… What an EPIC fail!!! I totally forgot that we actually HAVE real monsters outside of Ponyville! But wait… what did he meant by… “Monsters that ponies haven’t seen yet”? That made me curious…

I took a deep breath and continued my little test. I was trying to get him to make a slip, to reveal that he wasn't really a pony. “Do you believe that… there are undiscovered monsters around?” I asked. Not very subtle. I admit it…

But he didn't seem to notice. “Do I believe that Daring Do discovered a monster named Dracula who made monsters out of corpse by using electricity to bring them back to life?” Mr. Warts asked. He shook his round head. “We can build machines, but not living creatures… though, some… but we can’t actually make life just by saying WE can…”

That wasn't what I meant…

Some other ponies came into the library. A little filly with her white-haired grandmother. The little filly went skipping to the children’s book section. The grandmother picked up a newspaper and carried it to an armchair across the room… I didn’t even know Twilight HAD an armchair.

I was very unhappy to see them. I knew that the librarian wouldn't change into a monster while they were here. I was sure he only ate flies when the library was empty. I was gonna have to hide somewhere and wait for them to leave.

Mr. Warts reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a book, and showed it to me. I thought he was going to shake my hoof, but he didn't. “Have you read Birds of a Feather?” he asked, picking up some books from the pile on his desk and putting it in a neat order.

“No,” I said. “Does it have monsters in it?”

He threw back his head and laughed, as his chin starts quivering. I thought I caught a flash of recognition in his eyes.A question.A tiny moment of hesitation. I thought my question brought something strange to his eyes. But, of course, again it could have been my imagination.

“I don’t think you’ll find any monsters in this one or any Daring Do in it as well,” he said, still chuckling. He stamped it using his rubber stamp and gave the book to me. The cover was moist from where his hoof had been.

I told him that I’ll be coming back same time next week to exchange the book once I’m done… then I walked out of the main reading room and pretended to leave the library.

I pulled open the front door and let it slam, but didn't go out. Instead, I crept back, keeping myself in the shadows, like a spy!

I stopped at the back wall, hidden by a long row of bookshelves. I never would have thought that Twilight’s house was THIS huge for having such long rows upon rows of bookshelves… it’s unbelievable!

“Where to hide?” I asked myself... I had to find a safe hiding place. Safe from Mr. Warts’ beady eyes, and safe from anypony else who might enter the library.

What was my plan?

Well, I’d been thinking about it all week, but I really didn't have much of a plan. I just wanted to catch him in the act, I wanted to see clearly. I wanted to erase all doubts from my mind, that’s all.

My plan that I just thought at that time, was to hide until the library was empty, and then spy on Mr. Warts to watch him change into a monster and eat flies again. Then I’d know I wasn't crazy. Then I’d know my eyes hadn't playing tricks on me.

As I looked around for a spot to hide, I could hear the little filly’s grandmother calling to Mr. Warts on the other side of the room.

“Do you have any spelling books? Dinky only likes picture book. But I want her to learn how to spell too.”

“Grandma, whisper!” Dinky called harshly. “This is a library remember, Whisper!”

My eyes searched the long, dark shelves for a hiding place, and there it was! A low bookshelf along the floor near the back was empty. It formed a narrow cave that I could crawl into.

Trying to be silent as I could, I got down and crawled on the cave-like space in the shelf and slid my body back as I tucked myself in.

It wasn't really large enough to stretch my wings and myself. I had to keep them folded and stay in a crawling position. My head was pressed hard against the upright board and it’s not that very comfortable. I knew I couldn't stay like this forever, but it was late afternoon. Maybe Dinky and her grandmother would leave soon. Maybe I wouldn't have to stay tucked on the shelf like a moldy old book for very long.

My heart was pounding very fast; I could hear Mr. Warts talking softly to Dinky. I could hear the rustle of the old lady’s newspaper. I could hear the ticking of the big wall clock on the front wall.

I could hear every sound, every creak and groan. I was stiff like a rock, waiting silently for nightfall to come… then, it starts to happen… I suddenly had to sneeze!

My nose tickled like crazy! There was so much dust down here that I fought with myself from sneezing. I reached up and squeezed my nose hard with my hooves and somehow I managed to shut off the sneeze.

My heart was pounding even faster and harder. I could hear it over the ticking of the clock.

“Please leave,” I said quietly, wishing Dinky and her grandmother would just go out of the library soon. “Please leave,please leave… please leave.”

I don’t know how long I can stay tucked inside this dusty shelf. My neck was starting to hurt from being pressed against the shelf and I started to feel another sneeze coming on.

“This book is too hard. I need an easier one,” Dinky said to Mr. Warts. They were having some sort of conversation though I can’t see them… I know they were because I heard Mr. Warts mutter something after that I heard a shuffling noise… Hoof-steps?

Were they coming this way?

Were they going to see me?

No. They turned and headed back to the children’s section on the side.

“I've already read this one,” I heard Dinky complain.

“Please leave,please leave… please leave.” I prayed, closing my eyes and holding on to my head, as it starts to hurt pretty badly.

It must have been only a few minutes later when Dinky and her grandmother decided to go home, but it seemed like hours to me.

My neck was stiff, my back ached and my legs were all tingling as I presumed that they all fell asleep I heard the front door close behind them as they exited the place. The library was now empty, except for Mr. Warts and me.

I waited…and listened.

I heard the scrape of his tall stool against the floor, then his hoof-steps, then his coughing.

I noticed the place was getting darker, and then realized, he was turning off the lights.

“Show time!” I said to myself grinning as my plan was going smoothly. He was closing up! Now’s the time… Now’s the time he’ll turn into a monster before my eyes.

I rolled silently off the shelf, onto the floor then pulled myself to a standing position. I tried shaking my legs wildly trying to get the circulation back, and keeping quiet at the same time just to wake them up. Then after a few seconds they sprang back to life as I sighed in relief.

As all the lights went out and most of the library was blanketed in darkness… I noticed the only light left was coming from the late afternoon sunlight flooding through the window at the front of the room.

I sharpened my senses more trying to pinpoint where my target was… but I didn't felt his presence anywhere.

Where was Mr. Warts?

After a few seconds, I heard him cough again, and then he began to hum to himself.

Holding my breath, I sneaked closer to his desk, navigating in both darkness and between the shelves. I leaned my side against the shelves, careful not to tilt one of them causing a domino effect as I moved through the shadows as I went closer to Mr. Warts’ desk.

Whoa.

I suddenly realized that Mr. Warts’ wasn't at his desk. I quickly looked around to see if he sneaking up towards me, luckily he wasn't there… Then, I heard hoof-steps behind me, at the back of the main reading room. Then I heard his hoof thud across the floor of the front entry way.

I froze in place, listening hard, still holding my breath.

Was he leaving?

No…

As I listen further, I heard a loud click.

The sound of a lock being turned. He had locked the front door! I didn't plan for that, not at all! That was definitely not part of my plan

I froze in the dark aisle, before I start to realize that I was locked in with him!

I stared into the dark space, not knowing what I should do next! Should I continue with my plan, or leave from one of the open windows immediately and forget about my little spy mission…

Now what?

Chapter 6

Maybe my plan wasn’t exactly the best plan in the world and thought to myself… maybe the whole idea was stupid. You can bet I had plenty of doubts racing through my mind as I heard Mr. Warts return to the main reading room.

My plan, of course, was to prove to myself that I was right. That he was a monster and then fly out of the library and hoped I wasn’t locked in that dark, creepy building with him unable to escape… (No offence to Twilight).

Here I was… so far, I was okay. He had no idea that anyone else was here with him. No idea that he was being spied on.

Pressed the tall shelves, I crept along the narrow aisle until I was as close as I dared to go. I could see his entire desk, caught in deep orange rectangle of light from the high window.

Mr. Warts stepped behind his desk, humming softly to himself. He straightened a stack of books, then shoved it to a corner of the desk. He pulled open his desk drawer and shuffled things around, searching for something in there.

As I crept a little closer, I could see very clearly that the afternoon sunlight made everything orangey-red, which reminds me of Applejack for some reason. I felt I blushed a bit and shook my head trying to get rid of dirty thoughts as I get back to focus on what I was doing and looked back at Mr. Warts.

He rolled some pencils off the desktop into the open desk drawer by using his, oddly colored magic aura… as the last pencil dropped inside the drawer, he then closes it with a loud snap.

“This is boring," I thought to myself “This is very boring, and normal.” I scratched my head in impatience...

Maybe I must have been wrong last week. I must have imagined the whole thing. Mr. Warts was just probably a normal funny stallion… he isn’t a monster at all.

I sank against the tall shelf, disappointed and thinking that I had just wasted my time hiding on that filthy shelf… for nothing. And now here I was, locked in the library after closing time, watching the librarian clean off his desk.

What a thrill!!!

“I need to get out of here,” I thought. I’ve been really stupid all this time… and to think I might be able to become a real spy. “Heh, some spy you turned out to be…” I said to myself almost as frustrated as Applejack when she didn’t get something she didn’t know.

But when I was about to call it a day, I spotted Mr. Warts reach for the glowing-pink jar on the shelf behind him.

I stopped and went back to my hiding place and swallowed hard as my heart gave a sudden lurch.

A smile crossed Mr. Warts’ pudgy face as he set the big glass jar down in front of him, and then reached across the desk. With both of his hooves, he pulled out a rectangular cage with several small turtles closer.

“Dinnertime, my timid friends,” He said in his high, scratchy voice then grinned down at the turtles. He reached into the pan and splashed the water a bit. “Dinnertime, friends,” he repeated.

I stared without blinking with my jaw dropping lower and lower in disbelief as his face began to change again.

His head began to swell up, his eyes began to bulge, and his mouth grew until it became an open black pit.

The enormous head bobbed above the yellow sweater he was wearing, as his eyes swam in front of his head. The mouth twisted, opening and closing like a very huge fish mouth.

“I was friggin’right!” I realized. “Mr. Warts is a monster! I knew it! I knew I was right all along, but Scoots doesn’t believe me. She’ll have to believe me now, and wait till Fluttershy hears about this!” I told myself.

I’m seeing this very clearly as day, since the sun was shining brightly giving me the luxury of full sight with no darkness fooling my eyes now.

I’m seeing it… and I’m now definitely imagining it! They’ll have to believe me now, they have to!

While my mouth slowly opened wide in disbelief as I watched the gross creature the librarian had become, he reached into the pink-filled jar and shoved them hungrily into his mouth, sucking some of the fluid in it.

“Dinnertime,” he rasped, talking as he drinks almost half of the contents of the jar. I could hear his gulp while drinking as I raised my hooves and pressed them against the sides of my face as I stared. Mr. Warts’ eyes swam out in front of his face as he drinks, slurping and gulping loudly like he’s having a feast of his lifetime.

For a short, terrifying moment, the eyes stopped and they were staring at me! I realized I had leaned too far into the aisle!

Had he spotted me?

I jumped back with a gasp of panic as his bulging black eyes, like undulating toadstools, remained in place for another second or two. Then they continued rolling and swimming about.

After hi sucked the last drop of that pink-stuff, Mr. Warts closed the jar as he licks his black lips with a snake-like, pencil-thin tongue.

Everything went silent within the room once again, except for the ticking clock and my thundering heartbeats.

“Now what?” I thought.

Is that it?

No…

“Dinner, my timid friends,” the librarian said in a thin, trembling voice… the voice seeming to bob along with the enormous head.

He reached a hoof into a small pan and picked up one of the little green-shelled turtles, as I could see one of the turtle’s legs racing… I vividly remember Tank that time, my dearest pet that I love~ but not showing the others my deep feeling for my pet.

I kept watching him, wondering what he would do to that turtle.

Mr. Warts held the turtle higher, studying it with his bulging, rolling eyes as he held it up at the sunlight while the turtle’s legs continued to move.

I was staring closely to the turtle when the unthinkable happened!

He popped the turtle into his mouth as the sound of cracking shell echoed throughout the library as Mr. Warts bit down on that defenseless critter!

My eyes grew wider, as he chewed noisily several times making a loud crunch with each chew. Then I saw him swallow twice till he got it down.

I’d seen enough…no, more than enough!

I turned away and began to make my way blindly back through the dark aisle as I trotted quickly! I didn’t really care if he heard me or not, I just had to get out of there!

Out into the sunlight and fresh air! Away from the crunching sound of the turtle shell as Mr. Warts chewed and chewed it… CHEWED IT ALIVE!!!

I ran from the main reading room while my heart kept thudding and my hooves feeling heavy like stones.

I was gasping for breath when I reached the front entry and ran through the door and grabbed the handle.

At that moment, I remembered something crucial… something that I forgot that had happened earlier.

The door was locked! I couldn’t get out, I was locked in!

As I stood there staring straight ahead at the closed door while gripping the brass knob, I heard hoof-steps behind me, rapid hoof-steps!

Mr. Warts heard me! I’m trapped!
I froze in panic, staring at the door until it became a dark blur in front of me. Mr. Warts hoof-steps grew louder behind me.

“Help!” I uttered a silent plea. “Somepony~ Help me!”

The librarian would burst into the front entryway any second and there I’d be… trapped at the door. Trapped like a rat, or like a turtle!

And then what?

Would he grab me up like one of his pets? No… one of his dinner!

Would he crunch me between his teeth?!

There’s got to be a way out of there! There has to be!

As I grew dizzy and my sight on the door grew more and more blurry, something suddenly struck my mind as everything came back to focus. I realized that maybe~ just maybe~ I wasn’t trapped at all!

Mr. Warts had locked the door from the inside… The inside!

That meant that maybe I could unlock it and open the door! But, if the door was locked with a key, then I was stuck and back to square one! But if it was just an ordinary lock that you can turn…

“Hey, is someone out there?” Mr. Warts’ raspy voice burst into my thoughts.

My eyes frantically searched the door for a couple of seconds before I found the lock under the brass knob… then reached for it.

“Please turn. Please turn.Please turn…”

The lock turned in my hooves with a soft click. The prettiest sound I ever heard!

In a flash, I pulled the door open then dashed out on the stoned street. Then, I flew as fast as I could, flying across the sky, cutting through the clouds and diving on the opposite wind current – Flying for my life!

Gasping for air, I turned halfway looking down at the ground. As I gaze back to the library, I could see Mr. Warts, a shadowy figure in the library door. He was just standing at the doorway, staring out, not moving.

Just standing there…

Had he seen me?

Did he know that it was me spying on him?

I shrugged my head and looked away. I just wanted to get away… get away before he realizes it was me.

The late afternoon sun was ducking behind the trees, making the shadows long and dark. I lowered my head and glided into the long, blue shadows of the trees swaying back and forth.

I was out… I was okay. I had seen the monster, but he hadn’t seen me… I hoped.

I glided down, then trotted along until I reached Fluttershy’s house. She was still in the yard sitting on the stump of an old tree she asked to be removed from Applejack earlier that year. I could see the blue Frisbee-type thing on her head. Apparently she made it into a hat, rather than to play with it…

Fluttershy had her head down, looking at two squirrels arguing about a nut in front of them. Probably Fluttershy was the peacemaker among them, and didn’t see me at first.

“Fluttershy – Mr. Warts is a monster!” I cried breathlessly.

“Huh?” She looked up, startled. The two squirrels leaped up and ran back to their tree hole.

“Me. Warts – he’s a monster!” I repeated, panting like Winona. I put my hooves on my hind legs as I sat on my haunches. Trying to catch my breath.

“Dashie, what’s your problem?” Fluttershy muttered, returning her attention to the two squirrels who ran away back to their home.

“Listen to me!! I screamed impatiently. I didn’t sound like myself. I didn’t recognize my shrill panicky voice.

“This is troublesome,” Fluttershy muttered. “They didn’t even get along…”

“Fluttershy, please!” I pleaded. “I was in the library. I saw him. He changed into a monster. He ate one of his turtles!”

Fluttershy gasped. “W-what?!” She was about to cry on that statement, but then quickly changed her expression. “R-right… is this another one of your scary stories?” She asked, looking away from me.

“W-what?” I looked at her, my eyes wide open.

“I-if it is… I don’t want to hear it…” She muttered, then just stood up and heads back to her cottage.

“Fluttershy, I wasn’t kidding!” I cried, still out of breath. “I-I was so scared. He’s a monster. He really is! I thought I was locked in with him. I thought-“

“Tell you what,” Fluttershy said, stopping half way on her door. “If you can make those two get along, I’ll let you have some of my Apple Pie…” She smiled as she points to the two squirrels on the tree hole.

“Aaaaaagh!” I let out an angry scream. “Why don’t you listen to me?!”

“D-Dashie~” She stuttered, obviously frightened by my outburst. “Y-you don’t need to shout l-like that…” She said, almost cowering under her wings. “And besides… I don’t want to talk about monsters right at the moment… It’s kind of… childish~”

“But, Fluttershy!”

“Why don’t you save that stuff for Scootaloo?” Fluttershy suggested. “Just, don’t overdo it… okay?” She sighed and looks at the two fighting squirrels. “Do you want to help me calming them down, i-if that’s okay with you…”

“NO!!” I screamed then I added: “You’re a lousy friend!”

She looked at me, and then started to cry… she then sobbed and flew inside her cottage. I took off heading back to my cloud home.

I was really angry. What’s her problem, anyway?! You’re supposed to take a friend seriously; you’re not supposed to think automatically that your friend is just making up a story.

Couldn’t Fluttershy see how frightened and upset I was? Couldn’t she see that it wasn’t a joke?

She’s a total airhead, I decided, as my house finally came into view. I’m never speaking to her again!

I flew to my doorway, flung it open and stomped my way to my room. My heart was pounding so hard, my mouth was so dry, and I was grunting like a stallion.

“Gee whiz…” I said to myself, as I head to my room.

I was about to open the door when I heard a noise inside… After I’ve been through today, I expected something horrible was about to pop out of my room when I try to open it…

I gulped and gathered my nerves then charged full throttle in my room and saw… Scootaloo.

She was on my bed, laying there and reading my book… “Oh… it’s only you Scootaloo.” I sighed and sat on my haunches sighing in relief.

“Huh? Who do you expect?” She said, glancing over to me.

“Uhh… oh… nothing,” I managed to say… “Wait, how did you get here without Fluttershy’s help?” I asked, wondering if she managed to fly up here by herself.

“Nope…” She squeaked. “I asked for Raindrop to lift me here…” She said with a grin. “I was gonna ask Fluttershy earlier, but she was busy with something… So I asked somepony else!”

“Oh… o-okay…” I said, standing up and went closer to her.

Scootaloo looked at me oddly. “Is something wrong with you, Rainbow Dash?” She asked.

“You probably won’t believe me anyway…” I muttered, as I climbed up my bed and slumped myself beside her.

“Come on, tell me… I’ll believe you…” She said to me while putting her hoof on my shoulder.

At last! Somepony who would listen to me!! I looked at her and just spitted out the words I want to say. “I saw a monster…” I said to her in a raspy voice. “A real one!”

Her eyes went wide and her mouth dropped open. “A real m-monster?!” She stammered.

“Yes!” I cried looking at her seriously.

“Did it follow you home?” Scootaloo asked, turning pale.

“I hope not!” I exclaimed. I wheeled around and faced the other side of the bed, thinking that if he followed me home, I’m in big trouble… worst, Scootaloo’s here and she’s gonna get the same fate if she didn’t get away fast enough if that happens.

Though, I needed some company tonight… I asked her if she would like to spend the night with me, and of course she nodded quickly and snuggled along with me…

Smiling at her, I turned off my lights and slept with her on my side… Hoping that tomorrow, nothing bad… or unexpected would happen.

Chapter 7

That morning, I woke up letting out a huge yawn then I looked over to my side. Scootaloo wasn’t there anymore… “She must have woken up early,” I said to myself while getting out of bed.

I took two steps out of my room, and then stopped. There in front of my doorway, on the floor, lay a big hairy monster, its gnarled brown head sat on top of a little stool. Its gaping toothless mouth twisted in an evil grin.

I grabbed the top of my bed pole and uttered a loud gasp of shock. The monster stared at me with one round eye bigger than the other. It didn’t move at all... it just stared at me.

It uttered a high-pitched giggle… at least, I thought it did. It took me a short while to realize that the giggling was coming from the hallway outside my room.

I took a step closer to the monster and looked at it closely as Scootaloo poked her head inside the room.
“Like it?” She asked, stepping inside into my room and walked up to my bed. “I made it in art class months ago… since you told me all those silly monster stories, I figured… Hey! Why not make one?”

“Huh?” I uttered.

Scootaloo sighed then jumped out of bed then goes back to the hallway and picked it up. As she did so, I noticed that the brown hair was brown yarn and the face was only painted on its crummy body. “It’s Paper –Mache,” Scootaloo announced proudly. “Neat, huh?”

I let out a long sigh and just sat there. “Geez, girl… You almost gave me a heart attack.” I said, as I looked at the thing she’s holding.

“I thought you weren’t afraid of monsters?” She asked, sitting next to me playing with that fake monster.

“I am, but… What I saw was a real one!” I said, but knowing what happened with Fluttershy, I assumed that Scootaloo will do the same. “Nah, forget it… It’s nothing anyway.” I shrugged then looked at Scootaloo’s Paper-Mache. “So, you made that yourself?”

“Mm hmm~ Oh, no wait… Applebloom and Sweetie Belle helped me make it though.” She said, making explosion sounds and deep groggy voice pretending that it’s actually a monster.

‘“Very clever.” I said, a bit bitter on the fact that she thinks my stories are ‘silly’. “Listen, Scootaloo, Yesterday about that monster I’ve been talking about?”

Her ears perked then looks at me tilting her head. “Yeah? What about it?” She asked curiously.

“Well, it’s kind of… happened, I saw a real live one and~”before saying anything further, I caught myself in mid-sentence and remembers something. “Wait, didn’t I told you this last night already?” I asked, uncertain of it.

“You mean… the REAL one?!” She asked.

“Yeah…” I was glad she remembered, and happy that she was still young to understand that there are certain monsters in Everfree… but none of those monsters is like Mr. Warts.
Scootaloo’s eyes widened. “Is he really…really…really…REALLY here?”

“I’m not lying. This time, he really is here… it’s Mr. Warts!” I said, revealing his identity to Scoots.

“No Bucking WAY!! The Librarian!?” She shouted in surprise, but I quickly grabbed her and shut her mouth with my hoof.

“Sssshhh!!” I hissed. “Not so loud!”

She nodded then took a deep breath as I removed my hoof off of her mouth. “Sheesh, Dashie! When was the last time you washed your hoof!?” She spits and sputtered, which made me a little frustrated.

“Whatever… Anyway, did you see Fluttershy out there?” I asked, wondering if she’s still upset about me shouting on her.

Scoots puts her hoof on her chin, then thinks… “Not yet, though she must be in her cottage, since its still Nine O’clock.”

“Right, the animal thing… Why won’t those critters give Fluttershy a break, once in a while? And they’re so demanding on food!”

“And not to mention rude…” Scootaloo added, as we both nodded in agreement.

“Well, we can’t help it if she’s busy; let’s go eat some breakfast… I’m starving!” Scootaloo suggested, and of course I said yes then we went out to get something to eat.

We hang out together in the remainder of the day, teaching her to fly, playing pranks, and of course the constant urge to go extreme but… that didn’t go so well if you know what I mean.

After which, we went back to my place and rested up. I jumped in my bed as I glanced up top my clock. “5:30…” I said to myself, thinking we did so much yet it seems like we went out only a few minutes ago. Scoots was exhausted and just fell asleep on the living room couch. Though it’s no question that she’s just a filly to get tired so easily, while I was still in full adrenalin mode.

As I gazed on my ceiling, my mind soon drifted on the events that happened yesterday. It was true, no doubt about that. I need to prove it to Fluttershy so she can see how right I was, and not just making it up. With much time to spend, I took my binoculars and camera then took off outside and patrolled the town, looking for any sign of Mr. Warts.

I spend the last two hours searching him in town, but to no luck… I figured he must be in that dusty old library doing something unsavory. I wondered if he’d ever cleaned the place up since Spike and Twilight went to Canterlot…

“He’s not only a monster, but a slob and a lazy good for nothing…” I mumbled, thinking he’s just leaving the library un-cleaned for days. With my mind set, I went straight to the library to check out what he’s doing…

I landed on the front door and tried opening it… “Locked.” I said, as it didn’t budge when I pushed. “He must have closed up early.” I wondered. Thinking he must be on the other side of the building, I went to the back and hovered myself to the second floor window, but just as I was about to peer in, something fell on top of me and snapped at my left wing. I uttered a slight gasp and before I knew it I fell down to earth like a rock, hitting the dirt with a loud thud.

I tried getting up but the pain was unbearable! My left wing is sprained, my hind right hoof is cut and I couldn’t fly!

I looked over to my left and saw a huge branch had fallen on me. “What darn luck!” I said to myself. Frustrated I hit my hoof on the dirt causing dirt splatting over my face, I tried to spit it out, only to make a noise of it all. Just then I saw a light coming from the window that I was about to peek in and noticed a shadow coming towards it!

Thinking its Mr.Warts, I quickly got up and ran as fast as I could, cringing in every step I took from the injured wing and wounded hind leg.

This wasn’t good, what if he decides to go out and see me like this… and what if he knew that I can’t fly at the moment!? This isn’t good… NOT GOOD!! I gotta get out of here! I thought of hiding on the bushes, but it was too obvious, and going back to my house in my current situation was definitely impossible.

With nowhere else to go, I went to Fluttershy’s house instead. But as I was about to knock, I fell on the ground again. I couldn’t take the pain much more and passed out in front of her door…

At the point, I started to have dreams… Dreams of Mr.Warts capturing me and doing stuff to me in any way! He even tried to stuff me with worms and other disgusting things!

“AAAAAAAAAAAaaaahhhhh!!!” I yelled standing up immediately. Just then, I heard a slight squeak beside me…

It was Fluttershy.

“H-huh?! What happened?! Where am I?!” I demanded, but she just shivered there cowering on my voice… it took a while before she could answer me.

“Y-y-you’re in my house… I… I found you laying there and felt bad, s-so… I took you in and patched you up…” She said, in a low soft tone. Looking at my wing it was all bandaged up, the same goes to my hind leg. Well, it could have been worst.

“T-thanks,” I muttered. “Thanks for fixing me even though I shouted at you yesterday.” I said to her, looking down on my action to her earlier.

“Oh, It’s no problem at all… I’m just glad you weren’t too badly injured though.” She said, in her usual low timid tone. Wait, is she saying that my injuries were NOT that bad?! Yeah, sure… a broken wing and a cut leg isn’t BAD nowadays…

“Thanks for that…” I sighed and laid back down. I looked around and noticed she was wearing her saddle bag. “Are you going somewhere?” I asked, obviously I already knew where she was going, but might as well strike a conversation.

‘I’m going to town to pick up some things, I’ll be back before 11:00…” She said softly. I knew it… as usual, she’s on her night shopping spree, since there’s less ponies around to get pushed and fight over a piece of tomato…

“Alright, be careful out there…” I bid her farewell, as she went out the door and heads to town… “Although, she may pick up some extra stuff since she’s been expected to bring enough food… for these guys….” I looked over to the pack of animals looking at me from the far corner of the room…

I stood up and walked over to the bookshelf. Normally I would just get bored and go out to explore, but again, considering my current injuries, I might as well read something… “Oh, Celestia, even when I THINK I sound like, Twilight!” I giggled, musing at my own actions…. Yeah, why do I sound like Twilight right now?

As I was browsing some books, I heard a knock at the front door. “Fluttershy?” I said, looking back at the entrance. I turned and went over to the door to ask her why she went home early, I slid the peep hole open and asked. “Fluttershy? What happened, I thought you were~” I froze in front of the door, looking at the pony who was on the other side… It wasn’t my friend, Fluttershy.

It was Mr. Warts…

Chapter 8

My first thought was to run. My next thought was to slam the front door. My other thought was to fly outta there to my home, but then again... I'll be leaving him alone with the other animals, endagering them of being eaten!
It's too late to run anyway. Mr. Warts had already seen me. He was staring at me through the half open door with those beady black eyes, an evil, thin-lipped smile on his pale, round face.

He saw me, I realized.
He saw me spying on him in the library.
He saw me flying away.
He knows that I know his secret. He knows that I know he's a monster.
And he's come to get me.
He's come to get rid of me, to make sure his secret is safe.

"Ms. Dash?" He called. I stared at him. I could see in his eyes that he knew it had been me in the library.

The sun had already gone down. The sky behind him was sunset-purple. His face looked even paler than usual in the evening light.

"Ms. Dash, hi. It's me, I went to your house earlier but your friend told me you might be at Fluttershy's so I came here..." He said then he was waiting for me to say something. But I was frozen there in panic, trying to decide whether to run or scream... or both!

"H-hi, Mr. Warts," I managed to say, not moving any closer to the door. Then I blurted out, "Fluttershy's not home..."

What the-! I knew instantly that it was a dumb thing to say! Not cool! Why did I say that?! I asked myself. How could I be so stupid?!

"I didn't come to see Fluttershy," Mr. Warts said softly. "I came to see you, Ms. Dash."

He knows! I thought. He really knows! I'm dead meat! I swallowed hard. I didn't know what to say. My eyes searched the front hallway for a weapon, something to hit him with when he tries to break through the screen door and came after me.

Mr. Warts' eyes narrowed. His smile had faded This is it! I thought. There was nothing around that I could use to fight him of.

A little glass flower vase. That's all I see. I didn't think it would be too effective against a roaring monster.

"Ms. Dash, I believe this belongs to you," Mr. Warts said, as he held up my blue canvas saddle bag.

"Huh?"

"I found it back in the stacks," Mr. Warts said, his smile returning. "I didn't know who had left it. But I saw the design of your cutie mark on the side of the bag, so I figured it was yours..."

"You~ you mean~?" I stammered.

"I always walk home after I close the library, so I thought I'd bring it to you," He said. "And when I got to your house you weren't there... the filly there told me that you went here so... well, you know the rest."

Was this a trap? And you mean to tell me, he WASN'T staying in Twilight's house?! Go figure...
I studied his face warily. I couldn't tell what he was thinking.

I had no choice. I pushed open the door more to let him in, and he handed me the backpack. "W-wow. Thanks," I said. "That was really nice of you."

He straightened his sleeves of his yellow turtle neck shirt... "Well, I figured you'd probably want to get started on a new book, so I put in the books you would probably like... namely Daring do," He said... You know, I always wonder... why does he wear a turtle neck shirt anyway?

"Yeah. Sure," I replied uncertainly.

"I guess you ran out of the library pretty quickly," Mr. Warts said, staring into my eyes.

"Uhh...yeah. I had to get home," I told him, glancing back to the den. The noises of the animals floated into the hallway.

"So you didn't wait around or anything after our appointment?" he asked. Does he know? I wonder. Or is he just trying to find out if it was me or not?

"No," I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. "I ran out. I was in a hurry. I~ I guess that's why I forgot my...bag."

"Oh, I see," Mr. Warts replied thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.

"Why?" I blurted out.

The question seemed to surprise him. "Oh, it's nothing, really," He said. "I think somepony was playing a trick on me. Staying in the library after closing."

"Really?" I asked, opening my eyes wide and trying to sound as innocent as possible. "Why would they do that?"

"To scare me," Mr. Warts answered, chuckling. "Some kids don't have anything better to do than try to scare the kindly old librarian." But you're not a kindly old librarian, I thought. You're a monster!

"I got up to look around," Mr. Mortman continued, "and whoever it was high-tailed it." He chuckled again.

"I wouldn't want to be locked in there overnight," I said studying his face.

"Hmm? I thought you and Twilight were friends? Didn't you spent a night in her place at all?" He asked me again... Normally I say yes to that, but at this case... I need to lie about it, I'm sure Applejack won't mind.

"Nah, I rather be on my place than to stay in that musty library..." I replied, hoping my innocent act is working.

"Yeah, neither would I!" He exclaimed. "It's a pretty creepy old building! Sometimes I get so scared from all the strange creaks and groans." Yeah! Sure! I thought sarcastically.

Behind him, I spot Fluttershy coming home from town. I breathed a silent sigh of relief. Thank goodness she's finally home!

"Guess I'll say goodnight," Mr. Warts said pleasantly. He turned and watched as Fluttershy passed him up the pathway, heading towards me. I could have swarn Fluttershy glared at him for a moment befor turning her attention to me.

"U-uh... Thanks for bringing the bag," I said, eager for Fluttershy to get inside the house.

"No problem. See you next week." He hurried away.

As Fluttershy came in with the basket of groceries. I slamed the door shut and gave out a sigh. "Who was that?" Fluttershy asked, dropping off the basket at the table.

"That... was Mr. Warts, the temporary librarian at Twilight's." I asnwered eagerly. "I'm so glad to see you, Fluttershy. I have to tell you~"

"What did he want?" Fluttershy interrupted.

"He ... uh... returned my saddle bag. I left it at the library, see. I have to tell you about him, Fluttershy. He~"

"Oh, that was really nice of him," Fluttershy said, as she gets the food out one by one on the table. "How come you forgot it, Dash?"

"I ran out of there really fast, Fluttershy. You see~"

"Well, that was really kind of Mr.Warts," She interrupted again. "I remembered him though... He doesn't live in this direction, though. I think he lives way over the otherside of Ponyville."

"Fluttershy, I'm trying to tell you something!" I cried impatiently. My hooves were trembling wildly and my heart was pounding. "Mr. Warts is a monster!"

"Huh?" She turned away from the table and stared at me.

"He's a Monster, Fluttershy! A real one!" I cried.

"Dash..." She shook her head. "You see monster's everywhere."

"Fluttershy!"

"Stop it, Dash. Stop being so... over imaginative. I hope you were polite to Mr. Warts."

"Fluttershy!"

"Enough!" She yelled, though it's not really a yell... more like a whisper. "Please... just go home... Keep Scootaloo company instead... she's alone in your house isn't she?"

So once again, my wonderful 'freind' refused to believe me. I tried to describe what I had seen from my hiding place in the library. But Fluttershy just shook her head. She said I had a great imagination. I practically begged her to believe me!

But she said I was just lazy. She said I'm making up the story about Mr. Warts because I didn't like him much. When she said that, I got really insulted, of course. I yelled something back followed by me storming out of her cottage and back to my house.

And here I go again... After just apologizing to her about what happened last time, and just being helled by her, I yelled at her....AGAIN!

But that's just the beginning of my problem...

That evening I wen't back to my home and slumped unhappily on my bed, I thought hard about my predicament... Scoots had already fallen asleep on my bed, but somehow I hadn't woke her up when I flopped on the cloud mattress.

I had told too many monster stories, played too many jokes. So, I realized, I needed somepony else to tell my parents about Mr. Warts. I needed somepony else to believe the truth with me...

Scootaloo!

If Scootaloo came along with me and hid in the library and say Mr. Warts eat those critters and drink that pink stuff with his bulging head - then Scoots cloud tell Fluttershy. And she'd believe Scoots!

She had no reason not to believe Scoots. She was a serious, no-nonsense filly. My most serious no-serious friend... kind of.

Scoots was definitely the answer to my problem! Why didn't I thought of that?! Scoots would finally make Fluttershy realize the truth about Mr. Warts. I planned to ask her first thing tomorrow.

That morning. I woke up early and found out that Scoots in the kitchen. I told her I needed her to come hide in the library and spy on Mr. Warts.

"When?" She asked. "At your next appointment?"

"No. I can't wait a whole week," I said, whispering into her, even though my parents were downstairs and there was no one around. "How about tomorrow afternoon? Just before closing time. Around five."

"It's too boring," Scoots insisted. "I don't think I want to."

"I'll pay you!" I blurted out.

"How much?" She asked.

What a friend!

"Fifteen bits," I said reluctantly. I never save much though. I wondered if I still had fifteen dollars in my drawer.

"Well, okay," Scoots agreed. "Fifteen bits. In advance."

"And you'll hide with me and then tell Fluttershy everything you see?" I asked.

"Yeah. Okay. But I think it's boring." He was silent for a moment. "And what if we get caught?" She asked after a while.

"We'll be careful," I said, feeling a little chill of fear.

Chapter 9

I spent the next day hanging around Cloudsdale, pulling pranks and fooling around. I couldn't wait for the afternoon to roll around. I was so excited...and nervous.

I had it worked out. Scoots and I would sneak into the main reading room without Mr. Warts knowing anyone had come in; we’d hide in the dark shelves, just as I had done... Hmm, I swear I imagined that I was doing this with Applejack and...uhh... GO AWAY BAD THOUGHTS!!!

N-now where was I? Oh yeah! We'd hide in the dark shelves, then, when the librarian turned off the lights and closed up the library, we'd sneak up the aisle, keeping in the shadows, and watch him become a monster.

Then we wouldn't run out the way I had done. That was too risky! We would go back to our hiding places in the low shelves and wait for Mr. Warts to leave. Once he was gone, Scoots and I would let ourselves out of the library and hurry to my house to tell Fluttershy what we had seen. Easy! Nothing to it, I kept telling to myself. But I was so nervous, so eager to get it over with!

After I decided to say goodbye to the other pegasi, I decided to head back home to meet up with Scoots... But when I got there, she was nowhere to be found. I expected that she's in Fluttershy's and decided to head there instead. The moment I got there, I saw a note sticking in the main door with the words 'To Dash' scribbled to it. I took the note and read it...

"Dear Dash, Me and Scootaloo went to the doctors to give her a yearly shot... Be back this evening to eat Ramen Noodles... -Fluttershy."

"Guess she forgot..." I muttered unhappily. I trudged back down the path out of Fluttershy's yard. That dirty traitor! I felt really betrayed! I had waited all day. I was so psyched for spying on Mr. Warts. I was counting on Scootaloo and all the while, she had a yearly shot TODAY of all days! "I hope your shot really hurt!!" I shouted out loud.

I kicked a small rock across the path rolling down the pond next to Fluttershy's cottage. I felt like bucking a tree real HARD! But of course, I'm not AJ to do that... I turned and headed home, thinking all kinds of ugly thoughts. I was at the bottom of my house when an idea popped into my head.

I suddenly realized, I didn't need Scootaloo. I had a camera! Pinkie had given me a really good camera last Hearts Warming Eve... If I sneaked into the library with the camera and took a few snapshots of Mr. Warts after he became a monster, the photos would be all the proof I needed. Fluttershy would have to believe actual color snapshots!

Forgetting my disappointed about Scootaloo, I hurried up back to my house and up to my room and pulled out a camera off my cabinet. I knew that this camera that Rarity gave me would come in handy someday! I checked the camera and there's already film in it. I had never really used the camera that much, so I figured I just store it in my cabinet for certain occasions... but HEY! I never thought that this is one of those "certain occasions".

This should be plenty to capture Mr. Warts at his ugliest. I glanced at the clock on my desk and it wsa still early. A little after four-thirty. I had half an hour before the library is closed... Funny thing is at first, Twilight usually closes at 7:00 but Warts just closes early ever since he came in control...Until I found out why.

"This had got to work," I said out loud, crossing my wing feathers on both sides. I strapped my camera onto my neck then heads off to the library.

About ten seconds, I arrived and entered the library silently and crept to the doorway of the main reading room. My plan was to sneak into the low shelf where I had hidden before, but I quickly saw that it wasn't going to be as easy as I thought it would be right now.

The library was very crowded... and I really mean it! There were several fillies and colts in the children's book section as well as mares and stallions hoofing through the magazines! One of the microfiches... or fiche or whatever you call them~ was being used against the wall and several aisles, including the one with my special hiding place had ponies in them, browsing and searching the shelves. I'll just have to wait them out, I decided to turn and pretend to search one of the back shelves. I could see Mr. Warts standing behind his desk, checking out a stack of books for a young mare as he opens the covers and stamping the card then slamming it shut.

It was nearly five o'clock, just about closing time, so I crept along the back wall, searching for another hiding spot. Near the corner, I spotted a large wooden cabinet that held the card catalogue. I thought that it'll hide me nicely... so, I hunched down behind the old cabinet and waited as time dragged by and every second had passed seemed like an hour... I get bored easily.

at five-fifteen, Mr. Warts was still checking out books for ponies. He announced closing time, but some are reluctant to leave. I felt myself getting more and more nervous... my hooves were ice cold and the camera suddenly seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, like a dead weight around my neck. I took it off and set it down in front of me, ready to use if necessary.

I kept saying to myself, it'll be worth it... it'll be worth it if I get a good, clear shot of the monster.

I leaned against the back of the cabinet and waited while gripping the camera in my hooves. After several minutes, the last pony left... Finally! The place was emptied out!

I climbed to my knees in full alert as the librarian went to lock the front door. A few seconds later, I heard him return to his desk while I peered around the side of the cabinet. He was busily shuffling papers, straightening his desk for the night. After a few minutes, I hoped, it would be feeding time.

Monster time, that is...

Taking a deep breath, I gripped the camera tightly in one hoof and felt my heart pound hard like crazy. I began to make my way silently toward Mr. Wart's desk at the front of the room.

Everything seemed to be taking so long today! Was time really in slow motion? Or did everything seem so slow because my pulse was racing so fast? Or was it the chili-burrito that I had for lunch? Either way I was so eager to get my proof - and get out of there!

But of course, Mr. Warts was taking his good old time doing his darn wet work~ I mean his desk work. He shuffled through a stack of papers, reading, folding, and tossing them in the wire trash basket beside his desk. He hummed to himself as he read through the entire stack. Finally, he got to the bottom of the pile and tossed the final sheet away. "FINALLY!" I shouted within my mind. It seriously took him an HOUR to do all those! And it's already seven in the evening! Darn what a grand pa....

Now! I thought. Now you'll start your monster routine, won't you, Mr. Warts?

But, no!

He lifted a stack of books from his desk and carried them to the shelves. Humming loudly, he began returning the books to their places. I pressed myself into the shadows like a ninja, hoping he wouldn't come to my row. I was near the far wall in front of the row of microfiche machines.

Please, let’s get on with it!I begged silently. But when he finishes with his first stack, Mr. Warts returned to his desk and hoisted up another pile of books to replace. I’m to be late for my weather report!! My superiors are going to kill me!

The thought made me chuckle. Here I was, locked inside this creepy, ‘and somewhat my friends home’ old library with a monster and I was worried about getting scolded for being late to pass on my weather report! I should really work on my scheduling…

I could hear Mr. Warts, but I couldn't see him. He was somewhere among the rows of shelves, replacing books… Suddenly his humming grew louder!

I looked over the tops of the books on the shelf to my right and saw that he was on the next aisle! And that meant he could see me! Buck! Gripped with panic, I ducked and dropped to the floor!

Had he heard me? Had he seen me? I didn’t move. I didn’t breathe. I laid there paralyzed, hoping that he wouldn’t come here… or else this will be my last spying days!

He continued to hum to himself. The sound grew fainter as he moved in the other direction. Woo~ Letting out a silent sigh of relief, I climbed back to my hooves, gripping the camera tightly in my right hoof as I peered around the side of the shelf. I heard his shoes shuffling along the floor. He reappeared, his bald head shining in the late afternoon sunlight from the window, and made his way slowly to his desk.

The clock on the wall ticked noisily. My hoof gripping the camera was cold and clammy. Watching him shuffle things around inside his desk drawer made me lost my nerve.

This is stupid! I thought a really bad idea! I’m going to get caught. As soon as I step out to snap the picture, he’ll see me! He won’t let me get out of here alive!

Turn and run! A voice inside my head commanded. Quick, while you have the chance ~ turn and run!

Then another voice interrupted that one. He isn’t going to turn into a monster tonight, Dashie, The voice said. You’re wasting your time. You’re getting yourself all nervous and scared for nothing!

My mind was spinning, whirring with voices and frightening thoughts. I leaned hard against the wooden shelf, steadying myself. I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to clear my head.

How many shots can you take? A voice in my head asked.Can you shoot off three or four before he realizes what is happening?

You only need one good shot, another voice told me. One good clear shot will be the proof you need.

You'd better hope he's humming very loudly, another voice said. Otherwise, he'll hear your camera shutter click.

Turn and run! Yet another voice said. Turn and run!

You only need one good shot!

Don't let him hear your shutter click!

With thoughts of my other selves screaming inside me... (At least, that's what I think they are.) I stepped forward and peered around the shelf. Mr. Warts, humming happily away, was reaching for -Yup, you guessed it- the fly jar! Yes! I cried silently. Finally!

"Dinner time, my timid friends," I heard him say in a pleasant singsong. And as he started to unscrew the jar lid, his head began to grow; eyes bulged, mouth twisted open and enlarged.

In a few seconds, his monstrous head was bobbing above his shirt. His snake-like tongue flicked out of his black mouth as he removed the jar lid and pulled out a handful of flies. "Dinnertime, my timid friends!"

Picture time! I thought, gathering my courage along with my self-integrity. I raised the camera to my eye with a trembling hoof. I gripped it tightly with both hooves to keep it from shaking. Then, holding my breath, I leaned as far as I could forward.

Mr. Warts was downing his hoof full of flies, chewing noisily, humming as he chewed while I struggled to center him in the viewfinder. I was so nervous, the camera was shaking all over the place! Dash, calm the buck down!! Do you want this picture taken or what!? I asked myself... Uhh, I'm going for... OR WHAT! The second voice asked my first one.

I'm glad that he's humming, I thought that if he's that a bit of noisy, he won’t hear my camera clicking! I'll be able to take more than one shot. Okay, okay... He was still enjoying his first batch of tender flies... Eww!!

I waited for another minute to get the good shot and when I'm about to press the button - and would you bah-lieve it?! Mr. Warts suddenly turned away!

With a gasp, I stopped myself just in time. "Son of ah~" I cursed under my breath. My pulse was pounding at my temples so hard, I could barely see straight. What was he doing? I checked his activities carefully, and saw that he was reaching for another jar. He set it down on his desk and unscrewed the lid.

I raised the camera again and squinted at him though the viewfinder. What did he have in his jar? Something was fluttering in there. It took me a while to realize they were moths. White moths! Fluttershy will be FURIOUS once I show her this picture of Mr. Warts eating moths and flies...

He grabbed some moths with his hoof and shoved it hungrily into his mouth. Another moth fluttered of the jar before he could close the lid. Mr. Warts' eyes bulged like toadstools growing out of his balloon-like head. His mouth twisted and coiled as he chewed the moths.

Taking another deep breath and held it for a while, I leaned forward as far as I could, steadied the camera in front of my eye - and snapped the shutter...

Chapter 10

The FLASH!!

I had forgotten about the stinking flash! I was so worried about the click of the shutter; I had totally forgotten that this stupid bucking camera had an automatic flash! The instant flash of white light made Mr. Warts cry out angrily. Startled, he raised his hands to cover his bulging eyes.

I stood frozen in the aisle, frozen by carelessness, frozen by... -and I HATE to admit it- My stupidity! "Who's there?" he growled, still covering his eyes. I realized he hadn't seen me yet. Those big eyes must have been very sensitive to light. The flash had momentarily blinded him.

He let out a monstrous roar that echoed off the four walls of the vast room. Somehow I revived my senses enough to pull myself back out of view. "Who's there?!" he repeated, his voice was in a rasping snarl. "You won’t get away!"

Oh, yes I can... I answered him through my thoughts. as I saw him lumbering in my direction. He lurched further toward me while swaying awkwardly, as if his eyes were still blinded. I gaped in horror as he approached.

He seemed steadier which each step. His bulging eyes searched the rows of shelves. he was breathing hard, each breath a furious foul. "Who's there? Who's there?"

Get going! I told myself, still gripping the camera with both hooves. Get going! What are you waiting for an invitation?!

"You won't get away!" The monster cried.

With a grin, I flared my wings and readied myself to dash out of there. He was three rows away, his eyes peering down the dark aisles. Searching for me! He hadn't seen me yet, I knew. He didn't know it was me. I just have to wait for the right moment, an opening so I can fly out of here with the proof safely in my hooves. So what was I waiting for again?

I was about to bolt out of there, when I bumped clumsily into a shelf of books. Several of them toppled to the floor making loud thudding noises. Fly! Don't stop! Just fly!

Why is it that it's taking me so long to move?! I was so weighed down by my fear that it's making my body refusing to move. Run! Rainbow Dash! He's right in front of you!

Finally, my legs started to cooperate. Strapping the camera in my neck, I began to glide through the dark aisle toward the back of the room. If only there's enough light, then I could just navigate myself out of the darn room through the front door!

"You won't get away!" The monster bellowed from the next aisle. "I hear you! I know where you are!"

Uttering a cry of terror, I ran blindly to the end of the aisle then turned toward the doorway - and crashed into a low book cart. The thing toppled over as I fell on top of it, landing hard on my stomach and knees. The camera bounced from my hoof and slid across the floor.

"I've got you now!" The monster growled, moving quickly from the next aisle.

I scrambled to get up, but my hoof was caught in the cart. The monster lumbered toward me, panting loudly. Once again, my fear tried to paralyze me, I tried to push myself up with both front hooves, but my body felt as if it weighed a thousand pounds!

I'm dead meat! I thought. Finally, my wicked awesomeness prevailed and pushed myself up and freed myself from the cart.

Dead meat. Dead meat!

The panting, growling monster was only a few yards away now, lurching out of the row of shelves. I grabbed the camera and stumbled to the door, my knee throbbing and my head whirling out of control.

I'm not gonna make it!

And then I heard a loud buzzing noise. At first, I thought it was some sort of alarm, but then I realized it was an alarm clock! What the hay kind of alarm clock would make a buzzing noise?! Twilight have some weird taste on clocks nowadays...

I pulled myself into the doorway and turned, as the monster hesitated at the end of the aisle. His bulbous, black eyes floated up above his face, his gaping mouth drooling green liquid, twisted into an "O" of surprise. He stopped short, startled by the sudden interruption.

Saved by the bell! I thought happily, literally. And I mean literally. I pulled open the heavy front door and burst out into freedom towards the skies of Ponyville.

I flew for two blocks, my wings flapping wildly into the night breeze, my heart refusing to slow its frantic beat. I closed my eyes and flew, enjoying the feel of the cold, fresh air on my face, with the light of the moon shining on me, the sweep of my mane flying behind me as I fly. Feeling free. Free and safe! When I opened my eyes and slowed my pace, I realized that I was gripping the camera so tightly, that my hooves hurt.

My proof... I had my proof!!

One snapshot. One snapshot that nearly cost me my life. But I had it in the camera, my proof that Mr. Warts was a monster! "I have to get it developed," I said out loud. "Fast." I flew the rest of the way back to Fluttershy’s home, cradling the camera under my hooves.

As her house came to view, I had a chilling feeling that Mr. Warts would be waiting there. That he would be waiting beside the front porch, waiting to grab the camera from me, to rob me of my proof! I hesitated near the small bridge that leads to Fluttershy’s front door.

I walked up the front lawn slowly.

No one there…

Was he hiding in the bushes? Around the side of the cottage? You’re being stupid, I scolded myself. How could Mr. Warts get here before you?

Besides, I wasn’t even sure he had recognized me. The light’s we’re out in the library. The room was dark. The closest he had come was the aisle next to mine and he was blinded for a long while from the camera flash.

I started to breathe a little easier. Yes, it was possible that the librarian didn't know who he was chasing. It was possible that he never got a good look at me at all. While I ponder with those possibilities, Fluttershy came down to her front door as she entered. I rushed after her, going to the front door and came inside. “Hi, Fluttershy!” I called as she turns towards me.

“Oh, hello. How’s it going?” She asked. Her body a bit sweaty and her mane were disheveled. She looked tired.

“Fluttershy, can we get this developed – Right away?!” I demanded, shoving the camera toward her.

“O-oh my.” She squeaked. “I just got home, and I’m a bit hungry. Let’s talk about it at dinner, okay?”

“No, Shy – really!” I insisted. “I have to get this developed. There’s something very important on it.”

“What’s so important?” Applejack asked who entered the house as well. Looks like she already got home.

“Oh! AJ! I didn’t realize you’re home! How’s your vacation?” Fluttershy asked.

“Ah, well… I wouldn't call it a vacation, it’s sort of a work vacation, now… what’s this important thing y’all talkin’ ‘bout?” She asked me now. Looks like she’s interested.

I had the urge to tell them. I had the urge to tell them that I had a photo of the monster in there. But I stopped myself. I knew these two wouldn't believe me. I knew they wouldn't take me seriously. Not after the pranks that I did to these two and others a long time ago.

“I’ll show it to you when it’s developed,” I said. But they just stared at me. “Uhh…”

Before I can say something, Fluttershy spoke. “Oh! I forgot, I haven’t gone to the market to buy some food to cook! What’ll I gonna do?” She frowns looking down the floor.

“Ah know! How ‘bout ah treat y’all out to dinner?” Applejack offered. Surely, Fluttershy smiled and accepted her offer.

“Great!” I cried. “Can we eat at the Square? At that little Japonese restaurant you like?” I turned to AJ. “Please? Please? Then I could get my film developed while we eat.”

“I could go for some ramen,” Fluttershy said thoughtfully. Then she turned her gaze on me. “You’re really eager to get your film developed, don’t you?”

“Come on, tell us, Dashie. What’s in it?” Applejack insisted.

I couldn't hold it any longer. “It’s a picture I snapped of Mr. Warts,” I told them excitedly. “It’s my proof!” I insisted. “Maybe when you see the photo, you’ll finally believe me.”

“Say, what now?” AJ tilts her head at me. I forgot, she hasn't heard my story yet.

“Rainbow Dash said that the librarian who’s staying at Twilight’s is a monster.” Fluttershy shook her head.

Applejack then looks at me with a sour look. “Look, Dashie, you’re our friend and all… but y’all gonna have to spot this gosh-darn stories about monsters living in our community.”

“You’ll see… once you see this picture, you’ll believe!” I snapped back.

“You’re right; I’ll believe it when I see it.” Applejack said, still shaking her head.

“Where’s Scootaloo? Let’s bring her along with us tonight.” Fluttershy asked, looking around her house. I told her I’ll get her and meet up with them later at the restaurant. I got out and flew off to get Scootaloo.

Scootaloo said she needs to take a bath before she can come, so I took a bath with her. It was a fast shower, if you know what I mean. After then, we flew off, drying ourselves on the way and arrived at the restaurant five minutes later.

I pushed the button on my camera to rewind the roll of film. “I’m going to drop this at the one-hour developing place for a bit,” I told Scootaloo. “You go on ahead inside, tell them I’ll be back in a second, I’ll just pick this up after dinner.”

“Oh, alright.” Scootaloo huffed, then goes on inside. After dinner, I told myself, I won’t have to talk about monsters – I’ll show you all!

Later that evening, dinner seemed to take forever. A colt near out table didn't stop complaining the whole time. He said his noodles tasted funny. He said the hay strips were too greasy, and the soup was too hot. Also, a foal won’t stop crying across the hall and this noise is deafening! And despite all of that, I barely paid any attention to what anyone said. I was thinking about my snapshot. I couldn't wait to see it – and to show it to the others.

I could just imagine the looks on their faces when they saw that I was right, that I haven’t been making it up – that Mr. Warts really was a monster.

I imagined both of Scootaloo and Fluttershy apologizing to me, promising they’d never doubt me again.
“I feel so bad,” Imagined Fluttershy saying, “I’m going to buy you the Wonderbolt Storm Suit you've always wanted.”

“And a ticket for their sky show next week!” I imagined Applejack saying. “Please forgive us for doubting you.”

“And I’m sorry too,” I Imagined Scootaloo saying. “I know I’ve been a real jerk to you lately.”

“You can go to mah room too, and do a little~”

Suddenly, Fluttershy’s voice broke into my daydreams. “Dash? D-did you hear what I’ve said?”
I snapped back to reality, nearly losing my balance on the chair. “H-huh?! No… I… uh… was thinking about something,” I admitted and start eating some of my noodles.

“Bet she’s thinking about those monsters!” Scootaloo cried, raising both hooves up over the table as if she were a monster about to attack me.

“C’mon, Dashie. No monster talk.” Applejack said sharply.

“Well, don’t look at me!” I cried. “She said it – not me!” I pointed an accusing hoof at Scootaloo.

“Just finish your dinner, Dash, please?” Fluttershy sighs, and looks a bit disappointed. I hate seeing her like this, I really hate making anyone upset over these things. I usually stop, but I already gone this far to bring this monster down, and I’m not about to give up just yet.

Finally, we we’re opening some sort of cookie with a fortune on it. Oddly enough, I thought this kind of cookie was given through another country, but I didn't pay much attention to such trivial things at the moment. Mine said something about waiting for sunshine when the clouds part. Well, duh! I've been kicking clouds to let the sunshine in every winter wrap up. Guess this one just told me what I already know.

Applejack paid the check. Scootaloo nearly spilled a glass of milk when we were about to get up. I went flying out of the restaurant to get to that photo store. I was so excited, so eager, I couldn't wait another second. The little photo store was on another block from where we were, so I sped up a bit and got there ten seconds flat.

I tore into the store, up to the counter, and called out loudly to the young mare at the developing machine, “Are my photos ready yet?”

“She turned to me suddenly, startled by my loud voice. “Oh! Uhm… I think so. What’s your name?”

I told her. She walked over to a rack of yellow envelopes and began slowly shuffling through them. I tapped my hooves on the countertop with a rhythm, staring at the stack of yellow envelopes. Couldn't she hurry it up a little? I asked myself nervously.

She shuffled all the way through the stack, and then turned back to me. “What did you say your name was again?”

Trying not to sound exasperated, I told her my name again. I leaned eagerly on the counter top, my heart pounding, and stared at her as she began once again to shuffle through the yellow envelopes, moving her lips as she read the names. Finally, she pulled one out and handed to me. I grabbed it and started to tear it open. “That comes to fourteen bits even,” she said.

I stopped what I was doing and realized I didn't have any money. “Uhh… I… I’ll have to get my friends,” I told her, not letting go of the precious package… somehow that didn't sound right in my mind.

As I was about to turn and call for them, Applejack came in the doorway. Fluttershy and Scootaloo waited outside. She paid for me.

I carried the envelope of photos out of the store and pulled it open, removing the snapshots. “D-Dashie, calm down,” Fluttershy said, sounding worried.

I stared down at the snapshots. All photos of Scootaloo’s birthday party along with Pinkie and me. I sifted through them quickly, staring at the grinning faces of me, my friends, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Applebloom, and with others.

Where is it? Where is it? Where is it?

Of course, it was the very last photos. The one on the bottom of the stacks. Pffh, I knew that.
“Here it is!” I cried. Fluttershy, Scootaloo and Applejack leaned over my shoulder to see.

The other photos fell from my hooves and scattered all over the ground as I raised the photo to my face-

-and nearly lost it.

Author's Note

This is my latest entry of this current one. If you spot anything wrong on the text, please let me know~ X3

Chapter 11

The photo was clear and sharp. Mr. Warts’ large desk stood in the center in a burst of bright light. I could see papers on the desk, the pan of turtles at the far corner, a low pile of books. Behind the desk, I could see the top of Mr. Warts’ tall wooden stool and behind the stool, the shelves were in clear focus, even the glass jar of flies on the lower shelf.

But there was no monster.

No Mr. Warts.

No one.

No one in the snapshot all.

“He – he was standing right there!” I cried. “Behind the desk!”

“The room looks empty,” Applejack said, staring down over my shoulder at the snapshot in my quivering hoof.

“There’s no one there,” Fluttershy said, turning her gaze on me.

“He was there,” I insisted, unable to take my eyes off the photo. “Right there.” I pointed to where the monster had stood.”

Scootaloo laughed. “Let me see.” She pulled the photo from my hoof and examined it. “I see him!” she declared. “He’s invisible!”

“It’s not funny, Scoots… come on…” I said weakly. I took the photo from her and sighed unhappily. I felt so bad. I wanted to sink into a hole in the floor and never come out.

“He’s invisible!” Scootaloo repeated gleefully, enjoying her own joke. Fluttershy and Applejack were staring at me, looks of concern on their faces.

“Don’t you see?” I cried, waving the photo in one hoof. “Don’t you see? This proves it! This proves he’s a monster. He doesn’t show up in photographs!”

Applejack shook her head and frowned. “Rainbow, haven’t you carried this joke far enough?”

Fluttershy put a hoof on my shoulder. “I’m starting to get worried about you,” she said softly. “I think you’re really starting to believe in your own monster joke.”

“Can we get Icecream?” Scoots asked.

-----------------------------------------

“Uugghhh… I can’t believe we’re doing this,” Scootaloo complained.

“Just shut up, you owe me!” I snapped. It was the next evening. We were crouched low, hiding behind the low shrubs at the side of the library.

It was a crisp, cool day. It seems the Weather mares are doing less today since it’s our break. The sun was already lowering itself behind the trees. The shadows stretched long and blue over the library lawn. “I owe you?” Scootaloo protested. “Are you crazy?!”

“You owe me,” I repeated. “You were supposed to come to the library with me yesterday, remember? You let me down.”

She brushed off her nose. “Can I help it if I’m hungry?” She sounded funny. She seems to have a slight cold since she ate so much ice cream yesterday.

“Yes,” I insisted. “I counted on you, and you let me down – and you got me in all kinds of trouble.”

“What kind of trouble- ohh….” She dropped to the ground and sat on her haunches, keeping her head low behind the evergreen shrub.

“Those two said I’m never again allowed to mention Mr. Warts or the fact that he’s a monster,” I told her.

“Wait, why didn’t I remember that?” She asked confused. Obviously didn’t saw or hear what happened next once we got home.

“You fell asleep the moment you got in the sofa.” I said to her, looking really bitter.

“Well… that’s good.” She said.

“Not good. It means I really need you, Scoots. I need you to see that I’m telling the truth, and tell those two its real!” My voice broke. “They think I’m crazy. They really do!”

She started to reply, but she could see I was really upset. So she stopped herself. “Sorry about last night… I was just kidding around.” A cool breeze swept past, making the trees all seem to whisper at us.

I kept my eyes trained on the library door. It was past five-twenty, past closing time. Mr. Warts should be coming out any second. “So we’re going to follow Mr. Warts home?” Scoots asked, scratching the back of her neck. “And spy on him at his house? Why don’t we just watch him through the library window?”

“The window is too high,” I replied. “We have to follow him. He told me he walks home every evening. I want you to see him turn into a monster,” I said, staring straight ahead over the top of the bush. “I want you to believe me.”

“This again?” Scoots scratched her head even more. “What if I say I believe you instead?” Scoots asked, grinning. “Then could we go home?”

“Sssshh!!” I pressed a hoof over Scoots’ mouth. The library door was opening. Mr. Warts appeared on front of the steps. Scoots and I ducked down lower.

I peered through the branches of the shrub. The librarian turned to lock the front door. He was wearing a red-and-white-striped short-sleeved sport shirt. He had a red cap on his bald head.

“Stay far behind,” I whispered to Scoots. “Don’t let him see you.”

“Good advice,” Scoots said sarcastically.

We both shifted onto out knees and waited for Mr. Warts to head down the sidewalk. He hesitated on the steps, replacing the keys in his bag. Then, humming to himself, he walked down the road and turned away from us. “What’s he humming about?” Scoots whispered.

“He always hums,” I whispered back. Mr. Warts was more than half a block away. “Let’s go,” I said climbing quickly to my hooves.

Keeping in the shadows of the trees and shrubs, I began following the librarian, Scoots followed just behind me. “Do you know where he lives?” Scoots asked.

I turned back to him, frowning. “If I knew where he lived, we wouldn’t have to follow him – would we!”

“O-oh… right.” She grinned sheepishly.

Following someone was a lot harder than I thought. We had to cut through front yards. Some of them had barking dogs. Some had thorny bushes. Some had thick hedges we somehow had to duck through. At every street corner, Mr. Warts would stop and look both ways for oncoming carts. Each time, I was certain he was going to look over his shoulder too, and see Scoots and me creeping along behind him.

He lived farther from the library than I had thought. After several blocks, the houses ended, and a bare, flat field spread in front of us. Mr. Warts cut through the field, walking quickly, swinging his stubby hooves rhythmically which each step. We had no choice but to follow him across the field. There were no hiding places. No shrubs to duck behind or hedges to shield us. We were completely out in the open. We just had to pray to Celestia that he didn’t turn around in the middle of the field and see us.

A block of small, older houses stood beyond the field. Most of the houses were brick, set close to the street on tiny front yards.

Mr. Warts turned onto a block of these houses. Scoots and I crouched behind a mailbox and watched him walk up to a house near the middle of the block. He stepped onto the small front steps and fiddled in his pocket for the keys. “We’re here,” I whispered to Scoots. “We made it.”

“My friend Feather Weight lives on this block, I think.” Scoots said.

“Who cares?” I snapped. “Keep your mind in the current mission, okay?”

We waited until Mr. Warts had disappeared through the front door of his house, and then crept closer. His house was white clapboard, badly in need of a paint job. He had a small rectangle of a front yard, with recently cut grass boarded by a single row of tall, yellow tiger lilies. Scoots and I made out way quickly to the side of the house where there was a narrow strip of grass that led to the back. The window near the front of the house was high enough for us to stand under and not be seen. A light came on the window. “That must be his living room,” I whispered.

Scoots had a frightened expression. Her face seems a lot paler. “I don’t like this,” she said.

“The hard part was following him,” I assured Scoots. “This part is easy. We just watch him through the window.”

“But the window is too high,” Scoots pointed out. “We can’t see anything at all!”

I literally put a hoof into my face, ready to make a HUGE contradiction to her statement. “Look, Scoots. We have wings… We can hover over.”

“I can’t fly remember?” She snapped back at me.

“Gee whiz, kid… you still don’t know how to fly?”

“I’m trying my best here, give me a break!” She pouts.

“Alright, alright. no need to get stingy.” I said, as I try to figure out how she can look in as well while not blowing our cover. I could carry her, but that would mean a lot of time hovering with an almost a pound heavy little filly. Another light came on, this one in a back window. Probably the kitchen, I figured. It was also too high for the little one to see… especially when she can’t fly and all.

“Hmm…” I was thinking for a bit if I should bring alone Scoots while I peek, but she’s more than a dead giveaway because of her un-stealthy way of spying. “Look, I’ll go peek in instead, you stand watch, okay?”

“Aww, fine.” She pouts again, sitting down at the ground and puffing her left cheek.

I sighed and floated up a bit, then started peeking. Somewhere down the block a dog barked. I hoped he wasn’t barking because of Scoots and me. Another dog, closer to us, quickly joined in, and it became a barking conversation.

“Do you see anything?” Scoots whispered loudly.

One hoof was grabbing the window pane, while I raised my head and peered into the house through the bottom window. “Yeah. I can see some,” I called down. “There’s a big aquarium in front of the window, but I can see most of the living room.” And just as I said that, Mr. Warts’ face loomed inches away from mine. He was staring right at me!

I gasped and lost my fight pattern, I fell to the ground, knocking over a wheelbarrow and lands head first at the ground. “Ow!”

“What happened?” Scoots cried, alarmed.

“He saw me!” I choked out, waiting for the pain to stop throbbing.

“What?!” Scoots’ mouth dropped open we both gazed up at the window. I expected to see Mr. Warts staring down at us. But there’s no sign of him there.

I climbed quickly to my hooves. “Maybe he was looking at the aquarium,” I whispered, motioning Scoots to come closer. “Maybe he didn’t see me.”

“Wh-what are you gonna do?” Scoots stammered, in her squeaking voice.

“Get back up of course.” I told her. My legs were shaking as I float back up and grabbed the window ledge and looked back in.

The sun had nearly gone down. The darkness outside made it easier to see inside the house and I hoped, harder for Mr. Warts to see out. I didn’t have the best view in the world, I quickly realized. The aquarium, crowded with colorful fish, blocked my view of most of the room. If only I can go a little higher, but of course… also blowing my cover.

“What’s he doing?” Scoots asked in a trembling whisper.

“Nothing he’s… wait!” Mr. Warts was staring down at the fish. He stood only a few feet from me, on the other side of the aquarium, and a smile formed on his pudgy face. He had removed the red cap as his head looked yellow in the living room lamplight. His mouth moved. He was saying something to the tropical fish in the aquarium. I couldn’t hear him through the glass.

Then, he smiled down at his fish, he began to change. “He’s doing it,” I whispered to Scoots. “He’s turning into a monster.” As I watched Mr. Warts’ head inflate and his eyes bulge out, I was filled with all kinds of strange feelings. I was terrified, and I was fascinated at the same time. It was exciting to be so close, inches away from a real monster! I felt happy and relieved that Scoots would finally see for herself that I was telling the truth!

Then, as Mr. Warts’ mouth grew wider and began to gyrate, a twisting black home on his swollen, yellow face, fear overtook me. I froze there; my face was pressed against the window, not blinking, not moving.

I stared as he reached a hoof into the aquarium. His fat hooves wrapped around a slender blue fish. He pulled it up and flipped it into his mouth. I could see long, yellow teeth inside the enormous mouth, biting down, chewing the wriggling fish. Then, as I gaped in growing terror, Mr. Warts pulled a black snail off the side of the aquarium glass. Holding its shell between his hooves he stuffed the snail into his mouth. His teeth crunched down hard on its shell, cracking it – a crack so loud, that it can even rival Tank’s shell pounce. Oh, how Fluttershy would be furious if she sees this.

My stomach churned. I felt sick.

He swallowed the snail, and then reached to pull another one off the aquarium glass. “I think I’m going to toss my lunch,” I whispered down to Scoots.

Scoots!! I forgot all about her! I was so fascinated by the monster, so excited, so terrified to watch him close up, that I had forgotten the whole purpose of being here! “Scoots! Grab my hoof! You’ve got to see this! You got to see the monster!” I whispered still staring through the window. “Scoots! Hey! Didn’t you hear me?!” She didn’t reply… “Scoots? Scoots?!” I lowered my eyes from the window
Scoots had disappeared!!

Author's Note

It's a long update, but here's the current one. Clearly I have tons of work to do, specially my other Light Novel coming up this december.

Chapter 12

I felt a stab of panic in my chest. My entire body convulsed in a tremor of cold fear. Where was she? Had she ran away? Was Scoots so frightened that he just took off without telling me? Or had something happened to him? Something really bad?

“Scoots? Scoots?!” In my panic, I forgot that I was inches away from a monster, and started to shout. “Scoots? Where are you?”

“Shh,” I heard a whisper from the back of the house. Scootaloo appeared, making his way quickly toward me along the narrow strip of grass. “I’m right here, Dash!”

“Huh? Where’d you go?” I asked, a bit cheesed off at her, then n I looked at the direction he was pointing. At the back of the house.

“I thought maybe I could find a ladder or something. You know. So I could see too.”

“You scared me to death!” I cried. Returning my glance to the window. Mr. Warts’s was sucking a slithering eel into his mouth like a strand of spaghetti. “Quick, Scoots – help me down,” I instructed, still feeling shaken from the scare of his disappearance. “You have to see this. You have to, before he changes back!”

“He – he’s really a monster?” Scoots’ mouth dropped open. “You’re not joking?”

“Just get up here!” I cried impatiently. But as I tried to lower myself to the ground, a spider or something crawling latched into my back, startling me and making my decent a horrible disaster. I hit the wall of the house with a loud thud as I desperately try to get that stinking thing off me until finally I dropped down and crashed head first into the dirt and the wheelbarrow from earlier toppled and hit the wall as well with a thud.

“Ow!” I cried out as a sharp pain cut through my side and my left wing. Glancing up, I saw the monster’s startled face, goggling down at me through the glass. I scrambled to get up. But the throbbing pain in my side took my breath away. “Scoots – Help me!” But she was already running to the street, her hooves scraping the grass, flapping her wings as fast as she can for more momentum like her life depends on it. Ignoring the pain in my side, I scrambled to my hooves.

I took an unsteady step, then another. I shook my head, trying to shake away my dizziness then sucked in a deep breath and started to fly, follow Scoots toward the street.

I had gone about four or five flaps when I felt Mr. Warts’ surprisingly strong hoof grab my shoulders from behind. I tried to scream, but no sound came out. He held firmly onto my shoulders. I could feel his hot, wet hooves through my mane.

I tried to pull away, but he was too strong, then he spun me around and squinted at me with those little black eyes, as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “Rainbow Dash!” he exclaimed in his scratchy voice. He lets go of my shoulders and stepped back.

I was panting loudly and really frightened as my chest felt like it’s about to explode. How had he changed back from his monster form so quickly? What’s he gonna do to me?

“Rainbow Dash, good heavens. I thought you were a burglar,” He said, shaking his head. He removed a white handkerchief from his vest pocket and wiped his perspiring forehead.

“S-sorry,” I stammered. My voice came out in a choked whisper.

He balled up the handkerchief between his fat hooves and jammed it back into his pocket. “What are you doing here?”

“Well…” My heart was pounding so hard, I could feel the blood pulse at my temples. My side still ached from where I had fallen on the wheelbarrow. I struggled to clear my mind. I had to think of an answer to his question. I had to. “Well…” I started again, thinking deeper into the bowels of my head desperately. “I… uhh… came to tell you that I’ll …uh… be a little late for my reading appointment tomorrow.

He narrowed his eyes and stared at me thoughtfully. “But why were you looking through my window?” He demanded.

Think, Dashie – think! “I didn’t know if you were home or not. I just was trying to see if you were there, I mean, So I could tell you… about the appointment tomorrow.” I said, staring into his face, trying to sound sincere, I took a step back, in case I had to make a run for it.

Did he believe me? Was he buying it? I couldn’t tell. He continued to stare at me thoughtfully as he rubbed his chin. “Hmmmm… You really didn’t have to come all the way out here,” he said softly. “Did you ride on your scooter?” His eyes darted over the small front lawn.

Okay, first of all there was something wrong when he asked that. How did he even know I HAD a scooter? I already gave that to scoots… even though she already had one. And second, I didn’t tell anypony… ANYPONY about my scooter, ever! “No, uhh… I flew! I like to glide through the skies… you know, cuz I’m a Pegasus?” I replied awkwardly.

“It’s getting dark,” he said. “Maybe you should call your friends to come pick you up. Why don’t you come inside and wait while I get someone to send them here…”

Come inside? Come inside the monster’s house? No way! “Uhh… no thanks, Mr. Warts,” I said, talking another step backwards toward the street. “My friends don’t mind if I walk home. It isn’t really that far, really… and I’m not a filly anymore.”

“No. I insist,” he said, and odd grin starting across his mole-like face. He motioned toward the house. “Come on in, Dash. The couch is right in the living room,” he urged. “Come on, I won’t bite.”

I shuddered. I’d just seen him bite snails… and eels! There’s no way I was going in that house. I knew that if I went in, chances are I’d never come out. EVER!

“I – I’ve got to go,” I said, giving him a wave of one hoof. I could feel the fear creeping up in my back, running over my body. I knew if I didn’t get away from here – that moment - I’d be frozen by my terror, unable to escape.

“Dash-“ Mr. Warts insisted.

“No, really. Bye Mr. Warts.” I waved again, turned and started jogging down the street.

“You really shouldn’t have to come all this way!” he called after me in his high, scratchy voice. “Really. You shouldn’t have!”

I know! I thought. Iknow I shouldn’t have. I trotted along the street turned to a corner, and continued down the block. Was I really getting away? Was he really letting me go? I couldn’t believe he’d bought my lame excuse. Why was he letting me get way if he didn’t believe me? I slowed my walk as my side ached a bit and my wing was still hurting. I suddenly had a throbbing headache. I would have just flown away, if it weren’t for this friggin’ injury.

Night had already fallen. Passing fireflies had their lights on as they buzzed noisily, illuminating the way as they go. A slender trail of dark cloud drifted over a pale half-moon still low in the purple-grey sky. It seems some weather mares are still at work tonight… and Princess Luna seems to be a tad lazy tonight, seeing the moon’s appearance tonight.

I was about to cross a bridge when hoof grabbed my shoulders again! I cried out, well… more like a yelp than a scream, and spun around, expecting to see the monster. “Scoots!” I cried then swallowed hard, trying to force down my fear. “W-where-?”

“I-I waited for you,” she said, her voice trembling, her hooves are shaking and looks like she’s about to cry.

“S-Scoots…”

“I’ve been waiting all this time,” she said shrilly. “Where have you been?! I’ve been sp scared!”

“I was… back there,” I told him.

“I was ready to call the guards, or something.” Scoots shot back. “I was hiding down the block. I-”

“You saw him?” I asked eagerly, suddenly remembering why we had risked our lives tonight. “You saw, Mr. Warts?”

Scootaloo shook her head. “No, I didn’t. I was too far away.”

“But earlier,” I said. “Through the window. When he was a monster, didn’t you see him then? Didn’t you see him eat the snails and eels?”

Scoots shook her head again. “I didn’t see anything, Dashie,” she said softly. “I’m sorry, I wish I had help.”

Big help, I thought bitterly. Now what am I gonna do?

It was the next afternoon, a stormy, grey day and Fluttershy and I were in her kitchen arguing. I was trying to tell her there was no way I could go and return my book that I borrowed last time in the library. And she was insisting that I had to go. “Come on, Shy, You’ve got to believe me!,” I pleaded. I was trying not to whine, that was Rarity’s bit, but my voice kept creeping higher and higher. “Mr. Warts is a monster. I can’t go to the library anymore!”

Fluttershy made a disgusted face and tossed down the dish towel she was folding. “Dash, Applejack and I had it up to here with your silly monster stories.” She turned to face me. Her expression was angry. “The fact is, Dash dear, that you are a quitter. You never stick with anything. You’re a coward, that’s your problem!”

“Mr. Warts IS a monster,” I interrupted “That’s my problem!”

“Well, I don’t care,” Fluttershy replied sharply. “I don’t care if he turns to a drooling werewolf at night. You’re going to return that book because that’s what’s right! You’re going to go there and apologize to Mr. Warts for not returning it earlier even if I had to walk you there holding your hoof!”

“Gee – would you?” I asked. The idea flashed in my head that Fluttershy could hide in the stacks with me and see for herself when Mr. Warts turned to a monster. But she thought I was being sarcastic, and just scowled at me and walked out of the kitchen.

And so, an hour later, I was trudging up in the air to the library. It was raining hard, though I didn’t get any memo of a heavy rainstorm today, I should have known better and didn’t care much if I was drenched and my mane was all straight. I shook wildly and flick my tail to dry off before going in the library.

I shivered, more from fear, and from being back from this frightening place than the cold. It used to be nice when Twilight was here, now it’s a ghost house, or something.

I pulled off my bag and noticed it was dripping wet too! “Great.” I scowled. While I think of a way on how to dry this up, a thought came to me… How can I face Mr. Warts? Grabbing the books out of the bag and left it near the door, I wondered that to myself as I trotted my way reluctantly into the main reading room. How can I face him after last night?

He must surely suspect that I know his secret. He couldn’t. have believed me last night, could he?

I was so furious at Fluttershy for forcing me to come here. I could just leave, but she’d know the second I do! She has eyes everywhere! That low flying insect… I hope he turns to a monster and chews me to bits! I thought bitterly. That will really teach her a lesson

I pictured Fluttershy, Applejack and Scootaloo, sitting mournfully in our living room, crying their eyes out, wailing. “If only we had believed her! If only we had listened!” That thought sends a bit of pleasure in my little crazed mind.

I made my way slowly past the long rows of books to the back of the room. To my relief, there were several ponies in the library. I saw two little fillies and their mothers and a couple of other mares browsing in the mystery book section.

Great! I thought, starting to feel a little calmer. Mr. Warts won’t dare do anything while the library is filled with ponies

The librarian was dressed in a green turtleneck today, which really made him look like a big, round turtle. Which reminds me, I need to get Tank’s propeller fixed. He was stamping a stack of books and didn’t look up as I stepped close to the desk. I cleared my throat nervously. “Mr. Warts?”

It took him a long while to look up. When he finally did, a warm smile formed above his chins. “Hi, Miss Dash. Give me a few minutes, okay?”

“Sure,” I said. “I’ll go dry off.” He seems friendly, I thought, heading over to a chair at one of the long tables. He doesn’t seem angry at all. Maybe he really did believe my story last night. Maybe he really doesn’t know that I’ve seen him turn into a monster. Maybe I’ll get out of here alive! Sweet!

I sat down at the table and shook some more water from my mane. I stared at the big, round wall clock, nervously waiting for him to call me up for our meeting. The clock ticked noisily. Each second seemed to take a minute. The kids with their mothers checked out some books and left. I turned to the mystery section and saw that the two mares had also cleared out. The librarian and I were the only ones left.

Mr. Warts shoved a stack of books across his desk and stood up. “I’ll be right back, Miss Dash.” He said, another friendly, reassuring smile on his face. “Then we’ll have our meeting.”

Alright, I know something was off… Why is he calling me Miss Dash all of a sudden? And why his smile reminds me of when Pinkie was when she thought that our friends, including me, forgotten her?

Mr. Warts stepped away from his desk and, walking briskly, headed to the back of the reading room. I guessed he was going to the bathroom or something.

A jagged flash of white lightning flickered across the dark sky outside the window. It was followed by a drum roll of thunder. I stood up from the table and started towards Mr. Warts’ desk.

I was halfway to the desk when I heard a loud click. I knew at once that he had locked the front door. A few seconds later, he returned, walking briskly, still smiling. He was rubbing his pudgy white hands together as he walked. “Shall we talk about your book?” He asked, stepping up to me.

“Mr. Warts – you locked the front door,” I said, swallowing hard.

His smile faded. His dark little eyes locked into mine. “Yes. Of course,” he said softly, studying my face. His hands were still clasped together in front of him.

“But – why?” I stammered.

He brought his face close to mine, and his smile grew wide once again. “I know why you were at my house last night,” he growled into my ear. “I know everything.”

“But, Mr. Warts, I—“

“I’m sorry,” he said in his throaty growl. “But I can’t let you leave, Dash. I can’t let you leave the librar

Chapter 13

“Woah…” The sound escaped my lips, a moan of total terror. Well, not really, more like a gasp than a moan. I stared at him without moving, I guess I wanted to see if he was serious or not. If he really meant what he said. His eyes told me he did.

And as I stared at him, his head began to inflate. His tiny, round eyes shot out of their sockets and grew into throbbing black bulbs.

“Ohhh… my…” Again, the terrified sound escaped my lips. My entire body convulsed in a shudder of terror. His head is throbbing now, throbbing like a beating heart. His mouth opened into a gaping, gruesome leer, and green spittle ran down his quivering chin.

Move! I told myself. Move, Dashie! DO something! his disgusting grin grew wider as his enormous head bobbed and throbbed excitedly. He uttered a low growl of attack and reached out both arms to grab me.

“NO!!!” I shrieked. Leaning back, and with all my might, drove my hind legs into his flabby stomach, giving him a full forced buck on the gut. This will make Applejack proud.

It caught him by surprise. He gasped as it took his breath away. In his confusion, I spun around and started to run. He was right behind me; I could hear his panting breath and low, menacing growls.

I ran through a narrow aisle between two shelves. A rumble of thunder from outside seemed to shake the room. He was still behind me. Close. Closer… He was going to catch me, going to grab me from behind!

I reached the end of the row. I hesitated, but I didn’t know which way to turn! I couldn’t think fast enough. He roared a monstrous animal sound. Panicking, I turned left and started to run along the back wall of the room.

Lightning flashed outside followed by a sharp noise.

“Buck!” I realized to my horror that I’d made a mistake, a fatal mistake. I was running right into the corner! There was no exit here. No escape! The shelves were too cramp for me to fly and it was impossible to maneuver in my current position.

He roared again, so loud that it drowned out the thunder.

I was trapped…

I knew it…

Trapped!!!

With a desperate cry, I ran blindly – headlong into the card catalogue. Behind me, I heard the monster’s roar of laughter. He knew he had won.

Without me noticing, the card catalogue toppled over when I leaned over it. Drawers came sliding out, cards spilled at my feet scattering over the floor.
“Nooo!!!” The monster howled. At first I thought it was a victory cry, but then I realized that it was an angry cry of protest. With a moan of horror, he stooped to the floor and began gathering up the cards.

Staring in disbelief, I plunged past him, running frantically, my hooves thrashing wildly at my sides. In that moment of terror, I remembered the one thing that egg headed librarians hate worst: having cards from the card catalogue spilled on the floor!

Mr. Warts was a monster – but he was also a librarian. He couldn’t bear to have those cards in disorder. He had to try and replace them before chasing after me.

It took only seconds to run into the front entryway, turn the lock, pull open the door, and flee out into the rain, not even caring if my bag and my book are left inside anymore.

My hooves slapped the pavement as I ran, sending up splashes of rainwater. I could fly, but the injury I got from the other day prevents me to flap my wings that hard. I made my way to the street and was halfway up the block when I realized that he was chasing after me!

A flash of lightning cracked to my left. I cried out, startled, as a deafening burst of thunder shook the ground. I glanced back to see how close the monster was… and stopped.

With trembling hooves, I frantically brushed a glaze of rainwater from my eyes. “Scoots!” I cried. “What are you doing here?!”

She ran up to me, hunching against the cold rain. She was breathing hard. Her eyes were wide and frightened. “I – I was in the library,” she stammered, struggling to catch her breath. “Hiding. I saw it. I saw the monster! I saw everything!”

“You did?!” I was so happy, despite my rushing fear, I managed to give out a huge smile and hugged her tightly… wet, yet warm…

A sheet of rain swept against us, driven by a gust of wind. “Let’s get to the cottage!” I cried. “You can tell Fluttershy and AJ. Now maybe they’ll finally believe it!”

After a while, Scoots and I bust into the cottage’s den. Fluttershy looked up in surprise as well as smaller animals running across the room in utter surprise and fright. Applejack was conveniently outside heading to Fluttershy’s home as well.

“You’re dripping wet!” Fluttershy said, looking at the three of us as we went in.

“Well, ah just went to town and collect some of the earnings for today, ah don’t know ‘bout these two on why they’re wet.” Applejack pointed at us.

“It’s about the monster!” I blurted out. “Mr. Warts – he –“

Fluttershy shook her head and started to raise her hoof to stop me. But Scoots quickly came to my rescue. “I saw him, too!” Scoots exclaimed. “Dash didn’t make it up, it’s true! All of it!”

Fluttershy and Applejack looked at each other. They listened to Scoots. I knew they would. How ironic that they would listen to a kid, rather than a grown up.

Scoots told them what she had seen in the library. He told them how the librarian had turned into a monster and chased me into the corner. Fluttershy listened intently to Scootaloo’s story, shaking her head. “I guess what Dashie said is true,” she said, when Scoots had finished.

“Well, ah guess you aren’t lyin’ after all, Dash.” Applejack said, putting her hoof gently at my shoulder.

“Well, now that you finally believe me – what are you going to do, AJ?” I demanded.

She gazed at me thoughtfully. “We’ll invite Mr. Warts over,” she said.

“What?” I goggled at him, rainwater running down my face. “You’ll WHAT?!” He tried to eat me, chased me for almost all around the darn library, nearly bit my head off, and you’re going to invite him HERE? Are you nuts?!” I protested. “You can’t!”

“Dash, we have no choice!” Fluttershy insisted. “We need to invite him in here.” At that moment, both of them looked at me, reassuring me that everything will be okay.

But I know deep in my gut, that something will happen… that’s probably not good.

Final Chapter

Mr. Warts arrived a few evenings later, carrying a bouquet of flowers. He was wearing a lime green vest and a bow tie. Fluttershy accepted the flowers with utmost shyness and led him to the living room where Applejack, Scootaloo and I were waiting. I gripped my back chair tightly and rocked back and forth. My legs felt rubbery, and my stomach felt as I’d swallowed a heavy rock.

I still couldn’t believe that Fluttershy invited Mr. Warts into her house! Why not just invite him for a picnic outside? Applejack stepped forward to shake hooves with the librarian. “We’ve been meaning to invite you for quite a while,” Applejack told him, smiling. “We want to thank you for the excellent job of taking care the library for our friend.”

“Yes,” Fluttershy joined in. “It’s really meant a lot to Twilight.”

Mr. Warts glanced at me uncertainly. I could see he was studying my expression. “I’m glad,” he said, forcing a tight-lipped smile.

Mr. Warts lowered himself unto the couch. Fluttershy offered him a tray of crackers with cheese on them. He took one and chewed on it delicately. Scoots sat down on the rug. I was still standing behind the armchair, gripping the back of it so tightly, my hooves ached. I hadn’t ever been so nervous in all my life.

Mr. Warts seemed nervous too. When Applejack handed him a glass of iced tea, Mr. Warts spilled a little on his vest. “It’s such a humid day,” he said. “This iced tea hits the spot.”

“Being a librarian must be interesting work,” Fluttershy said, taking a seat beside Mr. Warts on the couch. They chatted for a while. As they talked, Mr. Warts kept darting glances at me. Scoots, sitting on the floor, drummed her hooves on the carpet.

Fluttershy and Applejack seemed calm and perfectly at ease. Mr. Warts seemed a little uncomfortable. He had glistening beads of perspiration on his shiny round forehead.

My stomach growled loudly, more from nervousness than hunger. Nopony seemed to hear it.

The three chatted a while longer. Mr. Warts sipped his iced tea. He leaned back on the couch and smiled at my friend. “It was kind of you to invite me. I don’t get too much home invitation nowadays.What are we going to do exactly?”

“Eliminate you!” Fluttershy said, standing up and going to a curtained door.

“What?” Mr. Warts raised a hoof behind his hand behind his ear. “I didn’t hear you correctly. What are we gonna do, again?”

“Eliminate you…” Flutteshy repeated, as she opens the curtain and a pair of blades displayed in a pedestal is shown.

“Ullllp!” Mr. Warts let out a little cry and turned red. He struggled to raise himself from the low couch. But Flutteshy and Applejack were too fast for him. Applejack kicked him to the head stunning the guy.

Fluttershy’s fangs appeared and her eyes turned crimson red while holding the two blades. She started to chop him up bits by bits. Scoots laughed gleefully, and I had a big smile on my face.

Scoots and I aren’t capable of doing such thing, since we’re only scouts for monsters who stumble on town. Although, I tend to say monster stories that sometimes give them false information, which is why I need Scoots with me to validate my claim… at least we caught it now.

A moment later, the former librarian is now reduced to nothing but a pile of red meat. “We’ll that’s that,” Applejack said, standing up and straitening her mane. Then she turned to Scoots and me. “That’s the very first monster to come to Ponyville in disguise.” She told us. “Luna said we keep it subtle and hunt those mutant changelings who eat living animals, that’s why she made Fluttershy the main hit-pony for this job.

“And that’s why it took me so long to believe you, Dashie.” Fluttershy added, her fangs and eyes returned to normal. “And maybe, who knows… in a few years, you might learn how to hold one of these…” She waved the blades in the air.

“I want a pair too!” Scoots yelled happily. “Then maybe, I might become a Monster Hunter someday!”

Fluttershy giggled. “Someday…”

“Besides, we can’t let anyone know that Fluttershy is a Vampony… otherwise, she’ll be run out of town! We don’t want that. We love her here!” Applejack said, as she heads out of the door. “Same as the others... No one should know about what we do after dark.... Well, it’s been fun, but ah’ll be leavin’ now… G’night everypony!” She waved, and leaves for home. We waved back goodbye then went to clean up.

Later that night, I was on Fluttershy’s guest rooms upstairs along with Scootaloo. She was all tucked in, and I was telling her a bedtime story.

“…And so the librarian hid behind the tall bookshelf,” I said in a low whispery voice. “And when the little filly named Scootaloo reached up to pull a book from the shelf and grabbed the boy and~.”

“Dashie, how many times do I have to tell you?” I glanced up to see Fluttershy standing in the doorway, a frown on her face. “I don’t want you frightening your little sister,” She scolded. “You’ll give her nightmares. Now, come on, Dashie – no more monster stories.”

THE END

Chapter 1

I love to scare my friends, Fluttershy and Scootaloo. I tell them scary stories about monsters until they both beg me to stop. And I’m always teasing them by pretending to see monsters everywhere.

I guess that’s why no one believed me the day I saw a real monster. I guess that’s why no one believed me until it was too late, and the monster was right in my friend’s house!

Although… I rather not tell the ending of my story at the very begging, no way!

I’m Rainbow Dash. I’m sure you all know me since I’m soon to be a wonder bolt member! I live in Ponyville at my ‘ol cloud mansion~ er… I mean, house...whatever you call it!

I always wonder why some towns had “ville” on its end… plus the “pony”… I mean, sure everypony knows that… but what I don’t get is the “ville” thing… what the hay is that supposed to be? Whatever and I don’t care much for the name of our town… I love it no matter what it’s called…

I sometimes go down to town and hang out with my friends, especially Fluttershy and Scootaloo. We always sit around an old sassafras tree in the middle of the park. It’s cool and shady under the tree. That’s where I like to sit with Shy and Scoots when there’s nothing better to do, and see if I can scare the jeepers off of them! It’s not hard really… Shy’s very easy to scare, but Scoots is by far the most sacredly pony I know of.

Anyway, one hot afternoon a couple of weeks ago, Fluttershy and I were sitting under the old sassafras tree, and I was getting ready to scare her to death when Scootaloo came by.

“Hi, Dashie! Hi, Shy!” She waved at us as she drove by with her little scooter.

“Hey, Scoots! Care to join my little story time?” I asked her as she trots next to Fluttershy.

“...Whaddaya have in mind..?” Scootaloo leans near Fluttershy.

I grinned and thought that this was perfect for a very hot afternoon. As soon as summer came around this year and school let out for the fillies like Scootaloo. Most of my friends went for a vacation, namely Pinkie Pie, Apple Jack and Rarity. Only me, Twilight and Fluttershy were at our own homes doing nothing… and I was stuck at home, and I was pretty lonely.

Fluttershy is sometimes a kill joy, since she always cries loudly and begs me to stop, but…I'll try to keep the scaring to a minimal...… you know, for the fun of it?

I have a really good imagination; maybe I’ll be a writer when I have the chance. I really don’t have my mind set on that kind of hobby ,but what I do know is that it doesn’t take a whole lot of imagination to frighten the both of them.

Poor girls. I can even make their teeth chatter. It’s unbelievable. Well, for Fluttershy… but for Scootaloo? Gee whiz!

I leaned back against the smooth part of the tree trunk and rested my hooves on the grass, closing my eyes. I was dreaming up a good story for the two of them.

The grass felt soft and moist against my bare hooves as I dug my them into the dirt.

Shy and Scootaloo sat side by side to each other. I almost thought that they’re like mother and daughter together. Scoots was laying there on her side plucking up blades of grass with her hoof.

“Did you ever hear about the Ponyville Ground Grabber?” I asked them, brushing a leaf on my mane.

“Huh?” Scootaloo kept pulling up blades of grass one by one, making a little pile… while Fluttershy looked at me tilting her head in curiosity.

“There was this monster called the Ponyville Ground Grabber,” I told both of them.

“Oh, please, Dashie,” Fluttershy said in a low tone. “You said you w-woudn’t make up any m-more monster stories.”

“Yeah, Dashie!” Scootaloo looked up slightly towards me.

“No I’m not!” I told them. “This story isn’t made up. It’s true!”

Scootaloo looked and made a face at me. “Yeah. Sure.” She said, while Fluttershy was still wondering what kind of creature I just mentioned earlier.

“No. Really,” I insisted, staring hard into their eyes so they’d know I was sincere. “This is a true story. It really happened. Here. In Ponyville.”

Fluttershy rolled up into a sitting position. “I think I’ll go feed my animals,” She said, as she flaps her wings and stretches.

“Me too, I think I’ll help Fluttershy.” Scootaloo said, tossing down a hoof full of grass.

Fluttershy has a large animal pen near her cottage. Some were small critters, some were huge… but all the same, they all care for her and she cares for them...… and they’re not too scary for her.

“The Ground Grabber showed up one day right at Apple Bloom’s,” I told them both. I knew once I started the story, they wouldn’t leave.

“At the farm?!” Scootaloo asked, her eyes growing wide. Fluttershy looked at me with the same expression on her face.

“Yeah. He arrived in the middle of the afternoon. The Ground Grabber isn’t a night monster, you see. He’s a day monster. He strikes when the sun is high in the sky. Just like now.” I pointed up through the shimmering tree leaves to the sun, which was high overhead in a clear summer-blue sky.

“A d-day m-monster?” Fluttershy asked stammering at her sentence.

“C-come on, Dashie. You’re j-joshing us, right?” Scootaloo said, as Fluttershy and herself looked over at Sweet Apple Acres which was just in view from where we were.

“Don’t be scared. It happened a couple of summers ago,” I continued. “Apple Bloom and Bab Seed were over there. They were having fun, playing tag and all. You know. In that big ol’ yard of theirs…”

“And the m-monster c-came?” Fluttershy asked.

“A Ground Grabber,” I told him, keeping my expression very serious and lowering my voice nearly to a whisper. “A Ground Grabber came crawling across their yard.”

“Where’d he come from?” Scootaloo asked, as the both of them leaned together towards me.

I shrugged. “Nopony knows. You see, the thing about Ground Grabbers is they’re very hard to see when they crawl across grass... because they camouflage themselves the exact color of the grass.”

“You mean they’re like my friend Leon, the Chameleon? W-well they’re probably not so bad…” Fluttershy forced a smile on her face.

I shook my head. “Well yeah they are, but they’re much bigger than a Chameleon, and not that friendly at all. They’re only green when they creep and crawl over the grass,” I replied. “They change their color to match what they’re walking on. So you can’t see them.”

“Well, how big is he, really??” Scootaloo asked thoughtfully.

“Big,” I said. “Bigger than Winona.” I watched an ant crawl to my hoof, then flicked it off. “Nopony really knows how big he is because this monster blends in so well.”

“So what happened?” Scootaloo asked, sounding a little breathless. While Fluttershy hid under her wing. “I mean to Apple Bloom and Bab Seed.” Again they both glanced over to Sweet Apple Acres.

“Well, they were in their yard,” I continued. “You know, chasing around and about, playing tag with each other. And I guess Babs was running around not letting Apple Bloom catch her as the monster scampered over the yard nearly invisible... and it spotted Babs running towards him.”

“A-and… and… Babs didn’t see the monser!?” Fluttershy and Scootaloo asked in unison.

I could see Fluttershy was starting to get real pale and trembly, while Scootaloo’s eyes narrowed and trembled in fear as well, because of course, Babs is one of her close friends.

“Ground Grabbers are just so hard to see,” I said, keeping my eyes locked on Scootaloo and Fluttershy’s, keeping my face very straight and solemn.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Just to build up suspense. Then I continued my story. “Babs didn’t notice anything at first. Then she felt a soft… mushy thing as she ran. She thought she stepped on something so she stopped and looked down. She tries to feel it again, and there it was… soft, mushy, yet moist feeling run to her hoof. But then, suddenly the ground moved… she then looks down to look at it closely then suddenly…” I stopped and waited for one of them asks.

“Wh-what?” They both asked in unison, in both a shaky voice. “What happened?”

I leaned forward to them bringing them close to me and brought my mouth close to their ears, then whispered. “She was dragged down to a dark hole… AND EATEN!” I shouted at the last sentence.

“NOOO!!!!” The both of them screamed. They both jumped up to their hooves. They were as pale as ghosts, and they looked really scared… especially Fluttershy.

“That’s not true!” Scootaloo almost cried at the spot.

I shook my head solemnly. I forced myself not to crack a smile just yet. “Ask Apple Bloom where Babs is now…” I told them. “See if she’ll tell you without crying…”

“No! You’re lying!” Scootaloo wailed.

“Ask her,” I said softly.

And then I stood up and walked backwards, just then… I stopped after a few steps and looked at them with eyes popped wide with horror. “S-Scootallo, F-Fluttershy...” I stammered and looked at them frozen in my place… as I fell down a deep hole and shouted for help at them.

Fluttershy and Scootaloo hugged eachother and uttered a deafening scream when they saw me fall down the dark hole…

I was no longer in front of them as they hear a loud growl coming from the hole I fell from…

Chapter 3

Shadows danced across the wall as I made my way to the main room. The branches of the library tapped noisily against the pane of the window. The library was silent except for the creaking floorboards beneath my hooves. As I entered the main room, I could hear a steady tick-tick-tick of a wall clock.

The lights had all been turned off. I thought I felt something scamper across my hoof. Was it a mouse?

I stopped momentarily and glanced down. It was just a dust ball clinging to the base of a bookshelf.

'Woah, Rainbow Dash,' I scolded myself. 'It’s just Twilight’s Library. Nothing to get weird about. Don’t get your wild imagination take off and lead you into trouble.'

“Hey, what are you doing in here?” A voice spoke right behind me…

“Woah, geez!” I nearly jumped up to the ceiling and held up there. The lights turned on at the library as my eyes looked down and saw a Stallion looking up at me.

“Why are you inside here during night? I thought Twilight told me that no one should be in here when it’s already nine in the evening…” The stallion said, “Come down here… I can’t talk to you straight when you’re up there upside down, it’s kind of uneasy…” He said with his low deep voice.

“Oh, heh… sorry about that mister…” I said smugly and glided down to face him.

“It’s alright dear. Say, your Rainbow Dash, aren’t you?” the stallion asked me.

“Uhh, yeah. How did you know my name?” I asked him curiously.

“Oh, well, you’re Twilight’s friend, am I correct? She told me that you borrow books from her every now and then, so she told me all about you and your dream of becoming a member of the wonderbolts,” he said which was quite direct from what I was aiming for.

“That Twilight… really, can’t get my fame a secret. Yep! I’m Rainbow Dash. Pleased to meet you!” I said eagerly.

“I’m Mr. Warts,” he said, giving off some sort of a smile. I could have sworn I heard the large bump on his head rip, and… really? His name is Warts? I looked over him and examined the guy; He looks a lot like Big Mac but a little smaller in size and he was a unicorn just like Twilight, except he had a very white mustache on him. His voice is quite groggy like there’s something stuck in his throat when he talks. He also had this odd bump on his head which I thought was another head at first. What I’m really not understanding is that he doesn’t have any cutie mark on him.

I was about to ask, but I really had my mind set on getting a new book to read, and I was hoping for something even more scary. “Say, Mr. Warts,” I started. “Can I borrow book? I know it’s late to borrow one, but can I anyway?”

“Well aren’t you an active reader.” He chuckles and walks to get the log book. “Go and get your book. I’ll wait here until you do,” he says while he sits and looks over the pages of the log book. I wondered why is he was reading that first. To familiarize some of the names of the ponies here? Could be…

“Okay! I’ll do just that.” I said as I trotted over to the aisle of book shelves. I scanned some of the books until I found what I was looking for. “Daring Do and the Throne of Dracula.” I read the cover of the book and grinned. Guess I’ll read this to Fluttershy next.

As I was walking back to Mr. Warts, I noticed something about his face was not right, as if it was like, getting bloated. When I came into view, he quickly put down the book and stood up. “Did you get your book?”

“Uhh, yeah. Here it is.” I showed him the book and he stamped it.

“There you go. Now, are you interested in taking up another book?” He said with a grin on his face.

“Uhh, not at the moment. I’ll stick to this one for now. I’ll come back after I've finished this,” I said to him while I flapped my wings to get rid of some cobwebs that got stuck on them. “Well, I’ll be seeing you, Mr. Warts,” I said to him as I grabbed the book and flew out of the place. I’ll apologize to Fluttershy and Scootaloo tomorrow; right now I’m itching to read this new
book!

After a while, I finally got home, I quickly jumped into bed, turned on the lights and took out the book in my bag. “Now let the readings… begin!” I opened the book ready to read the first chapter, when all of a sudden, I stopped.

“Butterflies of the Sunset?!” I read the title slowly, until my thoughts caught up that I took another book by mistake. “WHAT THE BUCK!?” I shouted and screamed at the top of my lungs. I got the wrong book!

I spent the last thirty minutes pouting and going into a rage because of my stupidity! How can I get a darn book that only Fluttershy would like! I was blaming myself about the fact I took a book that was so boring for me! And I was really planning to stay up all night reading that!

'I’m not going to spend this night without anything to read,' I said to myself. I got up, took my bag and went back to the library with the intent of getting that book.

It was nearly eleven in the evening, and Mr. Warts was probably asleep by now. I landed in front of the library with the same feeling I got from earlier lingering in my mind. A gentle but insistent gnawing at my stomach. A tug at my chest that kept going on and on for a bit.

Something is definitely not right. Something bad is about to happen. Other ponies call it premonitions. It’s a good vocabulary word for that I was feeling right then. I squinted at the dark table and looked around. I found the book where Mr. Warts had stamping it for the approval. I quickly grabbed the book at the table, eager to get out of the dark, creepy looking place. I never thought that Twilight’s house looked like a haunted place after the lights went out.

I headed quickly back toward the entrance, sneaking out and about for some reason. Just then, a sound made me stop.

I held my breath and listened.

It was a cough.

Peering down the aisle, I could see Mr. Warts hovering over a desk just a few meters away from me. Well, actually, I could just see part of him – one arm, and some of his face when he leaned to the left.

I was still holding my breath. The clock tick-tick-ticked noisily from across the room. Behind his desk, Mr. Warts’ face moved in and out of the blue-purple shadows.

The book on my head was suddenly getting heavy. I lowered it slightly to the floor. Then my curiosity got the better at me, and I took a few steps toward the front.

Mr. Warts began humming to himself. I didn’t recognize the song.

The shadows grew deeper as I approached closer. Peering down the dark aisle, I saw him holding a large glass jar between his pudgy hooves. I was close enough to see that he had a pleasant smile on his face.

I kept to the shadows as I moved closer. I like spying on ponies; it’s kind of thrilling, even when they don’t do anything very interesting. Just knowing that you’re watching then and they don’t know they’re being watched is exciting.

Humming to himself, Mr. Warts held the jar in front of his chest and started to unscrew the top. “Some love, my timid friend,” he announced in his groggy, low pitched voice.

What did he just say? I didn’t hear it well because a fly buzzed near my ear and I was shooing it. I only saw the jar was filled with pink liquid, and a little critter on a cage. Suddenly, the room grew much darker as clouds blocked the moonlight making an eerie glow in the whole place. Gray shadows rolled over Mr. Warts and his enormous desk, as if blanketing him in darkness.

From my hidden perch among the shelves, I watched him prepare to give the critter some drink.

But wait… something was wrong. My premonition was coming true. Something weird was happening!

He put the jar down and instead then opened the cage of the critter. Mr. Warts’ face began to change. His head began to grow and started to expand, like a balloon from one of Pinkie Pie’s parties being inflated.

I uttered a silent gasp as I saw his tiny eyes poke out of his head. The eyes bulged bigger and bigger, until they were big as door knobs. His body became larger as if he was transforming into a werewolf or something. The light from the window grew even dimmer. The entire room was cast in heavy shadows as they swung and shifted. I couldn’t see well at all. It was like I was watching everything through a dark fog.

Mr. Warts continued to hum, even as his head bobbed and throbbed above his shoulders and his eyes bulged out as if on stems, poking straight up like insect antennae.

And then, just as I was watching closely, his mouth began twisting and grew bigger, his tongue slithered out as he held the critter. Mr. Warts sang even louder now, an eerie, frightening sound, more like a windigo howling than singing.

He held his hoof briefly over the jar. I could see the critter struggling over his hoof. I thought the jar with pink liquid was medicine that he was giving it to the critter, causing it to struggle because he doesn’t want it, or something like that.

But instead, he opened the jar and jammed the whole thing into his own mouth!

I shut my eyes and held my hoof over my mouth to keep myself from puking, or screaming. I held my breath, but my heart kept racing. The shadows lurched and jumped. The darkness seemed to float around me.

I opened my eyes. He was still jamming the jar in his mouth, drinking the whole thing. By the time he was finished, he drank the contents of the jar, and slithered this tongue out, licking his huge, bloated lips with a loud slurp. And then, the unthinkable happened. He then jammed the little critter into his mouth! The critter let out a soft squeak before it was pushed deeper into his throat.

I wanted to shout. I wanted to run and fly out of there. I realized that Mr. Warts was a real live monster!