“Alright, class.  Who knows what the answer to number three is?”

Dinky raised a hoof, jumping up and down in her seat.  “Ooh!  Ooh!”

Cheerilee smiled.  “Okay, Dinky.  You may answer.”

“Is it thirty-five?”

Cheerilee nodded.  “Yes it is!  Twenty plus fifteen is thirty-five. Good job, Dinky!”  She paused.  “Has your father been teaching you extra math at home again?”

“Maybe…” Dinky admitted, blinking innocently.

Scootaloo, two seats over, stuck out her tongue.  “Ugh!  But it’s so boring, though!  What would you ever need math for, anyway?”

“Hey!  It’s good for all cool science-y stuff!” Dinky huffed. She crossed her hooves over her chest and sat back in her chair.  “Maybe you’d know that if you actually paid attention.”

“Well, and math is pretty good for money and business anyway.”

Apple Bloom turned to Diamond Tiara.  “Beg pardon?”

Diamond Tiara smirked.  “What, you’ve never heard of finance?  My daddy has a whole army of accountants working for his business up in Canterlot. Does your family have any accountants?”

“That’s quite enough, girls,” Cheerilee said.  She gave Dinky a strained smile.  “Thank you for that, Dinky.  Now, who’s ready for storytime?”

Every foal’s hoof went up.

Dinky’s eyes lit up.  “Ooh!  Can we read Pony Island again?”

“Or Horsey Plodder!” Pipsqueak said.

Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves.  “My Little Puppy!”

Cheerilee sighed.

“Yargh! I’m gonna get you, wench!”

“Neigh, cap’n! En garde!”

The sound of clashing wood filled the air as Captain Pipsqueak and First Mate Dinky battled for their lives in a duel of fates. Dinky let out a triumphant shout and leapt onto a boulder, the red cape around her neck fluttering in the wind. She swung the stick in her mouth around wildly.

“Ha! I have the high ground!”

Pipsqueak grinned. “Yeah, but I’m still gonna win! And I’ll take your loot, you savvy traitor!”

“Never!”

With a savage cry, Pipsqueak launched himself toward Dinky, the bandanna tied around his head waving in the wind. He galloped forward—and tripped on a stick, overbalancing and landing flat on his face. “Ouch!”

A shadow fell across Pipsqueak’s downed form and he looked up. Dinky stood over him, grinning victoriously, the end of her “sword” pointed right at his throat. “Surrender, knave!”

“No!” Pipsqueak cried, rolling around in the dirt. “Curse you, foul landlubber!”

Dinky giggled, dropping the stick. “Yay! I won!”

From afar, barely visible through the trees, Cheerilee waved to the pair, trying to keep a close eye on them. Behind her, Scootaloo happily slid down the slide, and Snips and Snails swung back and forth on the swing set. Dinky and Pipsqueak waved back.

Pipsqueak pouted as he got up, dusting himself off. “It wasn’t fair! That stick tripped me!” He shot an evil glare at the innocent-looking branch.

Dinky stuck out her tongue. “So? You should have been paying more attention. And that just means I’m still the better swordpony, so there!”

Pipsqueak jumped up and down. “Well, I’ll beat you at recess tomorrow, then!” he said. He turned away with a small sniff.

“Hm...” Dinky poked him on the side. “Tag! You’re it!”

Pipsqueak stumbled as she dashed off. “Whoa—hey, no fair!”

“Can’t catch me!” Dinky sand out, hopping over a mossy log.

“Wait up!”

The two dodged between bushes and trees as they rounded the clearing, laughing all the way. Suddenly, Dinky let out a small grunt and stumbled, falling face-first onto the ground.

“Aha! I gotcha!” Pipsqueak said, quickly tagging Dinky’s side. “Not so funny to be on the ground now, huh?”

Dinky grinned, pushing herself back up. “Okay. Now I’m it—rawr!”

But Pipsqueak didn’t move. “What’s that?” he asked, pointing at a small object by Dinky’s back hoof.

She looked down. “Ooh! I guess this is what I tripped over.”

“But what is it?” Pipsqueak repeated, squinting and peering down at it. “Some kind of weird black box thing?”

Dinky shrugged. “I dunno. Where d’you think it came from? That hole over there?” She pointed to it, a small pit in the ground by a nearby tree’s roots.

Pipsqueak blinked a few times. “Dunno. What do you think we should do with it?”

Dinky squinted and stuck out her tongue, eyeing the box in concentration. “Hm...”

A green light suddenly flashed through the clearing, and Dinky and Pipsqueak stepped back in alarm. A low hum began to echo around them, and colorful sigils faded into existence on the sides of the black box.

“What’s it doing?” Pipsqueak asked, paling rapidly.

The hum went silent for a moment.

A huge figure, tall as the lower branches on the trees, materialized over the box. It stood there menacingly, looking down at them. Its general shape, though pony-like, was far more reptilian. Its sleek black hide gleamed as its tail thrashed from side to side. A tall, silver-tinged crest stood straight up on its head.  Its red eyes pierced into the clearing below and a low growl came from its open mouth, which was filled with very sharp teeth.

The two foals looked at each other and jumped into the air. “RUN!”

In flash, they had disappeared from the clearing, vanishing behind a clump of bushes.

Pipsqueak peered out nervously at the creature from behind their hiding place, still clutching Dinky tightly. His teeth chattered. The thing wasn’t moving, but a steady thrum filled the clearing.

“What’s it doing now?” he whispered frantically to Dinky through clenched teeth.  She pushed him off and jumped away, crouching behind a tree.

She put a hoof to her mouth.  “Shush!  What if it hears you?”

Pipsqueak let out a high-pitched squeal and quickly withdrew back into the bushes, the leaves rustling slightly.

A moment passed by, during which neither foal dared to move.  After a while, though, Dinky popped out from behind the tree, narrowing her eyes.

“It’s not even doing anything,” she said.  

Pipsqueak trembled.  “What if it’s storin’ up energy to do its super-evil alien beam?”

Dinky hummed thoughtfully.  “Maybe.”  She shrugged.  “Hm...”  And with that, she stepped out from behind the tree, flinching away slightly, but nevertheless clearly giving away her position to the creature. Pipsqueak squealed again, curling up in a ball behind the bushes.

Nothing happened.

“Did it laser beam you yet?” Pipsqueak asked quietly.  

“Nope,” Dinky said. She tilted her head slightly.  “Hey!  Hey big dumb meanie!”

The creature made no response.

Dinky scowled.  “Hey!  I was talking to you!”  With that, she picked up a pebble and hurled at the beast with all her might.  But just before it made contact, the creature vanished.  Dinky’s jaw dropped.

Pipsqueak’s head popped up from behind the bushes.  “Whoa!  Where’d it go?”

Dinky blinked a few times.  “Um...”  She walked up to the box and poked at it a few times.  

Pipsqueak dashed out into the clearing, right next to Dinky.  “That was so cool!” he cheered.  “It was right there, and you threw that pebble at it, and it ran away, and...yeah!”  He clapped his hooves excitedly.  “Woo!”

Dinky frowned and prodded at the box again.  “Huh.”  Her eyes crossed slightly.  “That was really weird...”

Suddenly, the box flickered a shimmering green again.  The two foals jumped back. Pipsqueak covered his face behind his hooves, but Dinky just looked up in curiosity at the beast before them.

Its chest seemed to rise slowly, moving up and down nearly hypnotically.  Its eyes glittered, and its black hide shone.  But something was off.

“Dinky,” Pipsqueak said, peering out from behind one hoof.  “Why doesn’t it have a shadow?”

Dinky’s eyes widened.  “Huh?  What do you mean?”

“Right there,” Pipsqueak said helpfully, pointing to the area by the thing’s “hooves.”  And it isn’t even touching that branch—it’s going right through it!”

Dinky stared.  “D’you think it’s some kind of weird hologram thingy?”

“Maybe,” Pipsqueak said, getting up and wandering over to Dinky’s side.  He poked at the creature, and gaped away when his hoof went right through its leg.

The creature didn’t open its mouth, but a low voice rang through the clearing.

“C’bthnk ch’ebumna fm’latgh gof’nn n'gha n'ghft.”

Pipsqueak swallowed.  “Wha—what did it say?”

Dinky shook her head.  “I think...something about kids?”

Pipsqueak stared.  “How would you know that?”

“Ai’hlirgh chtenff ah’athg.  Hafh'drn kadishtu nnn.”

Dinky scowled, prodding at the dirt with one hoof.  “How the heck am I supposed to do all that?  I don’t even know what half those words mean!”

“Lloig ooboshu phlegeth.  C’tharanak sgn'wahl, y'hah.”

Dinky narrowed her eyes.  “What d’you mean, you all wanna come here?  That’s silly—don’t you have somewhere else to go?”

Pipsqueak raised a hoof.  “Um, Dinky?”

“C’wgah'n lloig’ehye r’shugg.”

Dinky’s stared.  “Hey!  You can’t do that!  That’d just be mean!”

“What’s it—”

“Hlirgh gof'nn-nyth-shogg.  Throd t’stell'bsna n'gha!”

Dinky stuck out her tongue.  “Yeah, well you’re just a big meanie head!  So there!” She blew a raspberry at the creature, which stopped talking.  It stared down at her for a moment, and its form wavered as if blown by the wind.

“C’nog.”

It disappeared once again.

Pipsqueak blinked, looking slightly concerned.  He poked Dinky.  “What was that thing?  And how’d you know what it was saying?”

Dinky looked at him and tilted her head.  “Huh?  So you couldn’t understand it?”  He shook his head rapidly, and Dinky put a hoof to her chin.  “Weird.  Maybe it's a TARDIS thing, like Daddy says."

“Yeah,” Pipsqueak agreed, tugging at her mane.  “Now c’mon!  Let’s get back to the playground before that thing comes back!”

“Wait a second,” Dinky said slowly.  She pointed.  “Look at the hole!”

A shadow spilled forth from the small pit, flickering in the dim light.  Dinky and Pipsqueak clung together, trembling.  As a great shudder ran through the ground, the two exchanged looks.

“Well, it’s been fun playing Pirates with ya, Missus First Mate,” Pipsqueak squeaked out.  Dinky nodded.

“Yes sir, Cap’n.”

The trees rustled as a shape slowly emerged from the hole.  The two foals swallowed and closed their eyes, waiting for the end.

“Ph'nglui mglw'nafh Cthulhu R'lyeh wgah'nagl fhtagn.”

Dinky opened her eyes first.  “Wait...huh?”

She poked at Pipsqueak repeatedly.  “Hey, Pip!  Get up!”

“Ack!  What is it?”

“...That!” Dinky said, pointing and giggling.  Pipsqueak followed her line of sight and let out a nervous chuckle.

A full replica of the huge alien creature stood before them.  It pawed the earth, clawed hooves digging deep into the soil.  Its dark eyes glinted cruelly.

It also stood no higher than the top of Dinky’s hoof.

Dinky giggled again.  “Aw, it’s kinda cute!  I wanna touch it!” She leapt over happily and began poking and prodding it incessantly.  The creature let out a small little hiss, flinching away.

“Um, Dinky?” Pipsqueak asked.  “Are you sure you should be doing that?”

The creature hissed again, but Dinky ignored it.  “It’s fine, Pip!  I bet you can’t—”

With a sudden snarl, the small beast pushed Dinky’s hoof away.  Its hackles raised and scaly skin rippling, it advanced on them, hissing and growling loudly.

Pipsqueak’s froze. “...I think we should run.”

Dinky nodded.  “Probably.”

They took off through the trees screaming, the creature keeping chase.  It leapt over bushes and spun around rocks, keeping its eyes on its targets.

“Think—we’re—losing it?” Pipsqueak asked, huffing and puffing.  

Dinky glanced back over her flank.  “Nope!”

The small creature let out a shrill cry, lowering its head and charging for them.

“Keep running!”

The two broke through the treeline and into the schoolyard.  Cheerilee, scolding Silver Spoon off by the swings, looked up at the pair.  “Oh, hello you two.  Recess is almost over, so you can—”

Pipsqueak barreled on through.  “INCOMING!”

Cheerilee took a step back.  “Well, I’m not sure what the—”

Right on Pipsqueak’s heels, Dinky darted between Cheerilee’s hooves, a small and indistinct blur racing after her.  Cheerilee blinked.  “Oh, my.”

The trio—foals and alien creature alike—circled the playground several times, crossing the sandbox, jumping over the swingset, and climbing on top of the jungle gym.  Dinky panted slightly as she dodged around a miniature gazebo. Her breath was coming in short spurts now, her lungs feeling tight. “It’s still after us!”

They rounded a corner, climbing up the ladder to the top of the playset. Pipsqueak swallowed and looked down, sweat running down his face as the miniature alien hissed at them from below.  His hooves trembled.  “I...I don’t think I can make it, Dinky.  I can’t hold on!”

“No! Pip!”

Pipsqueak closed his eyes.  “Goodbye...Dinky.”

“CAPTAIN!”

As if in slow motion, Pipsqueak’s small body fell away from the playset, tumbling down to the ground below.  Dinky watched him fall, her hooves quivering and reaching out in vain.  With a mighty thump, Pipsqueak’s back hit the sand, waves of dust whirling up from the impact.  His flank landed on the ground, flattening the grains of play sand beneath—

—As well as the small alien that had been lurking at the bottom of the ladder.

Pipsqueak slowly sat up, prodding at his ear with one hoof to get the sand out.  He looked around, confused.  “Huh? Where’d it go?”

Dinky’s mouth dropped, and then she shut it, struggling to control her laughter.  “You—you’re sitting on it, silly!”

Pipsqueak glanced quickly toward his rear.  Sure enough, a small, shiny black limb was sticking out from just below his flank.  “Oh...heh.”

“Should we let it go?” Dinky asked, sliding down the ladder to stand beside Pipsqueak.  She frowned and poked at the tiny leg, which was struggling to escape.  Pipsqueak frowned.

“I dunno, Dinky...”

Cheerilee walked over. She frowned and looked down at the two.  “And what’s going on over here?”

Pipsqueak instantly stood up.  “Nothing, Miss Cheerilee,” he said quickly.  A tiny black shape blearily stood up from between Pipsqueak’s legs and sped out of the playground, disappearing into the trees.  Neither Pipsqueak nor Dinky noticed.

Cheerilee sighed and smiled.  “Alright then.  Time to head back inside to class.  Come on, then!”  She turned to go, heading toward the  schoolhouse.

Pipsqueak glanced down at the sand, eyes widening when he saw that the little creature had disappeared.  “Whoa!  Where’d it go?”

Dinky looked about wildly.  “I didn’t see it.”

Pipsqueak sighed.  “Guess it went back to its little hole.”

“It was weird, though,” he said, frowning as they began to walk after Cheerilee.  “I wonder what it wanted?”

Dinky shrugged.  “It was weird enough knowing what it was saying, though I couldn’t really understand what it meant anyway.”

Pipsqueak looked thoughtful.  Then he poked her on the leg.  “Race you to class?”

Dinky smirked. “You’re on.”