Whicker in the night

It was a hot summer day in Ponyville. Actually, it was one of the hottest ones for quite a while. Apparently, the weather managers were having trouble controlling the heat due to some inexplicit magic phenomenon affecting the sun. On an unrelated note, Doctor Whooves was seen in the clinic earlier today with a mild case of sunburn.

Anyway, it was so hot that some birds decided they’d go on and fly North out of frustration. Most townsponies thought the same and started packing for a vacation. At the same time, however, in the fields, a orange-colored mare and her brother were toiling under the sun, much to the dismay of their grandmother.

Granny Smith: “You younglings are gonna work yerselves to death at this rate!”

Applejack: “What, because of a little sun? You should know by now it’s gonna take more than that to stop us, granny! Right, big brother?”

Big Macintosh: “Uhg… nope.” As he sees her stumble a bit.

Applejack: “I just tripped, that’s all!”

That’s just like her. Working herself to the bone as always. Big mac would’ve rather they took it easy as well. After all, the fields could wait a few more days, they just managed them the day before.

Granny: “At least take a break and come in for some lemonade. You’ve been out there all mornin’.”

Applejack: “Okay, okay. Just for a few, but then we need to leave and go check on the cattle…”

Granny: “The girls are fine! They got enough hay and water to last a couple days and enough sense to not go outside on this heat, unlike some ponies…”

As they just came in, they hear Winona barking at their front gate. They learned to distinguish her many different barks by now, so from her tone, they could tell she was greeting a friend.

Applejack: “I wonder who that might be.”

As soon as she opens the front door to greet the visitors, she got surprised to see a very loud, pink mare, exploding the following, fast-paced words:

Pinkie Pie: “SURPRISE! Was she surprised? I hope she was surprised! Cuz if we surprised her, then maybe she’ll be happier to see us! Were you surprised, Applejack? Huh?”

AJ: “Very surprised! What are you all doing here?” as she looks behind her to see all her other friends, all looking packed and ready for a vacation.

Twilight: “Well, it all depends on what you planned on doing today.”

Rarity: “Indeed, my dear. We knew you’d insist on working even in this dreadful heat…”

Rainbow Dash: ”…So we came to take you on a vacation! I mean seriously, who works in this heat wave?”

Everyone was here. They took Spike, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, even their pets. They would’ve wanted to go on a vacation earlier, but they couldn’t possibly go if anyone was missing. And until now, Applejack would always refuse, using the same old excuse:

Applejack: “Gosh, I’d love to go, guys, but we still have a lot of work to do today…”

Granny: “Not exactly. You see, we all knew you’d say that, so me and Macintosh made sure everything was taken care of. We all deserve a little vacation once in a while, Bumble Bee, especially you.”

So, no excuse left and everyone she knows came to convince her to come. How could she refuse?

AJ: “Okay, you won. Just give us a sec to pack… That is, unless you already did that too?”

Granny: “Ugh… no, of course not!” she says towards up-stairs, as Big Mac was already half-way down with the packs done.

Pinkie Pie: “Wow, Big Mac, you were pretty excited about this trip, to have made the bags so fast!”

Big mac: “Uhm… eyup!”

AJ: “I guess I might’ve been a little strict, huh…”she says, smiling at her brother. ”Where are we going, anyway?"

Rarity: “Somewhere cool, I hope. This weather is just murder on my complexion.”

Twilight: “Any suggestions, Pinkie?”

Pinkie: “Well, we could go to Haystack Beach and play water polo and make some BIG sand castles…”

AJ: “Maybe somewhere less expensive and a little closer?”

Fluttershy: “We could go to Horseshoe Shores…” she says with her typical half-sure tone of voice

Rainbow Dash: “Ew, no way! Too many mosquitoes!”

Granny Smith: “Alright, that’s enough. I know just the place we can go. It ain’t too far or too expensive, and the last time I’ve been there it was just dandy. Not many ponies know about it either. Lake Whinny, it’s called. ”

Applejack: “Alright then, Lake Whinny it is.”

Pinkie Pie: “Yay! Lake Whinny! It sounds like this is going to be so much fun! ”

So there we are. All friends and family… and pets, on their way to what they’ve been told would be the ideal holiday retreat.

Apple Bloom: “Granny, what’s the place we’re going to like?”

Granny: “Just you wait and see, honey bumpkin. It’s been quite a while since I’ve been there, but if it’s the same as then, it’s really gonna be somethin’ you lot won’t ever forget. I can still remember it like it was yesterday. Pearly white water as wide as you can see, with the Silver Everfree shining on the other side.”

Fluttershy: “Oh, but the Silver Trees are almost half a day’s walk through the Everfree Forest! Are you sure about this?”

Granny: “Darn tootin! Most ponies are too afraid to go through these parts, so no one ever visits Whinny Lake! They have no idea what they’re missin’ out on!”

Twilight: “There aren’t many books on the areas around Ponyville. Maybe I can document this trip?”

Spike: “Would it be too much to ask for you to not pick up a book for one day? It’s a vacation, not a school project!”

Rarity: “Spike is right, dear. You should take it easy and enjoy yourself for once. All you ever do is study all day!”

Twilight: “I guess I might be a little stuck-up sometimes… I’ll write about it when we get back, no big deal.”

Rarity: “Lovely. In that case, you can help me with some small adjustments we might eventually need to make to the bathing suits I’ve made for you all. We can’t go in swimming naked, now can we?”

Spike: “Ugh-huh-huh… Bathing suits?”

Obviously, they can’t go and get their fur wet in front of the boys, now can they? That would be just awkward… to say the least.

After a while of walking, talking and admiring the wildlife they encountered on the way, they finally arrive. The trip was pretty long and they were a little tired, but the view was just staggering. It was just like Granny Smith said. The lake glimmering in the sun, white as pearl, reflecting into the silver trees on the other side of the lake. Simply breathtaking!

Granny: “Alright, everypony, let’s set up camp!”

Big Macintosh was pulling a small cart filled with a number of things on his way here. When he heard his grandmother, he got his reigns off and started taking out the required packages to get the tents up. Rarity and Twilight, on the other hand, stopped him and started:

Twilight: “You go ahead and look for firewood, Big Mac. We got the tents covered.”

Big Mac: “Alright.”

Twilight: “You go with him, Spike. Help him pick the right wood for you to light.”

Spike: “Alright.” he tries to imitate.

As soon as they leave, the Cutie Mark Crusaders start jumping in the lake, together with Pinkie Pie with Gummy, Rainbow Dash and Winona. Their laughs weren’t helping the two unicorns concentrate, but what can you do?

Rainbow Dash: “Hey Fluttershy! Come on in! The water’s great!”

Fluttershy was just standing at the bank, too shy to get herself wet in front of the others.

Fluttershy: “I’m okay, I don’t feel like swimming right now anyway…”

Upon seeing this, Rainbow looked at the other 4 with a mischievous smile, which they returned at her, then they all turned to Fluttershy:

FS: “Uhm… why are you all looking at me like that?”

She screamed as the others charged towards her, struggled while they carried her in the water, but it was no use.

Pinkie: “Wow, Fluttershy, you can really put up a fight!”

No harm done, they were all laughing by the end of it all.

Rarity: “I’m sorry to interrupt the fun, but you’d better get out and put your bathing suits on before the boys return.”

Rainbow: “Okay, we’ll be right out!”

Thankfully, the girls had more than enough time before the guys came back. On the other hand, Spike almost dropped the firewood when he saw them all in bathing suits. Big Mac also barely managed to keep his composure, though it wasn’t easy with a polka-themed Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy with boxers, Rarity looking as expected from a fashionista…

Big Mac, whispering to Spike: “Stay calm, little guy.”

Spike: “Ugh, what? Did you just say something?”

Everything went great that day. They had fun in the water, well, most of them anyway. Spike couldn’t join them, since dragons and water don’t always mix very well. Instead, he played Frisbee with Winona and helped Big Mac with whatever he could use a hand with, while listening to a few of Granny Smith’s stories.

Finally, Fluttershy and Owloysius made friends with the nearby birds and even made a short concert with them, in which more and more ponies joined in. It was a very fun day, but eventually, it started to get dark.

Big Mac and Spike already had the fire lit, which was great since it started to get chilly. Everyone gathered around the campfire, the younger ones around either side of Granny Smith, which seemed to be in front of everyone. Big Mac and Applejack were on the other side, closest to the forest. There were a dozen of them, not counting the pets, but they didn’t mind getting too close to each other to fit around the fire.

Granny: “I can’t say how thankful I am for having all of us together like this for the first time. And out here, to boost! Seeing this place after so long makes my ol’ bones feel at least twenty years younger!”

Pinkie Pie: “Yeah, we should’ve done this sooner!”

Applejack: “Yeah, well, that would be mostly my bad. I’m really sorry we had to wait for so long to do this.”

Rainbow Dash: “Oh, don’t be such a downer, AJ! It couldn’t be helped! You have to take care of the farm! We understand.”

Applejack: “Well, tell ya what. I promise we’ll make time to come here again soon enough.”

Rarity: “Be careful not to start pushing yourself too far because of that, dear.”

Rainbow Dash: “That would be a given. AJ taking it easy.”

AJ: “A given would be if you came and helped around the farm once in a while, instead of napping all day long.”

Granny: “Okay, girls, settle down.”

Twilight: “Anyway, Mrs. Smith, I was wondering, why is this lake called Whinny?”

Granny: “Please call me Granny, sweetie. And concerning the lake’s name, it’s a long, long story. If only I were to remember it now…”

Pinkie Pie: “Ooh! Is it a scary story? Cause if it is, then we could all start telling scary stories around the campfire!”

Rainbow Dash, upon hearing this, jumps up and cries: “Me first!”

Granny: “Actually, that’s a great idea. Let’s see what you can come up with until I remember this one. Whoever tells the best one wins!”

Apple Bloom: “What happens if you win?”

Granny: “Well, uhg… Gosh, I dunno.”

Apple Bloom: “How ‘bout Zap Apple jam?”

Rarity: “Oh, no. We couldn’t possibly accept that. It’s too expensive, and you need the money for the farm! We’d feel awful for taking something like that. How about I’d make a free dress for the winner?”

Rainbow Dash: “Pfft! No thanks.”

Pinkie Pie: “Let’s have the winner get a free request for anything he wants! That would make the contest even more exciting!”

Spike: “Seriously?”

Twilight: “Actually, I think that could work.”

Spike: “Twilight!”

Scootaloo: “It sounds fun!”

Sweetie Belle: “I like it too!”

Applejack: “Okay, but at least half of us have to agree it’s reasonable enough!”

Spike: “Oh, for Pete’s sake… ”

Applejack: “So we all agree?”

Spike: “…Fine. As long as we can agree it will be reasonable enough.”

Applejack: “All right then, it’s settled. Rainbow, you said you’d go first.”

Rainbow Dash: “Okay. So, the story goes like this:

Long ago, there was an evil witch that lived on the other side of this lake. But as evil and old as she was, she was also just as powerful. And in order to sustain her powers and her youth, every few nights, she’d travel to nearby towns and kidnap little fillies. She’d put them in a big bag and take them to her hut. There, she’d use her evil witchcraft to steal their youth and strength! With what’s left of them… she’d make a stew and gobble them up!

They say that to this night, she still lives, kidnapping little fillies and taking them to her hut. And if you listen carefully enough, you can hear the sounds of their whickers! Listen…”

Then, everyone stops to listen, until they notice they actually hear something. It’s faint, but it sounds like… moans?

Rarity: “Sweetie Belle? Where are you?”

Everyone stops in shock. They look around, shakily, but she’s nowhere around. And neither are Scootaloo or Apple Bloom! Not in the tents either. Then, they hear something moving in the bushes near where they used to be.

Rainbow Dash: “Girls? Is that you?”

Then, there’s movement on the other side of camp.

Rainbow: “Come on, girls, the story’s over! You can come out now…”

Then finally, splashes on the lakeside. And there it was! The darkest, most horrendous shape they’ve ever seen, just standing there, staring at them with yellow glimmering eyes, with what looks like a big bag on its back. Everyone paralyzed.

Fluttershy: “It’s… IT’s…”

Spike: “IT’S THE EVIL WITCH!”

Everyone started screaming and hid behind either Big Macintosh, Granny Smith or Rainbow Dash, even though the stallion and the old mare were barely sitting still themselves. Tank, unfortunately, had to make due with retreating into his shell. Poor guy.

Then, Rainbow Dash just couldn’t keep it in anymore and collapsed on the ground, laughing.

Rainbow Dash: “We gotcha, didn’t we? You should see the look on your faces! Just priceless! Yehahah…”

Wary, Twilight walks a few steps forward to the shape and light is up a bit with her magic. Then, everyone could distinguish a bunch of leaves, algae and a couple of fireflies cleverly set up to look like some creepy figure. She then lifts them up to find Scootaloo underneath. The other two fillies then came out of the bushes that moved earlier, with a guilty look on their faces. They feel pretty guilty for the way they scared them.

Sweetie Belle: ”It seemed like a good idea at the beginning…”

Scootaloo: “But we didn’t know you’d get scared THAT hard!”

All three: “We’re sorry!”

Rainbow stopped when she heard them say that, then everyone else started laughing.

Applejack: “That was a pretty good story, though. Good job.”

Rarity: “Good job? You girls scared me half to death! I should ground you for the rest of your life, little filly!”

Of course, upon hearing this, Sweetie Belle gave her the saddest puppy face you’ve ever seen in your entire life.

Rarity: “Don’t you give me that look, young lady! I’m serious!”

Twilight: “Come on, Rarity. It was all in good fun! Plus they probably just did it because somepony else came up with the idea.” She says, looking at Rainbow.

Rainbow: “Okay, you got me. It was all my idea, and I’m sorry for dragging them into this.”

Rarity: “Fine, I’ll give her one more chance.”

Twilight: “Well, if no one minds, I’d like to tell my story now. While I’m at it, I think I’ll try to defuse the situation.”

Applejack: “Go ahead, we’re listening.”

Twilight: “Once upon a time, in a town far away, there lived a young colt called Whinny Peg. He was a very kind and hard-working colt, although he might’ve been a bit of a prankster. He would enjoy pulling pranks on other ponies and although harmless enough, the others in the village grew wary of them. One pony got a little more vexed than she should have over a box filled with toy snakes, and to pay him back, she started to spread ill-found rumors about him. Eventually, before he knew it, everypony in town would mark him as a no-good troublemaker. None of the other colts and fillies would play with him anymore because their parents forbid them. So he grew lonely and tried to attract their attention the only way he knew: by pulling pranks on them. Over time, as he grew older, his pranks became meaner and meaner, until everyone hated him. They started to call him No-good Peg and singled him out whenever they had the chance.

Life was pretty hard on him, until one night a fire broke out in the village. He didn’t have anything to do with it, but the villagers blamed him. They headed for his home, intent on making him pay for something he didn’t even do. As soon as he found out about this, he decided he didn’t have any reason to stay there anymore, so he ran away. No one ever heard or seen of him ever again.

Coincidentally, though, a few months later, someone made his appearance in the town he used to live in. It wasn’t Whinny, but someone far more terrifying, and terribly angry at them.  It was Discord himself! ”

Rainbow Dash: “Huh? What was he doing there?”

Pinkie Pie: “<GASP!> You don’t think Discord was actually poor Whinny, do you?”

Twilight: “We might never know. When he arrived, he started using his magic to alter the whole town, eventually turning it inside-out and sideways! When the villagers asked him why he was doing this, his only answer was that their town just needed a few changes to match its citizens’ twisted sense of judgement.”

Applejack: “That’s a fine story and all, Twilight, but wasn’t it supposed to be related to the lake?”

Twilight: “Actually, it wasn’t just a story. It was something I thought might’ve happened. You see, after we faced Discord…”

Rainbow Dash: “And kicked his butt!”

Twilight:” Yeah, and that… I looked for something in the Royal Canterlot Library about him, but nothing was explicit. All I’ve found out was that the place where they turned Discord into stone for the first time might’ve been at a lakeside, where the Silver Forest met the Everfree. I don’t know about any other places that fit that description, but Lake Whinny just seemed so fitting!”

Spike: “Why didn’t you ask Princess Celestia?”

Twilight: “I don’t know, I’d just rather not risk upsetting her.”

Granny: ”Well, it might not be a horror story, but it was definitely very inspired and thoughtful. Who knows, we might never know just how close you’ve been to the truth with this story, Twilight.”

Rainbow Dash: “You’ve certainly beat mine, though. Your story was awesome!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders, in unison: “Yeah!”

Twilight: “Oh, did you really think so? Well, thanks, guys, I really appreciate it!”

Applejack: ”Okay, so who’s going next?”

Pinkie Pie: “Ooh! Ooh! Me! Me!”

Applejack: “Okay, Pinkie, go ahead.”

Rainbow: “Can’t wait to hear what Pinkie Pie might come up with! If anyone can top Twilight, it’s probably gonna be her.”

Pinkie: “Aw, guys, thanks! Okay, so it was like this:

A long, long time ago, before Celestia, Luna or even Discord were born, Equestria was very different!”

Rainbow: “Oh, this is going to be good!”

Pinkie: ”Shhh!

So, as I was saying, it was all different. The clouds, the moon, the sun, everything was running on its own, just like in the Everfree Forest! No pony was controlling them, so the days and nights were uneven, the clouds would just pour randomly, everything was just… you know, Everfree! Even with all that, ponies were still living somewhat peacefully wherever they settled down.

Still, besides the weather and all that, there were also a lot of wild creatures lurking around. New ones would be born every other day, by either a lightning striking a magic crystal, or maybe a bunny falling into a fountain filled with magic star juice… Any number of things that could happen did happen, so there wasn’t much question when out of the Everfree Forest emerged a living flame creature that turned the trees into silver!”

Twilight: ”A living flame creature?... How original, Pinkie!”

Fluttershy: “Oh dear, what happened to all the animals that dreadful Flame encountered?”

Pinkie: “I dunno, maybe they were turned to silver too?”

Fluttershy: “…Turned… to… (faints).”

Pinkie: “So, anyway, this Flame Creature was burning everything it could get its flames on. When the ponies of that time found out about it, they decided they had to stop it before it was too late! The unicorns tried stopping it with magic, but it was too strong. The earth ponies tried to build trenches and lead rivers to surround it, but it was too clever and got away. The pegasi tried to control the weather and put it out by making it rain, but they wouldn’t stop it for too long! As more and more of the forest was getting turned into silver, they grew desperate, so the unicorns tried calling for help from whoever heard their call. That is when He arrived.”

Rainbow: “He? Who’s He?”

Pinkie: “I don’t know. All I know is that he arrived out of nowhere in this big blue barn thingy.”

Scootaloo: “A blue barn?”

Pinkie: “Uh huh. Anyway, he talked to the ponies and after a few minutes of planning and strategizing, they started to move. They decided they’d hold the line at a river somewhere in the creature’s path, and there, while the others were doing their thing, BAM! A little light shot out of the blue barn and BOOM! It exploded like fireworks over everyone, and turned the pegasi’s rain all white and shiny, and then after a few seconds, the fire creature went all blue and it grew bigger and bigger, until eventually, KA-BOOOOM! And that’s how Lake Winny was made!”

Everyone just stood there, until Spike breaks the silence.

Spike: “That was AWESOME!”

Pinkie: “You think? Gee, thanks! I thought it might’ve been a silly story, but I’m glad you liked it!”

Rainbow Dash: “It was an awesome story! Just as I’d expect from you, Pinky Pie!”

Twilight: “It was all dynamic and exciting, and the whole thing was just so original!”

Fluttershy: “I don’t know, it all seemed a little scary to me…”

Granny: “Alright, settle down, everypony. All of yer stories were great.”

Apple Bloom: “But which one was the best?”

That was quite a good question. Pinkie’s story was pretty exciting and all, but Twilight’s was good too. They were just too different for them to figure it out too easily. They kept wondering, trying to reach a verdict on their own, until:

Fluttershy: “I think that storywise, Twilight should win. Hers was much more immersive. Pinkie’s tale might’ve been original and all that, but it wasn’t exactly as good. At least, that’s what I think, anyway…”

Rarity: “I think I’ll have to agree with Fluttershy on that.”

Applejack: “Yeah, that sounds about right…”

Spike: “Okay, so… the final scores are, Rainbow Dash’s horror story landing last, Pinkie’s battle in the Everfree second and… Twilight’s origins of Discord going first!”

Rainbow: “Hey! Why does my story have to come last?”

Applejack: “Because it does?”

Rainbow: “Yeah, well… I didn’t think it was good for first, but last? That sounds a little harsh, I don’t know…”

Rarity: “Harsher than the prank you came up with?”

Rainbow: “Look, I already said I’m sorry! I just thought…”

Granny: “We understand, sugar plum. It ain’t never easy losin’ , but ye have to appreciate that no one ever wins if no one ever loses either.”

Rainbow: “I know… Oh well, I guess there’s no shame in losing to you two. Sorry if I might’ve been a little stubborn there…”

Pinkie: “It’s okay, Rainbow Dash. We’re just glad you’re not mad at us!”

Rarity: “And I need to apologize as well. I shouldn’t have stayed mad at you…”

Rainbow Dash: “Yeah, who knows? Maybe I’d turn into an evil lord of chaos and turn Ponyville inside-out!”

This is what’s so wonderful about these ponies. No matter how different they prove to be, they always stick together. They just apologized and hugged as if they’ve just seen each other for the first time in a long time.

Granny: “Well, ain’t that a nice sight! I’m glad to see y’all kissed and made up, but I think it’s about time I told ye my story.”

Apple Bloom: “Why’s that, granny?”

Granny: “Why don’t ye come and see for yerself?” She says as she starts walking to the lakeside.

The others decide to follow her, curious to see what she’s talking about.

Granny: “Tell me, kids, can you hear anything?”

Although they’re still wary from the last time they tried doing this, they try listening in again. This time, they think they can hear ponies laughing.

Rainbow Dash: “What is that?”

Granny: “That, sugar plume, would be the reason why this ‘ere lake is called Whinny Lake. You see, these are no ordinary waters. They’re actually inhabited by sea ponies.”

Twilight: “Sea ponies? I’ve read about them, but they’re supposed to live in salt water! What are they doing here?”

Granny: “Playing and laughing, every night. That’s what they do every night. As for why they’re here, who knows? They probably have a story to tell about that themselves, but the little things ’re pretty shy and don’t usually come out so you can ask them.”

You could say Rainbow Dash wasn’t too farfetched in her story. A lake called after the sound of the whickers coming from it at night. Who would’ve thought that a colony of sea ponies made a little town at the bottom of the lake?

Rarity: “I could understand why they’d want to live here. The view is simply gorgeous. I can only wonder how it is down there… On second thought, with all the algae and sand…”

Twilight: “Actually, that might not be such a bad idea…”

Spike: “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Twilight: “I’ve decided what I want for winning the campfire contest. Next time we come here, I want us to dive and see these sea ponies!”

Pinkie Pie: “How do you wanna do that?”

Twilight: “Magic, of course. I’m pretty sure there are a number of ways to travel under water using magic, I just need to find the right spell.”

Applejack: “That sounds like a pretty interesting adventure. I’m game.”

Fluttershy: “Oh, so am I! I’d just love to meet these little guys…”

Granny Smith: “Okay, then, you can make plans in the morning. Now we gotta hit the hay, it’s way past bedtime.”

Which reminds them, they find Spike sleeping on Twilight’s back and the other 3 barely keeping their eyes open.

Twilight: “I guess my plans can wait until morning.”