Chapter 15

     The first month of school had flown by faster than an hour with the Tiara's.

It was October 31, and they didn't have any classes. Apparently, Professor Luna was very enthusiastic about Nightmare Night, and refused to teach that day. So the rest of the staff agreed to give the students a break.

     After breakfast, the students were all supposed to leave the great hall while the teachers set up the decor for the Nightmare Night luncheon.

     "I'm going to the library," Twilight Sparkle announced proudly.

"Have fun," Fluttershy said politely as she and Applejack headed back towards the common room.

Inside, Fluttershy slipped a bit of toast into Angel's cage and watched the small white bunny eat.

     "I can't believe that girl!" Applejack said. "Twilight is just so smug!"

"I don't think we should be talking about her behind her back like this," Fluttershy said.

     "Aw shucks," Applejack said. "You're probably right. But that girl just needs to stop being such a know it all! It's no wonder she hasn't got any friends!"

     When Fluttershy looked up, she was horrified with what she saw. Standing in the doorway of the girls dormitory was Twilight Sparkle, tears in her eyes. She must have forgotten an overdue book or something.

She made a strangled whimper, almost as if there was a parasprite stuck in her throat. Then she ran down the stairs, trying to hold back hide her crying.

********************

     "I'm sorry," Applejack insisted during lunch. "I'm absolutely, positively, incredibly, truthfully, so very very sorry!"

Fluttershy looked up. The candles on the tables have been replaced by jack-o-lanterns, and cobwebs were in every corner. The table was covered with chocolates, pastries, and fruits. This was one of the greatest feasts Hogwarts had put together yet, but Fluttershy and Applejack felt far too guilty to enjoy it.

     "I know you're sorry," Fluttershy said. "But apologizing to me doesn't do anything."

Applejack sighed. "Well, where's Twilight?"

"Lyra said she's in the bathroom," Ditzy interrupted before Fluttershy could say anything. "She said she was crying too."

Applejack slammed her face onto the table.

"I feel awful 'bout this," Applejack said, her voice muffled by her empty plate.

"I think you should give her some time alone," Fluttershy said. "Then apologize."

     Suddenly the back door burst open. Professor Jet Set galloped into the room.

"Troll!" He shouted. "Troll in the dungeon!"

He stopped and looked around. His eyes rolled back into his head.

"Thought you ought to know..."

     Professor Jet Set fell to the floor unconscious.

"We're all gonna die!" Scootaloo screamed.

     Everypony leapt up from their seats and started screaming.

"We're done for!" Lyra cried.

"Mummy!" Ditzy shouted.

"Silence!"

     Everypony looked to the front. Professor Celestia was standing at the front of the room.

"If everyone could please not panic! Prefects are to lead everypony back to their common room. Teachers are to come with me to the dungeon."

********************

     "This is crazy!" Applejack said as they followed the other students to the Gryffindor common room.

Fluttershy stopped. "Twilight! She doesn't know!"

     Applejack and Fluttershy galloped off in the other direction.

Hogwarts had several bathrooms, so they really didn't know which one to check first.

They walked through an empty corridor near the Hufflepuff common room.

Thud

Thud

Thud

     The two fillies knew at once what it was.

"I think the troll left the dungeon," Applejack said.

     Then, they saw it. It was a dark green color, and it's body was covered in slimy warts. It wore a tattered leather loin clothe, and carried a huge wooden club half its size. It's head was incredibly small compared to its humongous body, and its blank expression showed that there wasn't much in the small head.

     It stomped slowly through the corridor. Then it rounded the corner and began stomping away.

Fluttershy and Applejack ran just behind it. As they rounded the same corner, they heard a very faint sound. It was sobbing. Somepony nearby was sobbing.

     Fluttershy hesitated, then looked at Applejack.

"That has to be Twilight."

Thud

Thud

Thud

     The troll stomped through a wide open door. He had to duck down to fit, but he made it through.

Applejack gulped. "And that's the door to the lil' filly's room."