Scribe and Vinyl both sat in the Ponyville library feeling pretty bad.  After The Bracken was summoned, the unicorn known as Twilight Sparkle immediately grabbed both of them and hauled both of them off to the library for questioning.  At the moment, Twilight was in the middle of trying to compose a letter to the Princess to best explain the current situation.   After a while of waiting in the chairs for her, Twilight sent the letter and trotted over to both ponies.

Twilight had an annoyed look on her face as she asked flatly, “What did you two do?”

Scribe raised his hooves defensively, “hey I said it wasn’t my fault.”

Twilight raised an eyebrow, “Who was the one who brought that book here in the first place?”

Scribe nodded, “Touché.”

Vinyl raised a hoof, “Hey, hey Twilight don’t be so hard on him.  I sort of DID do the deed and he DID try to stop me.”

Twilight sat down flustered, “I realize that, but what I am trying to figure out is WHAT the deed was.”

Scribe looked around the area and concluded that if this was the library of the town that maybe she might know about the Grimorium, “Have you heard of the Grimorium?”

Twilight looked up, “The what?”

Scribe pulled out the book, “This is what I mean.”

Twilights eyes lit up as she levitated the book over to herself and began to flip through it, “Wow! I’ve never read this before,” she looked at Scribe intently, “Where did you get this?”

Scribe gestured out the window, “From a local bookstore back in my home of Canterda.”

Twilight placed the book down, “So now I have to ask, did you know that creature would come out of the book?”

Scribe was sheepish in his answer, “Well…um. Yes and no.”

Twilight narrowed her eyes as Scribe finally broke, “Alright, Alright.  The legend of the book goes that if you read the last sentence to signify that you finished it The Bracken will escape.”

Twilight was shocked at this, “And you ignored this warning and read it anyway.”

Scribe was agitated with that as he gestured at Vinyl, “That would be in her department.”

Vinyl smiled in shame.

Twilight groaned as she face hoofed, “This is not good.”

The baby dragon known as Spike ran inside the library panting, “Twilight…I got the…” he then fainted from exhaustion.  

Five other mares entered and noticed Vinyl and Scribe who turned their attention to them.  Pinkie Pie squeed as she ran up and hugged Vinyl who smiled at the contact.  Scribe on the other hoof was frantically looking for an exit and saw a window.  As everypony was occupied downstairs, Scribe inched his way along the wall and was about to slink out the window when a cyan blur zoomed out of nowhere and barred his path.

Rainbow Dash raised an eyebrow, “Going somewhere?”

Scribe smiled nervously, “I was…going to get some air.”

Dash pointed at the Scribes wings, “With primed wings?”

Scribe folded his wings quickly, “Eheheh.”

Dash pointed downstairs to which Scribe went with an annoyed expression.  After he explained the situation to the ponies they all took it rather well.   Pinkie was running in circles in a frantic fit whereas the other ponies were trying to devise a way to get rid of The Bracken.

Twilight sat down, “well for one, we need to figure out where it went.”

Applejack spoke next, “But it’s goin to be like findin a needle in a haystack.”

Pinkie Pie stopped running, “Who would look for a needle in a haystack, that’s silly.”

Scribe was deep in thought as theories were fired off back and forth.  He grabbed the Grimorium and started to read it as ponies outside began to panic.

*

The hours that followed were among the most terrifying in terms of Ponyville standards.  A colt was walking home from school when he noticed a strange creature on a nearby roof looking down at him with glowing red eyes.  The young colt yelled in fright as he turned to run, a barrage of red glass like lightning smacked into the colt freezing him in mid run with a metallic veen.  The Bracken then swooped down and grabbed the young colt and zoomed into the sky like a rocket.  Everypony else was too preoccupied with panicking or locking the doors that they didn’t notice foals were vanishing in the blink of an eye.

*

Rarity noticed that Scribe was reading and yanked the book from his grasp, “You could at least put something on the table as it were.”

Scribe was however as white as a sheet, Fluttershy noticed this, “Are you okay?”

Scribe mouthed something but nopony heard him, Vinyl on the other hoof waved her hoof in a get on with it gesture, “Enunciate Scribe.”

Scribe then spoke in a grim fashion, “It eats foals.”

Everypony gasped collectively as Applejack and Rarity bolted out the door.  Twilight ran over to Scribe and was frantically bombarding him with questions.  Scribe answered as many as he could and Twilight was more confused if anything.  So sooner had the questions stopped that Rarity and Applejack burst through the door both of them worried beyond belief.  They both said that they found Miss Cheerilee paralyzed and the entire class had gone missing.

Twilight turned her head and noticed; Flitter, Cloudchaser, Thunderlane, and Colgate were standing in the open doorway, “Were in a bit of a crisis here.”

Thunderlane nodded, “We know, that’s why we came to help.”

Flitter and Cloudchaser struck a pose in unison, “Just tell us what we have to do.”

Rainbow Dash turned to look at Scribe, “Well?”

Scribe looked at her, “What?”

Rainbow Dash landed in front of him, “You know more about that thing than us and you brought it here.  Do something.”

Scribe sighed, “Okay but I’ll need the book.”

Rarity levitated the book to Scribe who opened it, “Alright, the fable “Foal Snatcher” describes that The Bracken as having an appetite for foals.  It can only take them when “the attention of many is taken from the presence of the few.”

Twilight nodded in understanding, “So that means since all the ponies re panicking, not many will pay attention to some of the foals here.”

Rarity wailed in anguish, “OH WHY DID I LEAVE SWEETIE BELLE ALONE AT HOME!”

Applejack was saddened, “Ah hope Applebloom’s alright.”

Fluttershy place a comforting hoof on her friend, “She’s a strong filly just like her sister, and she’ll be fine.”

Twilight looked up as Scribe stood and walked out the door, “Hey where are you going?”

Scribe stopped, “I’m going to fix this.”

Flitter looked after the bespectacled Pegasus, “By yourself?”

Scribe nodded, “Yeah.”

Cloudchaser zipped in front of him, “Yeah right.”

Scribe went to walk around her only for Thunderlane, Flitter, Colgate, and Vinyl to bar his path.  

Scribe stood there as he noticed the six ponies from the library starting to approach him from behind, “But I caused this by bringing the book here.”

Thunderlane smiled, “We know.”

Vinyl grinned as well, “But we can’t let you have all the fun now can we?”

Scribe actually smiled but then got serious, “If that’s what you want.”

Scribe flipped open the book as both groups of six ponies weaved through the panicking throngs or ponies.  Scribe continued his research as they walked down the trail leading to the Everfree forest.  They all came to a halt when Vinyl levitated a small tiara off the road.

Twilight examined it, “It looks like Diamond Tiara’s.”

Rainbow cracked her neck, “Awesome we’re on the right track.”

Scribe shook his head as he finished reading “Forest of Brambles”, “The mare knew that the shadows of the forest were The Bracken’s home and the predators his family.”

Colgate trembled slightly, “I don’t like the sound of that.”

Rainbow Dash shadow boxed the air, “I ain’t afraid of some dumb shadows!”

She dashed into the forest in the blink of an eye as the group followed after her.  The minute they entered the forest they heard a shriek of surprise which caused them to rush in its direction.  They almost arrived at the location only for them to be instantly attacked by large roots.  The ponies went into evasive action as they dodged around the swatting roots and the unicorns even blasted a few of them into splinters.  The group just barely managed to escape the roots and make it into a clearing and saw a frightening sight.

Scribe ominously spoke, “And as the mare attempted to escape her fate, The Bracken seemed to turn the very forest itself against her.”

Rainbow Dash was bound in vines and roots as if they acted as snakes.  Twilight approached and stopped as she noticed that they began to tighten.  

Twilight turned to Scribe’s group, “Go on ahead, we’ll catch up.”

They all nodded as they trotted deeper into the forest.  After a while they noticed it had become much darker and much more ominous.  Vinyl and Colgate lit their horns as they continued to advance.

Colgate looked over at Scribe who was nose deep in his book, “Scribe, what exactly are we in for?”

Scribe looked up, “It says here that The Bracken fears light, is hurt by intense heat like fire or a concentrated burst of energy.”

Vinyl pouted, “The one day I forget to bring my bass cannon.”

All of a sudden they all heard a screech that sounded like a mixture of between nail’s on a chalk board and a hissing cockroach and The Bracken was upon them.  Thunderlane was thrown into a tree as Vinyl blasted the creature in the back.  The Bracken reeled in pain and back handed the DJ onto the ground causing her glasses to fall off.  Colgate continued to blast The Bracken with magic bolts as Flitter, Cloudchaser, and Cryptic Scribe flew around it and kicked it when they could.  Thunderlane and Vinyl soon joined in as The Bracken was pushed into a nearby marsh to reveal the missing foal’s cocooned in vines.  The Bracken dropped into the murky waters as the ponies gained their second wind.

Scribe looked at the five ponies, “Why…are you all helping me?”

Thunderlane grinned as he wiped some muck water from his forehead, “We’re friend’s dude, that’s what we do.”

Scribe was surprised, “We’re friends?”

Flitter nodded, “Yep.”

Scribe thought hard on the conversation and nodded with a smile as he finally said, “I think I like the sound of that.”

All of a sudden The Bracken burst forth from the depths and screeched at them.  Only to be blasted by a large rainbow colored blast.  All the ponies stared in awe as Twilight and her friends surfaced from the bramble to their right wearing the Elements of Harmony.

Twilight was greatly concerned, “Are you all okay?”

Scribe and the five nodded in unison, “So those are the elements, cool.”

Rainbow chuckled, “I know, we’re awesome.”

The Bracken surfaced from the water and roared in anger as Scribe turned to a shocked Twilight, “AnyMORE ideas smarty pants?”

Twilight then weakly stated, “Working on it.”

The Bracken slowly advanced on them as its claws crackled with energy.

Vinyl then yelled, “Throw stuff at it!”

Everypony then began to grab random objects off the ground and threw them at The Bracken with immense force.  The Bracken was pushed back with each hit but kept coming.

Fluttershy yelled frantically, “Nothings working!”

Twilight spoke in a slightly trembling voice, “Throw harder then!”

Thunderlane stopped and thought of something, “What if we destroy the book?”

Twilight stopped as well, “What?”

Thunderlane nodded quickly, “Well that thing came from it so it has to be connected to it somehow.”

Rarity nodded as she threw a boulder at The Bracken, “Plus we are running out of options and objects to throw.”

Scribe picked up the book, “But…I paid good bits for this.”

Twilight narrowed her eyes, “Scribe.”

Scribe quickly said, “What if we just tear out the last page.”

Cloudchaser was getting agitated, “Scribe.”

Scribe then looked at The Bracken, “I mean come on-“

He was cut off as everypony yelled, “SCRIBE!”

Scribe handed it over to Twilight with a quick, “Just make it quick.”

Twilight slammed the book down and blasted a burning hole clear through the center of the cover.  The Bracken stopped in its place and wailed as a burning hole appeared in its chest and began to fountain out ink and then exploded into ink.

Rarity then wailed, “IT’S ALL OVER MY MANE AND COAT!!!”

The vines loosened as the excited ponies ran to meet their saviours.  Soon the ponies arrived at Ponyville and were greeted by a standing ovation.

Scribe looked at the five ponies, “I can’t believe you all want to be my friends.”

Cloudchaser looked at the rest of the group, “Well we all think you’re a pretty interesting dude.”

Vinyl nodded as she came to Scribe’s side, “Plus Octavia says I should expand my horizons in terms of making more friends, but yeah you seem like a cool dude.”

Scribe smiled, “Wow…this is awesome.”

Vinyl wrapped a leg around Scribes neck as everypony cheered the six friends for their victory, “So Scribe what now?”

Scribe thought for a second, “Now?” he pointed at Vinyl, “Drop me a beat!”

Vinyl magiced her equipment into the town square as an upbeat tune started.

Scribe put on a pair of shades, “Yo, hey what's happening pony? I'm a pony who had a rep for bein' lonely.  Avoiding ponies wherever I go, it was intentional, just avoidin' the flow!

Scribe hopped atop a roof, “Fixin' my writer to get the best literary scores Droppin' social meetings all over the place I'm the pony that wouldn’t leave for a bribe.  My first name, Cryptic, last name, Scribe!”

Scribe dropped into the throng of ponies, “I'm here today to introduce the next phase the next step in the big Scribe phase I got a dance, real easy to do I learned it with no rhythm and so can you!

Scribe started doing an odd dance which everypony started imitating, “So, move your body, if you got the notion front to back in a rock-like motion Now that you got it, if you think you can do it to the music, that's the Cryptic Scribe!”

Several ponies then began to sing, “Everypony, if you can, do the Cryptic Scribe.  Shake your body; turn it out, if you can.  Move your plot to the side, yes, you can, can Everypony in the house, do the Cryptic Scribe.”

Scribe sat on a bench with Twilight, “It wasn't long ago, just a couple of hours I got evicted, yeah, pretty bad.  Celestia gave me scroll; she was trolling too, because I put here advice in the proverbial stew.”

Scribe trotted along the road, “Train ride time, in the air lurks gloom.  Sittin' by myself, confined to the booth.   When all else fails, nothin' else left to do I turn on the music, so I can feel the groove!”

Scribe and all the ponies dance and sang in unison, “Move your body, if you got the notion Front to back in a rock-like motion.  Move your flanks from side to side now don’t ya slip, let your hooves glide now!”

Scribe turned to three fillies, “If you've got the groove, you gotta use it rock rhythm in time with the music.  You just might start a chain reaction If you can do the Scribe, you're bad like Rainbow Dash!

Rainbow and Scribe then danced in unison, “Everypony, if you can, do the Cryptic Scribe.  Shake your body; turn it out, if you can.  Move your plot to the side as you can, can everybody in the house, do the Cryptic Scribe, and do the Cryptic Scribe!”

Sweetie Belle then put on her own shades, “Do the Cryptic Scribe, everypony back and forth, from side to side Do the Cryptic Scribe, and do the Cryptic Scribe.  Now, here a dance beat that you can't deny!”

A random old stallion then yelled from his window, “Turn it down will you stop that infernal racket?”

Everypony then yelled in unison, “Do the Cryptic Scribe!”

Scribe group hugged his five new friends, “Now, I'm in the house feelin' good to be home, I have these awesome friends I’m free of my dome.  My assignment won’t be tardy, COME ON EVERYPONY LETS PARTY!”

All ponies then sang and danced in unison, “Everypony, if you can do the Cryptic Scribe.  Shake your body; turn it out if you can.  Move your plot to the side, as you can can.  Everybody in the house, do the Cryptic Scribe!”

Scribe and the five landed on town hall and sang into the sky, “Do the Cryptic Scribe everypony, back and forth from side to side do the Cryptic Scribe.  Do the Cryptic Scribe, she can do it, and he can do it, so can I!”

All of the ponies then partied until the morning light of the next day.