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A Forest Tale
The forest gleamed eerily in the unexpectedly-bright moonlight. The dark silhouette of the Mare in the Moon had disappeared, and four shining stars had added their luminance to that of the lunar orb. And thus, in a night almost as bright in spots as the day, as if the Moon meant to take the role of the Sun for itself, the band of heroes advanced, undaunted, towards the dark castle.
They had already fought their way past several trials, these six nascent heroes, but in them already shone the qualities that had drawn them together. Unknown to them as yet, they shared a bond that was forged many years ago in a burst of magic that had linked their destinies forever, so that while they had just met as a group for the first time that evening, they already fought and bickered as if they had been friends all their lives. In them lay the signs of greatness ahead, of a future that would begin that night in the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, and the promise, the unwhispered hope, that a great wound in the world would be healed…
But now, as they approached the ruined castle of the Royal Sisters, their greatest challenge lay before them.
They stared before them at a strange spectacle indeed. A dark figure, as tall as one who stood trembling atop four homemade stilts, loomed over them, blocking the path ahead. The figure wore a cylindrical helmet, adorned with a discarded pair of last season’s antlerettes. From the dark shadows of the helmet, keen moist eyes glittered like oiled pufferfish.
About this stark figure stood others, looming ominously in the shadows, tufted ears protruding from their own helmets, and the outline of odd-looking wings beneath their robes. He drew breath and declaimed loudly.“We are the Knights who say… Niegh!”
Twilight frowned. “The Knights of Niegh? I don’t recall any such order of Knights being listed in Twerp’s Peerage…”
“We are the keepers of the Sacred Words, Niegh, Peng, and Neee-Whom!”
“How very nice for you. But if you will please excuse us, we have some urgent business ahead--”
“The Knights of Niegh shall not permit you passage, unless you present us with… a sacrifice.”
Rainbow Dash smirked. “You think you’re really gonna give us any trouble? Huh?”
“You may not proceed unless you obtain for us… A SHRUBBERY!”
Pinkie gasped. Everypony else gasped. Bats screeched ominously overhead, then gasped. A passing Chimera gasped with all three mouths in harmony. A mud puppy buerpled, which is the closest they ever get to gasping.
“A shrubbery? how could we possibly?--”
“If you do not provide us with a shrubbery, we will say NIEGH to you until you do!”
“Lot’sa ponies can say ‘neigh,’ pardner,” said Applejack. “You think that’s gonna bother us any?”
“NnnnnniiiiEeeGGHHH!” cried the Knights.
Applejack’s ears flattened and she shook her head. “Whooh! Them high-frequency notes are nasty!”
“NnnnnniiiiEeeGGHHH! NnnnnniiiiEeeGGHHH! NNNNNNNNnnnnnn..IIIIIEEEEEEEEGGGGHGHHHGGHH‼!” the Knights shouted together.
Twilight winced with her hooves jammed against her ears. “Okay, please stop. STOP! We’ll… We’ll try to get you a shrubbery!”
“Oh gee, we need to find a bush. Somewhere in this big area that’s, like, overgrown with bushes. Big deal, eh?” snarked Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, but it can’t be just any bush, dear.” said Rarity. “A… shrubbery is a set of bushes, well tended, arranged to enhance their natural beauty. A wild one won’t do.” Rarity primped her own hair while eyeing Rainbow Dash’s uncombed and tousled mane.
Few things could fly right past the Pegasus; subtle digs about grooming were one of the rare exceptions. “Oh.” said Rainbow Dash. “So, uh, Applejack, can’t you just like, uhm, you know…?” She made a diddling motion with her forehoof.
Applejack frowned. “What? You think ‘cause I’m an Earth pony, that automatically makes me Ms. Shrubbery? You think I can just make one appear right outta the ground by stamping my hoof?”
“Uhm…” Rainbow Dash scratched her mane and smiled ruefully. “Uh, I guess I kinda did. I’m sorry if I offended you.”
Applejack sighed. “No offense taken, sugarcube. Now, we ain’t got no shrubberies at the Acres, and frankly, if you wanna take some poor bush and give it a frou-frou poodle-cut, you gotta find yourself another gal. I’ll sure do my part, but I expect you all to help.”
“Oh, of course, Applejack, that’s fair.” Twilight said hastily. “We’re all going to pitch in. So, which way should we go from here..?”
They had already fought their way past several trials, these six nascent heroes, but in them already shone the qualities that had drawn them together. Unknown to them as yet, they shared a bond that was forged many years ago in a burst of magic that had linked their destinies forever, so that while they had just met as a group for the first time that evening, they already fought and bickered as if they had been friends all their lives. In them lay the signs of greatness ahead, of a future that would begin that night in the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, and the promise, the unwhispered hope, that a great wound in the world would be healed…
But now, as they approached the ruined castle of the Royal Sisters, their greatest challenge lay before them.
They stared before them at a strange spectacle indeed. A dark figure, as tall as one who stood trembling atop four homemade stilts, loomed over them, blocking the path ahead. The figure wore a cylindrical helmet, adorned with a discarded pair of last season’s antlerettes. From the dark shadows of the helmet, keen moist eyes glittered like oiled pufferfish.
About this stark figure stood others, looming ominously in the shadows, tufted ears protruding from their own helmets, and the outline of odd-looking wings beneath their robes. He drew breath and declaimed loudly.“We are the Knights who say… Niegh!”
Twilight frowned. “The Knights of Niegh? I don’t recall any such order of Knights being listed in Twerp’s Peerage…”
“We are the keepers of the Sacred Words, Niegh, Peng, and Neee-Whom!”
“How very nice for you. But if you will please excuse us, we have some urgent business ahead--”
“The Knights of Niegh shall not permit you passage, unless you present us with… a sacrifice.”
Rainbow Dash smirked. “You think you’re really gonna give us any trouble? Huh?”
“You may not proceed unless you obtain for us… A SHRUBBERY!”
Pinkie gasped. Everypony else gasped. Bats screeched ominously overhead, then gasped. A passing Chimera gasped with all three mouths in harmony. A mud puppy buerpled, which is the closest they ever get to gasping.
“A shrubbery? how could we possibly?--”
“If you do not provide us with a shrubbery, we will say NIEGH to you until you do!”
“Lot’sa ponies can say ‘neigh,’ pardner,” said Applejack. “You think that’s gonna bother us any?”
“NnnnnniiiiEeeGGHHH!” cried the Knights.
Applejack’s ears flattened and she shook her head. “Whooh! Them high-frequency notes are nasty!”
“NnnnnniiiiEeeGGHHH! NnnnnniiiiEeeGGHHH! NNNNNNNNnnnnnn..IIIIIEEEEEEEEGGGGHGHHHGGHH‼!” the Knights shouted together.
Twilight winced with her hooves jammed against her ears. “Okay, please stop. STOP! We’ll… We’ll try to get you a shrubbery!”
“Oh gee, we need to find a bush. Somewhere in this big area that’s, like, overgrown with bushes. Big deal, eh?” snarked Rainbow Dash.
“Oh, but it can’t be just any bush, dear.” said Rarity. “A… shrubbery is a set of bushes, well tended, arranged to enhance their natural beauty. A wild one won’t do.” Rarity primped her own hair while eyeing Rainbow Dash’s uncombed and tousled mane.
Few things could fly right past the Pegasus; subtle digs about grooming were one of the rare exceptions. “Oh.” said Rainbow Dash. “So, uh, Applejack, can’t you just like, uhm, you know…?” She made a diddling motion with her forehoof.
Applejack frowned. “What? You think ‘cause I’m an Earth pony, that automatically makes me Ms. Shrubbery? You think I can just make one appear right outta the ground by stamping my hoof?”
“Uhm…” Rainbow Dash scratched her mane and smiled ruefully. “Uh, I guess I kinda did. I’m sorry if I offended you.”
Applejack sighed. “No offense taken, sugarcube. Now, we ain’t got no shrubberies at the Acres, and frankly, if you wanna take some poor bush and give it a frou-frou poodle-cut, you gotta find yourself another gal. I’ll sure do my part, but I expect you all to help.”
“Oh, of course, Applejack, that’s fair.” Twilight said hastily. “We’re all going to pitch in. So, which way should we go from here..?”