cajobif [2015-06-28 21:55:12 +0000 UTC]
Luna was going deeper in the cave, worried about what she may find inside. Days ago, ponies reported they heard screams coming deep from it without even daring investigating themselves the source of the screeches.
"Why should I be the one investigating? We have so many experts on the matter! Are they so afraid that an humongous beast could be the cause of those screams?" the princess thought, while shifting her light around for finding only walls of rocks, stalagmites and stalactites. "Strange." she said with a frown. "I don't see any bats around. This cave should be full on them. I guess I'll have to cross them off my list of usual suspects. 'Tis would have been a mystery so much easier to solve. Alas, it ain't the case. So, where they gone?"
The princess kept on walking deeper in the pitch black cave. No sound, except the noise of dripping water and wind. She drooped her head sighted. "I've been here for an hour or so and not scream at all." She raised her levitated flashlight and took a last glance at remaining cave. She recalled what her sister said to her earlier.
-----
"Luna? May I ask you to do something tonight?" the sun princess, her sister asked her.
"What is it this time, sister?" she responded, a bit irritated. She knew that her older sister used to ask her for mundane and stupid services to do in her night duties. She knew that they could be a very importance, even how insignificant they maybe be.
"Some ponies have heard screams and noises coming from this cave." The solar princess levitated a map of the region and pointed the site with a hoof.
"Huh? What does that have to do with my duties? Can't you go and check yourself? Wait! Scratch that. Don't we have ponies who are expert on the matter?" the lunar princess responded.
"Yes. We have. But for answering your first question, the screams have been heard during the night." Luna raised a eyebrow. "I guess that for finding it source, we may need-"
"Excuse me? We?" Luna interrupted.
"Uh... YOU may need to go check in that time of day. On your night duties."
"Wonderful." she replied with sarcasm. "And about the experts? I learned they are called geologists, right?"
"Yes. They are... uh... "
"Afraid like littles fillies to check themselves?" She chuckled. "Typical."
"Luna! They are your subjects and they need your help. They expect you to protect them from harm. And by the screams they heard, they reckon it may be the ones from young ponies who could have been caught by... this... creature of sort."
"What makes you so sure it's a beast? They tend to put the blame on any creatures of the forest and turn them evil. I know they do about the manticores."
"The manticores are deadly!"
"Then why there was one who helped us built the castle? [Note: From the "Journal of the Two Sisters"]"
"They are not all Marvins, Luna! They remain very dangerous!"
"Fine!" She stumped the floor with a hoof. "I will check myself!"
-------
Luna shook her head to clear out those memories. At this moment she got startled by a bloodcurdling scream coming from the darkest par of the cave. "My.... stars! W-was it a young filly I just heard her scream?" Two other screams became audible, followed by two masculine one. "Oh my Moon! They are that many?!" Luna began to gallop in their source, trying to make sure of the right direction. She began to shout in the darkness. "KIDS! KIDS!?! WHERE ARE YOU? IT'S YOUR PRINCESS! I'M HERE TO SAVE YOU!!! SCREAM AGAIN SO I CAN FIND WHERE YOU ARE!!!" She could only heard surprised and confused screams. "SCREAM AGAIN LITTLES FOALS SO I CAN HEAR WHERE YOU ARE!"
She could only hear "Oh no!" and "What are you going to do?" Confused, but still willing to save the young ones, the lunar princess kept on running, flashlight lighting her way and her horn glowing, pulsing with magic and ready to attack any beast she may find and possibly defeat. Until she find a huge room, lighted by candles and... five shocked foals staring at her with huge eyes.
Later that evening, after bringing the disobedient foals back home with a warning, she took flight and resumed her usual night duties, but without a bit of laugher on the situation.
------
"But if this is just stupid foals who are telling scary stories and screaming, you'll owe me something for wasting my time!" the princess shouted.
"What makes you so sure?"
"We were foals too once, Celie. This is one of the caves we liked to go for that kind of fun. I remember we always ended being the only two foals remaining even after we invited others of our age. We even got challenged by teenagers and even adults." She laughed. "I still remember watching them pretending being brave and running to the exit while holding their scream."
Celestia laughed too. "Yes. I do remember myself. But, I do remember a young filly who ran too."
"Hey! I was younger than you back then!" she replied and shown a pouted face. The sun princess laughed again. Before putting a serious face again.
"What do you want in exchange if 'tis the case?" The moon princess smiled.
-----
"Oh, sister. I won this..." she cut herself. She just realized something. One foals said that only a friend of her was brave enough to not scream. She counted again the screams she heard... One foal was missing and was possibly still in the cave! She turned back and quickly landed at its entrance. Realizing she left her flashlight at one of the foals' home and the time pressing, she made her horn glow enough to light her path and ran into the darkness. Fortunately she remembered the way to the room and rapidly got back there. No pony there. She looked around, the eerie blue aura of her horn lighting the room.
"AHHHHHHHH!" Then. "ROAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR"!!!!!!
Her ears straighten over her head. She found another way and ran toward it. "I'M COMING LITTLE ONE!!! YOUR PRINCESS WILL BE THERE SHORTLY!" Another scream came from the depth of the passageway. She could see a lantern on the ground and ran pass it. "I'M COMING! I'LL BE RIGHT-" Another huge roar lead her way. Then, there it was! It was huge! It had the young pony in its maw. She was horrified to she could be too later until she saw her still breathing. Thankfully, she only was unconscious. Luna stopped at safe distance from its claws. She shot at the neck so it would let go of the foal. The best screamed in pain and let go. Luna caught her in time with her magic and hold her behind her. The creature was advancing dangerously toward her, ready to strike. It wanted this food badly.
Luna tried to concentrated but one of the claw was faster and she quickly dodged in time. She began to retreat and ran toward the exit. Sadly, the beast albeit its massive size but longer legs was running faster. At a relative distance, the princess stopped dead, turned to face it, concentrated for a spell, her horn glowing blue and her eyes closed, then a flash of light as bright as the sun came from it. The big creatures screamed and crashed, covering its eyes for the given temporary blindness. Meanwhile, the lunar princess took advantage of the situation and ran away, using her magic to light and levitate the the young pony.
"WAIT!" Stunned, Luna stopped dead without turning her head. Then, she looked at the beast. And it was a female voice. "Why are running away with my supper?" the beast asked her. It's been a while since one of them creatures talked to her. Prudent, she stayed at her place. "Can't you see that I'm starving?" The blinded beast kept asking.
"You have to be kidding me! If you think I would let one of you devour one of my subject-"
"It's because of your subjects that I'm starving!" Luna's eyes widen. "They keep coming in my cave at night! The young ones! For whatever reason and they keep screaming and screaming making me unable to sleep too. I- " She rubbed her eyes with her paws. "I knew if I attacked them, your kind would have chased me. Or send me you. Or the other one."
"My sister?"
"She's your sister?" Luna looked at her with a glare. "What? I didn't know."
"Why tonight, then?"
"I was tired, exhausted and starving. I was going to attack, but you appeared and surprised us." Luna frowned. "But you inattentively forgot one and I took advantage." Luna frowned more.
"No more! I'm bringing this pony to her mother! Maybe not sound, but if she is not safe, when I'll come back here later, I'll make sure you won't either! Understood?"
"Hmph! Do what you want. I can't see right n- Wait!"
"It will pass in a couple of- What?"
"You will come back?"
"You clearly stated that they disturbed your property, yes?" Luna said with a serious look. "I will make sure this won't happen again. At the following condition."
"Shoot!"
-----
"So, Luna? What was the problem?" Luna sighted.
"You were right. And wrong.
"Huh? Care to explain?"
"There was a monster indeed. But the screams were from young ponies who were wandering there to tell scary stories to each others."
"Wait! If there was a monster, then..."
"I was getting there. You see, the young ones were ignoring they were disturbing a female cross of a bear, manticore and... I don't know what else. She got tired and she attacked a young one I forgot there when I got there and brought the other home. She was safe and lightly bruised."
"What happened to that... creature?"
"I gave my word that nopony else will disturb her again in her property. Under the condition that this happen again to inform me right away. Also, that if she ever attack a single pony for food, I'll would pay her a visit. Not a friendly one...."
"Well, it seems that you did a great job and I-"
"Uh, since it actually were kids... Does it mean that I..." Celestia shook her head. "B-but I was right! The situation would be have been different it-"
"Sorry Luna. But the bet is out. Actually I could call this a draw. Be glad then that you won't have to make my coffee for a month." Luna's head dropped. "Have a good day sister."
"Have a good day too, sister." Luna left. Walking toward her bedroom, she yawned, then sighted. "I was this close for having a cake per day for a full week! I would have loved to eat my first cake this morning. Oh well. I just hope this won't happen gain. I hate going into caves...."
Luna inspired me to write long stories. I hope you enjoyed this one.
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