CH 4: MEETINGS PART II

Pinkie Pie hopped gleefully as she searched for her friends, tuning 'Giggle at the Ghostie' as she went on.

After the misadventure with the bats, she got lost but it didn't stopped her good mood. Being sad and gloomy wasn't going to help her friend her friends, so she decided to go look for them.

Her tail suddenly twitched furiously, making the pony stop. She grabbed her tail and narrowed her eyes while analyzing the situation.

-Twitchy, twitchy tail…- she thought. She gasped and ran for cover under a big tree's root that spurted from the ground and covered her head with her hooves.

-Aaaahhh! – someone screamed, before crashing in the same spot where Pinkie was standing just a few seconds before.

Pinkie peeked from the root she was hiding and gasped.

It was a light blue pegasus stallion with black eyes, short black mane and tail. He wore a strange yellow hat with a tassel on it and his front hooves were cuffed together by a strange, wooden like armor. His cutie mark represented a hi hat, with dark cloud and a green turtle shell looking like a military hat.

The pegasus managed to pull his face out the ground and grunted irritated.

-Darn it…- he spat as he stood up – Why, in Hidden Kingdom, this happens to me?!-

Pinkie's amazement turned into a huge smile full of excitement at the sight of a possible, new friend.

…And since Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie…

-HI!-

The startled pegasus gave a 3 meter high jump and fell on his back.

-Ouch…- he groaned.

-Oopsie…sorry for that – Pinkie apologized with a small smile.

The pegasus sat up – Uh, it was nothing - he said -…Anyway, who are you? –

-Oh, I'm Pinkie Pie. The 'Super Duper' party organizer in all of Equestria! And who are you? - The pink pony asked.

The stallion dusted himself off with his tail – I'm Mr. No Hands. –

Pinkie giggled.

-What's so funny? – No Hands asked annoyed, arching an eyebrow.

-You have a funny name. Ponies don't have hands, silly. You should be more like 'Mr. No Hooves'. If you want to talk about hands, then you should meet my friend Lyra – Pinkie said.

-Yeah…maybe another time. For now, I must to find my squad. – he said as he tried to 'walk' away. Since his front hooves were tied together, it gave him a hard time get used to it.

-More pony friends? – Pinkie asked excited – That's great! I lost my friends too. I'll help you find your friends so we can search for my friends too. Then we can get more ponies to party ad have even more fun! - Pinkie said, making 'logic'.

Mr. No Hands rolled his eyes but recognized that she was right.

-Ok, I will help you find your friends too. – he said.

-Really?!- Pinkie asked. The stallion nodded before he was crushed by the pink pony's bear hug.

-Thank you, thank you, thank you! – Pinkie Pie thanked.

-You're welcome…- Mr. No Hands said with a small smile – …but please, can you stop hugging me? I can't…breathe…! – he gasped as his coat begun to turn dark blue from the lack of air.

-Ups, sorry. – the pony apologized as she let go.

Mr. No Hands and Pinkie started searching for the others, but they took just a few steps before the party pony begun shooting questions like a talking Minigun.

-Oh, by the way…do you and your friends like parties? Do they like to play 'Pin the tail on the pony'? Oh, and your friends like eating cake? Well, duh. Everypony loves cake! -

-Miss Pie, is this really necessary? – the pegasus asked.

-Of course, silly. That's what friends do. - Pinkie said.

-You know, you are sort of cranky, but not cranky-cranky; you're a cranky-nice. I knew a cranky doodle donkey but now he's nicer. I can make friends with everyone. –

The pegasus was sort of regretting the decision to let her come along, when the pink pony put a hoof around Mr. No Hands, pulling him in a friendly hug.

-And I feel we are going to be the 'Best Friends Forever'! Isn't that great?! -

Mr. No Hands sighed "This is going to be a very looong day…"

-D-do you think we can find them?- Fluttershy asked timidly.

-Don't worry, sugar cube. We'll find them- the cowmare reassured, even if she wasn't sure as well.

-I hope they're all ok. The forest is scary…- the pegasus said.

-Calm down. They know how to handle any of those critters we met once…- Applejack said, remembering the strange creatures of the forest.

Suddenly, Fluttershy screamed and jumped in a bush.

-What happens? - Applejack said, ready to fight. She noticed a big shadow projecting against a big rock…only to be Fluttershy's own shadow.

-Ehm…sugar cube? It's just your shadow. - Applejack said.

The pegasus opened her eyes – Oh…right…sorry - she apologized.

-You have tah' calm down, girl. I'm here and we are going to find the others. Don't worry…- the earth pony reassured.

Out of sudden, a bush rustled behind the mares, startling them.

Fluttershy paled –Oh, my…-

Applejack took a defense position, stomping her hoof on the ground like a bull ready to charge. Fluttershy hid behind her, covering in fear.

The bushed kept moving and suddenly, a cocatrix fled out of it screeching in fear. This had the mares cover, until they realized the half-lizard thing was not attacking. Was more like escaping.

The ponies turned to the bush, afraid of what kind of horrible monster could scare away the cocatrix.

Instead, from the leaved hopped out a white and black bunny.

It was a little bigger than Angel bunny and it had black ears and a black fur collar on his neck. The critter had a scar on the forehead and his eyes were red and black. He had a strange mark on his flanks, a crown with a jump rope and a carrot.

Applejack gave it an odd look – What in tarnation …?!-

-A bunny! - Fluttershy squealed, all fear forgot.

She ran up to the bunny (accidentally tackling Applejack doing so) and cuddled it in her hooves.

– Aww, you are the cutest little thing ever! - she swoon.

-The-hee…Thank you- the rabbit giggled, blushing slightly.

The two ponies' eyes widen in surprise.

-That thing can talk?! - Applejack said in disbelief.

-Wow, I never see a talking bunny. - the pegasus smiled – Hello, my name is Fluttershy-

-And ah'm Applejack – the cowmare said.

-What's your name, little guy? - asked the pegasus.

-Me…Jumpy Ghostface! - the bunny chirped.

Applejack then noticed the strange mark on the bunny – A rabbit with a Cutie Mark? Well, Ah didn't see that coming…-

The bunny hopped out of Fluttershy's hooves and waves his paws – Jumpy…have to go…- he said.

-Wait, go where? The Everfree forest is dangerous – Applejack called out.

-Me…must find…friends – the rabbit said determinate.

-Are you lost? – Fluttershy said concerned – I'm so sorry…we lost our friend too…-

-Well, maybe we can try tah find them together. – Applejack suggested.

The rabbit thought of it, and then he nodded – Me Ok…-

Applejack let Jumpy sat her back. Fluttershy following close behind as they started to walk down the forest.

-Oh, my…a talking bunny. Can I ask you a few things?– the pegasus asked.

The rabbit king nodded -Yes…what you…want to know? – he asked.

-Absolutely everything! – the pegasus said.

And so, the adventure had just started for our groups heroes…but little did they knew, as groups and meeting were forming…no one of them noticed the strange eyes lurking in the shadows.

In fact… as Twilight walked in the forest followed by Lin Chung, she didn't notice the pair of glassy eyes spying on them. The thing just grinned and chuckled darkly.

The alicorn warrior stopped on his tracks as he heard something behind them. He turned to where the shadow was hiding suspiciously, but he couldn't find whatever thing was spying on them. It was already gone…

-Come on, Lin Chung! – Twilight called out from afar.

The warrior followed the unicorn, but he was sure about one thing…they would meet this "thing" someday and it will not be good.

Author notes: re-upload of the longest chapter. It was better separate it…and look! Bad guys preview! See ya next chapter!