This is the 29th chapter. I don't own the series of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Stare Master
Rainbow Dash was happy that Storm Hawk is accepting her as his mother. He was also spending much time with Rainbow Dash and bonding with her.
After that, Storm Hawk continued to practice some more flying with Rainbow Dash and try to get over his motion sickness. Rainbow Dash wanted to do something special for Storm Hawk, so she took him to the ice cream shop at Ponyville. Storm Hawk was so happy that he was getting some ice cream. Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk were also hanging out with Dumb-Bell, Hoops, and Score, after telling them that she officially adopted the colt as her son. The three stallions were surprised about it, but they're happy for them.
After spending a couple of days in Cloudsdale, Rainbow Dash and Storm Hawk finally made it back home. Rainbow Dash was happy to have given Storm Hawk what he needs: a new life and a loving mother. She was happy to give Storm Hawk what he needs.
And now, it was another busy day at the Carousel Boutique and Rarity was moving around trying to get another order finished. She also had to deal with her sister, Sweetie Belle. Sweetie Belle was watching Rarity her working since she didn't like the idea at the moment.
"Where'd I put that?" Rarity mumbled to herself. "Ohh, I thought I already...Oh! And I can't forget I...Ooh! How am I ever gonna get this done?!"
Sweetie Belle was just watching her sister run back and forth across the room and then gave her a light eye roll.
"Are you sure I can't help?" Sweetie Belle asked curiously. "I could-"
"No!" Rarity said, cutting her off.
"Maybe just a-"
"No thanks!" Rarity interrupted again.
"How about-"
"Just stand over there." Rarity instructed.
"But-"
"Where you'll be out of the way." Rarity finished and then remembered something. "Ribbon, ribbon, where's that ribbon?"
"I got it!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she tried to reach for it by standing on the table with the sewing machine and stretching out her fore-hoof. Then there was a loud creak as Sweetie Belle knocked the thread off the top of the fabric.
"Whoa!" Sweetie Belle shouted as she lost her balance.
Rarity watched with a gasp as the thread knocked a nearby mannequin over, which then launched three balls of yarn that were on the floor into the air towards another shelf.
"Aah!" Rarity cried as she ducked to avoid the flying object as the domino effect continued.
Clattering noises could be heard until things finally settled, leaving a huge mess in the room. Sweetie Belle surveyed the mess as Rarity glares.
"Um, I-I'll go and stand over there, where..I'll be out of the way." Sweetie Belle said nervously before zipping away as fast as she could.
Rarity just sighed to herself. Apparently, this hadn't been the first time something like that had happened whenever Sweetie Belle tried to help her.
My Little Pony, My Little Pony
Ahhhh
My Little Pony
I use to wonder what friendship could be
My Little Pony
Until you all share this magic with me
Big adventure,
Tons of fun,
A beautiful heart,
Faithful and strong,
Sharing kindness
It's an easy feat
And magic makes it all complete
You all have my little ponies
Do you know all you're my best friends?
It wasn't much longer before Rarity had managed to clean up the mess herself, which was another habit she had developed when dealing with Sweetie Belles 'accidents'. Sweetie Belle felt a little shunted.
"Won't you at least let me help you clean up?" Sweetie Belle asked, feeling rather bored and eager to clean up her own messes.
"No." Rarity said in a tone that wanted to end the discussion immediately. "You've helped me quite enough."
"I'm sorry, sis!" Sweetie Belle said sadly. "I just thought that if I could help, I might find a special gift and finally earn my cutie mark."
Sweetie Belle looked at her flank as Rarity quietly listened for a moment.
"I understand." Rarity said. "It's just that...I need this time in order to fill this order without any...complications."
Rarity's words were clearly emphasizing more than just work problems, but Sweetie Belle was too innocent to realize that.
"There's never any...complications...with me helping out when Mario's here." Sweetie Belle said. "I never mess up like that when I help him."
"Sweetie Belle, I know you've got a crush on Mario." Rarity said, changing the subject. "But he's far too old for you and he's already got his heart set on another pony."
"I know, I know, he already told me." Sweetie Belle said indignantly. "But I can't help but like him. He's just...really cute."
Sweetie Belle sighed to herself happily as Rarity just rolled her eyes.
"It just made me wish that I have a foal of my own." Rarity quietly mumbled, feeling jealous of her friends while finished cleaning. "Okay, all done. Now, back to work. I've lost a lot of time, and I cannot have any more interruptions."
DING-DONG!
"Oh, what now?!" Rarity snapped when she heard the doorbell, revealing Fluttershy and Winter Breeze entered the room with the basket.
"Oh, sorry." Fluttershy said, hearing Rarity's outburst. "We thought the 'open' sign meant you were open, but we must have been mistaken."
"Yeah, sorry for disturbing your work, Rarity." Winter Breeze apologizes.
"Fluttershy! Winter! Forgive me!" Rarity said as she rushed over to them. "I was so wrapped up in my work that I had forgot you two were bringing Opalescence back from grooming!"
"Don't worry, Rarity. We left her here in the basket." Winter Breeze assures her.
Opal came out of the basket with a purr, showing her beautifully groomed fur.
"Oh, she looks great!" Rarity said as Opal began to purr and snuggle Winter Breeze. "I just don't understand how you and your mother were able to do it! I can't get near without getting a swipe from her claws."
"HISS!" Opal hissed defensively and to swipe at Rarity.
"Aah!" Rarity yelped as she pulled away just in time before she thought of something. "Did you use...the stare on her?"
"Oh no!" Fluttershy exclaimed in her soft tone. "I wouldn't! I couldn't! I-I don't really have any control over it when that happens. I-It just happens. Winter has been a big help taking care of the animals, but she still sensitive."
"How did it happen?" Rarity inquires when Fluttershy sighed.
"Earlier today, Winter was having trouble with some misbehaving squirrels that were fighting on a low tree branch." Fluttershy explains. "Winter was trying to settle the dispute when they started throwing nuts and acorns at my daughter's head. It made her sad and I don't take kindly to them picking on my daughter. So, I used the Stare to make them stop and warned them not to pick on my daughter. It took a good fifteen minutes for her to calm down and have me reading one of the books called 'The Snow Queen'. She's still a sweet little filly, but she's still sensitive. I know she wanted to defend herself, but she still doesn't know how to be assertive."
"Kind of like you tried to be assertive." Rarity points out. "And I can assure, we're still here to help you and your daughter to be confident."
"Yeah! We can still help her out!" Sweetie Belle adds.
Both Fluttershy and Winter Breeze gave them a thankful smile.
"But, no, I didn't use the Stare on Opal." Fluttershy said. "I'm just good with animals. It's my special talent, you know? And it really surprises me that Opal is taking a liking to Winter."
"Well, maybe your daughter has a talent for animals, like you. I mean, Winter Breeze lives with you in the cottage and learned a thing or two of taking care of them. Which it could also mean that she's gifted, like you, Fluttershy." Rarity states. "Also, you should have a picture of Opal as cutie mark instead of those butterflies."
"Ooh, ooh, oh, oh, oh, oh!" Sweetie exclaimed excitedly. "Maybe I can be good with animals, too!"
Sweetie Belle approached Opal and turned towards her head towards her sister.
SHING!
Opal took a swipe at Sweetie Belle's mane, cutting off one of her curls as a wide, devilish smirk appeared on the cat's face.
"Or not." Sweetie Belle said as she zipped away from Opal, causing Fluttershy, Winter Breeze, and Rarity laughing.
"I'm sorry I can't invite you two to stay and chat." Rarity said. "I've been bitten more than I can chew with this order."
"But you're not eating anything." Sweetie Belle remarked.
"Um, Sweetie Belle. It's an expression. She's taking on more work than she can handle." Winter Breeze points out.
"Quite right, Winter." Rarity agrees. "I've got 20 of these special robes to make tonight! They're due in Trottingham tomorrow morning."
"Trottingham?" Winter Breeze repeats.
"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Fluttershy inquires.
"Nothing, it's just that it almost sounded like Nottingham from my world." Winter Breeze said.
"'Nottingham'?" Rarity repeats in confusion.
"It's the name of the city from England." Winter Breeze explains. "It also has a link to a story called 'Robin Hood'."
"Oh? What's it about?" Rarity asks curiously.
"It's about an outlaw named Robin Hood who became a hero and well-known for his archery and swordsmanship. The reason why he became an outlaw is because he takes from the rich and give to the poor after King Richard is away for his crusade and Prince John took over the kingdom, well, more likely he became a tyranny because of his greed." Winter Breeze explains.
"My goodness! That's quite a story about 'Robin Hood'." Rarity said surprisingly. "It sounded like that somepony I know who behaves like that."
Though, Fluttershy and Winter Breeze are getting the idea of who Rarity is talking about. That's when Mario entered the boutique.
"Hey, guys." Mario greets with a smile. "What's going on in here?"
"MARIO!" Sweetie Belle exclaimed giddily before she zoomed up to the stallion and hugged him tightly.
"Hey, Sweetie Belle." Mario said with a chuckle.
"Mario, darling, what are you doing here?" Rarity asked with a smile.
"I was just taking a stroll around town when I saw Fluttershy and Winter bring Opal to your place, Rarity." Mario explains. "So, what's going on here?"
"Oh, I was just about to show Fluttershy and Winter Breeze these special robes to make tonight." Rarity said, then showed them all a glittery golden cloth.
Fluttershy, Winter Breeze, and Mario Star gasped in amazement as it twinkled before their eyes. Sweetie Belle also eyed the material.
"See? I've lined them in a special gold silk." Rarity said. "It took so long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch. Don't you?"
"These are lovely." Fluttershy said. "But 20 by tonight? How will you get it all done?"
"Well, I uh..." Rarity stuttered.
"Oh, oh, oh! Maybe I could..."
Rarity then gives her sister a death glare, dismissing the idea which it left Sweetie Belle disappointed.
"Just...just stand over there and watch." Sweetie Belle said, zipped away.
"I'll manage." Rarity said.
"Well, maybe we should get out of your mane so you can work." Fluttershy suggests.
And just when they're about to leave, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo came barreling through the front door.
"Hi, Fluttershy! Hi, Winter! Hi, Rarity! Hi, Mario!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said at once as they rushed over to Sweetie Belle.
"Hello, uh, girls..." Rarity said wearily.
"Hi, Sweetie Belle!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said at once.
"Scootaloo! Apple Bloom!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly.
"You ready for tonight?" Scootaloo asked excitedly.
"Yup! Cutie mark planning session is a go!" Sweetie Belle answered.
"Tonight is the night we each try to find our own special talent." Apple Bloom added.
"Even if it takes us all night!" Scootaloo said.
"I'm ready!" Apple Bloom said. "You ready?"
"Very ready!" Scootaloo answered.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SLEEPOVER AT RARITY'S YAY!" The three fillies shouted at the top of their lungs.
So loud in fact, that the entire Carousel Boutique rumbled, leaving the three adult ponies and an Icelandic filly winced while covering their ears.
"And...look what I made us!" Sweetie Belle said as she rushed over and put on what appeared to be a maroon-colored cape. One could hear a trumpet flourish as Sweetie Belle presented it to the others.
"Oh, wow!" Apple Bloom and Scootaloo said, as they gasped excitedly. "That is so cool! Ooh!"
"What does that patch on your cape mean?" Fluttershy asked curiously about what appeared to be an emblem on the side of the cape.
"THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS! YAY!" The three fillies shouted again, rocking the room once more.
"We're on a crusade, a mission!" Scootaloo explains.
"To find our marks!" Apple Bloom adds.
"Yup. And look." Sweetie Belle added as she lifts the cape. "I lined them with this special gold silk. It took so long to make, but I think it adds just the right touch, don't you?"
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo oohed impressively, but Rarity felt her eye twitched while Mario groaned.
"Oh, Sweetie Belle." Mario muttered. "How many times did I tell you to ask Rarity before using her fabrics?"
"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity exclaims when she saw the cut out holes on the silk she made beforehand. "What have you done?! That was the last of the gold silk! Oh, now I'll have to make more. I hope I can make more. I'm gonna have to work all night. Which means...Sorry girls, I'm afraid the sleepover is cancelled."
"What?!" Sweetie Belle exclaims shockingly.
"I just won't have any time to watch you if I want to get those robes delivered on time." Rarity said.
"But-"
"No buts this time." Rarity said in a motherly tone. "I'm sorry, Sweetie Belle. It's just the way it has to be."
"Awwww..." The CMC said sadly.
Then, Fluttershy thought of an idea which Winter Breeze isn't liking where this is going, but with Rarity working on making the gold silk, the CMC may need a place to stay for a day.
"I, uh, I suppose I could take them for the night." Fluttershy suggests, causing the CMC gave her a wide smile.
"I couldn't ask you to do that." Rarity said hesitantly, despite the three fillies wide grins beaming at her.
"Oh, it's no problem at all." Fluttershy said with a smile.
The three fillies looked at Fluttershy again, which Winter Breeze knew what the CMCs are planning. The Icelandic filly can tell they're very eager to get their cutie marks, but not her, Winter Breeze has been a big help for her mother of taking care of the animals while having some ups and downs along the way. Mario can tell that Winter Breeze isn't going to like what the CMCs are planning and as a matter of fact, neither does he.
"Have you met my sister and her friends?" Rarity asked in her serious tone. "A problem is all it would be."
"She's right about one thing." Winter Breeze agrees. "I've seen how those three tried to get their cutie marks in a hurry. And it causes them a lot trouble after that."
"HEY!?" The CMCs shouts, but they knew she's got a valid point.
"Did I have a problem with Opal and Winter?" Fluttershy said smugly. "You've seen how well I can handle small creatures and my daughter!"
"I suppose that's true..." Rarity pondered, the three fillies smiled now looking at her. "And I do have a lot of work to do..."
"Come on." Fluttershy said. "It'll be fun."
"I assure you, they're quite a handful." Rarity points out.
The three fillies just kept smiling, looking at Rarity.
"These sweet little angels?" Fluttershy remarked as three halos appeared over their heads.
Mario and Winter Breeze smiled with a roll of their eyes.
"Well...all right." Rarity reluctantly conceded.
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SLEEPOVER AT FLUTTERSHY'S COTTAGE! YAY!" The CMCs shouted excitedly, rumbling the ground again before making a fast sprint out of the door.
"So cute." Fluttershy giggled before calling out in her own soft tone. "W-wait for me!"
Fluttershy then flew off to go catch them. Mario and Winter Breeze just watched them for a few seconds before they decided to leave...
"Oh, Mario!" Fluttershy said as she flew back. "I wanted to ask if you could help me with the girls...if...uh...Rarity doesn't mind...I see you're about too..."
"Yes, darling! You can go help her." Rarity said quickly before pushing Mario and Winter Breeze out of the door. "I am very busy and I'm sure Mario will have more fun helping you than me so ta-ta!"
With that, Rarity shut the door as Mario and Winter Breeze just stood a little stunned.
"So...will you help me?" Fluttershy asked sweetly.
Mario just blinked before giving her a smile.
"Sure, Fluttershy." Mario answered. "How can I say no to you?"
Fluttershy and Winter Breeze giggled as they head back to the cottage once they caught up with the three fillies. The three fillies were still ahead of the adults and an Icelandic filly as Fluttershy and Winter Breeze flew behind them while Mario was running alongside the two Pegasi.
"Oh, won't this be ever so fun?" Fluttershy asked giddily as Mario and Winter Breeze smiled. "We can have a nice tea party, braid each other tails, and sit quietly and color, and tell each other fairy tales, and-"
"Oh Fluttershy." Mario sighed to himself.
Mario and Winter Breeze already knew that Sweetie Belle was the only filly who would have any interest in most of Fluttershy's idea of fun. Apple Bloom might like a few things, but Scootaloo...not so much. Fluttershy soon gasped when she saw who was ahead. They saw Comet and Twilight are seen walking together. Comet was currently taking break from his practice between magic and martial arts and Twilight was heading to the Everfree Forest to get some of her tea from Zecora.
"It's kind of surprising how tea can actually calms your mind." Comet said.
"Yep, it's just the right thing to have on you when you're feeling stressed." Twilight told her son. "Sometimes I drink it while I'm studying."
"Hmm...Back in my world, I learned that there was actually one continent on Earth's that has a thing for tea." Comet pondered.
"Really? What's it called?" Twilight asked.
"It's called England." Comet answered. "Those kinds of countries love and I mean love tea. At specific times in the day, they have a moment called teatime."
"Wow, that sounds interesting." Twilight said surprisingly.
The three fillies continued to zoom ahead, their hooves clattering, the air rushing past until they nearly sent Twilight and Comet into a tailspin as they ran by giggling to each other.
"Hello, Fluttershy, Winter, and Mario." Twilight greets.
"Hey guys." Comet adds.
"Oh! Hello, Twilight and Comet." Fluttershy said.
"Hey you two." Mario adds while Winter Breeze nods with a greeting.
"Where are you off to?" Fluttershy asked.
"I'm heading to the Everfree Forest to Zecora's to get some of my favorite tea." Twilight explains. "And I need somepony to watch over Comet while I'm gone."
"Th-The Everfree Forest?!" Fluttershy exclaimed, worried. "Ah, you'll be careful, won't you?"
"Of course! How about you three?" Twilight asked curiously. "What are you doing with the girls?"
The three fillies poked their heads from behind the water well.
"I was wondering the same thing, besides them trying to get their cutie marks and getting into trouble." Comet adds, causing the three fillies to glare at him and Fluttershy, Twilight, Winter, and Mario giggled.
"Rarity has a big order to fill tonight, so I volunteered to take the girls to my cottage for a sleepover." Fluttershy explains. "Mario's going to give me a hoof."
"Wow, sounds like everypony has their hooves full today." Twilight said. "Taking care of those four fillies all by yourself? And I know Mario hasn't done much 'child watching' since Spike matured. You sure you can handle it?"
The three fillies had devious smirks on their faces before standing between them, smiling as their halos appeared over their heads. Both Comet and Winter Breeze were able to catch on of their expressions, knowing what they're planning.
"What? These sweet little angels?" Fluttershy remarked as Mario rolled his eyes. "They'll be no problem at all."
Twilight gave them a skeptical look before decided to have them babysit her son and saying goodbye while making her way to the Everfree Forest. Fluttershy noticed that both Mario and Comet are worried.
"I'm sure she'll be okay." Fluttershy assures them. "Twilight can take care of herself."
"I know, Fluttershy." Comet said. "There are many dangers in the Everfree Forest. Even if it's nighttime when there are creatures lurking around."
"We understand that, Comet. You really loved your mother very much." Winter Breeze said with a soft smile. "Like mom said, Twilight can take care of herself."
"She's right, but I can't feel but like...if anything happens and I'm not there...Well, you know what I mean." Mario said with a sigh.
"Don't worry, I know you love her, Mario." Fluttershy said. "But Twilight will be alright. She needs her space and I need your help right now."
"I know, Fluttershy." Mario said. "I just hope I can tell Twilight how I feel someday."
"You just need the right moment, like maybe when the Gala is over." Fluttershy suggested.
"Not a bad idea." Mario said.
It got Comet surprised that Mario actually has feelings for Twilight which they've known each other for a long time. Comet pondered, thinking that if Mario ever tells Twilight of his feelings, then they would consider having a relationship. Mario has been training Comet in martial arts and magic, but he even considered him a father-figure to the colt ever since Mario helped Twilight gave birth because of the magical labor.
"But for now, you're my date for the evening, okay handsome." The voice of Sweetie Belle said.
Mario turned around to see Sweetie Belle holding him as she sat on his back. Mario just chuckled to himself as he let Sweetie Belle ride him all the way to Fluttershy's cottage.
Unknown to the seven, they were being watch from Lord Garmadon's dark flames as few of the Oni and the skeletons were viewing everything. Lord Garmadon was watching them from his throne with unamused expression.
"So, they're having a party at night...hmph, no matter since the Everfree Forest has many dangerous creatures and they only hunt when someone comes near." Lord Garmadon said as he walked down from his throne and past his army. "With Twilight now heading to the Everfree Forest, it'll be a matter of time when the cockatrice strikes and turns her into stone."
Until, a snake demon stallion revealed himself from the shadows.
His appearance was like Orochimaru, but he has a white snake around his abdomen. He wore a maroon-colored cloak with a hood designed to resemble a serpent's head, with white, red, and yellow markings that resembles eyes.
"Lord Garmadon." The demon snake stallion called him.
"What is it, Kabuto?" Lord Garmadon said, turns to him.
"Orochimaru have found the fang as you ordered, he's on his way." Kabuto informed him.
"Excellent." Lord Garmadon said with a smirk. "He proved himself well. Now once Orochimaru returns, I have a job for you."
"Of course." Kabuto replied as Lord Garmadon turns to his army.
"You two, head for the Everfree Forest. Once Twilight turns into stone, I want you to destroy her." Lord Garmadon ordered. "With her out of the way and with no one to inherit her power of Magic, I'll finish what I should've done thousand years ago."
The two Oni acknowledged him before they went off to make their way for the Everfree Forest to kill Twilight Sparkle.
Soon, the seven ponies made it to Fluttershy's cottage. They settled down right away as Fluttershy closed the top half of her front door. Crickets were chirping quietly and an owl started to hoot as day turned into nighttime outside of the cottage. Some of the animals and birds were chattering as the filles began to explore the living room...more likely, zooming around the living room excitedly between Fluttershy, Mario, Winter Breeze, and Comet.
"No...problem at all." Fluttershy said to herself and then addressed the three fillies. "Okay, uh, girls, what should we do?"
"I'm gonna get my cutie mark first!" Scootaloo said boldly.
"Girls?" Fluttershy called out.
"Nuh-uh!" Sweetie Belle retorted.
"Should we-" Fluttershy tried to suggest but was interrupted again.
"Ah am!" Apple Bloom protested, ignoring Fluttershy's suggestion.
"Girls, okay, now settle-"
Scootaloo then jumps into Angel's bed which scares him off and the other Crusaders join her.
"I'm gonna stay up all night!" Scootaloo shouted excitedly.
"Me too!" Apple Bloom said as she jumped on.
"Me three!" Sweetie Belle said as she hopped on the cushion.
"I can step in at any time." Mario whispered to Fluttershy, offered to help.
"I got this. Don't worry, Mario." Fluttershy said quietly, but even she was unsure.
Comet then decided to step in.
"Girls, we know you all are very excited about the sleepover, but we want to hear what you three want to do so we can do it for you." Comet suggests.
Scootaloo then walks up beside Comet.
"We are the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Scootaloo said.
"And we want to crusade for our cutie marks!" Apple Bloom said on the other side.
"And, and, and, we...umm-" Sweetie Belle stuttered as she appeared above Fluttershy. "Yeah! What they said!"
"These girls are like Rainbow and Applejack." Mario grumbled in irritation. "Once they get a goal, nothing will detour it."
"It's almost like they've been eating too much sugar, they're going crazy." Comet states.
"Yeah, except that they're eager to get the cutie marks." Winter Breeze agrees.
Fluttershy pondered quietly for a moment.
"I've got an idea." Fluttershy whispered to Mario before speaking to the girls. "Mmm, I don't know. How about a nice quiet little tea party?"
"That's your brilliant idea?" Mario asked quietly.
Both Comet and Winter Breeze knew Fluttershy wanted them to have a tea which her plan didn't work.
"Or...we could go adventuring in the Everfree Forest!" Scootaloo suggested.
"Yeah!" Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle said as the three fillies charged for the front door, but Fluttershy and Mario rushed in front of them to stop them.
"Oh no! The Everfree Forest is much too dangerous." Fluttershy said. "It's filled with far too many strange creatures."
"She's right, I've been there before." Comet agrees. "Ever since I first came here in Equestria, I got scared and ran off to the Everfree Forest. I hid inside of the ruined castle until Mom and her friends found me."
"But you could go with us." Sweetie Belle suggested. "And we could catch those creatures."
"I've always wanted to see Mario battle an Everfree Forest creature." Apple Bloom adds. "Applejack told me how Comet summoned a giant gorilla and fought the Hydra single-handedly and won. Especially those evil monsters they're called Oni and skeletons led by their leader, Garmadon."
Mario and Comet stiffed up a bit before glaring at them.
"Girls, battling an Everfree Forest creatures are one thing, but we've seen Lord Garmadon did at Cloudsdale as well and he is a vicious monster." Mario said sternly.
"He's right." Fluttershy agrees. "You never know what Garmadon's army can do if they try to harm you."
"YAY! CUTIE MARK CRUSADER CREATURE CATCHERS!" The CMCs screamed at the top of their lungs, making the two adults and the two foals lean back.
"Indoor voices, girls." Mario warned them.
"Your shouting is hurting our ears." Comet adds.
"Sorry." The CMC said quickly before Apple Bloom and Scootaloo grabbed a carpet and a basket and covered themselves with it.
"Arrrr! I am a dangerous creature from the Everfree Forest! Rrrarrr!" Scootaloo said, trying to sound menacing as Sweetie Belle stood before the creature, which she didn't know at first, but she got an idea as she plays along.
"Halt, dangerous creature of the Everfree Forest." Sweetie Belle said bravely. "I am Sweetie Belle, the creature catcher, and I'm here to catch you."
"You can never catch me! I'm far too powerful and dangerous!" Scootaloo said.
"You cannot run from me!" Sweetie Belle said, gave chase.
Scootaloo roared as she began to chase Sweetie Belle, leaving her giggled. As Scootaloo continued to roar, even she was giggling as well. Mario just chuckled at their fun while Fluttershy felt uneasy. Both Comet and Winter Breeze didn't like the idea of playing around in the living room. As cute and fun as their chase looked, they were getting a little too close to the furniture...and some fragile decor.
"Um, oh, maybe that's not such a-" Fluttershy said, tried to warn them, but noticed that the CMCs weren't listening. "Now girls, how about we do some nice coloring? Doh-"
Fluttershy flinched as they barely missed knocking something over. Mario, Comet, and Winter Breeze were now concerned.
"This will be a long night." Comet said, earned a nod from the Icelandic filly.
"I think that's enough, girls." Mario said. "Coloring would be a good idea! You can try to draw what you think your cutie marks will look like!"
Unfortunately, the CMCs weren't listening to him either.
"Come back, dangerous creature, so I can catch you!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Never!" Scootaloo said as Sweetie Belle jumped on a small side table.
Mario could see what would happen next.
"Careful...don't..."
CRASH!
"...break anything..." Fluttershy said wearily as her side table was destroyed and the pitcher on top it smashed beyond repair.
"Sorry, Fluttershy." Sweetie Belle said sadly.
"Yeah, sorry." Scootaloo said in the same tone.
"Girls, you should know better than playing tag in the house isn't a good idea." Winter Breeze points out.
"You're right, Winter. Sorry." Apple Bloom said sadly. "I guess we aren't creature catchers."
"Oh, girls, it's okay." Fluttershy said gently. "I-"
"I know!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "We could be Cutie Mark Crusader carpenters!"
"C-Carpenters?!" Fluttershy stuttered as the three zoomed away and returned with a toolbox.
"Oh boy." Mario said with an exasperated look.
While fixing the table was definitely a carpentry job, the CMCs were dressed as if they were prepared for the operation.
"Hammer!" Apple Bloom said.
"Hammer!" Scootaloo replied, passed a hammer to Sweetie Belle and then Sweetie Belle gave it to Apple Bloom.
"Hammer!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Hammer!" Scootaloo replied, gave the hammer to Sweetie Belle.
"Hammer!" Scootaloo told herself. "Hammer!"
Scootaloo then grabbed her own, tucked it in her mouth. Just as the CMCs were about to try and fix the table, Comet pulled the hammers out of each of their mouths with his magic and gives them a stern look.
"You three are not playing with those." Comet told them while Mario repair it. "Besides, we should leave it somepony who knows how to fix it."
"Eh, who wants a picture of a hammer on their flank anyway?" Sweetie Belle remarked as Fluttershy had an idea.
"Well, now that we've got that out of the way. How about a game?" Fluttershy suggested.
"A game?" Apple Bloom asked, puzzled as the three fillies were now seated on the sofa.
"It's called 'Shhh!'" Fluttershy told them as Mario, who had already finished repairing the side table, was standing nearby.
"What's that?" Scootaloo asked.
"Well, it's a game about who can be quiet the longest." Fluttershy answered. "Sound fun?"
Though, the CMCs all had a bored looks on their faces as they definitely didn't want to do something like that.
"I'm the world champ, you know. I bet you can't beat me!" Fluttershy said, gave a light squee before taking a deep breath. The silence lasted no more than about three seconds.
"I lose!" Scootaloo said as she zipped away.
"Me too!" Sweetie Belle added before taking off as well.
"Me three!" Apple Bloom said as she did the same.
Fluttershy just sighed as she released her breath while the three fillies began to zoom around again.
"I had a feeling they wouldn't enjoy something like that." Winter said, shook her head.
"Okay, what should we do?" Fluttershy asked her daughter. "At this rate, we're losing control over them at this point."
"Don't worry, Fluttershy." Mario assures her, intervenes. "I'm sure we can get through this. Maybe they should just take a rest."
Fluttershy nods at that and they then looked to see Apple Bloom pop her head from the fireplace covered in soot.
"Okay, now what can we do?" Apple Bloom asked, but came up with an idea. "Oooh! How about the Cutie Mark Crusader Coal Miners?!"
"Yeah!" The CMCs said excitedly when their bodies and faces were covered in soot.
"No!" Fluttershy and Mario snapped firmly together.
"Awwww!" The CMCs groaned to themselves.
Comet then used his magic to bring the three fillies out of the fireplace and he shakes the soot off of them, sits each of them down.
"Look, I think you three had enough trying to find your special talents for tonight." Comet told them. "I think it's time for bed."
"Exactly, aren't you excited to get all toasty and warm in your snuggly-wuggly widdle beds?" Fluttershy asked as the three fillies walked passed her.
"'Snuggly-wuggly'?" Apple Bloom repeats indignantly. "But we have more crusadin' to do!"
"We've got plans!" Scootaloo said.
"And capes!" Sweetie Belle adds.
"Girls, your crusading will have to wait until morning." Comet points out. "For now, we should get some sleep."
The CMCs had disappointed looks as they all walk upstairs. Fluttershy and Mario guide the CMCs up to a little guestroom, where Winter Breeze usually sleeps, and the CMCs got on the bed with conflicted looks on their faces.
"How are we gonna find our special talent in our sleep?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Maybe you'll have a lovely little dream about your special talent." Fluttershy said as she blew out the candle to darken the room.
The CMCs climbed into the bed and under the covers.
"But we're not even tired!" Scootaloo protested.
"Well either way, playtime is over for today so we both want you three girls to get some sleep." Mario told them. "I have to get Comet to Sweet Apple Acres so he can spend the night there."
"Oh, you don't have to do that. I'll have Comet sleep somewhere." Fluttershy suggests, then turns to the three fillies. "How about I sing you a lullaby?"
The CMCs nodded as Fluttershy cleared her throat.
Fluttershy (Sings):
Hush now, quiet now
It's time to lay your sleepy head
Hush now, quit now
It's time to go to bed
Mario sighed contently, enjoying Fluttershy's sweet voice.
The CMCs were slowly drifting to sleep until Sweetie Belle blurted out.
"I know this one!" Sweetie Belle said excitedly.
"Oh, how wonderful!" Fluttershy said. "Why don't you sing it with me?"
Mario looked worried, especially after he saw Scootaloo and Apple Bloom smiled and plugged their ears as Sweetie Belle cleared her throat. Then, she sang in a very outbeat over the top voice.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
Hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to lay your sleepy head!
Said hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to go to bed!
"Okay Sweetie, that was..." Fluttershy tried to comment, but Sweetie Belle wasn't going to stop.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
Driftin' (driftin') off to sleep!
Exciting day behind you!
Driftin' (driftin') off to sleep!
Let the joy of dream land find you!
"Thank you, Sweetie, um..." Fluttershy said, trying to get Sweetie Belle to stop.
Sweetie Belle (Sings):
Hush now! Quiet now!
Lay your sleepy head!
Said hush now! Quiet now!
It's time to go to bed!
OW!
Sweetie Belle sang so loudly that the entire house shook, knocking items off from the wall shelves, and many of the animals, including some the chickens outside, we're startled by the noise. It also got Comet and Winter Breeze startled from that noise.
Even after it seemed that the CMCs had fallen asleep, the chickens were still clucking and flapping around frantically.
"What was that?" Scootaloo said as she and the rest of the fillies woke up.
Fluttershy and Mario barely finished putting back all the things that had fallen from the shelves thanks to Sweetie Belle's solo when they noticed the bed was empty. Fluttershy gasped as she saw them already outside of the house in her backyard.
"Girls!" Fluttershy exclaimed from upstairs.
"Fluttershy, your chickens are on the loose!" Apple Bloom told her.
"I wonder what could have caused that?" Sweetie Belle pondered to herself as Scootaloo and Apple Bloom just gave her a dirty look on their faces.
"Yeah, I wonder." Comet said sarcastically when he and Winter Breeze where next to the CMCs.
"Don't worry, Fluttershy." Scootaloo said. "The Cutie Mark Crusaders will handle this!"
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER CHICKEN HERDERS! YAY!" The CMCs shouted loudly, but not as loudly as before as they zipped away with a rush of air and soon the chickens were clucking while the three fillies chased after them.
"No, I don't think that's a-" Fluttershy said, but it's too late as the three fillies already were already on their way towards the chicken coop. "-ah, come back, please!"
"Girls! Leave those chickens alone!" Comet shouts as he and Winter Breeze were heading to the chicken coop to stop the three fillies.
Mario was thinking the same thing when he ushered her downstairs and out of the house so they could help the two foals stop the three fillies.
"Come on, girls, the chickens are fine-oh, um..." Fluttershy protested, but her patience have reached her limit. "Girls!"
With that shout, it got the CMCs and the chickens stopped running. Mario stomped his hoof sternly as the three girls stood side by side next to him, not saying another word. One of the chickens landed at Comet's head which it annoys him pretty quickly as he used his magic to conjure an auric hand, snapped his fingers, and motioned the chicken to head for the coop which the chicken does that. Fluttershy went to settle the frazzled chickens as she clucked to make them settle down. All but four chickens wouldn't enter their hut.
"Come on, in you go." Fluttershy said, but the chickens ignored her.
Fluttershy had enough of being ignored, gave her chickens...the Stare. Eerie music could be heard as the chickens froze in place a bit. Even the three fillies were getting chills as Fluttershy's Stare made the chickens walk backwards side by side into their coop.
"If you think that's scary, you could be the one being 'stared' at if you don't settle down and behave." Mario told them which the CMCs said nothing.
"There's some good chickens." Fluttershy said before turning to the three fillies. "Okay you three, isn't it about time you get to bed?"
"But-"
"You three have caused enough trouble as it is." Winter Breeze cuts in, decided to help her mother. "You all have doing nothing but just causing trouble all night. Haven't you three learned anything in school? Like you're supposed to obey the foalsitters?"
The CMCs got guilty looks on their faces when Winter Breeze said that.
"Sorry, but we just wanted to find out how we can finally get our cutie marks." Apple Bloom said.
"We understand that, but you aren't making any better to find it by making reckless decisions like what you did." Comet points out.
"He's right. And like Winter said, you've caused enough trouble as it is." Mario agrees. "You three always tell me how much you hate it when ponies don't listen to you. Yet, that's all you've been doing to me, Fluttershy, Comet, and Winter all night. If you ponies want to listen to you, you gotta show that same respect to others. You'll have plenty of time to crusade in the morning and if you listen to us, we can help you guys get closer to your cutie marks. But for now, please go to bed now."
The three fillies nodded as they slowly headed inside. Comet and Winter Breeze were waiting while Fluttershy tucked them all back into the bed.
"So, no more crusading for tonight, all right?" Fluttershy said.
"Please stay in the bedroom, unless you need something and keep quiet." Mario added.
"Yes, Fluttershy and Mario." Scootaloo said.
"We promise, Fluttershy and Mario!" Sweetie Belle said.
"Good night, Fluttershy and Mario!" Apple Bloom said.
The three fillies then closed their eyes to sleep as Fluttershy and Mario left the bedroom. Mario couldn't help but sneak a skeptical glance at the three fillies, knew fake sleeping eyes by now.
'Just hoping they listened to my part at least.' Mario pondered as least as the two ponies made their way downstairs.
Once the three fillies could hear no more hoofsteps, they each opened a single eye before sitting up together in the bed.
"Okay, so what kind of crusading do we do next?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"There's not much we can do from this room...unless, we become Cutie Mark Crusader Cottage Cleaners." Apple Bloom suggested with a ponder.
"N-No thanks." Sweetie Belle said, not liking the idea.
"Well, we have to think of somethin'." Apple Bloom said. "We can't just waste this opportunity to find out what our special talents are."
"I don't know." Sweetie Belle said. "Mario, Comet, and Winter seemed pretty upset earlier with us..."
"Oh, you just don't want to disappoint your boyfriend." Scootaloo teased.
"Hey, at least I have one!" Sweetie Belle retorted indignantly.
"Yuck! I don't want none of that mushy stuff!" Scootaloo retorted, showing her age.
"Hey girls! Look!" Apple Bloom said as she stood outside of the window. Part of the wired fence was broken and there were chicken footprints leading away from the coop. "Some of the chickens may have escaped!"
"Into the forest!" Sweetie Belle added as she saw the trail of the prints heading in the Everfree Forest.
"Cutie Mark Crusader Chicken Rescuers are a go!" The CMCs whispered to each other.
And with that, they slowly made their way downstairs and into the living room.
By now, Mario and Comet already left the cottage and Fluttershy and Winter were just looking at each other.
"These three fillies are somewhat of a handful." Winter Breeze states with a sigh.
"It wasn't that hard, sweetheart. I mean, all we needed to do was just show them who's in charge." Fluttershy said to her daughter.
"I guess." Winter Breeze said, changing the subject. "Mom, while the girls are sleeping, where will I be sleeping?"
Fluttershy then pondered for a few seconds which she only had one thought in her mind.
"Well...um, actually...you can sleep with me." Fluttershy suggested, leaving Winter Breeze surprised. "Winter, you've been sleeping with me once when you first got here in Equestria. You were so cute when you're sleeping, you even curled towards my tummy and listen to my heartbeat."
Winter Breeze knows that her mother was right about it, remembered of how she first got here in Equestria. Winter Breeze can only reply with a nod and soon enough, she and Fluttershy were sleeping on a couch together as Fluttershy hugged her daughter with a blanket over both of them. While they were both asleep however, the CMCs saw them sleeping and they all had their capes on and they both tiptoed out of the cottage. Before Scootaloo left, she turned back one last time at seeing Fluttershy and Winter Breeze sleeping together, causing her to stick her tongue out in disgust. As soon as she left the cottage, both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle noticed Scootaloo's disgusted look.
"What's up, Scoots?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Winter and Fluttershy were sleeping together, that's what." Scootaloo answered indignantly.
"Yeah, they're mother and daughter, so what?" Apple Bloom retorted.
"I thought it was adorable." Sweetie Belle said with a smile. "I mean, their bond was pretty strong."
"I guess." Scootaloo reluctantly concedes. "Look, let's just go find that missing chicken."
The other two fillies nodded as they exit out of the cottage to go to the Everfree Forest. However, Scootaloo's cape got stuck on the fence and part of her cape ripped off.
Meanwhile back in the cottage, soon Fluttershy wakes up and looks down, remembered that her daughter was sleeping next to her as she could hear the heartbeat. Fluttershy just smile warmly while feeling Winter Breeze's heartbeat.
'She's so cute.' Fluttershy mentally thought with a smile.
"Peace and...quiet." Winter Breeze said in her sleep.
"Of course." Fluttershy agrees and went back to sleep, but noticed something was wrong. "Too quiet."
Winter Breeze then fully woke up and caught onto what Fluttershy said as she had the same confused look.
"Even I know nopony can snore that quietly." Winter Breeze states.
Both Fluttershy and Winter Breeze then quickly flew upstairs and they both gasped to find that the CMCs have escaped the bed.
"They're gone!" Winter Breeze exclaims.
Fluttershy and Winter Breeze then fly outside to try and call out to them.
"Girls!" Fluttershy called them.
"Where are they?" Winter Breeze asked herself. "Knowing them, they'd be too crazy to find their cutie marks. But in the middle of the night?"
Fluttershy then flies over the chicken coop and looks inside to see one of the chickens is missing.
"Elizabeak! She's missing!" Fluttershy exclaims shockingly.
"Mom, look!" Winter Breeze called her.
Fluttershy turns to see her daughter pointing at the fence and they both see tracks of the both the chicken and the CMCs along with Scootaloo's cape hanging on the fence.
"Mom, they must've gone looking for Elizabeak in the Everfree Forest." Winter Breeze told her.
"No! Not the Everfree Forest!" Fluttershy gasped.
Several minutes later, Fluttershy was pacing back and forth. Suddenly, Mario arrived just in time as he looked concerned for Fluttershy and Winter Breeze. A few minutes ago, Fluttershy sent a letter to him by one of her birds to tell him to come back to the cottage immediately.
"Fluttershy, what's going on? Are the girls okay?" Mario asked with concern.
"Those girls have really done it this time!" Fluttershy explains. "They've really bitten off more than they could chew! Oh, just like me! I never should have offered to watch them."
"We all make mistakes, Fluttershy." Mario said, patting her shoulder. "I should have put my hoof down a little more with them too. I should have stepped in more."
"You were only respecting my decision to handle things on my own." Fluttershy said. "I was the one who told you to step back when I really needed you to intervene."
"Well, we can both admit we were way over our heads, but we can deal with that later." Mario suggested. "Right now, we need to find those three fillies before they really get into trouble."
"But what about Comet?" Winter Breeze asked.
"He's staying over at Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack and the others." Mario answered. "But Winter, you'll be coming with me and Fluttershy. Stay close so you won't get lost in the Everfree Forest."
Winter Breeze confirms with a nod as she, Mario, and Fluttershy made their down the path to the Everfree Forest.
Meanwhile, the CMCs were in the Everfree Forest, searching for Fluttershy's missing chicken.
"Here, chick-chick-chick-chick-chick!" Apple Bloom called out. "Brawk, bawk-bawk-bawk, brawk!"
"What are you doing?" Scootaloo asked in annoyance.
"Callin' for the chicken." Apple Bloom answered.
"That's not how to call a chicken." Scootaloo protested.
"Oh, and you know how to call a chicken?" Apple Bloom asked indignantly.
"I know that's not the way." Scootaloo said in a same tone.
"Then show me." Apple Bloom said in annoyance.
"I don't have to show you!" Scootaloo retorted.
"You're just chicken." Apple Bloom shot back.
"Am not!" Scootaloo argued.
"Oh wait, now I know how to call a chicken!" Apple Bloom said. "Scootaloo! Scoot-scootaloooo!"
That was when they passed a dark hole that had some creepy looking eyes staring at them, but neither of them noticed.
"That's so funny, I forgot to laugh." Scootaloo said sarcastically.
"You also forgot how to call a chicken." Apple Bloom points out.
"Why you..." Scootaloo snarled as Apple Bloom gave her a raspberry.
"Come on, guys!" Sweetie Belle called them. "We're not gonna find the chicken or our cutie marks by arguing!"
Little did Sweetie Belle know that the wind made a tree branch that looked like a claw lean towards her as if to grab her, but she was so focused on making her two friends stop fighting that she never saw it.
"Maybe that's our special talent." Apple Bloom suggested. "Arguin'!"
"Is not!" Scootaloo said.
"Is too!" Apple Bloom protested.
"Is not!"
"Is too! Anything yet?"
Scootaloo checked her flank, but there's nothing.
"Nope." Scootaloo answered.
"Darn." Apple Bloom said.
The two fillies just looked at each other and began to giggle to each other. An ominous wind continued to blow through their pathway as the CMCs continued their search.
"Heeeere, chick-chick-chick-chick!" Apple Bloom continued to chant. "Baaawk, bawk-bawk-bawk-bawk-bawk-bawk-bawk, b-baaaaawk!"
As they passed onward, they had no idea that the Oni watched the three fillies leave while growling. They already knew that Twilight has already turned to stone while one of them was searching for her.
As for Fluttershy, Mario, and Winter Breeze, they were soon gaining some ground as they continued to venture cautiously through the forest. While Mario glared in every direction without any fear, Fluttershy was finding it hard to do so. Winter Breeze stayed close to the two, mostly her mother.
"Girls?" Fluttershy whispered, gulped. "Girls?"
Fluttershy suddenly thought she heard something and gave a light squeak, causing Winter Breeze to hug her gently.
"It's okay, mom." Winter Breeze told her gently. "I'm here."
Fluttershy then shook her head.
"She's right." Fluttershy said, began to pep talk to herself. "Oh! Get a hold of yourself. Mario and Winter's here for you. Just put one hoof in front of the other."
Just then, they heard a twig was snapped.
"Ahh! What was that?" Fluttershy said, startled as she backed away nervously.
"Easy Fluttershy, it's me." The voice of Comet said when he revealed himself with his horn lights up. "Didn't mean to scare you."
"Comet! What are you doing here?" Mario asked sternly. "I thought you're in bed."
"I can't sleep, so I came here to look for mom." Comet explains. "She's been gone for hours and I'm getting worried."
"I can understand that, but Comet, you're not supposed to wander off on your own in the middle of the night." Mario scolds him. "Especially in the Everfree Forest."
"I know, but Mario, I'm worried and it's not like her to stay in the Everfree Forest in the middle of the night." Comet told him. "The creatures were lurking at night and if anything happens to mom...I don't know what I'm going to do."
Mario, Fluttershy, and Winter Breeze can tell that Comet really cared about Twilight and he's feeling worried of her well-being. Apparently, Comet went on his own to find his mother since Twilight went to the Everfree Forest which it doesn't take long for her to get some tea, but it seems that not only they'll be looking for the CMCs, but they'll be also looking for Twilight.
"Alright, but Comet, stay close so you won't wander off." Mario said with a sigh.
"And don't you worry, we'll find her." Fluttershy adds.
Comet nods as he followed them in the forest. Just as they kept going on forward looking for Twilight and the CMCs, they then saw a unicorn figure in the distance.
"Hey look!" Comet called them. "I think I see mom over there."
Fluttershy, Mario, and Winter Breeze sees the same figure as she gasps and them run towards it in full relief.
"Twilight! Thank goodness you're here." Fluttershy said excitedly. "We need your help. The girls are out here somewhere, and we're afraid that they're-"
Suddenly when the moon shines and light is given, Mario, Fluttershy, Comet, and Winter Breeze gasped to see that the unicorn figure is Twilight, but she's been turned into stone.
"Oh no, mom!" Comet shouts in shock. "Why is she turned into stone?!"
Mario just looked in shock. He could see what happened to her and lowered his head as he sat next to her. Fluttershy then realized the horrible truth of what happened to Twilight.
"Oh no, the girls!" Fluttershy gasped.
"What is it, mom?" Winter Breeze asked.
"There's a cockatrice out here." Fluttershy answered quickly.
"A what?" Winter Breeze asks in confusion which Comet and Mario were also asking the same thing.
"It's a creature that has the head of a chicken and the body of a snake." Fluttershy explains. "If you look at it dead in the eyes, then your body will become stone like Twilight here."
"Then that means the girls are in really big trouble!" Mario exclaims. "We have to find them and fast!"
Fluttershy nods as they're about to move when they saw something moving among the trees. They saw two Oni's moving and try to find the three fillies.
"Wait, it's two of those Oni's from Lord Garmadon's army." Mario pointed to the Oni's disappearing, but Comet, Winter Breeze, and Fluttershy saw them as well.
That was then they realized something.
"You don't think that..."
Fluttershy is starting to fear the most. A cockatrice is one thing, but two Oni's getting their hands on three fillies, that was worse.
"We don't have time left." Mario said in determination. "We gotta find them!"
Fluttershy, Comet, and Winter Breeze nods before they went off to find the three fillies. Mario decided to carry Twilight with his magic and catches up to them.
Meanwhile, the CMCs were still walking deep in the Everfree Forest following the chicken tracks and both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were still arguing.
"Is not!" Scootaloo said.
"Is too!" Apple Bloom shot back.
"Is not!"
"Is too!"
"Girls!" Sweetie Belle snapped, had enough of their arguing. "Our special talent is not arguing. Besides, what would a cutie mark of somepony whose talent is arguing even like?"
Sweetie Belle then bumped into something in front of her and saw a very familiar pony, giving her a stern glare.
"You're better off guessing the cutie mark of three disobedient little fillies." Mario said sternly.
"Uh-oh!" Sweetie Belle said.
"'Uh-oh' is right, Sweetie Belle." The voice of Comet said when he and Winter Breeze revealed themselves.
"Girls! Thank goodness we found you!" Fluttershy said from above, lands on the ground.
"You three should be ashamed of yourselves! Walking into the Everfree Forest alone?!" Winter Breeze berates them. "What were you thinking?!"
"Sorry, Winter." Apple Bloom said sadly. "We just wanted to find that missing chicken."
"Apple Bloom, you're smart enough to know that you should've came to either Fluttershy or Mario." Comet told her. "I may not have room to talk, but you had them worried!"
"You can scold them later." Fluttershy suggests, then turns to the three fillies. "Right now, we need to leave the forest at once!"
"But...we haven't found the chicken yet!" Sweetie Belle protested.
"There's no time for that." Fluttershy said. "There's a cockatrice on the loose! And so are the Oni!"
"A cocka-what now?" Apple Bloom asks in confusion before realizing something. "Wait, did you say Oni?!"
"A cockatrice is a creature with the head of a chicken and the body of a snake." Comet answered. "And yes, the Oni are here too."
"Now, we need to get out of here!" Mario suggested.
"The head of a chicken and the body of a snake?" Scootaloo said as they began to walk away from Fluttershy. "That doesn't sound scary, that sounds silly!"
"Oh, does this look silly to you?" Mario retorted with a question, pulls out the stone statue of Twilight from behind him which made the CMCs gasp.
"What happened to Twilight?!" Apple Bloom shouts in dread.
"The cockatrice is what happened!" Comet answered with a glare.
"If you look a cockatrice in the eyes, this is what happened to you!" Fluttershy adds, points at the statue of Twilight.
"Okay, if we see it, we'll just run." Scootaloo suggested.
"Yeah, easy enough." Sweetie Belle agrees. "Besides, you said it has the body of a snake. So, it should be easy to spot."
A chicken then comes clucking and running out of the bush which got the CMCs attention and they run after it.
"The chicken!" Apple Bloom shouted.
"Girls, wait!" Fluttershy, Mario, Comet, and Winter Breeze shouted as the three fillies run ahead.
"Here, chick-chick-chick-chick-chick!" The CMCs called out as they gave chase and heard the chicken clucking again.
Then, they heard a loud growl as well before a chicken head popped out of another bush.
"There he is!" Sweetie Belle said, not even realizing the chicken was a she.
The chicken jumped and disappeared when Scootaloo saw another chicken head in the bushes. However, what caught their attention was that another popped out of the bush, but with red glowing eyes.
"Two chickens?" Scootaloo said.
"I thought only one escaped!" Apple Bloom said.
"Grab them both!" Sweetie Belle said.
"GIRLS NO! NO!" Mario yelled, but it's too late.
Apple Bloom tried to go for the first chicken, but it jumped off and back into the bush, but when she went for the second one. It rose out of the bush and it revealed to have exactly what Fluttershy described, it had the head of a chicken and the body of a snake, except for the part that it has wings so it could fly. While the other chicken was running all over the place panicking, the cockatrice landed in front of it and the chicken looked into the eyes of a cockatrice, then quickly turned the chicken into stone. This shocked the CMCs as they all scream and ran.
"See?" Fluttershy said. "Now we have to-"
Then, the two Oni's jumped out of the trees and landed on the ground before the ponies. This caused the CMCs to scream again, this time scattering as they continued to scream and panic. Mario, Comet, and Winter Breeze readied their fighting stance as the two unicorns lit their horns and made their auric hands to appear.
The two Oni roared before they charged the three. One of them jumped in the air, but both Mario and Comet leapt while Winter Breeze flew. Mario kicked the first Oni in the chest, sending it to the ground, Winter and Comet worked together by kicking the other Oni in the face.
It was just then the cockatrice arrived, looking to attack.
"Girls! Behind me, now!" Fluttershy ordered and the three fillies obeyed.
The cockatrice noticed the four girls nearby and took off after them. The cockatrice started squawking and roaring at the girls, Fluttershy narrowed her brow. Mario, Comet, and Winter Breeze knew what was coming next and they're not gonna get caught in the crossfire.
"You!" Fluttershy said sternly. "Just who do you think you are, going around and turning others into stone?!"
The cockatrice looked stunned, but then narrowed it's red eyes at her.
"You should be ashamed of yourself!" Fluttershy continued, making eye contact with it despite knowing that it was causing her hind legs and tail become to stone. "I have a mind to find your mother and tell her what you've been up to, young man."
The cockatrice was scared to hear that, but it still tried to turn Fluttershy into stone. Fluttershy then counters with her Stare as the cockatrice was terrified.
"Now you go over there, and turn Elizabeak and my friend Twilight to normal." Fluttershy instructed firmly. "And don't ever let me catch you doing this again. Do you understand me?!"
The cockatrice nods as it starts running off and squawking out of fear. Then, they heard a shout that was coming from the fight. Even Twilight, who turned back into normal, can hear them.
"Hey, hey you! Over here!" Comet shouted at the Oni's.
"Hey! Over here!" Winter Breeze shouted.
The two Oni then gave the two foals chase as both Comet and Winter Breeze makes a run for it while giving Mario time to recover. Mario grunted in pain after getting knocked out by the Oni. Fluttershy, Twilight, and the CMCs ran towards Mario.
"Mario, are you alright?" Twilight asked, worried.
"I'm fine." Mario answered, stood up. "Just minor bruises."
"Where's Winter and Comet?" Fluttershy asks, worried about the two.
They can hear the loud roar of the Oni which it got both Fluttershy and Twilight rushed after them, leaving Mario and the CMCs behind.
Both Comet and Winter Breeze ran deeper into the forest, luring the two Oni away from the ponies. They then noticed the open field in the forest, and felt that the two Oni are gaining on them as they ran into the fields. The two Oni chased after them, but Comet lit his horn and use magic to sprout the tree roots, grabbing one of the Oni in the legs and the neck, strangling it. Comet and Winter Breeze then run into the forest again until they noticed the big rocks on the mountain, decided to run into the mountain while climbing.
Meanwhile, both Fluttershy and Twilight were following the path to get to their kids. They're hoping both Comet and Winter Breeze are alive before the Oni get to them.
Comet and Winter Breeze continued to climb up while the Oni kept chasing after them while climbing. Twilight and Fluttershy were able to catch up to them, but noticed the Oni is gaining on to the two foals. The two mares decided to go for another route to get to the mountain.
Comet and Winter Breeze are getting tired and noticed the Oni kept chasing after them. Comet then noticed those rocks as he used his magic to fire at the rocks, causing it to fell at the Oni as it falls down to the ledge. The Oni is angry, climbing after the two foals.
Twilight and Fluttershy managed to run to the cliff and saw their children in trouble.
"Comet/Winter!" Twilight and Fluttershy shouted their children.
The Oni managed to climb up as it was about to kill both Comet and Winter Breeze. Comet and Winter Breeze then narrowed their eyes, kicking the Oni in the chest as it sent flying down to the ground with a roar. Twilight and Fluttershy sighed with relief, earned both Comet and Winter Breeze's attention as the two foals ran up to their mothers, leaping to the ledge with a smile on their faces.
Suddenly, the part of the ledge is starting to give way, causing both Comet and Winter Breeze to fall.
"COMET/WINTER!?" Twilight and Fluttershy yelled as they slide down of the cliff, and noticed both Comet and Winter Breeze were unconscious, but the two mares believed that they're dead which it left them devastated.
Both Twilight and Fluttershy walked towards their kids with a very sad look on their faces.
"Comet...Comet...Wake up...Please..." Twilight said with tears in her eyes, but Comet won't wake up. "Please...don't leave me...I need you..."
"Winter...Winter...sweetheart..." Fluttershy said with tears in her eyes, but Winter Breeze won't respond. "Please...don't die...I need you..."
Twilight and Fluttershy then lays down next to their children, nuzzles tenderly and sobs. Mario and the CMCs were able to catch up, but they noticed that the two mares were loving their children. Mario knew that something is wrong which it got him very angry at Lord Garmadon while the CMCs believed that both Comet and Winter Breeze were dead, causing the three fillies to cry.
"Mom..." Both Comet and Winter Breeze groaned.
Twilight and Fluttershy gasp in shock, noticed Comet and Winter Breeze waking up.
"I'm here...I'm here..." Twilight and Fluttershy said with smiles on their faces, nuzzling their foals.
Mario and the CMCs were filled with joy as the three fillies cried again.
The next morning, Fluttershy began to explain everything to Twilight over some tea as the CMCs were playing with each other out on the field while Comet and Winter Breeze remained with their mothers. Mario was keeping an eye on the CMCs so they won't get into trouble. He even still hasn't forgotten of what happened to the two foals at the Everfree Forest which it made an emotional impact on to the six ponies.
"And that's when it brought you back into stone." Fluttershy finished as Twilight wrote the letter.
"This is gonna make quite a letter to the Princess." Twilight said. "But we should skip to the part where we almost lost our foals."
"I agree, it would make Princess Celestia very upset." Fluttershy agrees. "I just can't believe that they would risk their lives to lure those Oni's away."
Twilight and Mario nodded with an agreement, still couldn't get over of what happened to Comet and Winter Breeze. It's true that they took a very big risk of saving Mario, Twilight, Fluttershy, and the CMCs, but the cost was they the two foals almost gotten themselves killed.
"I know what they did was reckless, but we were glad that they fought the Oni's and won." Mario said sadly.
"Yes, but we almost lost our kids." Fluttershy nods, side hugging her daughter while Twilight hugged her son.
The CMCs can tell both Fluttershy and Twilight didn't forget of the incident last night which neither of them would forget, either.
"But still, I was wrong about you and Mario." Twilight said, changing the subject. "You two certainly know how to handle those girls."
"Oh, I wouldn't go that far." Fluttershy said.
"Hmm? How so?" Twilight asked curiously.
"I assumed that I'd be just as good with kids as I am with animals and my daughter." Fluttershy said. "Boy I was wrong. I learned the hard way not to bite off more than I could chew."
Mario nodded with an agreement.
"You, Mario, and Rarity." Twilight added as she saw Rarity walking up to them. "Good morning, Rarity."
"Did you finish all those capes?" Fluttershy asked curiously.
"Just delivered them." Rarity answered with a sigh. "I have to admit, if you had not come along, I might not have. Thanks again you two."
"Won't you stay for some tea?" Fluttershy asked. "Mario brewed it and it's quite delicious."
"I really must get to the shop and clean up." Rarity said, then turns to the CMCs. "Girls! Get your things! Time to go!"
The CMCs just continued playing and calling out to each other.
"Girls! Time to-Girls! Your things! Girls! Time to-RRRGGGHHH! Girls!" Rarity gave a loud groan in frustration as the three fillies continued to ignore her.
Mario and Fluttershy exchanged smiles as they stood beside Rarity.
"Allow me." Fluttershy said as she cleared her throat and spoke in a clear, soft voice. "Girls?"
The CMCs stopped playing and lining up in front of her and Mario.
"Yes, Fluttershy." Apple Bloom answered.
"You called?" Scootaloo asked.
"Go and get your things." Fluttershy instructed. "Rarity is here to see you home."
"Of course, Fluttershy, right away!" Sweetie Belle said as the three fillies zoomed inside, leaving Rarity agaped.
"Ah, huh, ah, how did you..." Rarity stuttered. "How did you do that?"
"I guess I'm just as good with kids as I am with animals and my daughter." Fluttershy said, giving a wink as she and Mario shared a discreet hoof bump.
"Thank you, Fluttershy! Mario! Thank you, Stare Master!" The CMCs said as they left the cottage.
"Ah, uh, speaking of which." Rarity said once the CMCs were gone. "I could use your help with Opal."
"Of course, how about later today?" Fluttershy suggested, but flinched when they heard an angry yowl.
"How about now?" Rarity said, restrained as tears pricked her eyes.
Opal had apparently clawed herself into the right side of Rarity's flank. The cat gave an angry yowl as Fluttershy, Winter Breeze, and Twilight giggled while Mario and Comet just shook their heads.
That's it for the 29th chapter. Sorry about the delay.