It was another one of those days. The sun was out and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. At least that's how it always seemed in Dream Valley. That's alright, none of the ponies minded it at all. Babies could be heard playing all around them. Baby Lofty and Baby Heart Throb were flying around in the sky, Baby Shadey, Baby Lickety Split, Baby Ribbon, and Baby Gusty were playing tag on the ground. As usual, Baby Ribbon and Baby Gusty weren't allowed to wink at all, a rule that Baby Gusty tended to break often. Shadey, Gusty, Heart Throb, and Fizzy were keeping a close eye on the babies as they laid out in the field where the babies were playing. Back at Paradise Estate, the other adults were doing their own things. North Star and Wind Whistler flew around the lands, checking things out, for they thought that things were too quiet for them. They haven't heard anything from the witches from the volcano since the Flutter Ponies and the Rainbow of Light defeated them and their smooze. The other ponies thought that it would be alright, but North Star and Wind Whistler knew better than to underestimate them.
*****Paradise Estate*****
"What do you think, Magic Star? Don't they seem like they're over reacting?"
Magic Star shook her head as she carefully pulled down a vase for Posey to put her flowers in. "You know those two, Lickety Split. Once they get something in their minds, they can't forget about it."
Lickety Split nodded in agreement before turning on the water for Magic Star. Once the vase was filled, Magic Star put it on one of the window sills for Posey to put her freshly harvested flowers in. "Don't forget though, Lickety Split, those witches are always planning something. And with the Flutter Ponies back at Flutter Valley, I have a feeling they're going to try something again."
Lickety Split shook her head before sitting down, watching her. "Don't forget though, we still have the Rainbow of Light." Magic Star sat down as well with a slow nod. The locket was hanging up in the nursery over Baby Lickety Split's crib, and there it has been since Megan left it with her.
*****Dance Studio*****
Baby Half Note was on the stage, dancing her heart out. With Buttons as the director, she enjoyed every minute of it. She had forgiven Baby Lickety Split the day of the spring fesitval for her outrageous stunts, as well as the other baby ponies. Masquerade sat on a bench watching her with a small smile on her face, thinking to herself. 'I wish I was blessed enough to have a foal with as much talent as Baby Half Note and the other babies.' She shook her head though, continuing as Baby Half Note finished her routine, sliding across the stage. But as that happened, the ground around them began to shake. Masquerade quickly jumped into the air, her wings flapping to keep her airborne. "What in the name of ponies is going on??"
"Help! Masquerade, Buttons, help!"
Masquerade looked down in time to see Baby Half Note about to fall through a large crack that had formed down the middle of the stage from the quake. She swooped down, grabbing the scruff of her neck in her mouth and carrying her to safety. When Buttons saw that, she immediately winked out and away from the stage where she met up with Masquerade and Baby Half Note. The three of them looked back at the stage, as it was now in pieces. Buttons looked on with worry in her eyes. "What happened?"
Masquerade shook her head. "I don't know, but we better get back to Paradise Estate, quickly." Buttons nodded in agreement with her and kneeled for Baby Half Note to climb on her back. The two of them ran off as soon as they could, running as fast as they could back to Paradise Estate.
*****Paradise Estate*****
Back at Paradise Estate, all the ponies were outside, staring at it in horror as there were numerous cracks in the building. Wind Whistler walked back around the front of it after inspecting it.
"It's amazing it's still standing with all those cracks in it. Although there's no telling what might have happened to the inside."
"What do you think might have caused it?"
Wind Whistler turned and saw Sweet Stuff, Sky Rocket, and Truly heading towards them, the last three to arrive and she shook her head in response to Sweet Stuff's question.
"I don't know. I wish I had answers though."
The ponies all gathered around, talking amongst themselves, as they were unsure of what they were going to do.
*****Paradise Estate*****
"What do you think, Magic Star? Don't they seem like they're over reacting?"
Magic Star shook her head as she carefully pulled down a vase for Posey to put her flowers in. "You know those two, Lickety Split. Once they get something in their minds, they can't forget about it."
Lickety Split nodded in agreement before turning on the water for Magic Star. Once the vase was filled, Magic Star put it on one of the window sills for Posey to put her freshly harvested flowers in. "Don't forget though, Lickety Split, those witches are always planning something. And with the Flutter Ponies back at Flutter Valley, I have a feeling they're going to try something again."
Lickety Split shook her head before sitting down, watching her. "Don't forget though, we still have the Rainbow of Light." Magic Star sat down as well with a slow nod. The locket was hanging up in the nursery over Baby Lickety Split's crib, and there it has been since Megan left it with her.
*****Dance Studio*****
Baby Half Note was on the stage, dancing her heart out. With Buttons as the director, she enjoyed every minute of it. She had forgiven Baby Lickety Split the day of the spring fesitval for her outrageous stunts, as well as the other baby ponies. Masquerade sat on a bench watching her with a small smile on her face, thinking to herself. 'I wish I was blessed enough to have a foal with as much talent as Baby Half Note and the other babies.' She shook her head though, continuing as Baby Half Note finished her routine, sliding across the stage. But as that happened, the ground around them began to shake. Masquerade quickly jumped into the air, her wings flapping to keep her airborne. "What in the name of ponies is going on??"
"Help! Masquerade, Buttons, help!"
Masquerade looked down in time to see Baby Half Note about to fall through a large crack that had formed down the middle of the stage from the quake. She swooped down, grabbing the scruff of her neck in her mouth and carrying her to safety. When Buttons saw that, she immediately winked out and away from the stage where she met up with Masquerade and Baby Half Note. The three of them looked back at the stage, as it was now in pieces. Buttons looked on with worry in her eyes. "What happened?"
Masquerade shook her head. "I don't know, but we better get back to Paradise Estate, quickly." Buttons nodded in agreement with her and kneeled for Baby Half Note to climb on her back. The two of them ran off as soon as they could, running as fast as they could back to Paradise Estate.
*****Paradise Estate*****
Back at Paradise Estate, all the ponies were outside, staring at it in horror as there were numerous cracks in the building. Wind Whistler walked back around the front of it after inspecting it.
"It's amazing it's still standing with all those cracks in it. Although there's no telling what might have happened to the inside."
"What do you think might have caused it?"
Wind Whistler turned and saw Sweet Stuff, Sky Rocket, and Truly heading towards them, the last three to arrive and she shook her head in response to Sweet Stuff's question.
"I don't know. I wish I had answers though."
The ponies all gathered around, talking amongst themselves, as they were unsure of what they were going to do.